Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
 Download PDFDownload PDF 

Previous Fragment    Next Fragment

    11   DELAY OF CONSIDERATION OF THE WILD RIVERS (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT) BILL 2011

Mr Abbott, pursuant to notice, moved—That this House:

(1)    notes that since the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill was first introduced on 8 February 2010, it has been referred to the following committees:

(a)    the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee which commenced its inquiry on 25 February 2010 and reported to the Senate on 22 June 2010;

(b)   the House Standing Committee on Economics which commenced its inquiry on 17 November 2010 and reported to this House on 12 May 2011;

(c)    the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee which commenced its inquiry on 24 March 2011 and reported to the Senate on 10 May 2011;

(d)   the House Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry which commenced its inquiry on 15 September 2011, was due to report to the House on 2 November 2011 and is yet to table a report; and

(e)    the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs on 24 November 2011 with a reporting date which is yet to be determined;

(2)    expresses its concern that despite the unprecedented scrutiny for a private Member’s bill this House is yet to have the opportunity to vote on this bill;

(3)    notes that Noel Pearson and the Cape York Institute have called for traditional owners of land on Cape York to have more control over the way the land is used; and

(4)    calls on the Government to allow the members of this House to exercise their vote on this important bill.

Debate ensued.

The time allotted for private Members’ business having expired, the debate was interrupted, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.