The following notices were given:

Mr Anderson to present a bill for an act to amend or repeal various Acts administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, and for related purposes.

Dr Kemp to present a bill for an act to repeal the Training Guarantee Act 1990 and the Training Guarantee (Administration) Act 1990, to amend certain other Acts, and for related purposes.

Dr Kemp to present a bill for an act to amend the Indigenous Education (Supplementary Assistance) Act 1989, and for related purposes.

Mr Reith to move—

That standing order 28B be amended to read:

General purpose standing committees

28B.    (a )   General purpose standing committees shall be appointed at the commencement of each Parliament as follows:

   (i)   Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs;

   (ii)   Standing Committee on Communications, Transport and Microeconomic Reform;

   (iii)   Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training;

   (iv)   Standing Committee on Environment, Recreation and the Arts;

   (v)   Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs;

   (vi)   Standing Committee on Financial Institutions and Public Administration;

   (vii)   Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology;

   (viii)   Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; and

   (ix)   Standing Committee on Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs.

(b )   A standing committee appointed pursuant to paragraph (a ) shall be empowered to inquire into and report on any matters referred to it by either the House or a Minister including any pre-legislation proposal, bill, motion, petition, vote or expenditure, other financial matter, report or paper.

   Annual reports of government departments and authorities tabled in the House shall stand referred to the relevant committee for any inquiry the committee may wish to make. Reports shall stand referred to committees in accordance with a schedule tabled by the Speaker to record the areas of responsibility of each committee:

   Provided that:

   (i)   any question concerning responsibility for a report or a part of a report shall be determined by the Speaker; and

   (ii)   the period during which an inquiry concerning an annual report may be commenced by a committee shall end on the day on which the next annual report of that Department or authority is presented to the House.

(c )   Each committee appointed under paragraph (a ) shall consist of 14 members, with membership of each committee reflecting the proportion of government to non-government Members in the House, namely, nine government and five non-government Members. Each committee may be supplemented with up to three members for a particular inquiry. Government members are to be nominated by the Chief Government Whip or Whips and non-government members are to be nominated by the Chief Opposition Whip or Whips in consultation with any minority group or other non-government Member. In the event of disagreement in the nominations, the disagreement shall be notified to the Speaker who shall inform the House and the House shall determine the matter:

   Provided that if the appropriate numbers of government and non-government members have been nominated and the committee has met and elected a chair no other nomination or notification of disagreement other than in respect of the filling of a casual or supplementary vacancy shall be made.

   Provided further that, for the purpose of consideration of a bill referred to a committee pursuant to standing order 217A, one or more members of the committee may be replaced by other Members nominated in accordance with the provisions set out in this paragraph. The provisions for the committee to be supplemented by up to three members are not affected by this proviso.

(d )   Every nomination of a Member to a committee shall be forthwith notified in writing to the Speaker.

(e )   Each committee shall elect a government member as its chair.

(f )   Each committee shall elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(g )   Three members of a committee shall constitute a quorum of that committee.

(h )   Each committee shall have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of three or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(i )   Each committee shall appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(j )   The quorum of a subcommittee shall be two members of that subcommittee.

(k )   Members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the public proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(l )   Each committee or any subcommittee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(m )   Each committee or any subcommittee shall have power to move from place to place.

(n )   Any subcommittee shall have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any sittings or adjournment of the House.

(o )   Each committee or any subcommittee shall have power to authorise publication of any evidence given before it and any document presented to it.

(p )   Each committee shall have leave to report from time to time.

(q )   Each committee or any subcommittee shall have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the relevant standing committees appointed during previous Parliaments.

(r )   Each committee shall have power to confer with a similar committee of the Senate.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That, in accordance with section 242 of the Australian Securities Commission Act 1989 , matters relating to the powers and proceedings of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Securities shall be as follows:

   (a)   That the committee consist of 10 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority groups or independent Senators.

   (b)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

   (c)   That the committee elect a member nominated by the Government Whips or the Leader of the Government in the Senate as its chair.

   (d)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

   (e)   That, in the event of the votes on a question before the committee being equally divided, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote.

   (f)   That 3 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

   (g)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

   (h)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only, and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of a subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

   (i)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

   (j)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

   (k)   That the committee and any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

   (l)   That the committee and any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

   (m)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

   (n)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

   (o)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(2)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That a Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be appointed to inquire into and report on such matters relating to electoral laws and practices and their administration as may be referred to it by either House of the Parliament or a Minister.

(2)   That the committee consist of 10 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 Senator to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 2 Senators to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators.

(3)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)   That the members of the committee hold office as a joint standing committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time.

(5)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

(6)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(7)   That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a casting vote.

(8)   That 3 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

(9)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(10)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(11)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

(12)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(13)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(14)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

(15)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(16)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

(17)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to consider and make use of:

   (a)   submissions lodged with the Clerk of the Senate in response to public advertisements placed in accordance with the resolution of the Senate of 26 November 1981 relating to a proposed Joint Select Committee on the Electoral System, and

   (b)   the evidence and records of the Joint Committees on Electoral Reform and Electoral Matters appointed during previous Parliaments.

(18)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(19)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That a Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be appointed to consider and report on such matters relating to foreign affairs, defence and trade as may be referred to it by:

   (a)   either House of the Parliament;

   (b)   the Minister for Foreign Affairs;

   (c)   the Minister for Defence; or

   (d)   the Minister for Trade.

(2)   That the committee consist of 32 members, 13 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 7 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 5 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 4 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 3 Senators to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators.

(3)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)   That the members of the committee hold office as a joint committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time.

(5)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

(6)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(7)   That in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a casting vote.

(8)   That 6 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

(9)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(10)   That, in addition to the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (9), the chair and deputy chair of the committee be ex officio members of each subcommittee appointed.

(11)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only, and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(12)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

(13)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(14)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(15)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

(16)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(17)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

(18)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defence and Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade appointed during previous Parliaments.

(19)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(20)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That, in accordance with section 204 of the Native Title Act 1993 , matters relating to the powers and proceedings of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund shall be as follows:

   (a)   That the committee consist of 10 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority groups or independent Senators.

   (b)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

   (c)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

   (d)   That the elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

   (e)   That, in the event of the votes on a question before the committee being equally divided, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote.

   (f)   That 3 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

   (g)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

   (h)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only, and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of a subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

   (i)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

   (j)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

   (k)   That the committee and any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

   (l)   That the committee and any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

   (m)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

   (n)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

   (o)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(2)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That, in accordance with section 54 of the National Crime Authority Act 1984 , matters relating to the powers and proceedings of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority shall be as follows:

   (a)   That the committee consist of 10 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators.

   (b)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

   (c)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

   (d)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

   (e)   That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote.

   (f)   That 3 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

   (g)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

   (h)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

   (i)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

   (j)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

   (k)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

   (l)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

   (m)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

   (n)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

   (o)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the commit tee appointed during previous Parliaments.

   (p)   That, in carrying out its duties, the committee or any subcommittee, ensure that the operational methods and results of investigations of law enforcement agencies, as far as possible, be protected from disclosure where that would be against the public interest.

   (q)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(2)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That a Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be appointed to inquire into and report on-

   (a)   matters coming within the terms of section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974 as may be referred to it by:

      (i)   either House of the Parliament; or

      (ii)   the Minister responsible for administering the Parliament Act 1974 ; or

      (iii)   the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

   (b)   such other matters relating to the parliamentary zone as may be referred to it by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

   (c)   such amendments to the National Capital Plan as are referred to it by a Minister responsible for administering the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 ;

   (d)   such other matters relating to the National Capital as may be referred to it by:

      (i)   either House of the Parliament; or

      (ii)   the Minister responsible for administering the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 ; and

   (e)   such matters relating to Australia's territories as may be referred to it by:

      (i)   either House of Parliament; or

      (ii)   the Minister responsible for the administration of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands; the Territory of Christmas Island; the Coral Sea Islands Territory; the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands; the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and of Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island.

(2)   That the committee consist of 10 members, the Deputy Speaker, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 2 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 Senator to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators.

(3)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate.

(4)   That the members of the committee hold office as a joint standing committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time.

(5)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

(6)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(7)   That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a casting vote.

(8)   That 3 members of the committee (of whom one is the Deputy President or the Deputy Speaker when matters affecting the parliamentary zone are under consideration) constitute a quorum of the committee.

(9)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(10)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(11)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

(12)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the public proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(13)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(14)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

(15)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(16)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

(17)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, the Joint Committees on the Australian Capital Territory, the Joint Standing Committees on the New Parliament House, the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Zone and the Joint Committee on the National Capital appointed during previous Parliaments and of the House of Representatives and Senate Standing Committees on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure when sitting as a joint committee on matters relating to the Australian Capital Territory.

(18)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(19)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That a Joint Standing Committee on Migration be appointed to inquire into and report upon:

   (a)   regulations made or proposed to be made under the Migration Act 1958 ;

   (b)   all proposed changes to the Migration Act 1958 and any related acts; and

   (c)   such other matters relating to migration as may be referred to it by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

(2)   That the committee consist of 10 members, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 Senator to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators.

(3)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)   That the members of the committee hold office as a joint standing committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time.

(5)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

(6)   That the committee elect a deputy chair who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee, and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(7)   That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a casting vote.

(8)   That 3 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

(9)   That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(10)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(11)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be 2 members of that subcommittee.

(12)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the public proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(13)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(14)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

(15)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

(16)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the Joint Committees on Migration Regulations and the Joint Standing Committee on Migration appointed in previous Parliaments.

(17)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(18)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mr Reith to move—

(1)   That a Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be appointed to inquire into and report upon:

   (a)   matters arising from treaties and related National Interest Analyses and proposed treaty actions presented or deemed to be presented to the Parliament;

   (b)   any question relating to a treaty or other international instrument, whether or not negotiated to completion, referred to the committee by:

      (i)   either House of the Parliament, or

      (ii)   a Minister; and

   (c)   such other matters as may be referred to the committee by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and on such conditions as the Minister may prescribe.

(2)   That the committee consist of 13 members, 5 members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, 3 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 2 Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 Senator to be nominated by any minority groups or independent Senators.

(3)   That every nomination of a member of the committee be forthwith notified in writing to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4)   That the members of the committee hold office as a joint committee until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time.

(5)   That the committee elect a Government member as its chair.

(6)   That the committee elect a non-Government member as its deputy chair to act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee and at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting.

(7)   That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, shall have a casting vote.

(8)   That 4 members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee.

(9)   That the committee have power to appoint not more than 3 subcommittees each consisting of 3 or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine.

(10)   That, in addition to the members appointed pursuant to paragraph (9), the chair and deputy chair of the committee be ex officio members of each subcommittee appointed.

(11)   That the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only, and at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting.

(12)   That the quorum of a subcommittee be a majority of the members of that subcommittee.

(13)   That members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

(14)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to send for persons, papers and records.

(15)   That the committee or any subcommittee have power to move from place to place.

(16)   That a subcommittee have power to adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

(17)   That the committee have leave to report from time to time.

(18)   That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

(19)   That a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.

Mrs Crosio to move—

That the House:

(1)   gives consideration to the adoption of a national wage-earner protection fund scheme as is similarly found in: Japan, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Quebec and the state of Oregon in the United States of America—to insure and protect Australian workers from company insolvency;

(2)   recognises that Australian employees should never be left in arrears of wages or of other entitlements due to the insolvency of the company for which they work; and

(3)   conducts an inquiry through the relevant parliamentary standing committee into the viability of, and the benefits associated with, the adoption of a national wage-earner protection fund scheme for all Australians.