The following notices were given:

Mr Price to present a Bill for an Act to amend the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989.

Mr Price to move:

That the standing orders be amended by inserting the following standing order after standing order 143:

Questions to committee chairs

143A.      Questions may be put to a member in his or her capacity as Chair of a committee of the House, or of a joint committee, in connection with the work or duties of the committee in question.

Mr Howard to present a Bill for an Act to provide for the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and for related purposes.

Mr Anderson to present a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to primary industries and energy, and for related purposes.

Mr Moore to present a Bill for an Act to amend various Acts relating to matters dealt with by the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism, and for other purposes.

Mr Williams to present a Bill for an Act to amend the Crimes Act 1914, and for related purposes.

Dr Wooldridge to present a Bill for an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act 1973, and for related purposes.

Mr Ruddock to present a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to social security, and for related purposes.

Mrs Moylan to present a Bill for an Act relating to aged care, and for other purposes.

Mr Prosser to present a Bill for an Act to amend the Petroleum Excise (Prices) Act 1987, and for related purposes.

Mr Scott to present a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to veterans' affairs, and for related purposes.

Mr Warwick Smith to move:

That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the House approves the following proposal for work in the Parliamentary Zone which was presented to the House on 20 March 1997, namely: Improvements to old Parliament House rear court.

Mr Reith to move:

(1)   That the House authorises the use of electronic communication devices by the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training in order to:

(a)   take oral evidence from a witness who is not in attendance at a meeting of the committee; and

(b)   enable one or more members of the committee who are not in attendance to participate in a public or private meeting of the committee;

      as provided for by this resolution.

(2)   That the committee, in using electronic communication devices, shall adhere to the following conditions:

(a)   the committee must authorise by resolution each occasion the committee is to meet, or on which evidence is to be heard from a witness in a remote location, using electronic means;

(b)   a quorum of members must be in attendance at one location within Australia or its territories;

(c)   in camera evidence must not be heard by electronic means from a witness in a remote location;

(d)   members who are not in attendance at a meeting of the committee may not vote; and

(e)   before proceeding to make use of electronic communication at a meeting the committee shall consider the following factors:

   (i)   whether any benefit can be gained from the use of electronic communication compared with traditional techniques;

   (ii)   whether the anticipated evidence is from a subject specialist or expert or is of a non-contentious nature;

   (iii)   whether it is necessary for a witness to be tested rigorously for truthfulness;

   (iv)   whether the administration of an oath is necessary (which would, unlike an affirmation, require the presence of an authorised officer to administer);

   (v)   whether the identification of a proposed witness is acceptable;

   (vi)   the real cost comparisons of alternative means of evidence collection, taking into account the possibility that videoconferencing may involve significant additional costs to the committee, whereas the costs of members' travel are met from Special Appropriations and not from the committee's budget;

   (vii)   the value of the committee being present at a location away from Canberra;

   (viii)   the value of the public being able to physically see the committee in action; and

   (ix)   any other matters the committee may consider relevant.

   For the purposes of these conditions "in attendance" means physically present at a meeting of the committee.

(3)   That this resolution continue in force until 26 June 1997.

Mr Eoin Cameron to move—

That this House:

(1)   acknowledges Senator Colston's explanation of overpayment of travel allowance was due to sloppy bookkeeping;

(2)   recognises the former Treasurer, Mr Keating, as the person responsible for taxation policy, was sloppy for failing to lodge a tax return whilst he was Treasurer;

(3)   recognises the former Premier of Western Australia and Member for Fremantle, Dr Lawrence, was sloppy for not repaying travel payments paid into her account for travel she never undertook;

(4)   recognises the former Finance Minister and now Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beazley, as the nation's bookkeeper, was sloppy for saying five weeks before the last election that the nation was in surplus, when in fact there was an $8 billion deficit; and

(5)   condemns the Australian Labor Party for not taking action against its members for sloppy bookkeeping practices, when it has maintained a vindictive and grubby campaign against one of its former members for a similar offence. (Notice given 25 March 1997.)