Debate resumed from 25 March, on motion by Mr Miles:

That the bill be now read a second time.

upon which Mr Latham moved by way of amendment:

That all words after `That' be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

`whilst not declining to give the Bill a second reading, the House:

(1)   expresses concern at the failure of the Howard Government, after 12 months in office, to respond to the recommendations of the report of the Joint Select Committee into Certain Family Law Issues entitled `Child Support Scheme: An Examination of the Operation and Effectiveness of the Scheme';

(2)   believes the Government should be concerned about the well-being and welfare of all families: whether they be intact families, separated families, single parent families or serial families;

(3)   notes with concern the failure to implement some of the report's recommendations has caused parents and their children to suffer needless hardship;

(4)   believes that there is important and urgent need to improve and strengthen the Child Support Scheme; and

(5)   considers that much time has been lost and therefore the Government should respond to the recommendations of the report concerned with changing the child support formula as soon as possible and introduce legislation within six months to this effect'.