That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Refurbishment of Staff Apartments—Australian Embassy Complex, Tokyo, Japan.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: HMAS Creswell Redevelopment, Jervis Bay Territory.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Facilities, RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Robertson Barracks Redevelopment, Darwin, Northern Territory.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Hardened and Networked Army (HNA) Facilities at Edinburgh Defence Precinct, South Australia.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Land Engineering Agency Test Services Relocation, Monegeetta, Victoria.

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Multi Role Helicopter Facilities.

That the House

(1)   notes with concern, the previous Government’s termination of Australia’s Social Security Agreement with the United Kingdom in March 2001;

(2)   notes:

(a)   that the termination of this agreement led to a lost opportunity for the previous Australian Government to negotiate indexation of the British pension for those British migrants living in Australia;

(b)   that many British pensioners made substantial contributions to the United Kingdom’s National Insurance system but many have not received an increase in their British pension for a decade, and as a result their payment has not kept up with the cost of living; and

(c)   that the United Kingdom has entered into social security agreements that include pension indexation with many other nations, including the United States, Israel and Switzerland;

(3)   calls on the Commonwealth Government to commence negotiations for a new social security agreement with the United Kingdom that includes provisions for the indexation of British pensions.

That the House:

(1)   notes the need for Australian businesses to be globally competitive in order to sustain economic prosperity after the current resources boom;

(2)   notes the alarming decline in Australia’s productivity and export performance over the last five years;

(3)   notes research findings that less than one in five Australian businesses is currently “world class”;

(4)   notes the Government’s election commitments and subsequent policy announcements about measures to improve national productivity including public investment in education, skills training and national infrastructure;

(5)   notes research findings that people management practices are the predominant factor affecting company productivity and performance;

(6)   notes research findings that indicate Australian managers are paying insufficient attention to workplace practices and employee satisfaction; and

(7)   supports the establishment of a National Commission for Workplace Innovation and Excellence that will, in conjunction with the business community, trade union movement, professional associations and education providers:

(a)   identify workplace factors that positively impact on workplace innovation, excellence and productivity including human resource management practices and organisational culture;

(b)   develop policies that promote workplace innovation, excellence and productivity including best practice models, codes of practice, awareness programs, business exchanges and awards; and

(c)   support research, management education and training in conjunction with higher education providers and professional associations.