Mr BALDWIN (7:57 PM) —I rise to speak on the Assisting the Victims of International Terrorism Bill 2009 put forward by my colleague and friend, Tony Abbott. Tony Abbott understands the needs of people who have been affected by acts of terrorism. This bill provides $75,000 for the victims of terrorist acts overseas, and there is a precedent for this—that is, that the states provide $75,000 to victims of crime. Indeed, the federal government has a precedent for this, because under the Howard government $25,000 compensation was paid to prisoners of war. I congratulate Tony Abbott for introducing this bill.

If every person of the around 300 people who have been injured or killed in acts of terrorism offshore made a claim, this bill in its full capacity would amount to less than $22½ million. It is not a lot of money in the scheme of things, considering the pain and suffering that these people go through. Today I saw a person who has been a friend of mine for a number of years, Paul Anicich, come to this House. The Paul Anicich of today is not the Paul Anicich I have known for the best part of 14 years. He is a shell of the man, and still struggles daily to deal with the after effects of the Bali bombing. This is a man who was an outstanding and successful legal practitioner; this is a man who was a leader in our community and a very passionate advocate for the Hunter region. Today, Paul works hard at just trying to keep his life and his family together because it was not just Paul who was affected—Penny was also involved in the blast, and their young bloke has had to suffer the effects because of the stresses on the family.

Paul, when he came to see me not long after he got back to Australia and had recovered, wanted nothing more than a victim’s gold healthcare card, a gold healthcare card that helped meet the shortfalls in the medical expenses, a gold healthcare card that allowed for the provision of electronic transfer of information so each and every time that the—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr KJ Thomson)—Order! The member’s time has expired.

Mr Baldwin —I should have had 20 minutes, Mr Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —I understand that the time allotted for debate is such that speeches were to conclude by 8 pm.

Mr Baldwin —Then the other deputy speakers have erred, in that they have allowed other members to speak for too long.

Mr Abbott —Could I move an extension of time, Mr Deputy Speaker?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —I do not think we are in a position to do that. The arrangement that has been agreed to is that this debate would conclude by 8 pm and that—

Mr Baldwin —Then I move that the question be put and a vote be taken on the bill.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —You are aware that we do not have provision for taking—

Mr Baldwin —Then I ask you to refer to the House of Representatives that the bill be put.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —I will report that request to the House of Representatives. The debate is adjourned and a resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Mr Baldwin —Mr Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: I have asked that the question be put, so it is not to be listed as an item of debate for the next sitting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —The standing orders do not allow for a motion ‘that the question be put’ to be dealt with in the Main Committee. I understand the request that you have made and I will report it, but I note that the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Mr Abbott —Mr Deputy Speaker, would it not assist the operation of the parliament if the member for Paterson was allowed to continue his remarks for two minutes? I think it would assist the operation of the House on a subject as sensitive as this if that indulgence could be extended to him.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER —I understand the spirit in which the request is made, but the time allotted for debate is not something which I am in control of. It is something which is organised between the whips prior to these matters being debated here.