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Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Page: 12577

NOTICES

Mr CREAN: to present a bill for an act to amend the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005, and for related purposes.

Mr SHORTEN: to present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to superannuation, and for related purpose.

Ms MACKLIN: to present a bill for an act to amend the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 and the Fair Work Act 2009, and for related purposes.

Mr GRAY: to move:

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: Construction of projects two and three of the Christmas Island new housing program.

Mr ALBANESE: to move:

That:

(1) the House invite the Honourable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, to attend and address the House on Thursday, 17 November 2011, at a time to be fixed by the Speaker;

(2) unless otherwise ordered, at the sitting of the House on Thursday, 17 November 2011:

(a) the proceedings shall be welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and an address by the President of the United States of America, after which the sitting of the House shall be adjourned automatically until Monday, 21 November 2011 at 10 a.m.; and

(b) the provisions of standing order 257(c) shall apply to the area of Members' seats as well as the galleries;

(3) a message be sent to the Senate inviting Senators to attend the House as guests for the welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and address by the President of the United States of America; and

(4) any variation to this arrangement be made only by an action by the Speaker.

Mr OAKESHOTT: to move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) microbreweries are important niche businesses in Australia, providing valuable job opportunities and economic growth, particularly in rural and regional areas;

(b) microbreweries need recognition within the tax system through the Microbrewery Refund, given that they are competing in a domestic market heavily dominated by large multinational companies, following the sale of both Fosters and Lion Nathan to overseas interests;

(c) the Microbrewery Refund was introduced in 2000 and that the definition of a microbrewery has not been reviewed and is now markedly out of step with industry reality; and

(d) the maximum excise refund has remained capped at $10,000, while the beer excise has been raised twice a year for the past 11 years with the consumer price index; and

(2) calls on the Government to amend:

(a) the definition of a microbrewery under the Excise Regulations 1925, regulation 2AB, to significantly increase the current maximum volume of 30,000 litres; and

(b) Excise Regulations 1925, regulation 50(l)(zzd), to remove or significantly increase the maximum of $10,000 excise refund that can be claimed in a financial year.

Mr WILKIE: to move:

That this House agrees that should the Marriage Act 1961 be amended to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples, any such amendment should ensure that the Act imposes no obligation on any church or religious minister to perform such a marriage.