Family Impact Commission Bill
Page: 12207
Second Reading
Debate resumed from 21 October.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY [2.45 p.m.]: The object of the Family Impact Commission Bill is to provide for the establishment of the Family Impact Commission. I noted with interest that the Family First party, which almost had the balance of power in the Senate—
The Hon. Eric Roozendaal: But doesn't.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: But does not because, as announced today, The Nationals won the balance of power seat in the Senate. So Barnaby Joyce from Queensland—
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: The Nationals hold the balance of power and they dump the Coalition.
The Hon. Don Harwin: There are two or three Coalition senators gathered together.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: There are actually four representatives from Queensland for the Coalition.
The DEPUTY-PRESIDENT (The Hon. Amanda Fazio): Order! The Hon. Melinda Pavey will confine her remarks to the bill.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: My remarks are relevant to the bill because on the night of the Federal election and during the week following that election there was a great deal of discussion that Family First may have the balance of power in the Senate. The Family First representative from Victoria said that one of the first things he would do as a member of Parliament would be to introduce a family impact commission statement. I was surprised to hear that because he did not recognise that Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile was the first member of Parliament to introduce such a bill.
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: He introduced it 13 years ago.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: He was not credited with doing so. Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile was not credited for the introduction of the bill 13 years ago.
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: The Opposition voted against it.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: I am making a point for the public record.
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: You are making some very interesting points.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: I am making the point for the public record that 13 years ago Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile introduced the bill.
The Hon. Jan Burnswoods: Now you do not know your history.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: I was not here 13 years ago, unlike the Hon. Jan Burnswoods. I make the point that it was going to be a big moment for Family First, but they did not acknowledge the work of Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile in introducing the bill.
Debate adjourned on motion by the Hon. Melinda Pavey.