Page 2328 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 August 2015
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MR BARR: COAG will meet again this year and leaders will consider more developed options to progress the reform directions agreed at the leaders retreat. Between now and then recommendations will be prepared by individual premiers and chief ministers, informed by the federation reform expert panel, in the following areas: in school education the Queensland Premier and I will be working on recommendations; in health the Victorian and Tasmanian premiers will be working on recommendations; in the training area the Western Australian and Victorian premiers will be working on reform recommendations.
In areas of revenue raising the New South Wales and Queensland premiers will bring forward recommendations; in housing New South Wales and Queensland will also take the lead. Early childhood learning will be undertaken by South Australia, the Northern Territory and the president of the Local Government Association. And on Indigenous matters the Northern Territory and Western Australia will bring forward reform options.
This is an ambitious reform agenda for the federation but again I would like to put on the public record my appreciation for the work of the various premiers and chief ministers across the political spectrum. Frankly, coming back into this chamber and the sorts of juvenile interjections we have seen from those opposite demonstrate just how unfit they would be—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Coe!
MR BARR: to engage in this sort of federation reform debate that is necessary for this country. It is just juvenile interjections—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson!
MR BARR: putting their head in the sand on the significant issues that this nation faces. Once again, it is no surprise that those opposite are described as—
Dr Bourke: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired; so a point of order, Dr Bourke.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
Dr Bourke: On a point of order, I would ask that Mr Hanson withdraw that comment please.
MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry, what was the comment?
Dr Bourke: The comment, “In the pockets of the CFMEU.”
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