BUSINESS

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (11:45): I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent further consideration of the bills without limitation of time. There are now 622,000 problem gamblers in Australia, and that's up 22 per cent from just 12 months ago. In just 12 months we've gone up 22 per cent.

This is a huge issue in Australia. As the late Peta Murphy said in her inquiry, this needs to be treated as a public health issue because it is a public health issue. One amendment I am seeking to move goes to what we were speaking about this morning, and that is jobs for mates.

I note I have moved this to a number of new bodies and institutions the government has set up over the last four years, from the High Speed Rail Authority to others. That is to actually ensure that there is a merits based appointment process and that we don't see a minister able to just put someone political in there. This amendment was moved in the House by Dr Sophie Scamps, building on her long work advocating change here.

I really want to thank the member for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps, for her work on this, really highlighting this and bringing us to the point where we have seen action from the Senate on the Briggs review. In the absence of a whole-of-government response, which has very sadly dragged on for two years now, we should be taking these sorts of actions and embedding in legislation clear appointment processes.

I hope the chamber will agree with that.