COMMITTEES

Senator ASKEW (Tasmania—Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate) (11:24): On behalf of Senator Kovacic, I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Corruption in the Construction Industry, be established to inquire into and report on: (a) allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, intimidation, coercion and misconduct in the construction industry; (b) the impact of such conduct on project costs, productivity, workplace safety, competition and public confidence in the construction industry; (c) the adequacy of Commonwealth laws, policies, procurement rules, regulatory frameworks and enforcement responses; (d) risks arising in relation to tendering, subcontracting, labour hire, industrial arrangements and Commonwealth-funded projects; (e) the adequacy of existing oversight and administration mechanisms, and whether further enduring institutional or legislative reform is required; and (f) any other related matter.

(2) That the committee present its final report by 18 November 2026. (3) That the committee consist of 7 senators, as follows: (a) 3 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; (b) 2 nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate; (c) 1 nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens; and (d) 1 nominated by minority party or independent senators.

(4) That: (a) participating members may be appointed to the committee on the nomination of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate or any minority party or independent senator; (b) participating members may participate in hearings of evidence and deliberations of the committee, and have all the rights of members of the committee, but may not vote on any questions before the committee; and (c) a participating member shall be taken to be a member of a committee for the purpose of forming a quorum of the committee if a majority of members of the committee is not present.

(5) That the committee may proceed to the dispatch of business notwithstanding that not all members have been duly nominated and appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy. (6) That the committee elect as chair one of the members nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and as deputy chair the member nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens.

(7) That the deputy chair shall act as chair when the chair is absent from a meeting of the committee or the position of chair is temporarily vacant. (8) That, in the event of an equality of voting, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote. (9) That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of 3 or more of its members, and to refer to any such subcommittee any of the matters which the committee is empowered to consider.

(10) That the committee and any subcommittee have power to send for and examine persons and documents, to move from place to place, to sit in public or in private, notwithstanding any prorogation of the Parliament or dissolution of the House of Representatives, and have leave to report from time to time its proceedings and the evidence taken and such interim recommendations as it may deem fit.

(11) That the committee be provided with all necessary staff, facilities and resources and be empowered to appoint persons with specialist knowledge for the purposes of the committee with the approval of the President. (12) That the committee be empowered to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, and a daily Hansard be published of such proceedings as take place in public.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that general business notice of motion No. 486 standing in the name of Senator Kovacic be agreed to.