Members of Parliament sometimes represent communities by introducing “Motions” in their House of Parliament. A Motion is a proposal to get a decision or action of the House – which could be introducing a bill (see lawmaking). But it can also be proposals to recognise achievements, or note international days of commemoration or celebration.
Here are some examples of Motions that have been agreed to:
- Government Motion – Legislative Council – Climate Emergency:
That this Council –
I. Notes the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirms that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and current plans to address climate change are not ambitious enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – a threshold scientists believe is necessary to avoid more catastrophic impacts;
II. Notes that around the world, climate change impacts are already causing loss of life and destroying vital ecosystems;
III. Declares that we are facing a climate emergency; and
IV. Commits to restoring a safe climate by transforming the economy to zero net emissions.
- Private Members Motion (Greens) – Legislative Council – Rental Affordability:
That this Council –
I. Acknowledges that housing is unaffordable for the most vulnerable South Australians with the 2023 Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot reporting for the weekend of 18 March 2023 that:
(a) Zero rental properties were affordable and available for a single person receiving a Jobseeker, Youth Allowance, or a parenting payment;
(b) Two rental properties were affordable and available for a couple receiving Jobseeker; and
(c) Nine rental properties were affordable and available for a single person on the minimum wage;
II. Notes that the Government has undertaken a review of the Residential Tenancies Act where:
(a) Public consultation ran from 15 November 2022 to 16 December 2022;
(b) 5,565 survey responses were received; and
(c) 155 written submissions were received; and
III. Calls on the Malinauskas Government to publicly release the submissions to and the report of the review of the Residential Tenancies Act.
- Private Members Motion (Independent) – House of Assembly – Regional Health Services:
That this House –
1. recognises the serious shortage of doctors and other medical staff in regional South Australia;
2. acknowledges that regional South Australians are just as worthy of access to quality health care as those in the metropolitan areas;
3. notes that previous approaches incentivising doctors in regional South Australia has not worked and that it is time for new strategies;
4. calls on the State Government to work with the Commonwealth Government to ensure the equitable distribution of General Practitioner doctors around regional South Australia, now and in the future; and
5. calls on the State Government to work with regional clinicians and communities and Local Health Network to support access to quality health care across South Australia.
- Private Members Motion (Opposition) – House of Assembly – Harmony Week
That this House—
(a) notes 18 to 24 March is Harmony Week; and
(b) acknowledges the range of valuable activities undertaken in our community under the theme of ‘everyone belongs’.