Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

(1)

That the 2006-07 supplementary Budget estimates hearings by committees be scheduled as follows:

Monday, 30 October and Tuesday, 31 October (Group A)

Wednesday, 1 November and Thursday, 2 November (Group B).

(2)

That the committees consider the proposed expenditure in accordance with the allocation of departments to committees agreed to by the Senate.

(3)

That committees meet in the following groups:

Group A:

Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Finance and Public Administration

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Group B:

Community Affairs

Economics

Employment, Workplace Relations and Education

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the recent decision by the Western Australian Minister for Indigenous Affairs to vary the protection of the Woodstock-Abydos Reserves in the Pilbara, in order to accommodate the building of a railway by Fortescue Metals Group Limited, and

(ii)

that the building of a railway on these reserves would impact on Aboriginal sites within the reserves; and

(b)

expresses regret at the potential loss of Aboriginal heritage and urges a review of the decision to vary the protection of the Woodstock-Abydos Reserves.

Senator Ian Campbell to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

recognises that local government is part of the governance of Australia, serving communities through locally-elected councils;

(b)

values the rich diversity of councils around Australia, reflecting the varied communities they serve;

(c)

acknowledges the role of local government in governance, advocacy, the provision of infrastructure, service delivery, planning, community development and regulation;

(d)

acknowledges the importance of cooperating and consulting with local government on the priorities of their local communities;

(e)

acknowledges the significant Australian Government funding that is provided to local government to spend on locally determined priorities, such as roads and other local government services; and

(f)

commends local government elected officials who give their time to serve their communities.

Senator Bartlett to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to end the mandatory detention of visa applicants and asylum seekers, and for related purposes. Migration Legislation Amendment (End of Mandatory Detention) Bill 2006.

Senator McLucas to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Government is divided over the sale of Medibank Private,

(ii)

the public is concerned about the consequences of the sale of Medibank Private and its impact on the affordability of private health insurance, and

(iii)

despite government promises to keep private health insurance premiums low, they have risen by almost 40 per cent since 2001; and

(b)

calls on the Government to abandon plans to sell-off Medibank Private.

Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

That, on Thursday, 7 September 2006, the routine of business be varied to provide that questions without notice be called on at 2.30 pm.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

supports the right of parliamentarians to freely pursue their duties;

(b)

notes the opposition of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the European Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament to Israel’s arrest of more than 20 members of the Palestinian Parliament; and

(c)

calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the Palestinian Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister and the other arrested ministers and members of the Palestinian Parliament.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Federal Coalition promised at the 2004 federal election to introduce within 100 days a mandatory code of conduct to govern dealings between farmers and grocery buyers, and

(ii)

on 4 September 2006, the National Farmers’ Federation and the Horticulture Australia Council stated that the delay in delivering on this pledge is fuelling speculation that the Government will renege on its promise; and

(b)

calls on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Mr McGauran) to explain to the parliament why the Government has not implemented its promise and whether and when it intends to do so.