Senator Mason to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 19 October 2006, from 9.30 am to 10.30 am, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into civics and electoral education.

Senator Bob Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

congratulates the King Island Council on its success in banning plantation forestry from its farmland; and

(b)

commends the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (Senator Abetz) for understanding ‘the view of the King Island Council and local farmers in wanting to protect their icon [sic] beef and cheese industries’.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into water policy initiatives, on the following days:

(a)

Thursday, 12 October 2006, from 4.30 pm to 6 pm; and

(b)

Wednesday, 18 October 2006, from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

Senator Bartlett to move on Monday, 16 October 2006:

That the Senate—

(a)

congratulates:

(i)

the Cairns-based WuChopperen Health Services for winning the 2006 Indigenous Governance Award for an organisation established longer than 10 years, and

(ii)

the Wagga Wagga-based Gannambarra Enterprises for winning the 2006 Indigenous Governance Award for an organisation established fewer than 10 years; and

(b)

acknowledges the work of Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton in hosting the Indigenous Governance Awards and recognises the achievements of all the eight finalists in the awards and pays tribute to the positive contribution they are making for Indigenous Australians and the wider community.

Senator Murray to move on Monday, 16 October 2006:

That clauses 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 of Determination 2006/18: Members of Parliament—Entitlements, made pursuant to subsections 7(1), 7(2) and 7(4) of the of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, that provide for the aggregation of the charter and communications allowances of a member representing an electorate of 10,000 km² or more, be disapproved.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

acknowledges and supports the Government’s position to adopt an immediate ban on high seas bottom trawling in all unregulated areas;

(b)

acknowledges the Australian position for a ban from 1 August 2007 where governance arrangements (RFMOs) are under negotiation, unless and until conservation and management measures are implemented; and a ban from 1 January 2008 within existing RFMOs, unless and until conservation and management measures are implemented;

(c)

supports the commitment to applying the precautionary principle with independent peer review so that bans on high seas bottom trawling cannot be lifted unless it can be shown scientifically that it will not damage fragile marine ecosystems;

(d)

acknowledges the commitment to strengthen conservation and management of deep sea biodiversity in general;

(e)

welcomes the efforts of the Australian delegation to advance the position on high seas bottom trawling within the United Nations (UN) General Assembly negotiations; and

(f)

urges the Government to pursue all diplomatic avenues to ensure that this position prevails when a formal decision is taken in the UN General Assembly in early December 2006.

Senator Stephens to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that the week beginning 9 October 2006 is National Mental Health Week in Australia, incorporating World Mental Health Day which is celebrated on 10 October;

(b)

acknowledges that suicide can be a tragic consequence of a failure to recognise and treat mental illness;

(c)

notes that many lives are being saved by early recognition and treatment of people at risk;

(d)

recognises the impact of mental illness on carers and families and acknowledges their essential role in supporting those with mental illness;

(e)

notes that the Council of Australian Governments has designated mental health as a major health priority; and

(f)

supports the call by the national Mental Health Council of Australia for recognition that, left untreated, mental illnesses can be fatal and thus must be addressed as an issue of utmost importance.

Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the report by Amnesty International, Papua New Guinea: Violence against women: Not inevitable, never acceptable, which reports that:

(i)

violence against women is endemic in Papua New Guinea, affecting the majority of women and girls in some parts of the country,

(ii)

healthcare, counselling services, emergency accommodation and other forms of support for survivors of gender-based violence are insufficiently available outside the capital Port Moresby, as is access to legal advice and formal justice processes, and

(iii)

current harmful practices are common throughout society and contribute to high levels of violence against women;

(b)

acknowledges that gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea curtails women’s freedom of movement and in turn limits women’s access to education and employment and their ability to participate freely in public life, as well as contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea; and

(c)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

urge the Government of Papua New Guinea to resource the Papua New Guinea Ombudsman Commission to enable it to fulfil its role of promoting human rights in Papua New Guinea, and

(ii)

encourage the Government of Papua New Guinea to strengthen its support and increase resources for programs that will improve the implementation of Papua New Guinea laws that recognise violence against women as criminal offences.

Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

That, after the motion for the second reading of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Enforcement Powers) Bill 2006 and the Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2006 has been moved, they may be taken together for their remaining stages with the government business order of the day relating to the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 and the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2006.