Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That:

(a)

the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007, and for related purposes [Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Bill 2007]; and

(b)

the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the bill allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during this period of sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Purpose of the Bill

The bill makes amendments to consolidate the alcohol measures in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007.  For example, the 1,350 ml trigger for seeking and recording identification details in relation to takeaway alcohol sales will be clarified, certain exceptions made to the alcohol offences in relation to visitors to parks, and provision made for the alcohol measures to be determined not to apply in a particular area if warranted, for example, by strong local alcohol management measures.

Reasons for Urgency

The existing alcohol measures take effect on Saturday, 15 September 2007.  If these amendments do not pass and take effect before that date, stakeholders potentially face dealing with two differing regimes in a short period of time.  This would create confusion, particularly at the point of sale, and potentially undermine public support for the new measures.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Sydney Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development which states that ‘Ongoing action is required to encourage afforestation and reforestation and to reduce deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires...’,

(ii)

that Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which includes the following commitments:

‘4.1   (f) Take climate change considerations into account, to the extent feasible, in their relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions, and employ appropriate methods, for example impact assessments, formulated and determined nationally, with a view to minimizing adverse effects on the economy, on public health and on the quality of the environment, of projects or measures undertaken by them to mitigate or adapt to climate change’, and

‘4.2   (a) Each of these Parties shall adopt national policies and take corresponding measures on the mitigation of climate change, by limiting its anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and enhancing its greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs’, and

(iii)

emissions from Gunns Limited’s proposed pulp mill in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley will result in annual greenhouse gas emissions of at least 10.2 Mt CO per annum, equivalent to 2 per cent of Australia’s total emissions in 2005; and

(b)

calls on the Government to determine the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions that would be emitted by the pulp mill, including emissions resulting from forest harvesting, in line with the Sydney Declaration and Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Treaty.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the congressional testimony by the Commander of the United States of America’s forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus; and

(b)

calls on the Government to immediately withdraw Australian forces from Iraq.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the:

(i)

value and importance to the cultural landscape of Australia of its estimated 15 000 architectural heritage buildings, almost a third of which are in Tasmania,

(ii)

dismantling of the independent Australian Heritage Commission, the relegation of the Register of the National Estate to state oversight and the subsequent downgrading of heritage issues at the federal level,

(iii)

need for urgent repairs to some of Australia’s most significant heritage buildings, and

(iv)

threat to one specific example, being the Holy Trinity Church in Hobart, designed by convict architect James Blackburn, which faces closure and an uncertain future because the Anglican Church cannot afford the cost of sandstone renovation work; and

(b)

calls on the Government to allocate monies in the form of a National Cultural Heritage Fund, along the same lines as the Higher Education Endowment Fund, to ensure that Australia’s culturally significant heritage buildings are adequately maintained into the future.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting was held in Sydney in the week beginning 3 September 2007 and that this event cost more than $300 million to stage, and

(ii)

that the security operation involved:

(a)

overzealous policing methods, including the violent arrests of journalists, an accountant and numerous peaceful protestors,

(b)

intimidatory video surveillance of members of parliament and the community,

(c)

rifles being pointed at the people of Sydney in low-flying helicopters and by rooftop snipers,

(d)

freedom of movement being curtailed throughout Sydney by police,

(e)

the prohibition of people entering parts of Sydney, based on unsubstantiated police accusations and secretive blacklists,

(f)

police discouraging peaceful dissent against APEC through unnecessary shows of force, including police dogs, water cannons, deployment of the riot squad and the disproportionate show of force, and

(g)

police not wearing name badges, and

(iii)

the statement of the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) backing the conduct of the APEC security and police operations; and

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

immediately apologise to the people of Sydney, who have had their civil liberties and freedoms suspended by APEC, and

(ii)

support an independent inquiry into the conduct of the New South Wales police and others involved in the security operation during APEC.