Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

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

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation Amendment (One-Off Payments and Other Budget Measures) Bill 2008, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

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

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows:

SOCIAL SECURITY AND VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (ONE-OFF PAYMENTS AND OTHER BUDGET MEASURES) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill addresses certain urgent Budget measures.  It provides for 2008 one-off payments for older Australians and carers.  It also introduces a portability period for holders of concession cards, allowing cards to remain valid during short-term absences of the cardholders from Australia.

Reasons for Urgency

The one-off payments for older Australians and carers are to be made by the end of June 2008.  Because of the large customer group, payments will be staggered over the last weeks of the financial year.  In keeping with arrangements for one-off payments in previous years, customers need to be advised in late May 2008 about the 2008 one-off payments.  Passage in the week commencing 13 May 2008 would enable this established timetable to be met again this year.

The beneficial concession card measure requires a substantial system build by Centrelink.  While this will proceed in anticipation of passage, Centrelink will need to know by early to mid-May 2008 if the legislation is not likely to pass by the anticipated commencement date of 1 July 2008, or it may be too late to cancel the system changes.

Senator Watson to move on 17 June 2008:

That ASIC Class Order [CO 07/753], made under paragraphs 601QA(1)(a), 911A(2)(l), 1020F(1)(a) and 1020F(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001, be disallowed.

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

That the Senate—

(a)   expresses its deep sorrow and condolences at the massive destruction and loss of life and trauma suffered by people affected by the earthquake in southwest China; and

(b)   hopes the rescue services have maximum success and that suffering is minimised by the rapid assistance from the Chinese people and the international community.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the closure of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) wool scour at Belmont in Victoria will impact on thousands of Australian individuals, small businesses and a number of large Australian companies,

(ii)   the CSIRO scouring plant is vital infrastructure to businesses, researchers and enterprises associated with the Australian speciality fibre industries (ultra and superfine wools, coloured wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca and commercial processors) and small lot wool processors, and

(iii)   it is the only scour in Australia commercially scouring small lots and coloured fibre and its closure will threaten the viability of industry members and force others offshore for processing; and

(b)   calls on the Government to ensure that the CSIRO scouring plant is not decommissioned and, if privatised, is required to prioritise research and development and provide ongoing long-term access to scouring services in Victoria for the speciality fibre industries and small lot wool processors.

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

That the Senate—

(a)   recognises the massive destruction of cyclone Nargis in Burma; and

(b)   calls on the Burmese authorities to urgently remove all impediments to international aid and assistance for all those who are suffering.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 and the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Legislation Amendment Act 2006 facilitated the Howard Government’s plan to develop a Commonwealth radioactive waste dump in the Northern Territory, and,

(ii)   prior to the federal election, the Australian Labor Party committed to repealing this legislation, if elected; and

(b)   calls on the Government to:

(i)   announce the schedule for the repeal of this legislation and notify all affected communities and stakeholder organisations, and

(ii)   repeal all sites proposed or nominated under the legislation for the Commonwealth radioactive waste facility, including Muckaty, which was nominated by the Northern Land Council.