Senator Mark Bishop to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(a)   the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for inquiry and report by 30 May 2009:

The major economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific, with particular reference to:

(i)   the implications for Australia, and

(ii)   how the Australian Government can, in practical and concrete ways, assist these countries to meet the challenges; and

(i)   employment opportunities, labour mobility, education and skilling,

(ii)   barriers to trade, foreign investment, economic infrastructure, land ownership and private sector development, and

(iii)   current regional organisations such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Secretariat of Pacific Community.

Senator Mark Bishop to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on Australia’s involvement in peacekeeping operations be extended to 31 July 2008.

Senator Bartlett to move on 25 June 2008:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies to the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners worldwide,

(ii)   the practise of religion should not form the basis of the incarceration of any individual, and

(iii)   petitions containing many thousands of signatures have been tabled in the Australian Parliament since 1999 regarding the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China; and

(b)   expresses its support for a cessation of the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and the release of all practitioners from prisons and labour camps before the start of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights applies to the treatment of Falun Gong Practitioners worldwide, and

(ii)   the practise of religion should not form the basis of the incarceration of any individual;

(b)   appreciates the commitment by the Prime Minister (Mr Rudd) to being a zhengyou, or a ‘true friend’, to the Chinese leadership and his willingness to raise challenging human rights issues; end

(c)   expresses its support for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China and their release from prisons and labour camps before the 2008 Olympic Games.

Senator Fifield to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2008:

The current level of academic freedom in school and higher education, with particular reference to:

(a)   the level of intellectual diversity and the impact of ideological, political and cultural prejudice in the teaching of senior secondary education and of courses at Australian universities, including but not limited to:

(i)   the content of curricula,

(ii)   the content of course materials,

(iii)   the conduct of teaching professionals, and

(iv)   the conduct of student assessments;

(b)   the need for the teaching of senior secondary and university courses to reflect a plurality of views, be accurate, fair, balanced and in context; and

(c)   ways in which intellectual diversity and contestability of ideas may be promoted and protected, including the concept of a charter of academic freedoms.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes:

(i)   the growing tension between the United States of America (US), Israel and Iran, including recent military exercises by Israel,

(ii)   the recent statement by Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz that Israel would attack Iran if it continued with its nuclear program, and

(iii)   that US intelligence bases in Australia are likely to be used in any US military strike on Iran; and

(b)   calls on the Government to:

(i)   support a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, and

(ii)   rule out Australian support for a military strike on Iran.

Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   currently persons who reside in Australia on a temporary Retirement Visa (subclass 410) are unable to apply for permanent residency, and

(ii)   this is a small group of people with a high commitment to Australia who are restricted in the contribution they can make to our nation as a result of being unable to apply for a permanent visa;

(b)   recognises that:

(i)   many 410 visa-holders are highly skilled, yet they are restricted to just 20 hours of work per week due to the restrictions on their temporary visa,

(ii)   if 410 visa-holders were able to apply for permanent residency, then as permanent residents there would be no restrictions on their workforce participation and this would be of benefit to the labour market, the Australian economy and the individuals concerned, and

(iii)   a number of these visa-holders have a strong involvement in community and volunteer activities and that, again, the nature of the visa restricts the number of hours that the individual can commit;

(c)   believes that these individuals should not be subject to the uncertainty and requirement to comply with visa renewal requirements;

(d)   recognises:

(i)   the additional cost in taxation and health insurance that these visa-holders are subject to as a result of being on a temporary visa, and

(ii)   that these visa-holders have a strong commitment to the community and should not be restricted in the contribution they can make;

(e)   believes that it is fitting that Australia acknowledge the commitment of many of these visa-holders to our nation; and

(f)   calls on the Government to enable temporary retirement 410 visa-holders to apply for permanent residency.

Senator Barnett and Senator McGauran to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)   recognises the importance of the Kokoda Track campaign in World War II in stopping the overland Japanese advance to Port Moresby, which would have given the enemy a beachhead into Australia;

(b)   acknowledges the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice demonstrated by the Australian Defence Force personnel during the Kokoda battles;

(c)   pays tribute to the contribution of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) nationals, specifically the Koiari people, affectionately known as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’, in carrying supplies and equipment for Australian soldiers in the Kokoda campaign as well as the carriage of wounded to safety;

(d)   notes that the Kokoda battles were fought in PNG from July 1942 on Australian soil; and

(e)   in recognition of this contribution, urges the Australian Government to:

(i)   acknowledge the service of the PNG nationals affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,

(ii)   issue an appropriate medal of recognition to the remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels or their surviving families,

(iii)   consider any other appropriate initiatives including making a small ex-gratia payment to each Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel, in recognition of their contribution over and above the call of duty, and

(iv)   examine and where appropriate fund initiatives to upgrade the health and education status of the PNG people in the isolated villages along the Kokoda Track.