Senator Barnett to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Flags Act 1953 to prevent the desecration or wilful destruction of Australian flags, and for related purposes. Flags (Protection of Australian Flags) Amendment Bill 2008.

Senators Hutchins and Joyce to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the 9th anniversary of the unveiling of the Irish famine memorial at Hyde Park Barracks by the Governor-General, Sir William Deane commemorating the 4,114 female orphans sent to the Australian colonies between 1848 and 1850, and

(ii)

the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the first ship, the Earl Grey in Sydney on 6 October 1848;

(b)

recognises the contributions made by those Irish settlers and their descendents to Australian society; and

(c)

notes:

(i)

the hardships suffered by the Irish emigrants as a result of the Great Irish Famine of 1845 to 1850, and

(ii)

the million lives lost during the Great Irish Famine, reducing the population of Ireland by between 20 to 25 per cent, from which the Irish population has only recently begun to recover.

Senator Sterle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee on the implementation, operation and administration of the legislation underpinning Carbon Sink Forests be extended to 23 September 2008.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the Australian National University’s report, Green Carbon: The role of natural forests in carbon storage, which finds that destroying native forests releases vasts amounts of greenhouse gases; and

(b)

calls on the Government to seriously consider the report in developing policy.

Senator Siewert to move on 4 September 2008:

That the Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Workplace Rights) Bill 2008 be referred to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2008, along with the following matters:

(a)

the powers of the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC);

(b)

the conduct of the ABCC and ABCC inspectors in the interpretation and exercise of their powers; and

(c)

the extent to which the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 breaches internationally-recognised labour standards.

Notice of motion withdrawn: At a later hour, pursuant to standing order 77(3), Senator Siewert withdrew the notice of motion.