Senator McEwen to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 12 November 2008, from 12.30 pm to 2 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill 2008.

Senator Moore to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Committee on the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2008 be extended to 2 December 2008.

Senator Moore to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Community Affairs Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 11 November 2008, from 4.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into Government expenditure on Indigenous affairs and social services in the Northern Territory.

Senator Hutchins to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate, from 12.30 pm to 2 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the 2007 Federal Election, including the Commonwealth Electoral (Above-the-Line Voting) Amendment Bill 2008, as follows:

Tuesday, 11 November and 25 November 2008

Tuesday, 2 December 2008.

Senator Hurley to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Economics Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 11 November 2008, as follows:

(a)

from 6.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations; and

(b)

from 7 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the joint marketing arrangements on the North West Shelf project.

Senator Sterle 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 on Wednesday, 12 November 2008, and Thursday, 13 November 2008, from 3.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Water Amendment Bill 2008.

Senator Fisher to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 11 November 2008, from 7 pm.

Senator Hurley to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Economics Committee on matters relating to the gas explosion at Varanus Island, Western Australia be extended to 3 December 2008.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 11 November 2008, from 3.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into pricing and supply arrangements in the Australian and global fertiliser market.

Senator Bernardi to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the Horsham physician Dr Bernhard Moeller, his wife Isabella and their children Lukas, Felix and Sarah have been refused permanent residency in Australia because Lukas Moeller, has Down’s Syndrome;

(b)

rejects the notion that those with Down’s Syndrome are a burden on society;

(c)

acknowledges the important role that Dr Moeller fulfils as a doctor in a regional community and in the Wimmera Base Hospital which serves more than 50 000 people;

(d)

calls on the Rudd Government to expedite the decision-making process with regard to Dr Moeller and his family’s application for permanent residency; and

(e)

condemns the lack of action, advocacy, commonsense and compassion given to the Moeller family by the Rudd Government.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day of 2009:

The impact of the granting of patent monopolies in Australia over human and microbial genes and non-coding sequences, proteins, and their derivatives, including those materials in an isolated form, with particular reference to:

(a)

the impact which the granting of patent monopolies over such materials has had, is having, and may have on:

(i)

the provision and costs of healthcare,

(ii)

the provision of training and accreditation for healthcare professionals,

(iii)

the progress in medical research, and

(iv)

the health and wellbeing of the Australian people;

(b)

identifying measures that would ameliorate any adverse impacts arising from the granting of patent monopolies over such materials;

(c)

the patentability of such materials under current Australian and international law; and

(d)

whether the Patents Act 1990 should be amended so as to expressly prohibit the grant of patent monopolies over such materials.

Senator Coonan to move on the next day of sitting:

That, on Thursday, 13 November 2008, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 [No. 2] have precedence over all other business till determined.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the week beginning 9 November 2008 Is National Cleft Awareness Week,

(ii)

one in every 700 babies born in Australia is born with a cleft, either a cleft lip or a cleft palate or a combination of both,

(iii)

children with a cleft will usually require a range of dental, orthodontic, speech pathology and surgical therapies throughout their lives to support their full participation in society,

(iv)

in some states, there are waiting lists of between 6 months and 2 years for speech pathology services and children face ongoing educational challenges unless their speech and language needs are addressed, and

(v)

the shortfall in public speech pathology services has forced families to seek services in the private sector which many families are unable to afford; and

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

provide better support to publicly-funded speech pathology services, and

(ii)

investigate the costs of including speech pathology services within the existing Medicare Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the Government’s recent announcement of a $22 million package to keep ABC Learning open until the end of 2008, following months of financial woes, and

(ii)

ABC Learning accounts for more than 100 000 long day-care places;

(b)

recognises that the expertise and experience of those in the sector should be included in planning the response to this crisis; and

(c)

calls on the Government to hold an emergency summit of the key child care providers from around the country, to open up the lines of communication and learn from those who are caring for children, in determining how best to stabilise and improve child care within Australia.