Senator Fisher to move on the next day of sitting:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Climate Change and Water, by 30 March 2009, in relation to section 86A of the Water Act 2007, a document containing the following:

(a)

a comprehensive, practical definition of the term, ‘critical human water needs’ which identifies categories of users of such water and allowable purposes for the use of such water;

(b)

a definition of the core human consumption requirements which would satisfy paragraph 86A(2)(a);

(c)

a definition of the non-human consumption requirements which would satisfy paragraph 86A(2)(b); and

(d)

clear, transparent and equitable criteria the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will apply:

(i)

in determining whether the definition in paragraph 86A(2)(a) is met,

(ii)

in determining whether the definition in paragraph 86A(2)(b) is met,

(iii)

in determining the volume of conveyance water required to deliver water to meet critical human water needs, and

(iv)

to monitor the use of such water to ensure it is used for the allowable purposes referred to in paragraph (a) of this resolution.

Senator Faulkner to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Auditor-General Act 1997, and for related purposes. Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2008.

Senator Sherry to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to corporations, and for related purposes. Corporations Amendment (No. 1) Bill 2008.

Senator Chris Evans to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to migration, and for related purposes. Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2008.

Senator McLucas to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, and for related purposes. Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical Devices and Other Measures) Bill 2008.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the valuable work of World Vision’s youth movement, Vision Generation, in actively educating and empowering young Australian students to take action in the fight against global poverty and injustice;

(b)

recognises:

(i)

that more than 284 000 children are involved in the worst forms of child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa, and

(ii)

Vision Generation’s current project ‘Trek Against Trafficking’, which aims to encourage the Australian chocolate industry to take the lead in eradicating exploited labour from cocoa supply chains; and

(c)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

encourage the Australian chocolate industry to commit to a plan of action that will stop child labour and exploitation in cocoa production; and

(ii)

look into the feasibility of ensuring fair trade chocolate is available in Parliament House.

Senator Birmingham to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Water Act 2007 to save the Goulburn and Murray Rivers, and for related purposes. Water Amendment (Saving the Goulburn and Murray Rivers) Bill 2008.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Wednesday, 3 December 2008 is International Day of People with Disability,

(ii)

the theme for 2008 is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,

(iii)

Australia became a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in July 2008,

(iv)

the Government is currently developing a national disability strategy, and

(v)

the recent Council of Australian Governments funding round provided a welcome increase in the rate of indexation and the overall level of funding to the states and territories for the provision of disability services and support; and

(b)

calls on the Government to ensure that the national disability strategy:

(i)

contains a strong emphasis on human rights, and

(ii)

provides a suitable platform through which to address the current lack of consistency between the states and territories in the provision of services, supported accommodation and aids to people with disability.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matters be referred to the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee for inquiry and report by 25 June 2009:

(a)

an assessment of the environmental, economic and community impacts of existing and proposed forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands including compliance with relevant environmental approvals and conditions;

(b)

a review of governance arrangements relating to existing forestry and mining operations on the Tiwi Islands, including the examination of consent and approval processes to date;

(c)

in respect to forestry operations, an examination of the adequacy of contractual, commercial and legal arrangements between project proponents and operators and the Tiwi Land Council (including examination and reporting on ‘Commercial-in-Confidence’ documentation and land valuations, lease arrangements and royalty payments);

(d)

an examination of the economic opportunity costs associated with existing developments including forestry operations;

(e)

an examination of the prospects for alternative economic development opportunities and impediments for the Tiwi Islands including sale and promotion of cultural products, community development activities, land and sea management, and opportunities for involvement in future carbon trading and emissions offsets schemes; and

(f)

any related matters.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following operate as temporary orders until the conclusion of the 2009 sittings:

(1)

Adjournment debate on Tuesdays

On the question for the adjournment of the Senate on Tuesday, a senator who has spoken once subject to the time limit of 10 minutes may speak again for not more than 10 minutes if no other senator who has not already spoken once wishes to speak, provided that a senator may by leave speak for not more than 20 minutes on one occasion.

(2)

Divisions on Thursday

If a division is called for on Thursday after 4.30 pm, the matter before the Senate shall be adjourned until the next day of sitting at a time fixed by the Senate.

(3)

Substitute members of committees

If a member of a committee appointed under standing order 25 is unable to attend a meeting of the committee, that member may in writing to the chair of the committee appoint a participating member to act as a substitute member of the committee at that meeting. If the member is incapacitated or unavailable, a letter to the chair of a committee appointing a participating member to act as a substitute member of the committee may be signed on behalf of the member by the leader of the party or group on whose nomination the member was appointed to the committee.

Senator Ludwig to move on 4 December 2008:

That, on Thursday, 4 December 2008:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;

(b)

consideration of general business and consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General’s reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with;

(c)

the routine of business from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 3.45 pm shall be government business only;

(d)

divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

(e)

if the Senate is sitting at 11 pm, the sitting of the Senate shall be suspended till 9 am on Friday, 5 December 2008.

Senator McGauran to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes and commends the honesty of the Deputy Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) for saying on ABC TV Breakfast on 7 November 2008, ‘When we put the Budget together in May, obviously we weren’t predicting, and no one was predicting, the global financial crisis which then emerged’;

(b)

notes the contradictory statement made by Senator Conroy when during question time of 27 November 2008 he said, ‘In the May budget the government was acutely aware of the risks posed by the global financial crisis’;

(c)

notes, with concern, the Rudd Labor Government’s lack of coherent economic strategy in the face of the global financial crisis; and

(d)

calls on the Government to level with the people of Australia and concentrate on managing the Australian economy instead of managing the 24-hour news cycle.