Senator Forshaw to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 19 March 2009, from 10 am, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into human rights mechanisms and the Asia-Pacific.

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

That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee be authorised to hold an in camera hearing during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 19 March 2009, from 5 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific.

Senator McGauran to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 17 March 2009, from 8 pm.

Senator McEwen to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee on the Water Amendment (Saving the Goulburn and Murray Rivers) Bill 2008 be extended to 7 May 2009.

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 implementation of recommendations of committee reports on child migration and Australians who experienced institutional or out-of-home care as children be extended to 25 June 2009.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That the order of the Senate of 11 March 2009 establishing the Select Committee on Climate Policy be varied as follows:

Omit paragraph (2), substitute:

(2)

That the committee consist of 10 senators, 4 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens, 1 nominated by the Leader of the Family First Party and 1 nominated by the independent senator.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That consideration of the business before the Senate on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator Back to make his first speech without any question before the chair.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Government’s second prop-up of $34 million to keep ABC Learning operating until 31 March 2009, is due to expire in 2 weeks time, and

(ii)

of the 241 failed centres due to be sold or closed, to date only 65 have been sold;

(b)

recognises that this crisis represents an opportunity for child care in Australia to be transformed from a market-driven industry to a vital community service and a government-supported first step in lifelong learning; and

(c)

calls on the Government to immediately make available capital grants funds and operational costs to assist not-for-profit child care providers in taking over the remaining centres.

Senators Hanson-Young and Humphries to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

expresses its deep regret at the two stonings in Mashhad, Iran, in December 2008;

(b)

notes:

(i)

reports received by Amnesty International highlighting that as many as eight woman are at imminent risk of being stoned to death for adultery in Iran, and

(ii)

that Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world, exceeded only by a more populous China; and

(c)

calls on the Australian Government to immediately urge the Iranian authorities to cease the punishment of death by stoning and halt all remaining executions of those sentenced to death.