Senator Lundy to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories 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 changing economic environment in the Indian Ocean Territories, on Wednesday, 19 August 2009, Wednesday, 9 September 2009 and Wednesday, 16 September 2009.

Senator O’Brien 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, 13 August 2009, from 10 am to 11.30 am, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into human rights mechanisms and the Asia-Pacific.

Senator Xenophon to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(1)

The Senate considers that, in addition to the existing resolutions in relation to the declaration by senators of interests and gifts, an accountability regime with the following elements should govern the declaration by senators of gifts and interests in the nature of sponsored travel, accommodation and hospitality:

(a)

that a written report of the sponsored travel undertaken by the senator be tabled within 60 days of the conclusion of the travel, detailing:

(i)

the cost or value of the sponsored travel, and

(ii)

the purpose of the sponsored travel and information gained;

(b)

that the written report be published on the Senate website within 14 days of the tabling of the report; and

(c)

that in the event of the sponsored travel not being disclosed and/or a written report not being provided within 60 days of the conclusion of the travel:

(i)

the senator be required to refund the actual cost of the sponsored travel (or if that cannot be ascertained the reasonable equivalent value thereof) within 30 days into general revenue, and

(ii)

that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee to determine whether any contempt was committed in that regard.

(2)

The following matter be referred to the Committee of Senators’ Interests, for inquiry and report:

The development of resolutions to give effect to an accountability regime for the declaration by senators of gifts and interests in the nature of sponsored travel, accommodation and hospitality, as outlined in paragraph (1).

(3)

For the purposes of the matter referred in paragraph (2):

(a)

standing order 22A(2), relating to membership of the committee, be modified to provide that the committee consist of 9 senators, including 2 nominated by any minority groups or independent senators; and

(b)

Senator Xenophon be appointed a member of the committee.

Senator Faulkner to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the 60th anniversary of the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949;

(b)

congratulates the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for continuously fostering the principles of international humanitarian law to limit human suffering in times of armed conflict and to prevent atrocities, especially against civilian populations, the wounded and prisoners of war;

(c)

recalls Australia’s ratification of the Conventions and of the two Additional Protocols of 1977;

(d)

affirms all parliamentary measures taken in support of such ratification;

(e)

encourages the fullest implementation of the Conventions and Additional Protocols by the military forces and civilian organisations of all States;

(f)

encourages ratification by all nations of the Conventions and Additional Protocols; and

(g)

recognises the extraordinary contribution made by many individual Australians, including Australian Red Cross members, volunteers and staff, in carrying out the humanitarian ideals expressed in the Conventions and Additional Protocols.

Senator Williams to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(1)

The following matters be referred to the Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 October 2009:

(a)

the potential impacts of current and projected mining operations on all environmental values in the Murray-Darling Basin and, in particular, the potential impacts upon surficial and groundwater flows and quality in the alluvial flood plains at its headwaters in the Namoi Valley and the Darling Downs catchments; and

(b)

evaluation of the potential impacts in the context of the Murray-Darling Plan.

(2)

In these terms of reference, ‘mining operations’ includes all minerals exploration and all minerals extraction including exploration for and extraction of gas.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that 12 August 2009 marks the ninth anniversary of the United Nations International Youth Day, with the 2009 theme ‘Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future.’;

(b)

recognises that:

(i)

in our global challenge to tackle climate change, it is our young people, especially those in developing countries and the Pacific Islands, whose future is at stake, and

(ii)

we need a commitment to strong emission reduction targets to protect our future generations; and

(c)

calls on the Government, on International Youth Day, to commit to targets that deliver real action on climate change, and not leave our future generations burdened with mistakes of inaction.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the violent unrest in Xinjiang province (East Turkistan) in China on 5 July 2009 in which, according to official reports, up to 200 people died; and

(b)

calls on the Government to seek assurances from the People’s Republic of China that human and political rights are upheld, under the Chinese Constitution and international law for the Uighur people and to promote with Beijing an act of self determination for the Uighur people.

Senator Barnett to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 October 2009:

The establishment, management, operation and closure of the GROCERYchoice website and, in particular:

(a)

the rationale and purpose for the website as stated by the Government before the 2007 election;

(b)

the business plan, modelling or plans formulated by the Government or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to establish, manage, operate and close the website;

(c)

the problems and issues faced by the ACCC in establishing, managing and operating the website, as well as in handing the website over to Choice;

(d)

the rationale for the ACCC ceasing to manage and operate the website;

(e)

the level of usage of the website while it was managed and operated by the ACCC;

(f)

the proposal Choice put to the Government to take over the website and the reasons why the Government was persuaded that taxpayers would receive value for money;

(g)

the problems and issues faced by Choice in establishing, operating and relaunching the website;

(h)

the contract arrangements with Choice and the various contractors involved with Choice’s and the ACCC’s management and operation of the website;

(i)

the legal issues and trade practices concerns arising from the establishment, management, operation and closure of the website;

(j)

the specific concerns of the major chains and independent retailers;

(k)

the total cost to the taxpayer in establishing, managing, operating and closing the website; and

(l)

any other matters incidental thereto.

Senator Carr to move on the next day of sitting:

That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal by the Department of Parliamentary Services relating to the Parliament Drive one-way road project.