Senator O’Brien to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate notes that:

(a)

over a decade in office the Howard Government has established a new low for government integrity and accountability; and

(b)

the Howard Government’s record is littered with scandals involving rorts, waste and incompetence.

Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee for inquiry and report by 7 November 2006:

Sexual and reproductive health education in Australia, with particular reference to:

(a)

the current state of school based sex education, with reference to the effectiveness of current arrangements in ensuring that all students have access to developmentally appropriate, comprehensive, inclusive, evidence based and medically accurate information which encompasses:

(i)

sexual development,

(ii)

non-exploitive sexual relationships, and

(iii)

reproductive health including the full range of contraceptive choices, safe sex practices and sexually transmitted infections (STIs);

(b)

the importance of sex education in reducing unplanned pregnancies and abortions in Australia;

(c)

the appropriate role and adequacy of training and support for teachers and school nurses providing sex education;

(d)

the need for appropriate accountability mechanisms to ensure that sex education is consistent with good practice;

(e)

the analysis of overseas sexuality and reproductive health education models and their potential application to the Australian context;

(f)

the opportunities for current funding arrangements and agreements between the Commonwealth and state governments to better ensure access to comprehensive evidence based sexuality and reproductive health information;

(g)

the need for a national strategy for lifelong sexuality and health education, with adequate funding for general public information and education campaigns on existing services and new and emerging issues such as new forms of contraception and outbreaks of STIs;

(h)

the role of school based sex education, within a national coordinated approach to the sexual and reproductive health of the Australian population;

(i)

the development of national guidelines for preventative sexual and reproductive health care for young people by general practitioners and other primary care providers; and

(j)

the examination of the potential of school based or school linked health centres for providing sexuality and reproductive health education and health care for young people.

Senator Colbeck to move on the next day of sitting:

That on Monday, 27 March 2006:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm; and

(b)

the routine of business shall be:

(i)

question time, and

(ii)

the items specified in standing order 57(1)(a)(iii) to (xi).

Senator Boswell to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

congratulates the Howard/Vaile Government on measures to increase the number of doctors in Australia by lifting the cap on full fee paying places for medicine from 10 per cent to 25 per cent; and

(b)

notes that all Labor premiers at the Council of Australian Governments’ meeting embraced this initiative that will effectively offer up to an additional 400 students the opportunity to study medicine each year.

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

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

20 March 2006 is the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces,

(ii)

the suffering of the Iraqi people continues and there is no end in sight, and

(iii)

global opinion is that the Iraq war is a mistake; and

(b)

calls on the Government to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq immediately and implement a comprehensive aid program instead.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Ms Cornelia Rau was discovered detained in Baxter Detention Centre on 3 February 2005, almost 13 months ago, with an untreated mental illness,

(ii)

Ms Rau has not been compensated for her 10 months of detention, and

(iii)

Ms Rau is currently receiving sickness benefits; and

(b)

calls on the Government to ensure that Ms Rau is properly compensated for her ordeal as a matter of urgency.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

that this week is the annual ‘Science Meets Parliament’ event,

(ii)

the critical role of science in the protection of the environment and the development of new technologies and industries,

(iii)

the recent appointment to the board of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of people with ties to the fossil fuel industry, and

(iv)

the increasing level of political interference in scientific publications and commentary; and

(b)

calls on the Government to develop procedures for merit-based selection of independent CSIRO board members and to improve the public visibility of the activities of that board.