Senator Stott Despoja to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the Make Poverty History campaign’s White Band Day on Sunday, 2 April 2006;

(ii)

the continuing tremendous efforts of the many non-government organisations involved in the Make Poverty History campaign, in pursuit of their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals,

(ii)

the Government’s response to the tsunami crisis and aid budget increase and the understanding that this response may serve as a guide to Australia in supporting the Make Poverty History campaign to achieve its goal of halving world poverty by 2015,

(iv)

that Australia has the capacity to assist the campaign in a particularly constructive and valuable way, and

(v)

that an end to world poverty is attainable with the assistance and determination of nations such as Australia; and

(b)

calls on the Government to continue to increase the proportion of budget funding for aid in the 2006 budget, consistent with its commitment to helping developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.

Senator Stott Despoja to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the 50th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women was held in New York from 27 February to 10 March 2006, and

(ii)

the themes for this session were enhanced participation of women in development—an enabling environment for achieving gender equality and the advancement of women, taking into account education, health and work—and equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels; and

(b)

urges the Government to sign the Optional Protocol to progress these issues more effectively and set an example for other countries around the world which have not yet signed the Optional Protocol.

Senators Stott Despoja and Bartlett to move on Wednesday, 10 May 2006:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to provide for same-sex unions, and for related purposes. Same-Sex Unions Bill 2006.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Madam Fu Ying, stated in December 2005 that China does not have sufficient uranium for both its weapons and civilian energy programs,

(ii)

Australian yellowcake needs to go to conversion, enrichment and processing facilities before being allocated to declared civilian nuclear power stations,

(iii)

most of the conversion, enrichment and processing facilities are not declared facilities and are therefore not covered by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and

(iv)

those facilities that are declared are only declared at the discretion of the Chinese Government, and therefore are voluntary and can at any time be removed from IAEA safeguards;

(b)

recognises therefore that by exporting uranium to China, Australia will be supporting, either directly or indirectly, the Chinese nuclear weapons program in contravention of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and

(c)

opposes and condemns the export of uranium to China.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the statement by the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, on 28 March 2006 that ‘whilst India is not a signatory to the [Nuclear Non-Proliferation] treaty, everybody knows that, her behaviour since exploding a device in 1974 has been impeccable’,

(ii)

that India conducted nuclear tests in 1998, prompting the Australian Government to sever defence links with India,

(iii)

that India resumed missile testing in 2001, using an intermediate range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead,

(iv)

that India has still not become a party to either the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty nor the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and

(v)

India has a well-developed, active and secret program to outfit its uranium enrichment program and circumvent other countries’ technology export control efforts, according to a recently-released report by the United States of America-based Institute of Science and International Security; and

(b)

calls on the Prime Minister to rule out any change to the Government’s policy of refusing to permit the sale of uranium to India.