Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 454, which relates to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, be taken as a formal motion.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you mean motion No. 454 or No. 453? In my notes, No. 454 relates to West Papua. I have just been advised it is a misprint. You are correct; my notes are wrong.

Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I just get a point of clarification? There is slight confusion over the motion which is being moved. Could Senator Nettle clarify that.

Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I will clarify that. As we have just heard from the Clerk, motion No. 453 , which relates to West Papua and the security treaty with Indonesia, has been postponed. What I am doing now is seeking leave to move motion No. 454, which relates to recognising that today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I would like to make a short statement before agreeing to take this as a formal motion. Like many senators in this place today and in the past, I am of the view that there is a range of business that should not be dealt with as formal business. Many complex propositions are put forward in this place and deserve to be debated. It is an abuse of the formal business process to put these complex propositions to a simple yes/no decision, without the opportunity to really debate them. Formal business is intended for simple process matters or matters where there is no need for debate. Mr President, could you ask the Procedure Committee to again have a look at this matter. On a number of motions today that are not really substantive or where there is not really an opportunity to debate them, I will be abstaining.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no objection to the motion being taken as formal, but I have noted what you have said. Of course, you can always deny formality, Senator Fielding, if that is your wish.

Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—One of the regular things that we do in the Senate is acknowledge particular days of national significance. This motion is about one of those days: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is an issue we have spoken about in this chamber. I had the opportunity to speak with the office of the minister, who I understand is in agreement with recognising and acknowledging this day. One of the practices of this chamber is that when people want to discuss a particular motion that is being put forward the opportunity is there for them to do that, by giving notice the day before. That is the opportunity that the minister’s office took up, to speak with me last night about this motion, and we were able to reach agreement and be happy to proceed with this motion. That is an opportunity that is open to all senators who seek to engage in the debate, and I encourage all senators, including Senator Fielding, to take that opportunity as other senators do.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Nettle, there is no objection to formality so I would ask you to move the motion.

Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Thursday, 15 June 2006 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aimed at promoting a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons,

(ii)

the United Nations International Plan of Action on Ageing recognises the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue,

(iii)

no community or country in the world, including Australia, is immune from this costly public health and human rights crisis, and

(iv)

Australia’s seniors are valued members of society and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they live safely and with dignity; and

(b)

calls on the Government to support initiatives that will ensure:

(i)

the safety of elder Australians in their homes, in aged care facilities, and in the wider community, and

(ii)

that elder Australians have access to adequate food, housing standards and medical care.

Question agreed to.