Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

record high prices of petrol in Australia are likely to increase due to recent wars in the Middle East, a diminishing number of significant oil reserves being discovered in the past decade and world-wide demand that is expected to exceed production sometime between 2010 and 2025,

(ii)

Australian oil production has diminished and currently around 65 per cent of all oil consumed is imported, and

(iii)

oil used in transport produces 17 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions;

(b)

notes also that:

(i)

oil companies are still reluctant to market biofuels and are unlikely to meet their Biofuels Action Plans targets for uptake in the 2006-07 financial year, and

(ii)

the Government has consistently undermined alternative fuels, imposing excise commencing in 2012, cutting excise on diesel, forcing onerous testing on small biodiesel producers and providing billions of dollars to the auto industry without leveraging fuel efficiency or alternative fuel conversions; and

(c)

urges the Government to:

(i)

release the report of its June 2006 review of the Biofuels Action Plan,

(ii)

keep excise off alternative fuels,

(iii)

mandate a proportion of petrol and diesel to be blended with at least 10 per cent biofuel,

(iv)

fund compressed natural gas refuelling stations,

(v)

provide incentives to motorists and auto manufacturers to take up alternative fuel and fuel efficient vehicles, and

(vi)

invest in better public transport, bike and walk ways and freight rail.

Senator Carr to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

condemns the Howard Government for its failure to address the widely acknowledge affordability crisis in Australia’s rental and home ownership markets; and

(b)

calls on the Howard Government to show leadership on this critical issue by working with state, territory and local governments, industry, business and the not-for-profit sector to develop a national housing strategy.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional References Committee for inquiry and report:

Temporary Business Long Stay (subclass 457) visas, with particular reference to:

(a)

the general efficiency and effectiveness of the visa;

(b)

the safeguards in place to ensure the integrity of the system;

(c)

the Government’s performance as administrator of the visa system;

(d)

the role of domestic and international labour hire firms and agreements;

(e)

the potential for displacement of Australian workers;

(f)

the difference between the pay and conditions of visa holders and the relevant rates in the Australian labour market;

(g)

the Government’s labour market testing required before visa approval;

(h)

the Government’s requirements of Regional Certifying Bodies for visa certification;

(i)

the interaction of this visa with the Work Choices legislation; and

(j)

any other related matter.

Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following operate as a temporary order until 30 June 2007:

If a division is called for on Thursday after 4.30 pm, the matter before the Senate shall be adjourned until the next day of sitting at a time fixed by the Senate.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

recognises that the global price of oil is likely to continue to rise because of dwindling global supply, ongoing demand including from the rapidly growing economies of China and India, limited and inflexible refining capacity, interrupted supply because of climate change related storms and infrastructure damage in addition to geo-political factors;

(b)

endorses the development of a national strategy to reduce Australia’s dependence on oil; and

(c)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

establish a Council of Australian Governments process to begin redesigning Australian cities with a view to investing in public transport to reduce car dependence,

(ii)

introduce mandatory vehicle fuel efficiency standards for all new motor vehicles, and

(iii)

invest in the development of alternative fuels.

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

That the Senate calls for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

Senator Bob Brown to move on Tuesday, 15 August 2006:

That clause 2.2 of Determination 2006/11: Remuneration and Allowances for Holders of Public Office and Members of Parliament, made pursuant to subsections 5(2A), 7(1), 7(3), 7(3D) and 7(4) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, be disapproved.