Senator Sterle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee on the implementation, operation and administration of the legislation underpinning Carbon Sink Forests be extended to 3 September 2008.

Senator Parry to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate notes:

(a)

that many Australians are worse off today than they were in 2007;

(b)

that many Australians are experiencing difficulties due to increasing cost of living pressures; and

(c)

the Government’s failure to address these difficulties.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes with sadness the passing of Yvonne Butler, a Townsville elder and a tireless campaigner for social justice and Indigenous rights;

(b)

acknowledges the important role that Yvonne played in highlighting the injustice done to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers whose paid labour was controlled by the Government and which was instrumental in the establishment of the inquiry into stolen wages by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, and also led to an apology and reparations scheme from the Queensland Government;

(c)

recognises Yvonne’s bravery in coming forward to tell her story and the stories of her family, the important impact of her tireless efforts to encourage others to do the same and acknowledges the unanimous finding of the committee report, Unfinished business: Indigenous stolen wages, that for many Indigenous Australians whose wages and benefits were withheld across Australia this remains unfinished business; and

(d)

offers its condolences to her family and friends.

Senator Xenophon to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for emergency measures to ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin, and for related purposes. Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the urgent and warranted pleas of National Seniors Australia and pensioners around Australia about the dire economic circumstances facing many older Australians; and

(b)

calls on the Treasurer (Mr Swan) to raise, as a priority measure, the single aged pension $30 per week above the consumer price index adjustment at 30 September 2008.

Senator Ian Macdonald to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

at 3 pm on Tuesday, 26 August 2008, there were 24 people who could not get a bed at the Townsville General Hospital because of overcrowding,

(ii)

at the hospital ambulances are being used as makeshift beds in the first recorded case of ‘ramping’,

(iii)

at 10 am on 26 August 2008 there were 18 patients in the emergency department waiting for inpatient beds, and

(iv)

in August 2006 the then Labor Premier of Queensland made an election commitment to commence work on a new $85 million wing at the hospital in the 2007-08 financial year;

(b)

acknowledges that the Government Medicare threshold rebate proposals will throw additional inpatient bed pressure on the Townsville General Hospital already incapable of dealing with current demand; and

(c)

calls on the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to urgently fund and commence construction of the promised new wing of the Townsville General Hospital.

Senator Bob Brown to move on 2 September 2008:

That the Senate calls on the Government to explain the recent release of adverse comments about the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke.

Senators Ian Macdonald and Joyce to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that on 27 August 2008 a petition of 10 300 signatures was presented to the Queensland State Parliament to stop the demolition of the National Trust listed (Endangered Building) and National Estate registered, Cairns Yacht Club; and

(b)

calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (Mr Garrett) to accede to the Emergency Listing Request made by the ‘People Against Demolishing the Yacht Club’ for the Cairns Yacht Club under the National Heritage guidelines.

Senator Johnston to move on the next day of sitting:

(1)

That the following matters relating to the Western Australian gas crisis be referred to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 14 October 2008:

(a)

the causes and responsibilities for the gas explosion at Varanus Island on 3 June 2008;

(b)

the role of state and federal government agencies and the extent to which their inaction and failures may have contributed to the explosion and the subsequent gas crisis;

(c)

the role and responsibilities of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority before and since the explosion;

(d)

the economic impact of the Western Australia gas crisis, including but not limited to:

(i)

the extent of losses faced by business and industry failing to meet production targets due to the lack of gas supplies,

(ii)

the disproportionate disruption to industry in the south west of Western Australia, and

(iii)

the nature of contractual arrangements forced on business and industry during the gas crisis and their status since the resumption of gas supplies from Varanus Island; and

(e)

the government response to the Western Australian gas crisis, including but not limited to:

(i)

the adequacy of the crisis management response,

(ii)

the adequacy of reliance on one source supplies of gas for domestic markets,

(iii)

the provision of reliable and affordable supplies of alternative energy,

(iv)

the feasibility of developing emergency storage facilities of gas in depleted reservoirs or other repositories, and

(v)

the justification for any refusals to release relevant facts and documents publicly.

(2)

That, in undertaking this inquiry, the committee:

(a)

call for the production by the Western Australian Government of all relevant correspondence, advice and reports; and

(b)

take evidence in Perth and in major regional centres in Western Australia.

Senator Xenophon to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008 be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 30 September 2008, together with the reference to that committee agreed to on 27 August 2008.