Senator Moore to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Community Affairs Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate, from 3 pm, as follows:

(a)

on Monday, 22 September 2008, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the draft National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits –– Charges) Regulations 2008; and

(b)

on Thursday, 25 September 2008, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiries into the draft National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits –– Charges) Regulations 2008, the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008, the Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008 and the ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008.

Senator Moore to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of reports of the Community Affairs Committee be extended as follows:

(a)

special disability trusts—to 16 October 2008; and

(b)

petrol sniffing and substance abuse in central Australia—to the last sitting day in March 2009.

Senator Sterle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 18 September 2008, from 4.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiries into the management of the Murray-Darling Basin system and the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008.

Senator Coonan to move on 22 September 2008:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Social Security Act 1991 to increase payments to single age pensioners and part pensioners by $30 per week. Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Bill 2008.

Senator Fifield to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate condemns the Rudd Government for its reckless management of the Australian economy in a time of global economic challenge, including:

(a)

the Government’s irresponsibility in talking down the Australian economy;

(b)

the massive collapse in consumer and business confidence since the election of the Rudd Government;

(c)

the delivery of a budget that forecasts an increase in unemployment;

(d)

the Government’s raising of inflationary expectations and failure to honour its promise to address cost of living pressures; and

(e)

the absence of a coherent economic strategy and a focus on presentation rather than policy.

Senator Ludlam to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

18 September 2008 marks one year since the peaceful uprising in Burma that became known as the ‘Saffron Revolution’, led by Buddhist monks, many still in detention or their whereabouts unknown, and

(ii)

two weeks of peaceful marches and rallies calling for democracy were brutally suppressed by the Burmese military regime at the cost of an unknown number of lives, injuries and ongoing detention;

(b)

calls on the Australian Government to:

(i)

work actively within the United Nations (UN) to challenge the credentials of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) holding the seat at the UN,

(ii)

propose a set of benchmarks for measuring the success of UN engagement with the SPDC, including the release of all political prisoners as a benchmark for the December 2008 visit to Burma by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

(iii)

use all diplomatic and economic means available to achieve the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the approximately 200 monks and nuns and others arrested since September 2007,

(iv)

urge the SPDC to stop all religious persecution, guarantee freedom of religion and respect the fundamental human rights of all the people of Burma,

(v)

make a priority of Australian foreign policy measures to have the SPDC engage in inclusive and time-bound dialogue with the pro-democracy and ethnic representatives to achieve genuine democracy, and

(vi)

evaluate what other measures the Government can take in direct or indirect support of the Burmese pro-democracy movement; and

(c)

expresses its ongoing support for the democratic aspirations and human rights of the people of Burma.