The following orders of the day relating to committee reports and government responses were considered:

Electoral Matters—Joint Standing Committee—Advisory report—Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2008. Motion of Senator Hutchins to take note of report agreed to.

Community Affairs—Standing Committee—Report—Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008, Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008 and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Moore) to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Boyce the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.

Economics—Standing Committee—Report—Lost in Space? Setting a new direction for Australia’s space science and industry sector. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Hurley) to take note of report agreed to.

Community Affairs—Standing Committee—Report—Building trust: Supporting families through disability trusts. Motion of Senator Siewert to take note of report agreed to.

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport—Standing Committee—Report—Water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008). Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Sterle) to take note of report agreed to.

Community Affairs—Standing Committee—Report—Towards recovery: Mental health services in Australia. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Moore) to take note of report called on. Debate adjourned till the next day of sitting, Senator Boyce in continuation.

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport—Standing Committee—Report—Implementation, operation and administration of the legislation underpinning Carbon Sink Forests. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Sterle) to take note of report agreed to.

State Government Financial Management—Select Committee—Report. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Macdonald) to take note of report agreed to.

Procedure—Standing Committee—First report of 2008—Restructuring question time; Reference of bills to committees; Questions to chairs of committees; Deputy chairs of committees; Leave to make statements. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Ferguson)—That the Senate take note of the report called on—and on the amendment moved by the Leader of the Family First Party (Senator Fielding)At the end of the motion, add “, but the Senate is of the opinion that, instead of restructuring question time in a manner that could reduce the accountability of ministers to the Senate, the rules relating to questions and answers, contained in past presidential rulings, which require, amongst other things, that questions actually be questions relating to ministerial responsibilities, and that answers be responsive and relevant to the questions, be written into the standing orders, and that the Procedure Committee, with the assistance of external expert advisers, review the effectiveness of question time and the application of those rules at the end of each period of sittings”. Debate adjourned till the next day of sitting, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing (Senator McLucas) in continuation.

Environment, Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Report—Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. Motion of Senator Collins to take note of report agreed to.