Senator McEwen to move on 21 June 2010:

(a)

expresses:

(i)

the gratitude of the Australian nation to the military personnel and civilians in Rabaul and the New Guinea islands for their services in the defence of Australia during World War II, and

(ii)

its regret and sorrow for the sacrifices that were made in the defence of Rabaul and the New Guinea islands after the invasion of 23 January 1942 and in the subsequent sinking of the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942; and

(b)

conveys:

(i)

its condolences to the relatives of the people who died in this conflict, and

(ii)

its thanks to the relatives for their forbearance and efforts in ensuring that the nation remembers the sacrifices made.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

acknowledges that:

(i)

there are approximately 60 000 donor conceived individuals in Australia and with advances in reproductive technology this number is likely to increase significantly,

(ii)

all children, including adopted children and children conceived by artificial forms of conception, have the right to know, as far as possible, who their genetic parents are, and

(iii)

not enabling donor conceived individuals to have access to information about their donors and half siblings is a violation of the human rights of donor conceived individuals as described in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Australia is a signatory; and

(b)

agrees that Australia should consider enshrining the rights of donor conceived individuals in national legislation and the need for a nationally-controlled donor registry, given that the vast majority of donor conceived people do not have access to proper family medical histories.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

recognises the grief, pain and anguish suffered by thousands of mothers who were victims of the forced adoption policies implemented by state governments for decades; and

(b)

acknowledges:

(i)

this pain and grief is on-going, and

(ii)

these mothers deserve an apology for the pain and anguish they have suffered and continue to suffer.

Mr Adams to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 16 June 2010, from 12.30 pm to 2 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s biannual review of the National Capital Authority.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Rudd Government’s current and promised overseas aid commitment fails to meet the agreed United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goal of 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI),

(ii)

under the Copenhagen Accord, the Rudd Government undertook to contribute to US$30 billion for ‘fast start’ financing for the period 2010 to 2012 and that this would be additional to existing aid funding,

(iii)

an Australian contribution to US$30 billion is estimated at AU$760 million,

(iv)

the climate aid related spending announced in the budget is not additional and is less than half of Australia’s fair contribution, and

(v)

UN climate chief Yvo de Boer noted that, by pledging money that is not new and additional, some industrialised countries are beginning to ‘climate-wash’ and that this is not conducive to rebuilding trust in the international climate negotiations; and

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

provide overseas development aid of 0.7 per cent of GNI,

(ii)

state precisely what it regards as a fair and equitable contribution to the US$30 billion ‘fast start’ financing for climate mitigation and adaptation,

(iii)

make the climate funding additional to the overseas aid budget, and

(iv)

state when and how this funding will be provided.