Senate debates

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Notices

Presentation

Senator Chris Evans to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate is of the view that the declaration of the opening of Parliament should be preceded by an Indigenous ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony.

Senator Marshall to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes the opening statement made by the President of Fair Work Australia on 1 June 2010 during his appearance at an estimates hearing of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee;
(b)
notes, in particular, the request made in that statement that the Senate reconsider its order of 28 October 2009 which requires that, on each occasion on which the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee meets to consider estimates in relation to Fair Work Australia, the President of Fair Work Australia appear before the committee to answer questions; and
(c)
modifies the order of 28 October 2009 by declaring that, while relaxing the requirement that the President of Fair Work Australia attend to answer questions on all occasions when the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee meets to consider estimates in relation to Fair Work Australia, the Senate expects that the President will appear should his or her presence be requested by the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee in the future.

Senator Cormann to move on the next day of sitting:

That the resolution of the Senate of 25 June 2008, as amended, appointing the Select Committee on Fuel and Energy, be amended to omit “30 June 2010”, substitute “30 August 2010”.

Senator Ryan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 August 2010:

The Ahead of the Game: Blueprint for the Reform of Australian Government Administration issued by the Advisory Group on Reform of Australian Government Administration in March 2010 and, in particular:

(a)
the implementation of recommendations contained in the review, including means and costs of implementation;
(b)
possible amendments to the Public Service Act 1999;
(c)
identification and consideration of related matters not covered by the review; and
(d)
any other related matter.

Senator Trood to move on the next day of sitting:

That, having regard to the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on parliamentary privilege and a possible interference in the work of the committee, the following matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report by 2 September 2010:

The adequacy of advice contained in the Government Guidelines for Official Witnesses before Parliamentary Committees and Related Matters for officials considering participating in a parliamentary committee whether in a personal capacity or otherwise.

Senator Nash and Colbeck to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 November 2010:
(a)
the adequacy of current biosecurity and quarantine arrangements, including resourcing;
(b)
projected demand and resourcing requirements;
(c)
progress toward achievement of reform of Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service export fees and charges;
(d)
progress in implementation of the ‘Beale Review’ recommendations and their place in meeting projected biosecurity demand and resourcing; and
(e)
any related matters.

Senator Siewert to move on Wednesday 23rd June 2010:

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, by Thursday, 24 June 2010, the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Montara oil spill.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
acknowledges that Sunday, 4 August 2010 is National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day;
(b)
recognises that the theme for 2010 is ‘Value My Culture, Value Me’ which emphasises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children need to know they are loved and valued, and to have every opportunity to nurture and explore a healthy and strong sense of self and community; and
(c)
embraces the message of ‘Value My Culture, Value Me’ by undertaking to promote new attitudes and forging a new pathway of understanding for the benefit of all Australians, build and improve relationships based on mutual respect, end disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and create equality for all in the broader Australian community.

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

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that the incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones is a major environmental problem that unnecessarily generates significant amounts of electronic waste;
(b)
acknowledges that it is an inconvenience for Australian consumers to acquire a new charger and dispose of the current one each time they want to acquire a new phone;
(c)
recognises that this problem can be fixed by the mobile phone industry working together to harmonise mobile phone chargers; and
(d)
calls on the Government to legislate for the harmonisation of mobile phone chargers in agreement with the mobile phone industry, similar to the agreement that has been reached in Europe.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that:
(i)
a crisis is looming in the building industry with Vero exiting the last resort builders’ home warranty insurance market in New South Wales by 30 September 2010 and in all other states by 30 June 2010 leaving only two providers in the market, QBE Insurance and Calliden,
(ii)
this insurance product is mandatory by law in all states except Tasmania and Queensland,
(iii)
thousands of Australian builders will be left without this insurance product on 30 June and 30 September 2010, respectively, requiring them to build illegally or to stop building immediately unless QBE Insurance provides insurance or there is government intervention within the next 8 days, and
(iv)
small building firms will be disproportionately affected as they will not be as attractive to a virtual monopoly provider as large building firms; and
(b)
calls on the Federal Government to act immediately with their state government counterparts to remove the mandatory requirement for this product before this impending crisis in the building industry occurs.