Senator Boyce to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 10 February 2011, from 11.30 am.

Senator Hurley to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sittings of the Senate on Thursday, 10 February, Thursday, 3 March and Thursday, 24 March 2011, from 3 pm to 4 pm.

Senator Bushby to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 9 February 2011, from 6 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiries into competition within the Australian banking sector and the amendments proposed by Senator Cormann on sheet 7010 [Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 4) Bill 2010].

Senator Bushby to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sittings of the Senate on Thursday, 10 February, Thursday, 3 March and Thursday, 24 March 2011, from 3 pm to 4 pm.

Ms Julie Bishop to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate as follows:

(a)

from 10 am to 1.30 pm on Monday, 28 February 2011 to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the review of the Defence major projects report; and

(b)

from 11 am to 1 pm on Wednesday, 2 March and Wednesday, 23 March 2011, and from 10 am to 1.30 pm on Monday, 21 March 2011 to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the review of Auditor-General’s reports.

       Senator Back to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of reports of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee be extended as follows:

(a)

Industry Skills Councils––to 23 March 2011; and

(b)

Primary Schools for the 21st Century program––to 24 March 2011.

Senator Back to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the Australian Government has entered into separate bilateral agreements with the states and territories and with Block Grant Authorities (BGAs) in relation to the expenditure of funding granted under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program,

(ii)

the language in the agreements with the states and territories differs from the language in the agreements with the BGAs with respect to the Australian Government’s ability to withhold, suspend or recover monies in the event that the funding is not expended for the purposes of the program and in accordance with the BER Guidelines, and

(iii)

the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations indicated at a Senate estimates hearing in October 2010 that the Commonwealth has obtained legal advice that confirms that, notwithstanding the differences in language in the agreements, under each of the two types of agreements the Commonwealth has the power to withhold or recover monies; and

(b)

orders that there be laid on the table by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, no later than 4 pm on Thursday, 10 February 2011, a copy of the legal advice relied on by the Government to reach this conclusion.

Senator Joyce to move on the next day of sitting:

(1)

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 May 2011:

The provisions of the Water Act 2007 (the Act), with particular reference to the direction it provides for the development of a Basin Plan, including:

(a)

any ambiguities or constraints in the Act which would prevent a Basin Plan from being developed on an equally weighted consideration of economic, social and environmental factors;

(b)

the differences in legal interpretations of the Act;

(c)

the constitutional power of the Commonwealth to legislate in the area of water;

(d)

the role of relevant international agreements and the effect of those on the parts of the Act which direct the Basin Plan to give effect to those agreements and their effect on the Act more generally;

(e)

any amendments that would be required to ensure that economic, social and environmental factors are given equally weighted consideration in developing the Basin Plan; and

(f)

any other related matter.

Senator Crossin to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 be extended to 22 March 2011.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the tragic events surrounding Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel 221, which saw the drowning of 30 asylum seekers off the coast of Christmas Island on 15 December 2010;

(b)

recognises the impact that this tragedy has had on the community as a whole and, in particular, the community of Christmas Island; and

(c)

expresses sympathy and conveys its condolences to the friends and family in Australia and abroad of those who lost their lives.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the bund at Narrung in South Australia is having a negative impact on the Lower Lakes and, in particular, the Lake Albert community, by restricting fresh water flow, and

(ii)

the Lower Lakes community wishes to have the bund removed as an urgent priority;

(b)

recognises that:

(i)

the community was advised by the South Australian Government at the time the bund was constructed that it was a short-term measure and that the Federal Government would provide funding to facilitate its removal, and

(ii)

3 years on, the bund has still not been removed; and

(c)

calls on the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities immediately to investigate this matter.

• (c)calls on the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities immediately to investigate this matter.