Senator Cash to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that 8 March 2011 is International Women’s Day;

(b)

acknowledges:

(i)

the work that UN Women, the United Nations (UN) organisation dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, undertakes to improve the conditions of women both domestically and internationally, and

(ii)

that despite the many rights and privileges Australian women enjoy, there remain challenges that we must strive to overcome;

(c)

notes, with concern, that:

(i)

in Australia, violence against women is still far too common with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing that one in three women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and

(ii)

harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, have been committed against women in certain communities and societies for many years and that such harmful practices are considered by some to be part of accepted cultural practice;

(d)

reaffirms its opposition to so-called traditional cultural practices which allow women to be subjected to crude and unrestrained primitive practices that would not be tolerated in Australia; and

(e)

recognises that Australians have a fundamental obligation to speak out and protect the human rights of women, both in Australia and overseas.

Senator Coonan to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(1)

The following matter be referred to the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in June 2011:

The future direction and role of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, with particular reference to whether its powers, processes and terms of reference remain appropriate.

(2)

In undertaking this inquiry, the committee should have regard to the role, powers and practices of similar committees in other jurisdictions.

(3)

The committee be authorised to hold public hearings in relation to this inquiry and to move from place to place.

(4)

The committee be authorised to access the records and papers of the 2010 inquiry into its future role and direction.

Senator Fifield to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate notes that after more than 3 years in office and a change in Prime Minister, the Government still has not found its way and continues to fail to deliver on its commitments to the Australian people.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee on biosecurity and quarantine arrangements be extended to 6 July 2011.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee be authorised to meet during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 3 March 2011, from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm, for a private briefing.

Senator Mark Bishop to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 3 March 2011, from 4.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010.

Senator Fifield to move on the next day of sitting:

That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, no later than noon on Monday, 21 March 2011:

(a)

all documents relating to the appointment of Ms Catherine Deveny as a disabilities ambassador for the International Day of People with Disability held on 3 December 2010, including, but not limited to, advice provided to the then Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, on the proposed appointment of Ms Deveny;

(b)

all correspondence between the Government and Ms Deveny in relation to Ms Deveny’s role as a disabilities ambassador, including the details of any expenses, allowances and payments paid by the Government to Ms Deveny connected with the performance of her role; and

(c)

details of meetings and functions, including dates, places and other principal guests, and any other related duties performed by Ms Deveny in her role as a disabilities ambassador.

Senator Fisher to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 2 November 2011:

The capacity of communication networks and emergency warning systems to deal with emergencies and natural disasters, with particular reference to:

(a)

the effectiveness of communication networks, including radio, telephone, Internet and other alert systems (in particular drawing on the spate of emergencies and natural disasters of the 2010/2011 Australian summer):

(i)

in warning of the imminent threat of an impending emergency,

(ii)

to function in a coordinated manner during an emergency, and

(iii)

to assist in recovery after an emergency;

(b)

the impact of extended power blackouts on warning systems for state emergency services, including country fire brigades and landholders or home owners;

(c)

the impact of emergencies and natural disasters on, and implications for, future communication technologies such as the National Broadband Network;

(d)

the scope for better educating people in high-risk regions about the use of communications equipment to prepare for and respond to a potential emergency or natural disaster;

(e)

new and emerging technologies including digital spectrum that could improve preparations for, responses to and recovery from, an emergency or natural disaster; and

(f)

any other relevant matters.

Senator Siewert to move on Thursday 3 March 2011:

That the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011 be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 13 May 2011.

Senator Xenophon to move on the next day of sitting:

That—

(1)

The following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 2 May 2011:

(a)

the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Flood and Cyclone Reconstruction Levy) Bill 2011 and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Temporary Flood and Cyclone Reconstruction Levy) Bill 2011;

(b)

current insurance and reinsurance arrangements of the states and territories of their assets and infrastructure;

(c)

the appropriateness of fiscal arrangements for natural disaster reconstruction efforts; and

(d)

any related matters.

(2)

Given that the proposed Flood and Cyclone Reconstruction Levy is intended to be allocated to the State of Queensland:

(a)

the Senate calls on the Queensland Government to provide to the committee any correspondence, and any related documents, between the Queensland Government and any insurance advisers, insurance brokers, reinsurance brokers, insurers and reinsurers in relation to providing services or insurance products, or offers or proposals of insurance or reinsurance of Queensland Government assets, from 1 January 2000; and

(b)

in conducting its inquiry, the committee seeks from any relevant individual, corporation or other private entity, any correspondence, and any related documents, between the Queensland Government and any insurance advisers, insurance brokers, reinsurance brokers, insurers and reinsurers in relation to providing services or insurance products, or offers or proposals of insurance or reinsurance of Queensland Government assets, from 1 January 2000.

(3)

In undertaking the inquiry, the committee hold at least 3 days of public hearings in Queensland.