Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to social security and family assistance, and for other purposes. Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2011.

Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Judith Adams (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is:

  (i)   an overarching term used to describe a range of physical, mental, behavioural, learning and development disorders that can result from foetal exposure to alcohol, and

  (ii)   reported to be the greatest cause of non-congenital, irreversible and permanent brain damage to new-borns in Australia;

  (b)   calls on the Australian Parliament to continue to facilitate and support the development of a FASD national diagnostic tool for the use of medical professionals and other health service providers; and

  (c)   calls on the Australian Government to:

  (i)   give FASD the status of a recognised disability in Australia,

  (ii)   institute a national awareness campaign to raise community awareness of the risks to the unborn child when alcohol is consumed in pregnancy and highlight the potential cognitive and developmental consequences for affected individuals as these pertain to service providers, law enforcement and justice, the community sector and education, and

  (iii)   give support to the development of models of care and helping strategies for families and individuals dealing with the impacts of FASD.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 August 2011:

The Government’s funding and administration of mental health services in Australia, with particular reference to:

  (a)   the cuts in services under the Better Access Initiative and the rationalisation of general practitioner (GP) mental health services;

  (b)   the reduction of the number of allied health treatment sessions available to patients under the Better Access Initiative;

  (c)   the impact of reducing Medicare rebates and the two-tiered rebate structure for clinical assessment and preparation of a care plan by GPs;

  (d)   the impact of reducing the number of allied mental health treatment services for patients with mild or moderate mental illness under the Medicare Benefits Schedule;

  (e)   the impact and adequacy of services of treatment of additional patients with advanced mental illness through programs such as the Access to Allied Psychological Services program;

  (f)   the two-tiered Medicare rebate system for psychologists;

  (g)   workforce qualifications and training, including qualifications and experience of psychologists;

  (h)   mental health workforce shortages;

  (i)   the adequacy of mental health funding and services, including for:

  (i)   culturally and linguistically diverse communities,

  (ii)   Indigenous communities, and

  (iii)   people with disabilities; and

  (j)   any other related matter.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   orders that all documents associated with the development of the import protocol for apples from New Zealand be laid on the table by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by 5 pm on Thursday, 30 June 2011, including:

  (i)   all details of the Integrated Fruit Production System that forms the basis of on farm management of fireblight and other diseases in orchards producing apples for export to Australia, including a copy of the Integrated Fruit Production Manual,

  (ii)   documents referred to in the Draft report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for apples from New Zealand (May 2011) (the draft report), including:

  (A)   Biosecurity Services Group (2011) Trip Report: Apple production practices in Hawkes Bay and Nelson, New Zealand, March 6–11, Biosecurity Services Group, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra,

  (B)   Japan Regulations (2007) Plant Quarantine Enforcement: Detailed Regulation Concerning Fresh Apple Fruit Produced in New Zealand, July 2007,

  (C)   Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand (2011) Correspondence sent from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to Plant Biosecurity, 8 April 2011, and

  (D)   Rogers DJ (2008): Correspondence sent from Dr DJ Rogers to the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and

  (iii)   evidence of new science taken into account in preparing the draft report which was not referred to in the Final Import Risk Analysis Report for Apples from New Zealand (November 2006),

  (iv)   records of communications between Biosecurity Australia or the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with:

  (A)   the Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, or Minister for Trade about the draft report, or the review leading to the draft report, including all briefings provided to the Prime Minister concerning the review prior to her speech to the New Zealand Parliament on 16 February 2011 and all briefings provided to the Minister for Trade, Minister for Foreign Affairs or Prime Minister concerning the review prior to the Minister for Trade publishing the document ‘Gillard Government Trade Policy Statement: Trading our way to more jobs and prosperity’ in April 2011,

  (B)   the Director of Quarantine,

  (C)   the Government of New Zealand since the decision by the World Trade Organization in 2010, including ministers and New Zealand Government departments and agencies, and

  (D)   Pipfruit New Zealand Inc.,

  (v)   all details of how ‘equivalence’ of other systems will be assessed and the process of consulting with Australian industry with regard to permission of other on farm systems,

  (vi)   all details relating to the verification processes, including audit frequency, auditor qualifications/competency and registration, related to the Integrated Fruit Production System,

  (vii)   all details of the historic efficacy of the Integrated Fruit Production System in containing, controlling and preventing the outbreak of fireblight and other diseases in apple orchards,

  (viii)   all details of pack house management protocols for export of apples to Australia, including, but not limited to:

  (A)   details of testing and assessment of fruit maturity,

  (B)   maintenance of sanitary conditions in dump tank water,

  (C)   maintenance of high pressure water washing and brushing of fruit,

  (D)   good hygiene practices, and

  (E)   training of key personnel in the identification of fireblight and other diseases of concern to Australia,

  (ix)   all details relating to the verification processes, including audit frequency, auditor qualifications/competency and registration, related to the pack house management protocols,

  (x)   details of accreditation of auditors and certification bodies by independent bodies, such as JAS-ANZ [Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand],

  (xi)   all details of inspection protocols at the border, including training, qualifications/competency and registration of inspectors, and

  (xii)   mitigation measures for outbreaks of fireblight in export orchards; and

  (b)   calls on the Government to extend to 4 August 2011 the period of public consultation by Biosecurity Australia on the draft report, to allow consideration of the documents referred to above.

Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 23 November 2011:

  (a)    the expected role of Government in preventing the destruction and concealment of documents which should be retained in the public interest, including documents in relation to potential legal proceedings;

  (b)   the circumstances under which documents should be categorised as Cabinet-in-confidence;

  (c)   the need for a national requirement for documents relating to child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, to be held for a minimum of 30 years;

  (d)   the appropriateness of victims of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, being required to sign confidentiality agreements as part of any compensation arrangements;

  (e)   the role state and federal archivists can play in setting standards for the preservation of documents relating to the above matters;

  (f)   in relation to events relating to allegations of abuse in the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre in Queensland from 1988:

  (i)   the shredding of documents by the then-Queensland Government in 1990 relating to the alleged rape of a resident at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre in 1988, and other abuses and the implications these actions had on the ability of victims and others to pursue their legal rights with reference to section 129 of the Queensland Criminal Code, and the need for a national approach to the protection of such documents,

  (ii)   previous Queensland Government initiated inquiries and Federal Parliamentary inquiries into the matters referred to at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre,

  (iii)   whether evidence provided to previous Senate committee inquiries about the shredding of the documents referred to was misleading, or whether evidence was withheld from previous Senate committee inquiries, and whether there is any new evidence relating to these matters, and

  (iv)   the prevalence of abuse, and how reports of abuse were managed by management at the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre, and whether there should be national standards generally in relation to the reporting and management of such matters; and

  (g)   any other related matter.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 18 August 2011:

The Government’s administration of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), with particular reference to:

  (a)   the deferral of listing medicines on the PBS that have been recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee;

  (b)   any consequences for patients of such deferrals;

  (c)   any consequences for the pharmaceutical sector of such deferrals;

  (d)   any impacts on the future availability of medicines in the Australian market due to such deferrals;

  (e)   the criteria and advice used to determine medicines to be deferred;

  (f)   the financial impact on the Commonwealth Budget of deferring the listing of medicines;

  (g)   the consultation process prior to a deferral;

  (h)   compliance with the intent of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Medicines Australia in May 2010; and

  (i)   any other related matter.

Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 5 July 2011, from 4 pm.

To move:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 be extended to 29 June 2011.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matters be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 September 2011:

  (a)   the effectiveness of the Australian Government’s response to Australian citizens who are kidnapped and held for ransom overseas, including but not limited to the response of the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the consular assistance in the relevant country;

  (b)   how the Australian Government’s response in these situations compares to the approach taken by other countries;

  (c)   measures that could be taken by the Australian Government to improve the handling of its assistance to Australian citizens and their families; and

  (d)   any other related matter.

Bill Heffernan (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

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 29 November 2011.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2011 be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 15 September 2011.

To move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes:

  (i)   the ongoing crisis and radiation leaks from the severely damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex,

  (ii)   that on 12 April 2011 the nuclear disaster reached INES [International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale] disaster level 7, the worst possible type of nuclear event due to cumulative radiation releases and contamination of the air, soil, water and food,

  (iii)   the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and specialist research institutes have documented radiation from Fukushima spreading to Korea, China, Russia, Europe, the United States of America and Australia,

  (iv)   that seabed, air and soil samples taken in the region record alarming radiation levels that are hundreds of times higher than previously detected in and around Fukushima,

  (v)   the 7 June 2011 report from Japan to the United Nations indicating that fuel in three Fukushima’s reactors have melted through the containment structure,

  (vi)   the report tabled on 6 June 2011 by Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency that doubled the figure for the radiation it believed was released into the atmosphere in the first 6 days, from 370 000 terabecquerels to 770 000,

  (vii)   the 3 June 2011 disclosure that Japanese authorities had suppressed the 12 March 2011 finding of radioactive tellurium 6 kilometres from Fukushima, the presence of which indicates that the temperature of the fuel rods was more than 1 000 degrees and that a meltdown had commenced before the emergency ventilation of the unit 1 reactor containment, and

  (viii)   the Declaration by the International Atomic Energy Agency Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety in Vienna of 20 June 2011; and

  (b)   calls on the Australian Government to:

  (i)   maintain the interdepartmental emergency task force coordinating Australian nuclear expertise and equipment to measure detectable levels of radiation, model the plumes and provide advice to the Australian Government,

  (ii)   publicly disclose all data held by Australian authorities on inspection and monitoring efforts regarding radiation levels in the environment, including radiation levels in the surface of soil, rain water, tap water, food and air, exposure to which is dangerous to human health, and

  (iii)   regularly update the Senate on findings by the interdepartmental emergency task force on all data collected by Australian nuclear experts and equipment.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee as an inquiry under standing order 25(2)(a), for inquiry and report by 29 November 2011:

The performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), with particular reference to:

  (a)   matters raised at the Budget estimates hearing of the committee on 23 May 2011 and in answers to questions taken on notice;

  (b)   policies and practices followed by DPS for the management of the heritage values of Parliament House and its contents;

  (c)   asset management and disposal policies and practices;

  (d)   resource agreements and/or memoranda of understanding for the provision of services within and by DPS;

  (e)   an assessment of the efficiencies achieved following the amalgamation of the three former joint parliamentary service departments and any impact on the level and quality of service delivery;

  (f)   the efficient use, management and delivery of information technology services and equipment; and

  (g)   any related matter.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 August 2011:

The Government’s funding and administration of mental health services in Australia, with particular reference to:

  (a)   the Government’s 2011 12 Budget investments in mental health;

  (b)   changes to the Better Access Initiative;

  (c)   the impact and adequacy of services provided to people with mental illness through the Access to Allied Psychological Services program;

  (d)   services available for people with severe mental illness and the coordination of those services;

  (e)   mental health workforce issues;

  (f)   the adequacy of mental health funding and services for disadvantaged groups;

  (g)   the delivery of a national mental health commission;

  (h)   the impact of online services for people with a mental illness, with particular regard to those living in rural and remote locations and other hard to reach groups; and

  (i)   any other related matter.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 August 2011:

The Government’s funding and administration of mental health services in Australia, with particular reference to:

  (a)   the Government’s 2011 12 Budget investments in mental health;

  (b)   changes to the Better Access Initiative;

  (c)   the impact and adequacy of services provided to people with mental illness through the Access to Allied Psychological Services program;

  (d)   services available for people with severe mental illness and the coordination of those services;

  (e)   mental health workforce issues;

  (f)   the adequacy of mental health funding and services for disadvantaged groups;

  (g)   the delivery of a national mental health commission;

  (h)   the impact of online services for people with a mental illness, with particular regard to those living in rural and remote locations and other hard to reach groups; and

  (i)   any other related matter.