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 long service leave in the black coal mining industry, and for related purposes. Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2011.

To move—

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the social security law, and for related purposes. Social Security Legislation Amendment (Family Participation Measures) Bill 2011.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move—

That—

(1)   Divisions may take place on:

  (a)   Thursday, 13 October 2011, after 4.30 pm; and

  (b)   Monday, 21 November 2011, before 12.30 pm.

(2)   The order of the Senate of 22 November 2010 relating to the days of meeting of the Senate for the year 2011, be modified as follows:

     Insert "Monday, 7 November to Thursday, 10 November".

(3)   On Tuesday, 1 November and 8 November 2011:

  (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 11 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.40 pm;

  (b)   the routine of business from 11 am shall be consideration of the government business order of the day relating to the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and 17 related bills; and

  (c)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 10 pm.

(4)   On Thursday, 3 November and 10 November 2011:

  (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 8.40 pm;

  (b)   consideration of general business and consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General's reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with;

  (c)   the government business order of the day relating to the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and 17 related bills shall have precedence over all government business;

  (d)   divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

  (e)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 8 pm.

(5)   The government business order of the day relating to the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and 17 related bills be considered under a limitation of time and that the time allotted be as follows:

  (a)   on Thursday, 3 November 2011, from 3.45 pm to 4 pm—second reading;

  (b)   on Thursday, 10 November 2011, at 4 pm—all remaining stages, excluding consideration of any messages from the House of Representatives; and

  (c)   on Monday, 21 November 2011, at 6 pm—all remaining stages, including consideration of any messages from the House of Representatives.

(6)   Subject to paragraph (5), this order operate as an allocation of time under standing order 142.

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

To move—

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes:

     (i)   the participation and status of women in the economy is central to development efforts,

     (ii)   the significant contribution the Australian Government is making to improve the lives of women across the globe,

     (iii)   the successful APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] Women and the Economy Summit, held in San Francisco, California, from 13 September to 16 September 2011, where Australia committed $2.2 million to help women start and expand their own small businesses, and

     (iv)   that this money will help microfinance institutions providing loans to more than 26 million women by the end of 2013, enabling these women to establish their own business, send their children to school, invest in their livelihoods and improve their family's standard of living; and

  (b)   calls on the Government to continue to invest in empowering women through the Australian aid program.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move—

That the time for the presentation of the final report of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee on the exposure drafts of Australian privacy amendment legislation be extended to 12 October 2011.

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

To move—

That the Community Affairs References Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 21 September 2011, from 4.30 pm.

To move—

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Fisheries Management Act 1991, and for related purposes. Fisheries Management Amendment (North West Slope Fishery Partial Closure) Bill 2011.

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

To move—

That the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee be authorised to meet during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 21 September 2011, from 5 pm, for a private briefing.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move—

That the Senate rejects the Government's attempts to provide inadequate protections for asylum seekers in its proposed legislation to resurrect its Malaysian asylum seeker deal.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move—

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters on the funding of political parties and election campaigns be extended to 1 December 2011.

Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To move—

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes:

     (i)   a roundtable meeting held in Federal Parliament supported a call for Sri Lanka to be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth because it has:

  (a)   refused to hold an independent investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the final stages of the civil war in 2009, and

  (b)   breached its commitment to uphold the 'rule of law' in the Commonwealth's values and principles, as set out in the Millbrook Commonwealth Action Program,

     (ii)   a precedent was set for temporarily suspending a country from the Councils of the Commonwealth when Pakistan was suspended in 1999 and Fiji was suspended in 2000 and 2006, and

     (iii)   the Sri Lankan President is planning to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth in October 2011; and

  (b)   calls on the Australian Government to support calls for Sri Lanka to be suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth until the Government of Sri Lanka:

     (i)   agrees to an international independent investigation into war crimes,

     (ii)   restores human rights and the rule of law, and

     (iii)   implements all of the recommendations of the United Nations Expert Panel Report on War Crimes in Sri Lanka.

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

To move—

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes:

     (i)   that on 7 September 2001, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed Resolution 55/282 declaring that the International Day of Peace should be observed annually on the fixed date of 21 September, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence,

     (ii)   that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has urged member states to support the observance of global ceasefire, and

     (iii)   that the slogan chosen by the UN for the 2011 marking of the day is 'Peace=Future' drawing particular attention to the impact of armed conflict on children and that the world's concerns will soon be in their hands;

  (b)   supports non-government organisations in Australia who intend to observe the day through vigils, concerts and walks; and

  (c)   calls on the Australian Government to:

     (i)   promote the observance of a global ceasefire for the duration of 21 September, and

     (ii)   support the observation of a ceasefire by not engaging in hostilities for the duration of 21 September, unless provoked to do so in self-defence.

To move—

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes:

     (i)   that the Northern Territory Government adopted legislation to launch a territory-wide container deposit scheme from 12 January 2010,

     (ii)   that Coca Cola Amatil has proposed legal action against the Northern Territory Government citing a breach of section 9 of the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, and

     (iii)   Clean Up Australia's activities throughout Australia over the weekend of 16 September and 17 September 2011; and

  (b)   calls on the Australian Government to adopt a container deposit scheme by all states and territories, effectively annulling the proposed court action by Coca Cola Amatil.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:

Defence Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2011

National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Amendment (Deer) Bill 2011

Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment (Oils in the Antarctic Area) Bill 2011.

I table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statements read as follows—

DEFENCE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2011

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this Bill is to reflect certain Defence policy in Defence administered legislation, specifically the Defence Act 1903, Naval Defence Act 1910 and the Air Force Act 1923 to provide that a Service Chief’s day to day administrative responsibility for their respective Service cadets is subject to the direction of the Minister or the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The amendments will also provide the CDF with a delegation making power (to the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)) in relation to cadet responsibility and direction.

Reasons for Urgency

Implementing this measure was a Labor 2010 election commitment: “A Gillard Labor Government will introduce legislation to give the Chief of the Defence Force more control and responsibility over the Cadets.” Implementation of the measure will strengthen the lines of accountability over for the ADF Cadet youth development organisation.

INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 2) 2011

Purpose of the Bill

This Bill amends the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 to make several minor governance and business changes. One of the amendments is to ensure that information held by Indigenous Business Australia will be appropriately protected but capable of being disclosed by that organisation in carrying out its proper functions, consistent with similar Commonwealth arrangements. Another change is to amend the agency head title of several portfolio bodies from ‘General Manager’ to ‘Chief Executive Officer’, as a better reflection of the responsibilities and expectations of these roles.

Reasons for Urgency

The amendment to the information-handling provision is important to enable Indigenous Business Australia to disclose information to agencies with responsibility for overseeing Commonwealth administrative practices – such as the Ombudsman and the Privacy Commissioner. This has not been possible to date because of a narrow focus in the provisions in question. In the past the current provisions have also prevented information being given to Commonwealth agencies working on joint initiatives with Indigenous Business Australia – and also to State and Territory agencies seeking to work more closely with Indigenous Business Australia to achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. The amended provision should overcome these difficulties, while maintaining appropriate protection of sensitive information. The new provisions will be consistent with similar Commonwealth arrangements for handling protected information, such as in the family assistance law and the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.

The change from ‘General Manager’ to ‘Chief Executive Officer’ will support current and potentially imminent recruitment processes for vacancies, bringing them into line with most other similar agencies, and help the Boards of these agencies to attract higher calibre candidates.

NATIONAL RESIDUE SURVEY (EXCISE) LEVY AMENDMENT (DEER) BILL 2011

Purpose of the Bill

The National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Amendment (Deer) Bill 2011 amends the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998 (the Act) to increase the maximum allowable levy rate (cap) for the National Residue Survey (NRS) component of the deer slaughter levy (the levy) from 4 to 10.5 cents per kilogram of carcase weight.

Reasons for Urgency

The Deer Industry Association of Australia, on behalf of the deer industry, has requested increasing the NRS component of the levy from 4 to 6 cents per kilogram as soon as possible in order to maintain a viable residue monitoring program. Approximately 85 per cent of venison produced in Australia is exported. The deer industry requires a residue monitoring program to access its key export markets.

Amendments to the Act to increase the NRS cap to 10.5 cents need to be in place to enable the consideration of amendments to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges (National Residue Survey Levies) Regulations 1998 to increase the NRS component of the levy from 4 to 6 cents per kilogram of carcase weight.

PROTECTION OF THE SEA (PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS) AMENDMENT (OILS IN THE ANTARCTIC AREA) BILL

Purpose of the Bill

The bill amends the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 to implement amendments to Annex I (Prevention of Pollution by Oil) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which are intended to prohibit the carriage or use on ships in the Antarctic area of heavy grade oils, and bitumen, tar and their emulsions.

Reasons for Urgency

The amendments to Annex I of MARPOL entered into force generally and for Australia on 1 August 2011. These amendments to MARPOL, which are important to protect the marine environment, cannot be enforced by Australia until amendments are made to the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.

I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills, allowing the bills to be considered during this period of sittings.

I table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement s read as follows—

Purpose of the Bills

The bills implement a carbon pricing mechanism with the aim of reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and meeting Australia’s international emissions reduction obligations and commitments, and provide assistance to households and industry to adjust to a carbon price.

Reasons for Urgency

Australia needs to reduce its carbon pollution as part of global efforts to combat climate change. Cuts in global pollution are necessary to reduce the risks posed by unmitigated climate change. For Australia, these risks are large, threatening the economy, natural heritage and our way of life.

Timely introduction of a carbon price is the most cost-effective and economically responsible way of reducing Australia’s carbon pollution. Its timely introduction would enable Australia to play its part in global efforts to reduce the risks posed by climate change. A carbon price will also provide opportunities for innovation and investment in lower carbon technologies, and opportunities and rewards for improved land use management.

The Government is aiming to commence the carbon pricing mechanism on 1 July 2012. Passage of enabling legislation in the 2011 Spring sittings is required to provide sufficient time for businesses to prepare systems and procedures for complying with the mechanism and to consider any additional investments they may wish to make to reduce their emissions liabilities.

Sufficient time will also be needed to establish the Clean Energy Regulator, the Climate Change Authority and associated systems to administer the carbon pricing mechanism and engage effectively and efficiently with entities covered by it, to deliver assistance to households and industry and to establish any additional systems required to deliver this assistance.