Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the comments by the Minister for Education (Ms Gillard) that she is considering extending the Federal Government’s method of funding private schools on a socioeconomic basis to the public school system;

(b)

recognises the limitations of this model, as evidenced by the fact that 51 per cent of non-government schools receive more money than they are entitled to on the basis of their socioeconomic status (SES) score and that many issues affect the resourcing needs of schools, aside from socioeconomic status; and

(c)

urges the Government to commit to ensuring that any changes to funding models for public schools:

(i)

guarantee that no school will lose money, as was promised when the SES model was introduced for private schools funding,

(ii)

takes into account the proportion of students who have special learning needs as a result of:

(a)

intellectual or physical disabilities,

(b)

learning difficulties or disabilities,

(c)

a language background other than English,

(d)

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background,

(e)

geographic isolation, and

(f)

disruptive behaviour, and

(iii)

raise the level of per capita funding for primary schools to that of secondary schools in recognition of the importance of early learning.

Senator Bernardi to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes with deep regret the passing of Mr William Alfred (Bill) Brown, OAM on 16 March 2008;

(b)

acknowledges the significant contribution Mr Brown made to:

(i)

Australia as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, seeing action in the Pacific, and

(ii)

Australian cricket through his career as a batsman, Australian captain and as a mentor to other cricketers;

(c)

notes that at the time of his passing Mr Brown was Australia’s oldest surviving test cricketer, and was the last survivor of one of the defining moments in Australian cricket history, the 1934 Test defeat to England at Lords; and

(d)

offers its condolences to his family and friends.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to make various amendments of the statute law of the Commonwealth, to repeal certain obsolete Acts, and for related purposes. Statute Law Revision Bill 2008.

Senator Conroy to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to telecommunications, and for other purposes. Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008.

Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 4 September 2008:

Concerns in relation to meat marketing, with particular reference to the need for effective supervision of national standards and controls and the national harmonisation of regulations applying to the branding and marketing of meat.