Steve Hutchins (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Faulkner, George Campbell, Stephens and Forshaw, give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the Senate notes:

(a)

the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge;

(b)

the efforts of the estimated 4,000-strong unionised workforce which contributed to the construction of the bridge over a period of 10 years from 1922 to 1932, whose legacy is now an icon around the world;

(c)

the significant role unions played in securing fair wages and working conditions for bridge workers; and

(d)

the 16 workers who lost their lives during construction of the bridge, including Sydney Edward Addison, Francis Chilvers, Alfred Edmunds, Percy Poole, James Campbell, Robert Craig, Alexander Faulkner, Thomas McKeown, August Peterson, Nathanial Swandells, Henry Waters, Henry Webb, William Woods, Frederick Gillon, Robert Graham and Edward Shirley.

Senator Abetz to move on the next day of sitting:

That:

(1)

On Thursday, 22 March 2007:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 11.40 pm;

(b)

the routine of business from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from 7.30 pm shall be government business only;

(c)

divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

(d)

the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 11 pm.

(2)

The Senate shall sit on Friday, 23 March 2007 and that:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 4.10 pm;

(b)

the routine of business shall be:

(i)

notices of motion, and

(ii)

government business only; and

(c)

the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 3.30 pm.

(3)

On Tuesday, 27 March 2007:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;

(b)

the routine of business from 7.30 pm shall be government business only; and

(c)

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

(4)

On Thursday, 29 March 2007:

(a)

the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;

(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 routine of business from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 4.30 pm shall be government business only;

(d)

divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; and

(e)

the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed after the Senate has finally considered the bills listed below, including any messages from the House of Representatives:

Aged Care Amendment (Security and Protection) Bill 2007

Airports Amendment Bill 2006

Airspace Bill 2006

Airspace (Consequentials and Other Measures) Bill 2006

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2007

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2006-2007

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2006-2007

AusCheck Bill 2006

Corporations Amendment (Takeovers) Bill 2007

Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Welfare to Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Services) Bill 2006

Energy Efficiency Opportunities Amendment Bill 2006

Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2007

Health Insurance Amendment (Provider Number Review) Bill 2007

Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007

Migration Legislation Amendment (Information and Other Measures) Bill 2007

Migration Amendment (Review Provisions) Bill 2006 [2007]

Migration Amendment (Border Integrity) Bill 2006

Native Title Amendment Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance (Collapsed Organization Levy) Amendment Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance Complaints Levy Amendment Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance (Council Administration Levy) Amendment Bill 2006

Private Health Insurance (Reinsurance Trust Fund Levy) Amendment Bill 2006

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2006

Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment Bill 2007

Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 7) Bill 2006

Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes:

(i)

that Gunns Limited, proponents of Tasmania’s proposed Bell Bay pulp mill, abandoned the independent Resource Planning and Development Commission environment assessment process, accredited by both the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments on 14 March 2007, and

(ii)

the Tasmanian Government’s fast-track process, approved by Gunns, will not include the public and will not assess impacts on threatened species;

(b)

considers that commitment to due process is vitally important; and

(c)

calls on the Government to establish a public inquiry into the pulp mill under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, specifically including its impacts on listed threatened species, such as the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes:

(i)

that 82 Sri Lankan asylum seekers have been transferred to Nauru,

(ii)

claims by one of the asylum seekers that they were ‘detained and tortured’ and that he witnessed five of his friends being shot, and

(iii)

that the Government lacked the support of the Senate to expand offshore processing and did not proceed in 2006 with its Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006; and

(b)

calls on the Government to assess the protection claims of these asylum seekers fairly on the Australian mainland.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

welcomes the decision by the European Union (EU) to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 to 20 per cent below 1990 levels; and

(b)

calls on the Government to match or better the EU’s target.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes:

(i)

the recent attacks and beatings of Zimbabwean opposition members, including Movement for Democratic Change leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Mr Nelson Chamisa,

(ii)

the news that Zimbabwean President Mr Mugabe is importing up to 3,000 militia men from Angola to help bolster the ability of his own police force to clamp down on the opposition,

(iii)

that Mr David Coultard from the Movement for Democratic Change has urged more concrete diplomatic action from Australia to help resolve the democratic and humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe, and

(iv)

that former Zimbabwean Test Cricket Captain, Mr Andy Flowers, has in March 2007 called for sporting sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe; and

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

convene diplomatic meetings with other Commonwealth nations to push for further diplomatic, financial, aid and trade measures against the Mugabe regime, and

(ii)

consider compensating Cricket Australia for any loses imposed on them by the International Cricket Council if they cancel their scheduled tour of Zimbabwe later in 2007.