Senate debates

Wednesday, 13 June 2007

Notices

Presentation

Senator Bob Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)
notes that:
(i)
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002 to provide necessary funding for international programs to deal effectively with these diseases,
(ii)
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria are diseases that affect proportionately more people who live in poverty, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region,
(iii)
more than 6 million people die from these diseases each year, and despite rapid increases in treatment, only one-fifth of people with HIV who need anti-retroviral treatment are receiving it,
(iv)
TB is a leading killer of people infected with HIV, however, with the proper treatment of TB, this can prolong the lives of people with HIV by years and at a very low cost,
(v)
the Global Fund has received $US6.7 billion since its inception but reports that significantly more is required in order to adequately combat HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria,
(vi)
Australia’s past contribution to the Global Fund totals $AUD55 million and in the 2007-08 Budget the Government indicated it would allocate a further $AUD45 million,
(vii)
by 2010, Australia’s fair share of support for the Global Fund is calculated by RESULTS Australia and other international non-government organisations to be $AUD220 million per year, and
(viii)
at the recently concluded G8 meeting, world leaders promised $US60 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria over the next few years, which includes a $US30 billion commitment from the United States of America to fight HIV/AIDS over a 5-year period;
(b)
urges the Australian Government to support the G8’s commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria by realising its fair share of funding for the Global Fund; and
(c)
urges the Australian Government to make a 4-year commitment to the Global Fund of $AUD640 million.

Senator Humphries to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Community Affairs Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 14 June 2007, from 4 pm, to take evidence on a matter relating to the PET review.

Senator Abetz to move on the next day of sitting:

(1)
On Thursday, 14 June 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, 15 June 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, 19 June 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, 21 June 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:Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Township Leasing) Bill 2007Aged Care Amendment (Residential Care) Bill 2007Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Amendment Bill 2007Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2006-2007Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2006-2007Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Amendment Bill 2007Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Bill 2007Corporations Legislation Amendment (Simpler Regulatory System) Bill 2007Corporations (Fees) Amendment Bill 2007Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment Bill 2007Corporations (NZ Closer Economic Relations) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2007Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Management System and Other Measures) Bill 2007Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Restructures) Bill 2007Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2007Fisheries Levy Amendment Bill 2007Food Standards Australia New Zealand Amendment Bill 2007Forestry Marketing and Research and Development Services (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2007Forestry Marketing and Research and Development Services Bill 2007Governance Review Implementation (Science Research Agencies) Bill 2007Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment Bill 2007Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2007Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007Migration (Sponsorship Fees) Bill 2007Migration Amendment (Statutory Agency) Bill 2007National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2007Native Title Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2007Schools Assistance (Learning Together—Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007Social Security Amendment (Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up for Australian Apprentices) Bill 2007Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified GST Accounting) Bill 2007Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2007Workplace Relations Amendment (A Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007.

Senator Murray to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to encourage and facilitate the disclosure of information in the public interest, by protecting public officials and others who make disclosures, and for related purposes. Public Interest Disclosures Bill 2007 .

Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)
notes:
(i)
the imprisonment since November 2005 by the Ethiopian Government of members of the main opposition party, representatives of civic organisations and the banned free press, and
(ii)
these prisoners are declared by Amnesty International to be prisoners of conscience; and
(b)
urges the Government to make representations to the Ethiopian Government asking for the release of these prisoners of conscience, and to accept the results of the 2005 democratic election.

Senator Stephens to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matters be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 13 September 2007:

(a)
the cost of living pressures on older Australians, both pensioners and self-funded retirees, including:
(i)
the impact of recent movements in the price of essentials, such as petrol and food,
(ii)
the costs of running household utilities, such as gas and electricity, and
(iii)
the cost of receiving adequate dental care;
(b)
the impact of these cost pressures on the living standards of older Australians and their ability to participate in the community;
(c)
the impact of these cost pressures on older Australians and their families, including caring for their grandchildren; and
(d)
the adequacy of current tax, pension and concession arrangements for older Australians to meet these costs.

3:35 pm

Photo of Eric AbetzEric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall 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: Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified GST Accounting) Bill 2007 Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2007.

I also 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—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2007 WINTER SITTINGS

TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (SIMPLIFIED GST ACCOUNTING) BILL 2007

Purpose of the Bill

The Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified GST Accounting) Bill will amends the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 to allow the Commissioner of Taxation to determine in writing simplified accounting methods to reduce the GST compliance costs on small businesses that make mixed (taxable and GST free) supplies or have mixed purchases.

Reasons for Urgency

This measure was announced in the 2007-08 Budget and is a high priority for the government.  Enactment before 1 July 2007 will allow the Commissioner to put determinations in place for use in the 2007-08 financial year.

WHEAT MARKETING AMENDMENT BILL 2007

Purpose of the Bill

The bill:

  • extends the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s current temporary power of veto over bulk wheat exports until 30 June 2008;
  • inserts new information gathering powers for the Wheat Export Authority;
  • inserts a power for the Minister to direct the Wheat Export Authority to undertake investigations into certain matters;
  • inserts a power for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to change nominated company B;
  • deregulates wheat exports in bags and containers, but with the addition of a quality assurance mechanism; and
  • makes changes to the governance arrangements for the Wheat Export Authority that will result in it becoming an agency subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 with a skills based commission of between 4 and 6 members.

Reasons for Urgency

On 22 May 2007 the Prime Minister announced in the House of Representatives future arrangements for wheat marketing, including that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry would have his bulk veto power extended for a further 12 months.  The current temporary bulk veto power held by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is due to expire on 30 June 2007.  Urgent amendment is required to the Wheat Marketing Act 1989 to extend the Minister’s power and prevent the veto power reverting to AWB (International) Ltd.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)
notes that:
(i)
renewable electricity generators face significant barriers to entry into the electricity market,
(ii)
households selling electricity into the grid are typically paid low prices that do not fairly reflect the value of zero emission, distributed energy,
(iii)
‘feed-in’ tariffs have secured market incentives, driving an unprecedented expansion of the renewables industry in several European nations, and
(iv)
policies such as feed-in tariffs and renewable energy targets are intended to foster emerging industries to ensure that deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved in the medium- and long-term; and
(b)
calls on the Government to reject the recommendation of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading that, ‘All Australian schemes that set mandatory targets for deployment of particular technologies should be wound up over time, and new ones forestalled’.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate:

(a)
notes that 10 June 2007 marks 40 years since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights; and
(b)
calls on the Australian Government to:
(i)
take action to ensure that Israel complies with United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 passed unanimously in 1967 that calls for a ‘withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict’,
(ii)
ensure that humanitarian relief is provided to those who need it, particularly the children in Palestine,
(iii)
stop providing arms to Israel, and
(iv)
play a constructive role to ensure that peace and justice can be achieved in Palestine, Israel and the Middle East.

Senator Milne to move on 21 June 2007:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by 6 October 2007: An assessment of the benefits and costs of introducing renewable energy feed-in tariffs in Australia, including an evaluation of:

(a)
barriers to the expansion of the renewable energy industry in general and within the electricity market in Australia in particular;
(b)
the likelihood that carbon prices generated by an emission trading system will be insufficient to overcome these barriers in the near term; and
(c)
options to link the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme (with an increased target) with feed-in tariffs to guarantee a viable return on investment for investors in a range of prospective renewable energy technologies.