Senate debates

Monday, 1 December 2008

Notices

Presentation

Senator McEwen to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee on the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management (Repeal and Consequential Amendment) Bill 2008 be extended to 18 December 2008.

Senator Cormann to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Select Committee on Fuel and Energy be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on 2 December 2008, from 4 pm.

Senator Humphries to move on the next day of sitting:

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on residential and community aged care in Australia be extended to 29 April 2009.

Senator Hutchins to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes:
(i)
with sadness, the passing of the architect of the Sydney Opera House, Mr Joern Utzon, on 29 November 2008, and
(ii)
the immense contribution that he made to Australia’s architecture and international image;
(b)
commends the reconciliation between Mr Utzon and the New South Wales Government following their 1966 fallout;
(c)
calls on all levels of government to commit to the remaining work that needs to be done on the Sydney Opera House to complete Mr Utzon’s vision; and
(d)
offers its condolences to his family, including his wife, children and grandchildren.

Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes:
(i)
the valuable work of Trees For Life in South Australia, including the management of more than 4 000 hectares of threatened bushland and the training of 2 500 community bush carers, and
(ii)
that Trees For Life’s 10 000 members have volunteered approximately 100 000 hours to protect and enhance the South Australian environment; and
(b)
calls on the Government to reinstate funding to Trees For Life to provide for the protection of sights of conservation significance in South Australia.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

That—
(1)
On Tuesday, 2 December 2008:
(a)
the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 11.40 pm;
(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 11 pm.
(2)
On Wednesday, 3 December 2008, the routine of business from 5.30 pm to not later than 7.20 pm shall be valedictory statements relating to Senator Ellison.
(3)
In making valedictory statements in accordance with paragraph (2) above, a senator shall not speak for more than 20 minutes.

Senator Milne to move on the next day of sitting:

That there be laid on the table, no later than 4 pm on 3 December 2008, the set of national principles intended to apply to new Feed-in-Tariff schemes and to inform the reviews of existing schemes agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments on 29 November 2008.

Senators Milne and Ronaldson to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes:
(i)
the extraordinary expressions of support from around the world for the excellent standard of tuition offered by the Australian National Academy of Music,
(ii)
that the Government, having said that the academy must be closed down, has now appropriated its name and reputation for its replacement institution, undermining any credibility in the Government’s claims that the new institution would be a ‘better alternative’ than the existing academy,
(iii)
that, as of 1 December 2008, there are still no appropriate transitional arrangements in place for the students from the academy whose plans for 2009 have been destroyed, and
(iv)
the extreme distress of some of our most outstanding young musicians, who have no idea what they will do in 2009 or where they will be sent, having already missed the audition deadlines for the great majority of other music schools; and
(b)
calls on the Government to:
(i)
acknowledge its mistake, and
(ii)
immediately impose a 12-month moratorium on the closure of the Australian National Academy of Music with a view to continuing the excellent standards of the academy while undertaking a proper consultation process in 2009 of ways to implement the findings of the two independent reviews which both recommended expansion and increased funding for the academy.