Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the implications of the consumer price index figure of 2.8 per cent (for the week beginning 24 October 2010) for the provision of aged care services, in light of the limitation of the recent increase in the Commonwealth aged care subsidy to 1.7 per cent;

(b)

draws the attention of the Government to the yawning gap between the cost of living and the funding provided to aged care services;

(c)

expresses concern at the impact of recent increases in electricity and water prices of 18.8 per cent on levels of care and the ongoing viability of many aged care services; and

(d)

calls on the Commonwealth Government to restore the additional 2 per cent conditional adjustment payment as an interim measure to address the crisis in aged care.

Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

mental illness is a significant health issue in our community and it must be considered a fundamental component of the national health reform plan,

(ii)

45 per cent of the nation’s population will experience a mental health disorder at some point in life,

(iii)

mental illness required nearly two million occupied bed days in Australian public hospitals in 2007-08, and

(iv)

it is estimated that approximately $380 million per year is spent providing acute hospital care to patients better cared for in other settings;

(b)

calls on the Government to:

(i)

provide additional funding of at least $350 million per year for mental health over the next 4 years to fund:

(a)

$150 million per year for early intervention mental health programs including ‘headspace’ and early psychosis prevention services,

(b)

$100 million per year for incentives at the primary care level to target those in need, the vulnerable and long-term clientele working with the community and non-government organisation sector, and

(c)

$100 million per year for alternatives to emergency department treatment such as multi-disciplinary community-based sub-acute services that supports ‘stepped’ (two-staged) prevention and recovery care,

(ii)

establish a:

(a)

dedicated Mental Health Commission to oversee the development of appropriate mental health services and transparent accountability at arms length from government, such as exists in New Zealand and Canada, and

(b)

national network of one-stop shop community mental health centres accessible by public transport and centrally located, and

(iii)

provide additional training for general practitioners and nurses to triage mental health appropriately; and

(c)

send a message to the House of Representatives informing it of this resolution and requesting it concur.

Senator Stephens to move on the next day of sitting:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

five million Australians volunteer in their communities every year,

(ii)

effectively realising the full potential of volunteers requires skilled, knowledgeable and professional volunteer managers who are responsible for their recruitment, training, administration and support,

(iii)

volunteer managers provided leadership, direction, inspiration and motivation that allows people to effectively serve their communities,

(iv)

well managed volunteer programs demonstrate that organisations value the involvement of the community and strive to make the most efficient use of resources, and

(v)

5 November marks World Volunteer Managers Day, recognising and promoting greater awareness of the role of volunteer managers in mobilising and supporting the world’s volunteers; and

(b)

thanks Australia’s volunteer managers for their commitment to our community organisations.

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

That the Senate congratulates the 2010 international meeting of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly for the adoption of the Declaration of Buenos Aires, which:

(a)

calls on the United Nations (UN) and its member states to establish a parliamentary assembly at the UN; and

(b)

recognises the need to democratise global governance.