That the House:

(1)   notes that:

(a)   strong and sustained export growth is essential for long-term economic prosperity and to providing more rewarding, well-paid jobs;

(b)   despite the resources boom, Australia has been seriously and consistently underperforming in relation to its export sector;

(c)   Australia’s average annual export growth rate over the past ten years is half that recorded under Labor;

(d)   Australia has now experienced 60 consecutive monthly trade deficits—the longest period of trade deficit on record;

(e)   the Government has failed to double the number of exporters by 2006, as it said it would; and

(f)   at the same time, the Government has halved the level of financial assistance to Australian exporters; and

(2)   calls on the Government to urgently adopt a comprehensive trade strategy to address the underperformance of Australia’s exports. (Notice given 9 May 2007.)

That the House:

(1)   acknowledges that for the first time, Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities has been discussed at a conference held in Brisbane;

(2)   notes that there are 15 green roof infrastructure associations representing urban planners, educators, horticulturalists, engineers and architects, which have now formed the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network;

(3)   notes that green roofs provide a range of benefits to help counter climate change through thermal insulation, storm-water management that causes lower run-off at peak times, reduction of ambient temperatures in cities, air and water cleaning effects, direct energy savings for government, visual beauty, habitat creation, long roof life and noise insulation;

(4)   notes that green roof spaces allow food to be grown through hydroponic, aquaculture, aquaponics, vermiculture and insect culture, providing additional revenues for building owners and tenants; and

(5)   encourages businesses and local authorities to seek the triple bottom line from environmental practices, as exemplified by the Ford Rouge Center in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. (Notice given 15 February 2007.)

That the House:

(1)   notes that:

(a)   microcredit is a proven means of eradicating poverty and that research by the World Bank in 1998 found that 40 per cent of loan borrowers had moved out of poverty after four years;

(b)   at the Microcredit Summit in Halifax, Canada in 2006, Australia endorsed the goal of having 175 million families receiving microcredit by 2015;

(c)   if the Microcredit Summit goal was achieved, then about half the first goal of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to halve the number of people who live on less than a dollar a day, would be met;

(d)   Australia spent $14.5 million on microcredit in its overseas aid program in the 2005-2006 financial year, which was less than one per cent of the overseas aid budget; and

(e)   the USA, which has funded microcredit longer than most countries, has established a current benchmark level of 1.25 per cent of the aid budget for microcredit spending; and

(2)   urges the Australian Government to follow through with its endorsement of the 2006 Microcredit Summit Goal with an increase in funding of microcredit to $40 million per year, or a level of 1.25 per cent of the aid budget, starting with the forthcoming Budget. (Notice given 26 February 2007.)

That the House:

(1)   acknowledges that 2007 has been chosen by the Australian Government as the Year of the Surf Lifesaver to mark the 100th anniversary of Surf Life Saving in Australia;

(2)   notes the fundamental role surf lifesavers play in keeping Australia’s beaches safe and the 500,000 lives that have been saved on Australian beaches by our surf lifesavers over the past 100 years;

(3)   commends the volunteering efforts of surf lifesavers who dedicate their time to help others and save lives;

(4)   pays tribute to the surf lifesaving movement, which is the largest volunteer organisation of its kind in the country, consisting of 113,000 members, including 34,000 who actively patrol Australia’s beaches; and

(5)   acknowledges the integral role of the Australian Government within Surf Life Saving Australia to provide a safe beach and aquatic environment. (Notice given 27 March 2007.)