Senator IAN CAMPBELL —I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, and for related purposes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Bill (No. 1) 1999.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and I seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard .

Leave granted.

The statement of reasons read as follows—

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 1999 SPRING SITTINGS

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL (No. 1) 1999

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act1989 (the ATSIC Act) was amended in 1996 to provide that the ATSIC zone Commissioners elect one of their number to the position of Chairperson (the Act originally provided for the Chairperson to be appointed by the Minister). This amendment will come into effect following the next ATSIC Regional Council elections on 9 October 1999.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend the ATSIC Act to provide that where a person elected to be the Commissioner to represent a zone is subsequently elected as Commission Chairperson, the person should cease to hold office as the Commissioner representing the zone and as a Regional Councillor, with these offices to be refilled through the normal ATSIC electoral processes.

Urgent passage of the Bill is sought so that its provisions may be in place before the election of a Chairperson, which will follow the elections of Regional Councillors and zone Commissioners.

If the Bill is not passed before the election of the Chairperson, there will be no provision to fill the vacancy left in an ATSIC zone and region by the election of a zone Commissioner as ATSIC Chair.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs)

Senator Brown to move, on 23 August 1999:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and for related purposes. Convention on Climate Change Implementation Bill 1999.

Senator Calvert and Senator O'Brien to move, on the next day of sitting:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in October 1999:

The effectiveness of the legal and regulatory regimes governing the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and the need to ensure transparency, consistency, scientific rigour and the highest standards of protection of the environment, the local fish population and the fishing and recreational fishing industries of Australia, having regard, in particular, to the administrative procedures and decision-making processes involved in the recent AQIS decision to allow the importation of salmon products into Australia.

Senator O'Brien, at the request of Senator Quirke, to move, on the next day of sitting:

(1) That the resolution of appointment of the Select Committee on the Socio-Economic Consequences of the National Competition Policy, agreed to on 1 July 1998 and varied on 9 March 1999, be further varied in accordance with this resolution.

(2) That the committee consist of 7 senators, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 2 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, 1 nominated by the Leader of the Australian Democrats and 1 nominated by independent or minor party senators.

(3) The quorum of the committee be 3 members, with 1 member present being appointed to the committee on the nomination of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 1 appointed on the nomination of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and 1 appointed on the nomination of the Leader of the Australian Democrats or by independent or minor party senators.

(4) At least one member of any subcommittee be a member nominated by the Leader of the Australian Democrats or by independent or minor party senators.

(5) The committee report on or before the first sitting day of October 1999.