Senator Cherry to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee on the Budgetary and environmental implications of the Government’s Energy White Paper be extended to 18 April 2005.

Senator Cherry to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 10 February 2005, from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004 and nine related bills.

Senator Forshaw to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Finance and Public Administration References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 10 February 2005, from 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee’s inquiry into the Regional Partnerships program.

Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:

(1)   That estimates hearings by legislation committees for the year 2005 be scheduled as follows:

   2004-05 additional estimates:

   Monday, 14 February and Tuesday, 15 February and, if required, Friday, 18 February (Group A)

   Wednesday, 16 February and Thursday, 17 February and, if required, Friday, 18 February (Group B)

   2005-06 Budget estimates:

   Monday, 23 May to Thursday, 26 May and, if required, Friday, 27 May (Group A)

   Monday, 30 May to Thursday, 2 June and, if required, Friday, 3 June (Group B)

   Monday, 31 October and Tuesday, 1 November (supplementary hearings—Group A)

   Wednesday, 2 November and Thursday, 3 November (supplementary hearings—Group B).

(2)   That the committees consider the proposed expenditure in accordance with the allocation of departments to committees agreed to by the Senate.

(3)   That committees meet in the following groups:

   Group A:

   Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

   Finance and Public Administration

   Legal and Constitutional

   Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

   Group B:

   Community Affairs

   Economics

   Employment, Workplace Relations and Education

   Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

(4)   That the committees report to the Senate on the following dates:

   Tuesday, 15 March 2005 in respect of the 2004-05 additional estimates; and

   Monday, 20 June 2005 in respect of the 2005-06 Budget estimates.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the following matters be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 June 2005:

(a)   the extent to which the private health insurance rebate has influenced private health insurance membership rates;

(b)   the impact of the private health insurance rebate on public hospital workloads;

(c)   the impact of the private health insurance rebate on medical, nursing and allied health professionals, in particular, whether there has been a shift of personnel from public to private sectors, and, if so, the extent and impact on provision of public hospital services;

(d)   the implications for the Commonwealth budget of continuing the private health insurance rebate given that insurance premiums are increasing at a higher rate than the Consumer Price Index;

(e)   the Medicare Levy Surcharge; and

(f)   any related matters.

Senator Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that on 16 January 2005 the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will come into force having been ratified by over 80 countries; and

(b)   congratulates:

(i)   Japan and the city of Kyoto for hosting the original conference in 1997 where the treaty was proposed, and

(ii)   the international community for agreeing to bring into force this important first step in limiting greenhouse gas production.

Senator Brown to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate notes—

(a)   the recent death of former Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang; and

(b)   the positive reformist role of Mr Zhao Ziyang and, in particular, his efforts for peace during the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising.

Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   congratulates the Queensland Government on its January 2005 initiative for Queensland’s Parliament House to use power from sustainable energy sources and for 100 other state government buildings to use at least 5 per cent green energy in their daily operations; and

(b)   calls on the Federal Government to also promote the use of sustainable power sources and adopt renewable energy for Canberra’s Parliament House and associated government buildings, as soon as possible.

Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes:

(i)   the critical shortage of child-care places, particularly in inner metropolitan areas,

(ii)   that there are, for instance, up to 1 600 children under 5 years of age on waiting lists for child-care places in the City of Port Phillip where there have been no new places made available in 2005 and where two centres will soon close to make way for residential development, and

(iii)   that women and their partners are being denied opportunities to re-join the workforce because of such long waiting lists; and

(b)   calls on the Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, to:

(i)   identify, in conjunction with state and local governments, those areas in greatest need of child-care places,

(ii)   acknowledge that market forces are not delivering child-care places in those areas of need where real estate values make setting up new child-care centres unviable and that government intervention is required, and

(iii)   properly fund child-care so it is high quality, accessible and affordable.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes the excellent work of the Disaster Victim Identification Team that is undertaking this extremely difficult task with great professionalism in Thailand; and

(b)   expresses its thanks to the officers of the Australian Federal Police and state and territory police forces and also to the civilian members and forensic experts of the team for their dedication and commitment under the most trying of circumstances.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   during the week beginning 6 February 2005, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council’s Transformations Conference is being held at the Australian National University, and

(ii)   this international conference is a chance for Australia to show the rest of the world how we have created a harmonious society; and

(b)   wishes the conference delegates well in their proceedings.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that 8 February 2005 marked the Christian feast of Shrove Tuesday; and

(b)   recognises the continuing contribution of Christianity to Australia’s cultural life.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that 6 February is New Zealand Waitangi Day; and

(b)   recognises the contribution of Australians of New Zealand descent to our nation.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that 4 February is Sri Lanka’s Independence Commemoration Day;

(b)   recognises the contribution of the Sri Lankan community in Australia; and

(c)   expresses its solidarity and sympathy with the Sri Lankan people in the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that 5 February 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz; and

(b)   solemnly recognises the sufferings of the victims and the families of victims of Auschwitz, including those in Australia.

Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that 5 February 2005 marked the Vietnamese New Year of the Rooster;

(b)   recognises the contribution of the Vietnamese community in Australia; and

(c)   wishes all a happy and prosperous Vietnamese New Year.

Senator Minchin to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the following orders operate as temporary orders until the conclusion of the 2005 sittings:

(1)   If a division is called for on Thursday after 4.30 pm, the matter before the Senate shall be adjourned until the next day of sitting at a time fixed by the Senate.

(2)   On the question for the adjournment of the Senate on Tuesday, a senator who has spoken once subject to the time limit of 10 minutes may speak again for not more than 10 minutes if no other senator who has not already spoken once wishes to speak, provided that a senator may by leave speak for not more than 20 minutes on one occasion.

Senator Nettle to move on the next day of sitting:

   That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

(i)   the circumstances and treatment of Cornelia Rau are appalling and highlight systematic problems in the administration of immigration detention,

(ii)   the Rau family have called for a full judicial inquiry,

(iii)   Ms Rau’s case is just one example of how mental health and physical health is being inappropriately diagnosed and treated in detention centres,

(iv)   several studies have concluded that detention itself exacerbates and creates mental illness in detainees,

(v)   independent monitoring of operations in detention centres has been totally inadequate, and

(vi)   the conditions of the isolation unit at Baxter Detention Centre are inhumane and not appropriate for any person, be they Australian or non-citizen; and

(b)   calls on the Government to:

(i)   apologise to Cornelia Rau and her family immediately,

(ii)   arrange appropriate compensation for Ms Rau for her treatment in immigration detention, and

(iii)   instigate a royal commission to investigate:

(a)   how a permanent resident came to be placed in immigration detention,

(b)   the mistreatment of Cornelia Rau and other detainees in immigration detention, and

(c)   conditions in detention centres around Australia and off-shore.