The following orders of the day relating to committee reports and government responses were considered:

Economics—Standing Committee—Report—Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 [Provisions], Offshore Petroleum (Annual Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 [Provisions], Offshore Petroleum (Registration Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 [Provisions] and Offshore Petroleum (Safety Levies) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 [Provisions]. Motion of Senator Milne to take note of report agreed to.

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport—Standing Committee—Report—Implementation, operation and administration of the legislation underpinning Carbon Sink Forests. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Sterle) to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Macdonald the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Standing Committee—Fourth progress report—Reforms to Australia’s military justice system. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Bishop) to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Parry the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport—Standing Committee—Report—Administration of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and related matters. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Sterle) to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Parry the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.

Procedure—Standing Committee—First report of 2008—Restructuring question time; Reference of bills to committees; Questions to chairs of committees; Deputy chairs of committees; Leave to make statements. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator Ferguson) to take note of report called on—and on the amendment moved by the Leader of the Family First Party (Senator Fielding)—At the end of the motion, add “, but the Senate is of the opinion that, instead of restructuring question time in a manner that could reduce the accountability of ministers to the Senate, the rules relating to questions and answers, contained in past presidential rulings, which require, amongst other things, that questions actually be questions relating to ministerial responsibilities, and that answers be responsive and relevant to the questions, be written into the standing orders, and that the Procedure Committee, with the assistance of external expert advisers, review the effectiveness of question time and the application of those rules at the end of each period of sittings”. Debate adjourned till the next day of sitting, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing (Senator McLucas) in continuation.

Environment, Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Report—Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. Motion of Senator Collins to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Parry the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.

Environment, Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Report—Waste management in Australia (including consideration of the Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008). Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator McEwen) to take note of report agreed to.

Environment, Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Report—Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2]. Motion of the chair of the committee (Senator McEwen) to take note of report called on. On the motion of Senator Parry the debate was adjourned till the next day of sitting.