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Monday, 19 March 2012
Page: 2139

Presentation

Senator Bushby to move:

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for equity in relation to the provision of certain dental services, and for related purposes. Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012.

Senator Bilyk to move:

That the Joint Select Committee on Cyber Safety be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 9 May 2012, from 4.15 pm.

Senator Furner to move:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 22 March 2012, from 10.30 am, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into Australia's trade and investment relationship with Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Senator Singh to move:

That the Joint Standing Committee on Migration be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 9 May 2012, from 10.30 am.

Senators Pratt and Rhiannon to move:

That the Senate—

   (a)   recognises that 24 March 2012 is World Tuberculosis Day, in observance of a preventable and treatable disease that still claims the lives of up to 1.5 million people every year, mostly in developing countries and that:

      (i)   one third of the world's population is currently infected with tubercle bacillus,

      (ii)   the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the largest number of new tuberculosis cases in 2008 occurred in the southeast Asian region, accounting for 35 per cent of incident cases globally, and

      (iii)   the number of new cases of tuberculosis each year is still increasing in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and southeast Asia;

   (b)   acknowledges that tuberculosis is responsible for 1 in 4 AIDS-related deaths, making it the leading killer of people living with HIV and that:

      (i)   less than 7 per cent of people living with HIV are screened for tuberculosis,

      (ii)   people living with both HIV and tuberculosis infection are much more likely to develop tuberculosis, and

      (iii)   WHO estimates that by scaling up services and providing integrated HIV and tuberculosis care, it is possible to save the lives of up to 1 million people living with HIV by 2015,

   (c)   notes that:

      (i)   more than two-thirds of international financing for tuberculosis services is currently provided by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,

      (ii)   the Global Fund is a key international body providing critical basic services to support many developing countries in the fight against tuberculosis, and

      (iii)   Australia is a strong supporter of the Global Fund; and

   (d)   encourages Australia to continue to work bilaterally and with other international donors to address tuberculosis, including through the Global Fund.

Senator Milne to move:

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes:

      (i)   that there is uncertainty about the level of leakage, flaring and venting of methane during coal seam gas prospecting, extraction, transport and processing, and

      (ii)   an accurate measurement of these 'fugitive' emissions is necessary to assess the claims of the coal seam gas industry that electricity production fuelled by coal seam gas is substantially less emission intensive than electricity production fuelled by coal; and

   (b)   orders that there be laid on the table, by 22 March 2012, the study by George Wilkenfeld and Associates Pty Ltd titled Updated scope3 emissions factors for natural gas consumed in Australia, based on NGERS data, redacting where necessary any aspects of the study that are commercially sensitive.