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Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Page: 1528

Presentation

Senator Bob Brown To move—

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes:

      (i)   the impact of the Government's efficiency dividend and reduction in all capital budgets on the Parliamentary Library and its ability to continue to provide quality services to senators and members, and

      (ii)   that, whilst a number of cultural agencies are exempt from the additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend announced in December 2011 in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, the existing efficiency dividend of 1.5 per cent is continuing to have a disproportionate and unfair impact on many cultural agencies which are being forced to make savings by cutting staffing numbers, curtailing operations and limiting and delaying exhibitions; and

   (b)   calls on the Government to restore the Parliamentary Library's budget in full.

Senators Bushby, Cormann and Williams To move—

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2012:

An examination of recent developments in the banking sector arising out of the impact of the global financial crisis and subsequent events, including:

   (a)   the impact of international regulatory changes on the Australian banking sector, particularly including changes to liquidity and capital holding requirements;

   (b)   the impact on relative shares of specific banking markets;

   (c)   the current cost of funds for lending purposes;

   (d)   the impact on borrowing and lending practices in the banking sector both during and since the global financial crisis;

   (e)   the need for further consideration of the state of the broader finance and banking sector; and

   (f)   any other relevant matters.

S enators Back, Nash and McKenzie To move—

That, as 2012 is the Australian Year of the Farmer, the Senate:

   (a)   recognises that the Australian agricultural industry offers excellent career opportunities, including:

      (i)   approximately 100 000 jobs in the agricultural sector,

      (ii)   2.5 jobs for every agricultural graduate, and

      (iii)   a diverse range of careers requiring a wide range of skill levels;

   (b)   acknowledges that responding to the expanding global food task will require Australia to substantially up-skill and increase the size of its agribusiness workforce;

   (c)   recognises that there are declining participation rates and graduates in the agriculture sector as tertiary agricultural science courses on offer decline, and secondary school students do not take up undergraduate courses; and

   (d)   calls on the Government to:

      (i)   resource the promotion of careers in agriculture through the primary and secondary school system,

      (ii)   incentivise universities to offer agricultural science courses, and

      (iii)   encourage industry in the development of agribusiness educational and training resource material.

Senator Abetz To move—

That the following matter be referred to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2012:

The Law Council of Australia's concerns about the Government's amendment to the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2012.

Senator Humphries To move—

That the Senate rejects calls to reduce funding to non-government schools to 2003-04 levels that would put at risk the financial viability of many non-government schools and leave many students disadvantaged.

Senator Bilyk To move—

The Joint Select Committee on Cyber Safety be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 21 March 2012, from 4.15 pm.

Senator Birmingham To move—

That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Monday, 19 March 2012, from 10.30 am.

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, 21 March 2012, from 10.30 am.

Senator Wright To move—

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on prospective marriage visas be extended to 7 June 2012.

Senator Birmingham To move—

That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the expenditure of money appropriated for the Solar Hot Water Rebate scheme, and for related purposes. Solar Hot Water Rebate Bill 2012.

Senators Ronaldson and Williams To move—

That the Senate—

   (a)   condemns the wanton desecration of 238 Allied and Australian graves at the Benghazi Commonwealth War Cemetery in Libya by radical militants;

   (b)   acknowledges that the headstones of 52 Australians were damaged in the attack;

   (c)   remembers all Australians who served in north Africa during World War II; and

   (d)   calls on the Libyan Government to meet the costs of restoring the cemetery, noting that Australia alone has given more than $44 million in humanitarian aid assistance to Libya since 2011, making Australia the third-largest aid donor to Libya.

Senator Crossin To move—

That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 15 March 2012, from 4 pm, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012.

Senator Crossin To move—

That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012 be extended to 21 March 2012.

Senator Moore To move—

That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 22 March 2012, from 1 pm, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the 2011-12 additional estimates.

Senator Hanson-Young To move—

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes:

      (i)   the launch of the Third Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which proposes four procedures for children, young people, and their advocates to report a violation of child rights directly to the Committee on the Rights of the Child,

      (ii)   that the Third Optional Protocol opened for signature on 28 February 2012 and was signed on that day by countries, including Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mali, Montenegro, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Uruguay; and

      (iii)   the Third Optional Protocol offers a crucial opportunity to strengthen mechanisms for equality and justice for all children and young people in Australia; and

   (b)   calls on the Government to ensure that Australia signs on to the Third Optional Protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child without delay.

Senator Mason To move—

That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 15 March 2012, from 10.30 am.

Senator Bob Brown To move—

That the Senate calls on the Government to begin the safe withdrawal of Australia's troops from Afghanistan while increasing our civilian aid program.

Senator Bob Brown To move—

That the Senate reject the proposal, backed by the former Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Reith, for Australia to purchase nuclear submarines serviced in the United States of America (US) or at a US base established in Australia.

Senator Bob Brown To move—

That the Senate—

   (a)   condemns the awful loss of life and liberty in Syria;

   (b)   notes the receipt of the Syrian Chargé d'Affaires reply to the Senate's resolution of 9 February 2012; and

   (c)   renews its call for President Assad to resign immediately.

Senator Collins To move—

That—

(1)   On Wednesday, 14 March, Monday, 19 March, Tuesday, 20 March and Wednesday, 21 March 2012, any proposal pursuant to standing order 75 shall not be proceeded with.

(2)   On Wednesday, 14 March and 21 March 2012, consideration of government documents shall not be proceeded with, and instead the routine of business shall be government business only.

(3)   Divisions may take place on:

   (a)   Thursday, 15 March and 22 March 2012, after 4.30 pm; and

   (b)   Monday, 19 March 2012, before 12.30 pm.

(4)   On Thursday, 15 March 2012:

   (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 11.10 pm;

   (b)   consideration of general business and consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General's reports under standing order 62(1) and (2) shall not be proceeded with;

   (c)   the routine of business from not later than 3.45 pm shall be government business only; and

   (d)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 10.30 pm.

(5)   On Tuesday, 20 March 2012:

   (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 11 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 12.05 am, Wednesday, 21 March 2012;

   (b)   the routine of business from 11 am till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 7.30 pm shall be government business only; and

   (c)   the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 11.25 pm.

(6)   The following government business orders of the day shall have precedence over all government business, be called on in the following order and be considered under a limitation of time, and that the time allotted for all remaining stages be as follows:

Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2011 and 2 related bills	commencing immediately until 10.30 am on 19 March 2012
Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 8.30 pm on 19 March 2012
Higher Education Support Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 9.30 pm on 19 March 2012
Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2011 and a related bill	commencing at 11 am until 1 pm on 20 March 2012
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Bill 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 1.50 pm on 20 March 2012
Indirect Tax Laws Amendment (Assessment) Bill 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 6.15 pm on 20 March 2012
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No. 1) Bill 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 8 pm on 20 March 2012
Fair Work Amendment (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry) Bill 2011 [2012]	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 9.30 pm on 20 March 2012
Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011 and 2 related bills	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10 pm on 20 March 2012
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio) Bill 2011 [2012]	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10.10 pm on 20 March 2012
Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2011	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10.20 pm on 20 March 2012
Excise Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011 and a related bill	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10.30 pm on 20 March 2012
Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2011	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10.40 pm on 20 March 2012
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 10.50 pm on 20 March 2012
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012 and a related bill	commencing immediately after the preceding item until 11.20 pm on 20 March 2012

   (7)   Paragraph (6) of this order operate as an allocation of time under standing order 142.

Senator Collins To move—

That the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 and 10 related bills shall have precedence over all government business and be considered under a limitation of time, and that the time allotted for all remaining stages be as follows:

commencing immediately until 1.30 pm on 22 March 2012.

Senator Cormann To move—

That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, no later than noon on 15 March 2012, a copy of the two page memo to the Department of Finance and Deregulation containing advice from Mr David Gonski about the appointment of the next chair of the Future Fund.