NOTICES

The Chair of the Economics References Committee (Senator Bushby): To move on the next day of sitting—That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 10 October 2012, from 6 pm, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the effects of the global financial crisis on the Australian banking sector. (general business notice of motion no. 959)

Senator Xenophon: To move on 11 October 2012—That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, and for related purposes. Anti-Money Laundering Amendment (Gaming Machine Venues) Bill 2012. (general business notice of motion no. 960)

Senator Ludlam: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Senate calls:

 (a) the attention of the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) to a resolution of the Senate of 21 June 2012; and

 (b) on the Prime Minister to indicate whether or not she intends to retract prejudicial statements regarding the illegality of Wikileaks publishing endeavours and, if so, when. (general business notice of motion no. 961)

Senator Ludlam: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Senate—

 (a) notes that:

  (i) a delegation from the Parliament of Burma, led by the Speaker HE Thura U Shwe Mann was recently in Australia,

  (ii) in the week beginning 16 September 2012, Burmese authorities released several dozen political prisoners, and

  (iii) on 29 August and 30 August 2012, the Burmese Government removed the names of 1 147 foreign citizens, including ex-citizens, as well as 935 political dissidents from the Blacklist; and

 (b) calls on the Government to:

  (i) call on the Burmese Government to release all remaining political prisoners, to lift any restrictions imposed on already freed political prisoners and repeal laws that allow for the detention of political prisoners,

  (ii) call on the Burmese Government and all other parties to immediately cease hostilities and implement a nation-wide ceasefire,

  (iii) encourage both the Burmese Government and all other parties to take further steps beyond the current ceasefire agreements and enter into a comprehensive and inclusive political dialogue that fully engages the democratic opposition, genuine representatives of all ethnic opposition groups, and civil society actors, and

  (iv) support the inclusion of language into the 2012 United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Burma that reflects developments on the ground there. (general business notice of motion no. 962)

Senator Whish-Wilson: To move on the next day of sitting—That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for environmentally sustainable use of resources and best practices in waste management by establishing a national beverage container deposit and reward recovery scheme, and for related purposes. Environment Protection (Beverage Container Recovery Reward Scheme) Bill 2012. (general business notice of motion no. 963)

Senator Rhiannon: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Senate—

 (a) notes that:

  (i) on 20 September 2012 thousands of students, parents, teachers, staff and friends of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) rallied in Victoria, and in other states, to support TAFE students and staff who are bearing the brunt of state government budget cuts such as the Baillieu Government's devastating $300 million TAFE cuts, which will lead to campus closures, job losses, more course cuts, further increases to students' fees and charges, and will damage the economy,

  (ii) the Baillieu Government's $300 million vocational education and training (VET) budget cuts result from a drastic shift in VET market share, where private VET courses have overtaken TAFE courses for the first time, coupled with a 310 per cent growth in enrolments in private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), a failure of state and federal VET policy that TAFE should not be punished for,

  (iii) the New South Wales Government in the week beginning 9 September 2012 delivered a $1.7 billion education budget cut that includes 800 job losses at TAFE NSW and will result in a 9.5 per cent increase in TAFE NSW course fees, and

  (iv) the market-based student-entitlement model that is failing in Victoria and being adopted in other states poses a risk to the viability of the TAFE system and to the economy as it is unlikely to deliver the skilled workforce mix that Australia needs; and

 (b) calls on the Government to:

  (i) urgently introduce measures to curtail the growth in enrolments in private VET providers and RTOs which is draining state government VET budgets, and

  (ii) revise the National Partnership Agreement to phase out entitlement-based funding and fee help, and instead focus on funding and developing public providers. (general business notice of motion no. 964)