NOTICES

Notices of motion:

The Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee (Senator Bishop): To move on the next day of sitting—That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 11 October 2012, from 3.30 pm . (general business notice of motion no. 965 )

Senator Bishop: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 28 November 2012, from 11 am, followed by a private briefing. (general business notice of motion no. 966)

Senator Gallacher: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 30 October 2012, from 6 pm. (general business notice of motion no. 967)

Senator Cormann: To move on the next day of sitting—That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, no later than noon on 11 October 2012, a copy of the final report of the Productivity Commission into Default Superannuation Funds in Modern Awards as submitted to the Government on Friday, 5 October 2012. (general business notice of motion no. 968)

Senator Xenophon: To move on the next day of sitting—That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 March 2013:

The report of the review of allegations of sexual and other abuse in Defence, conducted by DLA Piper, and the response of the Government to the report, including:

 (a) the accessibility and adequacy of current mechanisms to provide support to victims of sexual and other abuse in Defence;

 (b) whether an alternative expedited and streamlined system for the resolution of disputes relating to the support, rehabilitation, treatment and compensation of victims in Defence be considered and established, and the constitutionality of such an alternative system;

 (c) the effectiveness and timeliness of the Government's processes for assessing, investigating and responding to allegations of sexual or other forms of abuse, including:

  (i) whether a dedicated victims advocacy service ought to be established,

  (ii) systemic and cultural issues in reporting and investigating sexual and other forms of abuse, and

  (iii) whether data and information collection and dissemination of data and information in relation to sexual and other forms of abuse in Defence is adequately maintained and appropriately acted upon and, if not, any alternative mechanisms that could be established; and

 (d) any related matters.

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

 (a) notes that:

  (i) the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct Association and the Parramatta Female Factory Friends/Action Group are campaigning to include Australia's oldest existing female convict establishment on the National Heritage List,

  (ii) in August 2012, the New South Wales Government announced the development of a master plan for the Parramatta Heritage Precinct and proposed a public/private enterprise to enable the `adaptive reuse' of the heritage sites for commercial and residential purposes, posing a threat to its heritage values,

  (iii) the Community Affairs References Committee report Forgotten Australians (2004) calls for `the Commonwealth and State Governments, in conjunction with the Churches and agencies, to provide funding for the erection of suitable memorials commemorating care leavers', and

  (iv) t he House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs report Half Way to Equal (1992) recommends the establishment of a `National Women's Place', recognising women's history and contribution; and

 (b) calls on the Government to:

  (i) include the National Heritage List nomination relating to the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct in the 2013-14 final Priority Assessment List,

  (ii) support the establishment of a statutory authority with the expertise to conserve and interpret the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct for all Australians, in accordance with the Burra Charter guidelines, and

  (iii) contribute funding to act on the recommendations of the Forgotten Australians report, including to create a memorial garden, plaque and a heritage centre at the Precinct using the buildings and grounds of the former Parramatta Girls Home, which forms part of the Precinct. (general business notice of motion no. 969 )

Senator Hanson-Young: To move on 11 October 2012—That the Senate calls on the Gillard Government to rule out a Commonwealth challenge of any state-based marriage equality legislation that is passed into law by any state parliament in Australia. (general business notice of motion no. 970)

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

 (a) notes that:

  (i) 14 October to 20 October 2012 is Anti-Poverty Week,

  (ii) poverty and severe financial hardship affect more than a million Australians and people living in poverty miss out on opportunities and resources such as adequate health and dental care, housing, education, employment opportunities, food and recreation, and

  (iii) growing up in poverty represents a risk to children's health and well-being and their prospects for the future; and

 (b) calls on the Government to:

  (i) take further action to reduce the number of people living in poverty in Australia, particularly the number of children living in poverty, and

  (ii) develop a national anti-poverty plan to facilitate coordinated action across all levels of government to meet targets which reduce poverty and its causes. (general business notice of motion no. 971)

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

 (a) notes the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences study released on 2 October 2012, which found that:

  (i) the Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral cover in the past 27 years, and that if current trends continue coral cover could halve again by 2022,

  (ii) this loss was due to storm damage (48 per cent), crown of thorns starfish (42 per cent) and bleaching (10 per cent), and

  (iii) improving water quality is critical to reducing the huge damage caused by frequent outbreaks of the crown of thorns starfish; and

 (b) calls on the Federal Government to finally commit to renewing the Reef Rescue program for another 5 years with at least another $200 million in funding, to assist Queensland farmers to continue to reduce agricultural run-off into the Great Barrier Reef. (general business notice of motion no. 972)

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

 (a) notes that:

  (i) 10 October 2012 is World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise public awareness about mental health issues both here in Australia and worldwide,

  (ii) the theme of this year's World Mental Health Day in Australia is "whoever you are and wherever you live, you are not alone",

  (iii) one in five Australians will experience a mental illness in any given year, and that mental illness accounts for 13 per cent of the total burden of disease in Australia, and

  (iv) Australia and Australians have an opportunity and a responsibility to reduce stigma and remove the discrimination faced by people affected by mental illness;

 (b) recognises that:

  (i) mental illness is experienced across the lifespan, with many illnesses emerging before the age of 25,

  (ii) people affected by mental illness can recover to live a happy and rewarding life with adequate and high quality services, and broad community understanding and support,

  (iii) there is a need for a holistic and broad range of services and supports for those with mental illness, including community-based services and services delivered by both the Commonwealth and the states and territories,

  (iv) policies and services must recognise and respond to the impact of mental illness on families and carers, and

  (v) the Australian Government's record $2.2 billion mental health reform package, which has received support from across the Parliament, is a significant and critical set of reforms focused on early intervention and prevention, improved acute and community services, and better supports for families and carers; and

 (c) calls on:

  (i) the Australian Government and the states and territories to continue these important reforms, including by working collaboratively on improved health, community, housing, employment and education services for those with mental illness and their families and carers, and

  (ii) the Australian community to continue to build a national understanding of the value of good mental health and reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. (general business notice of motion no. 973)

The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins): To move on the next day of sitting—That, in relation to a motion designating the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country, the motion be considered as government business.

The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins): To move on the next day of sitting—That, in accordance with subsection 10B(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the Senate approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 1) made under subsection 10B(1) of the Act on 28 September 2012. [F2012L01998]

Documents: Senator Collins tabled the following documents:

 Health Insurance Act—Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 1) [F2012L01998] and explanatory statement.

Documents: Senator Collins tabled the following documents:

 Migration Act—Instrument IMMI 12/115—Instrument of designation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country [F2012L02003] and explanatory statement.

The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins): To move on the next day of sitting—That, for the purposes of section 198AB of the Migration Act 1958, the Senate approves the designation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country, by instrument made on 9 October 2012. [F2012L02003]

Documents: Senator Collins tabled the following documents:

 Migration Act—Section 198AB(1)—

  Copy of Instrument IMMI 12/115—Instrument of designation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country [F2012L02003] and explanatory statement.

  Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the Commonwealth of Australia, relating to the transfer to and assessment of persons in Papua New Guinea, and related issues, dated 8 September 2012.

  Statement about arrangements that are in place, or are to be put in place, in the Independent State of Papua New Guinea for the treatment of persons taken to Papua New Guinea.

  Statement about the consultations by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in relation to the designation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country, including the nature of those consultations.

  Statement of reasons for thinking that it is in the national interest to designate the Independent State of Papua New Guinea to be a regional processing country, dated 9 October 2012.

The Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations (Senator Collins): To move on the next day of sitting—That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:

 Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Bill 2012

 Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2012

 Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment Bill 2012

 National Portrait Gallery of Australia Bill 2012

 National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2012.

 
Documents: Senator Collins tabled the following documents:

  Consideration of legislation—Statements of reasons [3] for introduction and passage of the bills in the 2012 spring sittings.

Notice of motion withdrawn: Senator Hanson-Young withdrew general business notice of motion no. 930 standing in her name for today, relating to marriage equality legislation.