NOTICES

Notices of motion:

The Chair of the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee (Senator McEwen): To move on the next day of sitting—That the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 24 September 2008, from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Feed-in-Tariff) Bill 2008. (general business notice of motion no. 207)

The Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee (Senator Sterle): To move on the next day of sitting—That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 24 September 2008, from 3.30 pm, to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the Horse Disease Response Levy Bill 2008 and two related bills. (general business notice of motion no. 208)

The Chair of the Economics Committee (Senator Hurley): To move on the next day of sitting—That the time for the presentation of the report of the Economics Committee on matters relating to the gas explosion at Varanus Island, Western Australia, be extended to 13 November 2008. (general business notice of motion no. 209)

The Chair of the Economics Committee (Senator Hurley): To move on the next day of sitting—That the order of the Senate of 16 September 2008, authorising the Economics Committee to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 23 September 2008, be varied to provide for the committee to continue to meet from 6 pm to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into Australia's space science and industry sector. (general business notice of motion no. 210)

Senator Hanson-Young: To move on the next day of sitting—That the Senate—

 (a) notes that:

  (i) the mismanagement of the Murray-Darling river system is shaping up to be Australia's largest environmental catastrophe, and

  (ii) on Sunday, 28 September 2008 a rally for the Murray River will be held in Adelaide to highlight the need for immediate, decisive action; and

 (b) calls on the Government to establish a taskforce to evaluate the options of the current Senate inquiry into the Lower Lakes and Coorong, and develop an action plan to put the solutions into place. (general business notice of motion no. 211)

The Minister for Human Services (Senator Ludwig): To move on the next day of sitting—That—

 (1) On Tuesday, 23 September 2008:

  (a) the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7 pm to 11.40 pm;

  (b) the routine of business from 7 pm shall be government business only; and

  (c) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 11 pm.

 (2) On Thursday, 25 September 2008:

  (a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7 pm to adjournment;

  (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 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm, and from not later than 4.30 pm shall be government business only;

  (d) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm;

  (e) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed when a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister; and

  (f) if the Senate is sitting at 11 pm, the sitting of the Senate shall be suspended till 9.30 am on Friday, 26 September 2008.

 (3) On Friday, 26 September 2008:

  (a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 4.30 pm;

  (b) the routine of business shall be:

   (i) notices of motion, and

   (ii) government business only; and

  (c) the question for the adjournment of the Senate shall be proposed at 3.50 pm.

Statements by leave: The Minister for Human Services (Senator Ludwig), Senator Ellison and the Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown), by leave, made statements relating to the notice of motion.

Senator Siewert: To move on 24 September 2008—That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a Stolen Generations Reparations Tribunal to decide and make recommendations on claims for reparation and other matters, and for related purposes. Stolen Generations Reparations Tribunal Bill 2008. (general business notice of motion no. 212)

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

 (a) notes that:

  (i) Sunday, 21 September 2008, was the International Day of Peace, declared by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2002 as a day of non-violence and a global ceasefire, commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples,

  (ii) on this day, a general ceasefire across Afghanistan lasted from midnight Saturday through to midnight Sunday, 21 September 2008, and was observed by the military forces of the United States of America, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Afghan Government and the Taliban, and

  (iii) on Thursday, 18 September 2008, the Senate voted against a motion calling on the Government to participate in the International Day of Peace ceasefire and encourage other nations to likewise; and

 (b) calls on the Government to reconsider its support for UN initiatives such as the International Day of Peace. (general business notice of motion no. 213)

Intention to withdraw: The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances (Senator Wortley), pursuant to standing order 78, gave notice of her intention, at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting, to withdraw notices of motion standing in her name as follows:

 Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 for the next day of sitting for the disallowance of the Film Certification Advisory Board Rules 2008, made under subsection 376-260(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

 Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 for 8 sitting days after today for the disallowance of the Student Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) Determination 2008, made under paragraph 356(1)(a) of the Student Assistance Act 1973.

 Business of the Senate notices of motion nos 1 and 2 for 11 sitting days after today for the disallowance of the following instruments:

  Family Assistance (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) (FaHCSIA) Determination 2008, made under subparagraph 169(1)(a)(i) and paragraph 169(1)(b) of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999.

  Social Security (Public Interest Certificate Guidelines) (FaHCSIA) Determination 2008, made under subparagraph 209(a)(i) and paragraph 209(b) of the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

Senator Wortley, by leave, made a statement relating to the notice of intention.