2011-02-10 43 1 2 SENATE 0 0 2011-02-10 The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. John Hogg) took the chair at 9.30 am and read prayers and made an acknowledgement of country. 411 Bills S804 411 11:15:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 5 Brown, B.J. Hanson-Young, S.C. Ludlam, S. Milne, C. Siewert, R. 50 Adams, J. Barnett, G. Bernardi, C. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Boswell, R.L.D. Boyce, S. Brown, C.L. Bushby, D.C. Cameron, D.N. Carr, K.J. Cash, M.C. Collins, J. Conroy, S.M. Coonan, H.L. Cormann, M.H.P. Crossin, P.M. Eggleston, A. Farrell, D.E. Ferguson, A.B. Fielding, S. Furner, M.L. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Johnston, D. Joyce, B. Kroger, H. Lundy, K.A. Macdonald, I. Marshall, G. Mason, B.J. McEwen, A. McGauran, J.J.J. Moore, C. Nash, F. O’Brien, K.W.K. Parry, S. Payne, M.A. Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Ronaldson, M. Ryan, S.M. Scullion, N.G. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Troeth, J.M. Trood, R.B. Williams, J.R. Wortley, D. Xenophon, N. * denotes teller Question negatived. 11:22:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 33 Abetz, E. Adams, J. Back, C.J. Barnett, G. Bernardi, C. Boswell, R.L.D. Boyce, S. Brandis, G.H. Bushby, D.C. Cash, M.C. Cormann, M.H.P. Eggleston, A. Ferguson, A.B. Fielding, S. Fifield, M.P. Fisher, M.J. Heffernan, W. Joyce, B. Kroger, H. Macdonald, I. Mason, B.J. McGauran, J.J.J. Minchin, N.H. Nash, F. Parry, S. Payne, M.A. Ronaldson, M. Ryan, S.M. Scullion, N.G. Troeth, J.M. Trood, R.B. Williams, J.R. Xenophon, N. 31 Arbib, M.V. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Brown, B.J. Brown, C.L. Cameron, D.N. Carr, K.J. Collins, J. Conroy, S.M. Crossin, P.M. Faulkner, J.P. Forshaw, M.G. Furner, M.L. Hanson-Young, S.C. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Hutchins, S.P. Ludlam, S. Lundy, K.A. Marshall, G. McEwen, A. Milne, C. Moore, C. O’Brien, K.W.K. Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Sherry, N.J. Siewert, R. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Wortley, D. 6 Birmingham, S. Wong, P. Colbeck, R. Feeney, D. Coonan, H.L. Ludwig, J.W. Fierravanti-Wells, C. Farrell, D.E. Humphries, G. Evans, C.V. Johnston, D. McLucas, J.E. * denotes teller Original question agreed to. 435 439 11:50:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 35 Adams, J. Back, C.J. Barnett, G. Bernardi, C. Boswell, R.L.D. Boyce, S. Bushby, D.C. * Cash, M.C. Colbeck, R. Coonan, H.L. Cormann, M.H.P. Eggleston, A. Ferguson, A.B. Fielding, S. Fierravanti-Wells, C. Fifield, M.P. Fisher, M.J. Heffernan, W. Johnston, D. Joyce, B. Kroger, H. Macdonald, I. Mason, B.J. McGauran, J.J.J. Minchin, N.H. Nash, F. Parry, S. Payne, M.A. Ronaldson, M. Ryan, S.M. Scullion, N.G. Troeth, J.M. Trood, R.B. Williams, J.R. Xenophon, N. 33 Arbib, M.V. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Brown, B.J. Brown, C.L. Cameron, D.N. Collins, J. Conroy, S.M. Crossin, P.M. Farrell, D.E. Faulkner, J.P. Feeney, D. Forshaw, M.G. Furner, M.L. Hanson-Young, S.C. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Hutchins, S.P. Ludlam, S. Lundy, K.A. Marshall, G. McEwen, A. * McLucas, J.E. Milne, C. Moore, C. O’Brien, K.W.K. Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Sherry, N.J. Siewert, R. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Wortley, D. 4 Abetz, E. Evans, C.V. Birmingham, S. Carr, K.J. Brandis, G.H. Wong, P. Humphries, G. Ludwig, J.W. * denotes teller Question agreed to. 439 Petitions 10000 The Clerk The Clerk —Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows: 00AOL Senator Colbeck 1136 439 To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled: The petition of the undersigned draws to the attention of the Senate the deep concerns of the people of Devonport and surrounding communities about the imminent closure of the Sisters of Charity Outreach grief and trauma counselling service, in particular the failure of the Commonwealth Government to assist Sisters of Charity Outreach to continue providing this vital mental health service. Sisters of Charity Outreach provides an invaluable and unique counselling service to the Devonport regions specialising in grief and trauma issues and available to all in need regardless of financial circumstance. Outreach has had Commonwealth funding since 2008 and has consistently exceeded client and counselling session targets whilst keeping within budget allocations. We therefore request that the Senate support Senator Colbeck’s Motion: That the Senate: (a) Recognises the important, unique and successful service provided by Sisters of Charity Outreach to the Devonport Community; (b) Recognises the strong desire of the Devonport and wider communities to retain this vital mental health service; (c) Seeks that Prime Minister Julia Gillard meet her promise that a re-elected Labor Government would make mental health a priority; (d) Seeks Government re-consideration of its decision not to extend funding for the Sisters of Charity Outreach service beyond the current four-year period; and (e) Calls on the Government to provide $1.25 million over three years for this vital North West Tasmanian health service. 1136 00AOL Senator Colbeck Senator Colbeck (from 1,136 citizens) KO6 Senator Humphries 3 440 To the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament Assembled The humble Petition of the Citizens of Australia, respectfully showeth: That we re affirm our support for the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia which states “Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth.....” (Constitution Act 9`h July 1900) and the affirmation of 69% of our Australian population that they are Christians, and the statement of one of our founders that “this Commonwealth of Australia from its first stage will be a Christian Commonwealth” (Sir John Downer 1898), and the Opening Prayer of the Parliaments “Almighty God we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy blessing upon this Parliament. Direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of Thy glory” and recognises the importance of these beliefs in ensuring the ongoing stability and unity of our Christian nation. Your petitioners therefore pray the Parliament of Australia will: Review our Commonwealth Immigration Policy to ensure the priority for Christians from all races and colours, especially from persecuted nations, as both immigrants and refugees. Adopt a ten year moratorium on Muslim immigration, so an assessment can be made on the social and political disharmony currently occurring in the Netherlands, France and the UK, so as to ensure we avoid making the same mistakes; and allow a decade for the Muslim leadership and community in Australia to reassess their situation so as to reject any attempt to establish a Muslim nation with our Australian nation. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. 3 KO6 Senator Humphries Senator Humphries (from 3 citizens) 00AOS Senator Stephens 33 440 To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled: We, the undersigned citizens draw to the attention of the Senate assembled, that the definition of marriage as “a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life” is the foundation upon which our families are built and on which our society stands. To alter the definition of marriage to include same-sex “marriage”, as proposed, would be to change the very structure of society to the detriment of all, especially children. We, the undersigned citizens therefore request that the Senate upholds the definition of marriage as defined in the Marriage Act 1961 (amended 2004). 33 00AOS Senator Stephens Senator Stephens (from 33 citizens) Petitions received. 440 11:53:00 Colbeck, Sen Richard 00AOL Tasmania LP 0 0 Senator COLBECK —by leave—I thank the chamber for allowing me to speak briefly on this particular issue. I want to speak on my petition, signed by 1,136 petitioners from Tasmania, in support of the Sisters of Charity Outreach service. It is a unique service, providing mental health services to the people of north-west Tasmania—and indeed the whole of Tasmania. It is disappointing that a service providing mental health services, something that is one of the government’s second-term agenda items, is effectively, in the terminology of local member Sid Sidebottom ‘slipping through the cracks’. As a member of the medical fraternity said to me last week, the service that looks after people who slip through the cracks is in fact slipping through the cracks. Rather than put it into my words, I want to put on the record the words of Mr Sidebottom on 13 March 2008, when he described this as: ‘a wonderful example of self help in the provision of mental health services in Tasmania. The Sisters of Charity Outreach is the only specialist grief and trauma service in Tasmania. The program, which I can only offer in summary, is quite extraordinary. It is non-government; it is a not-for-profit group providing specialist grief and trauma counselling services. It makes a significant contribution to mental services in Tasmania.’ I have received letters from medical practices in my region calling for this service to be retained and for funding to be continued. Obviously, 1,136 petitioners have signed in a very short period of time a petition asking for this service to be continued. It is obvious that if the government is serious about mental health being on its second-term agenda, services such as this should be used as examples for the future, not let slip through the cracks. (Time expired) 441 Notices 441 457 Business 457 457 458 Notices 458 459 459 Motions 459 Bills S819 459 Bills S818 459 460 461 Bills S820 461 461 463 Committees 463 463 463 Miscellaneous 463 Motions 463 464 Committees 464 464 465 465 465 Motions 465 Motions 12:18:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 40 Adams, J. Barnett, G. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Boyce, S. Brown, C.L. * Bushby, D.C. Cameron, D.N. Cash, M.C. Colbeck, R. Cormann, M.H.P. Crossin, P.M. Eggleston, A. Farrell, D.E. Feeney, D. Ferguson, A.B. Fierravanti-Wells, C. Fifield, M.P. Forshaw, M.G. Furner, M.L. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Hutchins, S.P. Kroger, H. Lundy, K.A. Marshall, G. McEwen, A. McLucas, J.E. Minchin, N.H. Moore, C. Nash, F. O’Brien, K.W.K. Parry, S. Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Ryan, S.M. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Williams, J.R. Wortley, D. 7 Brown, B.J. Fielding, S. Hanson-Young, S.C. Ludlam, S. Milne, C. Siewert, R. Xenophon, N. * denotes teller Question agreed to. 12:23:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 40 Adams, J. Barnett, G. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Boyce, S. Brown, C.L. * Bushby, D.C. Cameron, D.N. Cash, M.C. Colbeck, R. Cormann, M.H.P. Crossin, P.M. Eggleston, A. Farrell, D.E. Feeney, D. Ferguson, A.B. Fierravanti-Wells, C. Fifield, M.P. Forshaw, M.G. Furner, M.L. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Hutchins, S.P. Kroger, H. Lundy, K.A. Marshall, G. McEwen, A. McLucas, J.E. Minchin, N.H. Moore, C. Nash, F. O’Brien, K.W.K. Parry, S. Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Ryan, S.M. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Williams, J.R. Wortley, D. 7 Brown, B.J. Fielding, S. Hanson-Young, S.C. Ludlam, S. Milne, C. Siewert, R. Xenophon, N. * denotes teller Question agreed to. 467 Miscellaneous 12:27:00 The Senate divided.     (The President—Senator the Hon. JJ Hogg) 7 Brown, B.J. Fielding, S. Hanson-Young, S.C. Ludlam, S. Milne, C. Siewert, R. Xenophon, N. 41 Adams, J. Barnett, G. Bilyk, C.L. Bishop, T.M. Boyce, S. Brown, C.L. Bushby, D.C. Cameron, D.N. Cash, M.C. Colbeck, R. Cormann, M.H.P. Crossin, P.M. Eggleston, A. Farrell, D.E. Feeney, D. Ferguson, A.B. Fierravanti-Wells, C. Fifield, M.P. Forshaw, M.G. Furner, M.L. Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A. Hutchins, S.P. Kroger, H. Lundy, K.A. Macdonald, I. Marshall, G. McEwen, A. McLucas, J.E. Minchin, N.H. Moore, C. Nash, F. O’Brien, K.W.K. Parry, S. * Polley, H. Pratt, L.C. Ryan, S.M. Stephens, U. Sterle, G. Williams, J.R. Wortley, D. * denotes teller Question negatived. 467 Motions 468 Motions 468 Committees 468 468 468 468 468 Budget 468 468 469 Bills S764 469 Bills S761 469 469 Committees 469 469 473 Bills S803 473 476 476 Bills R4424 476 486 14:00:00 Questions Without Notice 486 488 489 491 492 494 495 497 499 500 Questions Without Notice: Additional Answers 500 501 Bills S809 501 501 Questions Without Notice: Take Note of Answers 501 507 508 Personal Explanations 509 Matters of Public Importance 509 522 Ministerial Statements 522 526 Committees 526 529 Documents 529 529 Auditor-General's Reports 529 529 Budget 529 529 530 530 Miscellaneous 530 Miscellaneous 530 530 Committees 530 530 533 Miscellaneous 533 533 Miscellaneous 533 533 533 Documents 533 542 Miscellaneous 542 546 546 548 548 550 551 Auditor-General's Reports 551 551 Adjournment 551 553 555 557 559 Miscellaneous 559 559 559 18:19:00 Senate adjourned at 6.19 pm 559 Documents 559 561 Answers to Questions on Notice 561 561 341 562 562 352 563 563 354 563 563 358 564 564 360 565 565 362 565 565 363 566 566 365 567 567 368 568 568 2521