Parliament

 Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (15:52):  I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by me today relating to bilbies. 
 

MOTIONS

Indigenous Health
Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (12:18):

I move:

That the Senate— 

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (13:03):  As Senator Fifield pointed out, the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Amendment Bill 2011 amends section 15 of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act, allowing, amongst other things, the registrar to delegate his or her powers to persons engaged by the Commonwealth. There were some concerns expressed to me about this particular bill because it permits the outsourcing of child support payment debt collection, which is normally carried out by the Child Support Agency.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (12:12):  I move:
That the Senate—

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (16:04):  I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move:
That the Senate—

Senator SIEWERT & Senator LUDLAM: To move:
That the Senate—

(a) condemns the heavy handed tactics of the Western Australian Government which has instructed Western Australian police to forcibly remove locals from the road blockade at James Price Point, arresting elderly women, traditional owners and custodians;

(b) acknowledges the concern in the Broome community about the regional impact of the Browse development at James Price Point; and

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (17:10):  I present the final report of the Community Affairs References Committee, Disability and ageing: lifelong planning for a better future, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee.

Ordered that the report be printed.
Senator SIEWERT:  I table the report and I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:44):  I thank the chamber for that. The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2011 makes what we believe is an important amendment to the Social Security Act. It is an important process but it is also important, I think, because it raises some important issues that I would like to articulate.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Senator BOYCE (Queensland) (15:40):  I seek leave to amend notice of motion No. 300 standing in my name and the names of Senator Adams and Senator Siewert relating to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (16:28):  I say from the outset that the Greens do not support two aspects of this bill, as we articulated in our dissenting report to the inquiry by the Community Affairs Legislation Committee. There are many reasons why we have some concerns with particular aspects of the bill. Not only does it cut costs at the expense of low-income families and people with disabilities but it has been rushed through this place without adequate time for proper consultation or consideration of the detail.