Parliament

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (15:47):  The Greens will not be supporting this motion. For a start, regarding this issue about private members' time, we did debate a bill this morning and we got a whole bill through. The Independents were always due to have a slot during this sitting. In fact, as I recollect, it was the previous week that they were due to have a slot on a program—the whole slot. Senator Xenophon was very generous in giving up some of the time for this morning's debate to start the debate on this particular bill.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (14:17):  My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations. I refer to the fact that Fair Work Australia has recently accepted that community sector workers are underpaid on the basis of gender. The tribunal called for submissions from the parties before making a final decision and has encouraged parties to negotiate. I would like to ask: what is the government doing now to engage in a genuine, meaningful way with this process?

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (13:53):  I would like to very quickly make a few remarks, bearing in mind that this was a very controversial inquiry, and I thank the senators who participated and the secretariat for the work they have put into this committee.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011
Second Reading

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:39):  So the Greens are the extreme ones in this debate, apparently, and yet Senator Boswell has just accused the minister for the environment of being a dictator.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (09:32):  It is with great pleasure that I stand here today to talk about this bill. The title of the dissenting report by Senator Xenophon and the Australian Greens into this bill—'Oils ain't oils'—says it all, and I must give Senator Xenophon credit for it. And it is true, because palm oil is not just a vegetable oil. If you read food packaging today you would believe it is just a vegetable oil. Well, we do not believe it is just a vegetable oil, nor do a large number of Australians.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:50):  The Greens have concerns with schedule 2 of this bill. This is the schedule that makes a payment for a child turning four contingent on that child having a health check, but the measure applies only to families where either parent has received income support for any part of that year. I have concerns about this part of the bill. 

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (10:43):  I wish to outline our support for the measures proposed in the Aged Care Amendment Bill 2011 and then talk about some of the situations facing the provision of aged care in this country, and particularly in my home state of Western Australia. As Senator Fierravanti-Wells pointed out, Western Australia is ahead of the curve of the problems that are facing the provision of aged care and I agree with Senator Fierravanti-Wells: it does need urgent action.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (15:48):  by leave—I move:
That the Senate—
 (a) notes:
  (i) that it has been 4 years since the Northern Territory Emergency Response began,
  (ii) that investment in the program now exceeds $1.5 billion,
  (iii) that the Closing the Gap report indicated that incarceration rates have risen, and that school attendance and
child nutrition have not improved, and
  (iv) the growing crisis in Alice Springs as many people move from community into Alice Springs;

Proposed Gas Hub and Bilby Habitats
Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (12:20):  I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move:
That the Senate— 
(a) notes that:  

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (18:24):  The Midwife Professional Indemnity Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 has received a great deal of attention. Debating issues around better support for midwives has taken a great deal of the time of many senators.