Parliament

RURAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT LEGISLATION COMMITTEE  Estimates  MONDAY, 23 MAY 2011 - Full Transcripts

Senator SIEWERT:  Firstly, can we go through where we are up to with the drought review process and how any future process for drought and exceptional circumstances now ties in with the pilot in WA now that has been extended.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:57):  I move:
That the Senate—
 (a) notes with concern decisions by major retailers to heavily discount alcohol as a 'loss leader' to increase market share, with beer and wine being sold below the wholesale price so that it is now often cheaper than bottled water;
 (b) draws attention to research that demonstrates that young people, disadvantaged groups and risky drinkers are highly sensitive to the price of alcohol;

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:41):  I have been very restrained in this debate, so I thank the chair for recognising me. Finally, after two hours, I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 7075:
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (lines 1 to 3), omit clause, substitute:
2  Commencement
  This Act commences the day after the commencement of the Native Title Amendment (Reform) Act 2011.

Senator Siewert  asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 29 November 2010:

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (15:37):  I move:
That the Senate—
 (a) notes:
  (i) the humpback whale is listed as a threatened species,
  (ii) human generated habitat degradation is identified as a major threat to humpback whales by the Department of the Environment and Heritage's Humpback Whale Recovery Plan 2005-2010,
  (iii) the plan notes the following forms of possible habitat degradation:
 (a) acoustic pollution, for example, commercial and recreational vessel noise and seismic survey activity,

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (13:26):  The Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2010 is a bit of a grab bag of miscellaneous measures with certain schedules in and then out, in and then out.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (1.14 pm)—I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 221 standing in my name relating to the 20th anniversary of the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991.

That the Senate:

(a)    notes that 15 April 2011 will denote 20 years since the release of the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991;

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (9.42 am)—I want to start addressing the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011 by stating the obvious—that is, the Greens care about and are deeply committed to the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

TOBACCO Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (1.56 pm)—I move: That the Senate—

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (4.07 pm)—I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate—
(a)    welcomes the launch of the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce on Tuesday, 22 March 2011;

(b)    raises concern at the significant impacts of problem gambling on our community, including relationship breakdown, mental health issues, unemployment, debt and financial hardship, theft and social isolation, with an estimated cost to our community of $4.7 billion a year;