The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has delivered a damning report on Australia's failure to meet international commitments on eliminating discrimination.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, Spokesperson for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs says the report lends its voice to international calls for Australia to negotiate a treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to change its stance and to support a draft UN resolution on the Human Right for Water and Sanitation.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Water, says Australia needs to show international leadership and defend the basic rights of disadvantaged people across the world.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia) (9.41 am)—I move the motion as amended: That the Senate—

With reports that the Japanese whaling fleet have left port bound for the Southern Ocean, the Australian Greens today called on the Government to take immediate action.

"The Government's commitment to funding non-lethal whaling research mustn't stop them preparing for immediate action during the upcoming whaling season," said Senator Rachel Siewert.

The Australian Greens say World Toilet Day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of world-wide sanitation.

"It is shocking that 2.5 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation. This risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, most of which are children, every year," said Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.

1. That the Senate notes:
   1. Thursday 19th November 2009 is World Toilet Day - a day to celebrate the importance of sanitation and raise awareness for the world's population who don't have access to toilets and proper sanitation;
   2. 2.5 billion people worldwide are without access to proper sanitation, which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people (mostly children) a year;

Senator SIEWERT-My question is to Senator Faulkner, the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Could the minister tell us: when was the Commonwealth first aware that oil from the Montara oil spill had crossed into Indonesian waters? Which minister or department contacted which authorities, and when? What arrangements, if any, have been made to monitor and assess the impacts of the oil on Indonesian waters? Are there any clean-up or compensation arrangements?

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence (Senator Faulkner) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea.