COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard MONDAY, 16 JUNE 1997 THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FOURTH PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CANBERRA CONTENTS MONDAY, 16 JUNE President: Absence ...................................... 4159 Customs and Excise Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (No. 2)— In Committee ........................................ 4159 Questions Without Notice— Hong Kong ......................................... 4173 Telecommunications ................................... 4174 Government Policies ................................... 4175 Distinguished Visitors ................................... 4176 Questions Without Notice— Small Business ....................................... 4176 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ........................ 4177 Federation Fund ...................................... 4177 Technical and Further Education .......................... 4178 Environmental Impact Assessments: Freedom of Information ...... 4179 Science and Technology Awareness Program .................. 4179 Higher Education Funding ............................... 4180 Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs .............. 4181 United Nations General Assembly Special Session .............. 4182 National Health and Medical Research Council: Appointments ..... 4182 Indigenous Australians: Business Incentive Programs ............ 4183 Norfolk Island: Appointment of Administrator ................. 4184 Wet Tropics ......................................... 4184 University Enrolments .................................. 4185 Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs .............. 4186 Gifts to The Senate ..................................... 4188 Answers to Questions Without Notice— Australian Broadcasting Corporation ........................ 4188 Technical and Further Education .......................... 4195 Petitions— East Timor ......................................... 4196 Uranium ........................................... 4196 Higher Education Contribution Scheme ...................... 4196 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ........................ 4197 Holsworthy Airport .................................... 4197 Holsworthy Airport ................................... 4197 Repatriation Benefits .................................. 4197 Scholarships: Taxation ................................. 4198 Women’s Rights...................................... 4198 Legal Aid .......................................... 4199 Notices of Motion— Introduction of Legislation .............................. 4199 Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee ........ 4199 Consideration of Legislation ............................. 4199 High Court of Australia: Immigration ....................... 4200 Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee ............... 4200 East Gippsland Forests ................................. 4200 Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee ........ 4201 Human Rights ....................................... 4201 Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee ........ 4201 Austudy Regulations ................................... 4201 Burma ............................................. 4202 Youth Unemployment .................................. 4202 Committees— Economics Legislation Committee—Extension of Time .......... 4202 Order of Business— Economics References Committee ......................... 4202 Workplace Relations Regulations .......................... 4202 Corporations and Securities Committee ...................... 4202 CONTENTS—continued Committees— Community Affairs Legislation Committee—Extension of Time .... 4202 Order of Business— Attorney-General’s Department: Grant of Assistance ............ 4203 High Court Regulations ................................. 4203 Committees— Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee— Meeting .......................................... 4203 Papua New Guinea ..................................... 4203 Sri Lanka ............................................ 4203 Small Business: Fair Trading Laws .......................... 4203 Franchising Code Council ................................. 4204 Small Business: Fair Trading Laws .......................... 4204 Committees— Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee—Report . 4204 Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee—Report . 4204 Documents— Tabling ............................................ 4206 Committees— Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee— Report: Government Response .......................... 4206 Documents— Arrest of Senator Brown ................................ 4210 BHP Steelworks ...................................... 4213 Medicare ........................................... 4213 Casual Vacancies ..................................... 4213 Committees— Community Affairs Legislation Committee—Report ............. 4216 Budget 1996-97— Consideration of Appropriation Bills by Legislation Committees—Additional Information ..................... 4216 Committees— Public Works Committee—Report ......................... 4216 Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee— Documents ....................................... 4217 Senators’ Interests Committee—Documents ................... 4217 Budget 1996-97— Consideration of Appropriation Bills by Legislation Committee— Additional Information ............................... 4217 Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee: Joint—Report ..... 4217 Electoral Matters Committee—Report ....................... 4219 Public Accounts Committee—Reports: Responses .............. 4219 Native Title Committee—Report .......................... 4219 Parliamentary Delegation to the 97th Inter-Parliamentary Conference . 4220 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1997— Report of Economics Legislation Committee .................. 4220 Native Title Committee—Report .......................... 4220 Assent to Laws ........................................ 4220 Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment Bill 1997— Industrial Chemicals (Registration Charge—Excise) Bill 1997— Industrial Chemicals (Registration Charge—Customs) Bill 1997— Industrial Chemicals (Registration Charge—General) Bill 1997— First Reading ........................................ 4220 Second Reading ...................................... 4221 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1997 ................... 4222 Social Security Legislation Amendment (Activity Test Penalty Periods) Bill 1997 ......................................... 4222 Primary Industries and Energy Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1997 4222 Industry, Science and Tourism Legislation Amendment Bill 1997 ..... 4222 Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Simplification CONTENTS—continued Measures) Bill 1997 ..................................... 4222 Aged Care Bill 1997— First Reading ........................................ 4222 Second Reading ...................................... 4223 Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1997— Aged Care (Consequential Provisions) Bill 1997— Aged Care (Compensation Amendments) Bill 1997— First Reading ........................................ 4233 Second Reading ...................................... 4234 Bills Returned from The House of Representatives ............... 4236 Committees— Membership ......................................... 4236 Customs and Excise Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1996 (No. 2)— In Committee ........................................ 4236 Order of Business— Government Business .................................. 4250 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1997— Report of Superannuation Committee ....................... 4250 Reform of Employment Services Bill 1996 [1997]— Reform of Employment Services (Consequential Provisions) Bill 1996 [1997]— In Committee ........................................ 4251 Adjournment— Mr David Hong ...................................... 4268 Mr David Hong ...................................... 4269 Mr David Hong ...................................... 4270 Science Education .................................... 4270 Community Radio Stations .............................. 4271 Housing ........................................... 4273 Documents— Tabling ............................................ 4275 Proclamations ......................................... 4276 Questions on Notice— Unemployed: Case Management—(Question No. 407) ........... 4277 Austudy—(Question No. 414) ............................ 4279 School Closures: Victoria—(Question No. 437) ................ 4279 Aboriginal Field Officers—(Question No. 499) ................ 4280 School-to-Work Programs: Accountability—(Question No. 503) .... 4282 Austudy Policy Reference Group—(Question No. 508) ........... 4283 Importation of Cooked Chicken Meat—(Question No. 534) ........ 4283 Apprenticeships: Building and Construction Industries— (Question No. 536) .................................. 4286 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs: Programs and Grants— (Question No. 548) .................................. 4288 Australia New Zealand Food Authority—(Question No. 550) ...... 4289 Railways—(Question No. 554) ............................ 4289 Aircraft Accident Aboard USS Independence—(Question No. 560) . 4290 Karri Forests—(Question No. 564) ......................... 4290 Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency: Non-Executive Board Members—(Question No. 566) .......................... 4291 Australian Political Exchange