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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard No. 3, 2002 TUESDAY, 19 MARCH 2002 FORTIETH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FIRST PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE INTERNET The Journals for the Senate are available at: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/work/journals/index.htm Proof and Official Hansards for the House of Representatives, the Senate and committee hearings are available at: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard SITTING DAYS—2002 Month Date February 12, 13, 14 March 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 May 14, 15, 16 June 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 August 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 September 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 October 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24 November 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 December 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 RADIO BROADCASTS Broadcasts of proceedings of the Parliament can be heard on the following Parliamentary and News Network radio stations, in the areas identified. CANBERRA 1440 AM SYDNEY 630 AM NEWCASTLE 1458 AM BRISBANE 936 AM MELBOURNE 1026 AM ADELAIDE 972 AM PERTH 585 AM HOBART 729 AM DARWIN 102.5 FM SENATE CONTENTS TUESDAY, 19 MARCH Questions Without Notice— Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 925 Economy: Growth ........................................................................................... 925 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 926 Workplace Relations: Policy............................................................................ 927 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 928 Howard Government: Discrimination ............................................................. 929 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 929 Telstra: Services and Sponsorship ................................................................... 930 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 930 Economy: Rural and Regional Australia......................................................... 931 Committee Membership: Senator Heffernan................................................... 932 Environment: Paradise Dam............................................................................ 932 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 933 Australian Tourist Commission: Funding........................................................ 934 Defence: Ordnance.......................................................................................... 935 Law Enforcement: National DNA Database ................................................... 936 Defence: Ordnance.......................................................................................... 937 Questions Without Notice: Take Note of Answers— Privilege: Senator Heffernan ........................................................................... 937 Howard Government: Discrimination ............................................................. 942 Business— Rearrangement................................................................................................. 943 Privilege................................................................................................................ 944 Senator Heffernan— Censure Motion ............................................................................................... 945 Privilege................................................................................................................ 967 Lucas Heights: Nuclear Reactor— Returns to Order .............................................................................................. 968 Petitions— Telstra: Privatisation........................................................................................ 972 Notices— Presentation ..................................................................................................... 972 Postponement .................................................................................................. 978 Leave of Absence.................................................................................................. 978 National Library of Australia: Treasures from the World’s Great Libraries Exhibition...................................................................................................... 978 Basslink: Transmission Lines ............................................................................... 979 Community Development Employment Projects Achievement Awards .............. 979 Human Rights: Burma .......................................................................................... 979 Documents— Auditor-General’s Reports—Report No. 37 of 2001-02 ................................. 980 Auditor-General’s Reports—Report No. 38 of 2001-02 ................................. 980 Budget— Consideration by Legislation Committees—Report........................................ 980 Committees— Membership..................................................................................................... 980 States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Amendment Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................... 981 SENATE CONTENTS—continued Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................... 997 Disability Services Amendment (Improved Quality Assurance) Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 1005 Criminal Code Amendment (Anti-hoax and Other Measures) Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 1011 Adjournment— Zimbabwe...................................................................................................... 1021 France: Australian War Graves...................................................................... 1023 Australian Labor Party: Minutes ................................................................... 1025 New South Wales: Education ........................................................................ 1026 Documents— Tabling........................................................................................................... 1028 Tabling........................................................................................................... 1028 Indexed Lists of Files .................................................................................... 1028 Departmental and Agency Contracts............................................................. 1029 Tuesday, 19 March 2002 SENATE 925 Tuesday, 19 March 2002 basis of the allegations he passed on to the ————— New South Wales Police are definitely not documents provided pursuant to any FOI The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. request? Minister, that is my question. It Margaret Reid) took the chair at 2.00 p.m. does not go to operational matters; it goes to and read prayers. the question of the status of these documents QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE and whether or not they were provided pur- Privilege: Senator Heffernan suant to an FOI request. Senator FAULKNER (2.01 p.m.)—My Senator ABETZ—I think there is a question is directed to Senator Abetz, the slightly different question being asked now Special Minister of State. Can the minister by the Leader of the Opposition. I under- confirm the statement made by Senator Hef- stand in the normal course of events, when fernan that he had made an FOI request for FOI requests are made, if people do not ob- Comcar documents relating to Justice Kirby ject et cetera, certain information may or and that he had been refused access to those may not be made available. The department documents? Did Senator Heffernan ever did respond and act appropriately in relation formally or informally seek a review of any to FOI requests made by our friends in the FOI decision on this matter and what was the gallery or by individual senators and/or citi- result of any such review? Can the minister zens. In relation to the document that I think confirm that Senator Heffernan did approach Senator Faulkner is referring to, namely, the the then secretary of the department, Dr Pe- purported Comcar docket, I understand from ter Boxall, asking him to obtain copies of my department that is a document the de- departmental documents for him? What ac- partment cannot authenticate. tions did Dr Boxall take as a result of this Economy: Growth request from Senator Heffernan? What did Senator WATSON (2.04 p.m.)—My Dr Boxall know about any documents which question is directed to Senator Hill, the form the basis of Senator Heffernan’s allega- Leader of the Government in the Senate. tions against Justice Kirby and when was he Will the minister inform the Senate how first made aware of any documents, whether Australian families are benefiting from the they be from the department or elsewhere? Howard government’s responsible economic Senator ABETZ—As the Leader of the management? Opposition would be aware, this matter is Senator HILL—The coalition govern- now in the hands of the New South Wales ment continues to provide the good eco- Police. They have received, as I understand nomic times Australia is currently enjoying. it, information from Senator Heffernan and, There has been