16448 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Thursday 25 October 2012 __________ The President (The Hon. Donald Thomas Harwin) took the chair at 9.30 a.m. The President read the Prayers. Pursuant to sessional orders Formal Business Notices of Motions proceeded with. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Formal Business Notices of Motions Private Members' Business item No. 937 outside the Order of Precedence objected to as being taken as formal business. EDWARDS V CANADA PRIVY COUNCIL DECISION Motion by the Hon. John Ajaka, on behalf of the Hon. TREVOR KHAN, agreed to: 1. That this House notes that: (a) on 29 October 1927, the Privy Council delivered its report into the decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the decision of Edwards v Canada, (b) the Supreme Court had received a reference from the Federal Government of Canada asking whether the Constitution of Canada allowed for the appointment of a female to the Senate of Canada, (c) the Supreme Court interpreted the words "qualified person" in the Constitution based upon the Court's understanding of the intention of the drafters of the Constitution, and rejected the proposition that women could serve in the Senate, (d) when the matter was considered by the Privy Council on appeal the Council considered that the meaning of "qualified person" in the Canadian Constitution should be read broadly to include women, overruling the decision of the Supreme Court, and (e) in arriving at its decision the Privy Council stated that the Canadian "Constitution is a living tree which, by way of progressive interpretation, accommodates and addresses the realities of modern life". 2. That this House acknowledges: (a) the importance of the changing role and status of women in society, and (b) the commonsense of the Privy Council in its approach to statutory interpretation. NATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE Motion by the Hon. HELEN WESTWOOD agreed to: That this House: (a) notes that the National Week of Deaf People from Saturday 20 October to Friday 26 October 2012, (b) notes that the theme of National Week of Deaf People 2012 is "Sign Bilingualism is a human right", (c) notes that the National Week of Deaf People provides an opportunity for the deaf to celebrate their community, language, culture and history and recognises the achievements and skills of people from the deaf community, (d) notes that the National Week of Deaf People is used as an opportunity to make the public aware of the local, state and national deaf communities, (e) notes that around 10 per cent of the New South Wales population, over 660,000 people, live with complete or partial hearing loss, many of whom rely on Australian Sign Language or Auslan to communicate and are amongst the state's most vulnerable workers and job seekers, and (f) calls on the House to use the National Week of Deaf People as an opportunity to promote a wider understanding of the uniqueness of the deaf community and their need to receive "signed" information to ensure their full inclusion in society. 25 October 2012 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 16449 REPUBLIC OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY Motion by the Hon. MARIE FICARRA agreed to: 1. That this House notes that 2012 marks the twentieth anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. 2. That this House: (a) acknowledges the importance of the basic human right to self-determination and a free and a democratic society, (b) recognises the right to self-determination of all peoples including those of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, (c) notes Nagorno-Karabakh's sustained efforts towards creating a free and democratic society through the use of legitimate parliamentary elections and its continued efforts to develop a responsible government, (d) supports and encourages Nagorno-Karabakh's involvement within the international community and further encourages its engagement with the international community to reach a solution to the existing regional problems to establish peace and stability, (e) encourages peaceful relations and the continued promotion of humanitarian and economic support for the people of Nargona-Karabakh, and (f) calls on the Commonwealth Government to officially recognise the independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and strengthen Australia's relationship with the Nagorno-Karabakh and its citizens. TRIBUTE TO MR NABIL TANNOUS Motion by the Hon. Lynda Voltz, on behalf of the Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE, agreed to: 1. That this House notes that: (a) Mr Nabil Tannous, a stalwart of Arabic radio broadcasting, passed away in Sydney earlier this week after a long battle with cancer, (b) Mr Tannous was born 7 July 1937 and is well known for his role as Coordinator of the Arabic program on SBS Radio in the 1980s, (c) Mr Tannous was active at Radio 2000 FM for the past 20 years, since its establishment in 1992, (d) in the late 1990s, Mr Tannous donated the seed funding required to re-establish Radio 2000 FM and was an ardent supporter of the revival process after the station was closed down, (e) Mr Tannous is an Australian of Palestinian descent and has been one of the most influential voices for the Arabic-speaking community of New South Wales, (f) Mr Tannous is survived by his son, Anthony, and (g) Mr Tannous was buried on 23 October 2012 after a mass at St Nicholas Church, Henry Street, Punchbowl, at 11.00 am. 2. That this House notes the passing of Nabil Tannous and expresses its condolences to his son, Anthony, relatives, the Arabic media and the wider Arabic community in New South Wales. TRIBUTE TO HIS GRACE BISHOP DANIEL Motion by the Hon. DAVID CLARKE agreed to: 1. That this House acknowledges that: (a) on Saturday 13 October 2012, a celebration took place at St Marks Coptic Orthodox Church at Arncliffe to mark the Tenth Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Grace Bishop Daniel as the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church's Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions, and (b) dignitaries that attended the ceremony included: (i) His Eminence, Archbishop Malki Malki of the Syrian Orthodox Church, (ii) His Eminence Archbishop Yacub Daniel of the Ancient Church of the East, (iii) Most Reverend Father Basil Soussanian of the Armenian Catholic Church, 16450 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 25 October 2012 (iv) Reverend Father Estavros Ivanos, representing His Eminence Archbishop Stilianos of the Greek Orthodox Church, (v) Reverend Father Joseph Joseph, representing the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of the East, (vi) Father Shernouda Mansour, President of the NSW Ecumenical Council, (vii) Reverend John Namour, Pastor of the Guildford Arabic Baptist Church and representing the Arab World Evangelical Ministers Association, (viii) His Excellency Mr Ayman Kamel, Consul-General of the Arab Republic of Egypt, (ix) Mr Nick Kaldas, Deputy Commissioner, NSW Police Force, (x) Mr Craig Kelly, MP, Federal member for Hughes, (xi) the Hon. David Clarke, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, (xii) the Hon. Amanda Fazio, MLC, Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council, (xiii) the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane, MLC, (xiv) Mr Graeme Mundine of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, (xv) Reverend Fathers representing various parishes of the Coptic Orthodox Church, (xvi) representatives of various Coptic Orthodox Community organisations. 2. That this House: (a) congratulates His Grace Bishop Daniel on the occasion the tenth Anniversary of his Enthronement as Bishop of the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions of the Coptic Orthodox Church, (b) notes that the Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions has experienced enormous growth in recent years so that today it comprises tens of thousands of members in some 22 parishes and maintains four schools, a theological college and a monastery, and 3. That this House commends and pays tribute to the Coptic Orthodox Community of New South Wales for its many achievements and positive contribution to the life of the State of New South Wales. AUSTRALIAN EGYPTIAN COUNCIL FORUM Motion by the Hon. DAVID CLARKE agreed to: 1. That this House notes that: (a) for the last 20 years, and for the 20 years prior to that under other names, the Australian Egyptian Council Forum has worked to: (i) promote good relations between Egyptian-Australians and the wider Australian community, (ii) provide a greater awareness of Egyptian heritage and culture within Australia, (iii) encourage greater ties between Australia and Egypt on both a government and non-government level, (iv) develop programs that enhance leadership skills amongst Egyptian-Australian youth, (b) in pursuing its aims the Australian Egyptian Council Forum has an ongoing program of activities which include: (i) giving practical support to Egyptian international students studying in Australia, (ii) maintaining an Arabic Book Club at Marrickville Library, (iii) operating a volunteer welfare service to assist newly arrived migrants from Egypt, particularly those entering Australia on humanitarian grounds, (iv) organising each year an Annual Egyptian Cultural Festival in Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour attended by several thousand Sydneysiders, (v) conducting an annual Egyptian Australia of the Year Award Dinner, and (c) on Sunday 21 October 2012, the forum held a successful Egyptian Australian of the Year Award Dinner attended by representatives of many Egyptian cultural, social and religious organisations at which Mr Michael Ibrahim received the Egyptian Australian of the Year Award in recognition of his 40 years service to the Scouting Movement amongst Egyptian-Australian youth. 25 October 2012 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 16451 2. That this House acknowledges the dignitaries that attended the awards ceremony, including: (a) His Excellency, Mr Ayman Kamel, Consul-General of the Arab Republic of Egypt, (b) the Hon. David Clarke, MLC, New South Wales Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, representing the Premier, the Hon. Barry O'Farrell, MP, (c) Ms Tania Mihailuk, MP, member for Bankstown, representing the Leader of the Opposition, Mr John Robertson, MP, (d) Mr Tony Issa, OAM, MP, member for Granville, (e) His Worship Councillor Maurice Mansour, Mayor of Ashfield, (f) Mr Nick Kaldas, Deputy Commissioner, NSW Police Force, and (g) Mr Peter Khalil, representing SBS.