COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard No. 2, 2003 WEDNESDAY, 5 MARCH 2003 FORTIETH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FOURTH 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—2003 Month Date February 4, 5, 6 March 3, 4, 5, 6, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 May 13, 14, 15 June 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 August 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21 September 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 October 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30 November 3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27 December 1, 2, 3, 4 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 WEDNESDAY, 5 MARCH Business— Rearrangement............................................................................................... 9199 Migration Legislation Amendment (Contributory Parents Migration Scheme) Bill 2002 and Migration (Visa Application) Charge Amendment Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 9199 In Committee................................................................................................. 9216 Third Reading................................................................................................ 9221 Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2002, Australian Heritage Council Bill 2002 and Australian Heritage Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 9222 Matters of Public Interest— Queensland Government ............................................................................... 9236 Centre for Independent Studies ..................................................................... 9239 Communications: Media Ownership............................................................. 9241 New South Wales: Hunter Region................................................................. 9244 Hawke Labor Government: 20th Anniversary............................................... 9246 Questions Without Notice— Goods and Services Tax: Subcontractors ...................................................... 9249 Economy: Performance ................................................................................. 9250 Medicare: Bulk-Billing.................................................................................. 9251 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: Report on Australia’s Economic Performance ............................................................ 9252 Superannuation: Children’s Accounts ........................................................... 9253 Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9255 Banking: Credit Card Schemes ..................................................................... 9256 Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9257 Defence: Anthrax Vaccination....................................................................... 9258 Agriculture: Economic Outlook .................................................................... 9259 Centrelink: Family Payments ........................................................................ 9259 Medicare: Bulk-Billing.................................................................................. 9260 Questions Without Notice: Additional Answers— Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9261 Questions Without Notice: Take Note of Answers— Superannuation: Children’s Accounts ........................................................... 9262 Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9266 Committees— Selection of Bills Committee—Report.......................................................... 9267 Petitions— Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9270 Notices— Presentation ................................................................................................... 9270 Postponement ................................................................................................ 9274 Withdrawal .................................................................................................... 9274 Postponement ................................................................................................ 9274 Hawke Labor Government: 20th Anniversary.................................................... 9275 Committees— Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee— Meeting........................................................................................................ 9275 SENATE CONTENTS—continued Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee— Meeting........................................................................................................ 9275 Senate: Question Time........................................................................................ 9275 New South Wales: Regional Forest Agreement .................................................. 9276 Brown, Eileen Kampakuta.................................................................................. 9277 Environment: Whales ......................................................................................... 9277 South Australia: National Radioactive Waste Repository................................... 9277 Australian Defence Force: Allowances............................................................... 9277 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Protecting the Great Barrier Reef from Oil Drilling and Exploration) Amendment Bill 2003— First Reading ................................................................................................. 9278 Second Reading............................................................................................. 9278 Environment: World Heritage Convention ......................................................... 9280 Foreign Affairs: West Papua ............................................................................... 9281 Foreign Affairs: West Papua Conference............................................................ 9281 Matters of Public Importance— Education: Higher Education ........................................................................ 9281 Committees— Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee— Corrigendum................................................................................................ 9293 Scrutiny of Bills Committee—Report ........................................................... 9293 Public Accounts and Audit Committee—Report........................................... 9295 Documents— Auditor-General’s Reports—Reports Nos 31 and 32 of 2002-03.................. 9301 Responses to Senate Resolutions................................................................... 9302 Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9303 Workplace Relations Amendment (Secret Ballots for Protected Action) Bill 2002 [No. 2]— First Reading ................................................................................................. 9306 Second Reading............................................................................................. 9306 Workplace Relations Amendment (Fair Dismissal) Bill 2002 [No. 2]— Consideration of House of Representatives Message.................................... 9307 Documents— National Health and Medical Research Council............................................ 9314 National Biotechnology Centre of Excellence .............................................. 9315 Adjournment— Political Debate ............................................................................................. 9316 Iraq ................................................................................................................ 9316 Australian Defence Force: Townsville .......................................................... 9318 Foreign Affairs: West Papua.......................................................................... 9320 Centrelink: Service Delivery ......................................................................... 9322 Documents— Tabling........................................................................................................... 9324 Tabling........................................................................................................... 9325 Indexed Lists of Files .................................................................................... 9325 Questions on Notice— Aviation: Air Traffic Controllers—(Question No. 1025)............................... 9326 Civil Aviation Safety Authority: Western Australian Police Air Support Unit—(Question No. 1044).......................................................................