COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard No. 3, 2002 WEDNESDAY, 20 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 WEDNESDAY, 20 MARCH Migration Legislation Amendment (Transitional Movement) Bill 2002— First Reading ................................................................................................. 1031 Second Reading............................................................................................. 1031 Business— Rearrangement............................................................................................... 1032 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games............................................................. 1037 Business— Consideration of Legislation ......................................................................... 1037 Business— Consideration of Legislation ......................................................................... 1045 States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Amendment Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 1049 In Committee................................................................................................. 1053 Matters of Public Interest— Zimbabwe...................................................................................................... 1067 Attorney-General: Address to Senior Officers .............................................. 1070 Homosexual Legal Rights ............................................................................. 1073 Telstra: Telecommunications Infrastructure .................................................. 1076 Superannuation: Quarterly Payments ............................................................ 1078 Questions Without Notice— Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1081 Economy: Growth ......................................................................................... 1082 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1082 Car Industry................................................................................................... 1083 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1084 Zimbabwe...................................................................................................... 1085 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1086 Taxation: Forest Plantation Industry.............................................................. 1087 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1087 Social Security: Compliance ......................................................................... 1088 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1089 Stuart Shale Oil Project ................................................................................. 1090 Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1091 Telecommunications: Media Services ........................................................... 1092 Health: Program Funding .............................................................................. 1093 Answers to Questions on Notice— Questions Nos 105, 107 and 115 ................................................................... 1093 Questions Without Notice: Additional Answers— Telstra: Services and Sponsorship ................................................................. 1094 Questions Without Notice: Take Note of Answers— Privilege: Senator Heffernan ......................................................................... 1094 Taxation: Forest Plantation Industry.............................................................. 1099 Petitions— Health: MRI Machine, Princess Margaret Hospital....................................... 1100 Notices— Presentation ................................................................................................... 1100 SENATE CONTENTS—continued Committees— Selection of Bills Committee—Report.......................................................... 1102 Business— Rearrangement................................................................................................1111 Notices— Postponement .................................................................................................1111 Committees— Economics References Committee—Reference.............................................1111 Senate: Dress Code..............................................................................................1111 Human Rights: China.......................................................................................... 1112 Committees— Privileges Committee—Reference ................................................................ 1112 Health: MRI Machine, Princess Margaret Hospital............................................ 1112 Health: Nuclear Testing ...................................................................................... 1112 Health: Mental Illness......................................................................................... 1113 Family Court: Property Issues— Suspension of Standing Orders...................................................................... 1113 Committees— Community Affairs References Committee—Meeting ................................. 1116 Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee— Reference................................................................................................ 1116 Scrutiny of Bills Committee—Report ........................................................... 1117 Delegation Reports— Official Visits to the Assembly of the Republic, Portugal, and the Senate, Spain......................................................................................................... 1117 Parliamentary Zone— Proposal for Works ........................................................................................ 1117 Delegation Reports— Parliamentary Delegation to the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference................................................................................................. 1117 Committees— Membership................................................................................................... 1117 Health: Nuclear Testing— Return to Order.............................................................................................. 1117 Notices— Withdrawal .................................................................................................... 1118 States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Amendment Bill 2002— In Committee................................................................................................. 1118 First Speech......................................................................................................... 1123 Committees— Economics Legislation Committee—Report................................................. 1127 States Grants (Primary and Secondary Education Assistance) Amendment Bill 2002— In Committee................................................................................................. 1127 Third Reading................................................................................................ 1140 Taxation Laws Amendment (Baby Bonus) Bill 2002, Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2002, Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2002, SENATE CONTENTS—continued Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical Devices) Bill 2002 and Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2002— First Reading ................................................................................................. 1140 Second Reading............................................................................................. 1140 Business— Rearrangement............................................................................................... 1144 Disability Services Amendment (Improved Quality Assurance) Bill 2002— Second Reading............................................................................................. 1144 In Committee................................................................................................. 1145 Third Reading................................................................................................ 1146 Migration Legislation Amendment (Transitional Movement) Bill 2002—