COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard No. 8, 2000 19 JUNE 2000 THIRTY-NINTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—SIXTH PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CONTENTS MONDAY, 19 JUNE Condolences Wilton, Mr Gregory Stuart .......................................................................... 15053 Local Government (Financial Assistance) Amendment Bill 2000 In Committee............................................................................................... 15053 Ministerial Arrangements ................................................................................. 15068 Questions Without Notice Goods and Services Tax: Caravan Parks ..................................................... 15068 Rural and Regional Australia: Government Support................................... 15068 Goods and Services Tax: Rent..................................................................... 15069 Economy: Families...................................................................................... 15070 Environment: Greenhouse Gases................................................................. 15071 Gene Technology: Environment.................................................................. 15072 Goods and Services Tax: Black Economy................................................... 15073 Rural and Regional Australia: Tax Reform ................................................. 15074 Goods and Services Tax: Food .................................................................... 15075 Economy: Wealth Distribution .................................................................... 15075 Goods and Services Tax: Food .................................................................... 15076 Gene Technology: Environment.................................................................. 15077 Goods and Services Tax: Food .................................................................... 15078 Private Health Insurance: Reform ............................................................... 15078 Answers To Questions Without Notice Nursing Homes: Riverside .......................................................................... 15080 Goods and Services Tax: Black Economy................................................... 15080 Gene Technology: Environment.................................................................. 15086 Petitions Medicare...................................................................................................... 15087 Asylum Seekers: Political............................................................................ 15087 Notices Presentation ................................................................................................. 15088 Leave of Absence.............................................................................................. 15104 Notices—Postponement.................................................................................... 15104 Committees Regulations And Ordinances Committee—Private Meeting....................... 15104 Documents Auditor-General’s Reports........................................................................... 15104 Report No. 46 of 1999-2000........................................................................ 15104 Report No. 48 of 1999-2000........................................................................ 15105 Committees Privileges Committee .................................................................................. 15106 Report .......................................................................................................... 15106 Membership................................................................................................. 15111 Bills Returned From The House of Representatives......................................... 15111 Health Legislation Amendment (Gap Cover Schemes) Bill 2000 Consideration of House of Representatives Message.................................. 15112 Broadcasting Services Amendment (Digital Television and Datacasting) Bill 2000 Datacasting Charge (Imposition) Amendment Bill 2000 First Reading ............................................................................................... 15112 Second Reading........................................................................................... 15112 CONTENTS—continued Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2000 Report of Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee............................................................ 15117 Local Government (Financial Assistance) Amendment Bill 2000 In Committee............................................................................................... 15117 Adoption of Report...................................................................................... 15121 Third Reading.............................................................................................. 15123 Family and Community Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2000 Second Reading........................................................................................... 15123 In Committee............................................................................................... 15130 Third Reading.............................................................................................. 15138 Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Bill 1999 [2000] Second Reading........................................................................................... 15138 In Committee............................................................................................... 15162 Adjournment Dairy Industry: Deregulation....................................................................... 15169 Regional Forest Agreement: Otway Ranges Hydrology Research.............. 15171 Goods and Services Tax: Trucking Industry................................................ 15173 Wilton, Mr Gregory Stuart .......................................................................... 15175 Wilton, Mr Gregory Stuart .......................................................................... 15175 Documents Tabling......................................................................................................... 15177 Proclamations.................................................................................................... 15178 Questions On Notice No. 1799—Saw and Veneer Logs: Export................................................... 15179 No. 1908—Civil Aviation Safety Authority: Major Defect Notices ........... 15179 No. 1939—Qantas and Ansett Australia: Air Operating Certificates.......... 15180 No. 1940—Airline Operators: Air Operating Certificates........................... 15181 No. 1942—Civil Aviation Safety Authority: Minutes of Meetings............. 15181 No. 1982—Goods And Services Tax: Department of Family and Community Services Research.................................................................... 15182 No. 2089—Department of Veterans’ Affairs: Contracts with Ernst and Young.................................................................................................... 15183 No. 2137—Register of Environmental Organisations: Taxation................. 15184 No. 2141—Federation Fund: Applications.................................................. 15185 No. 2164—Perth Community Newspaper Group: Survey Results.............. 15186 No. 2166—Telstra: Australia Post Office Telephone Number Listings ...... 15187 No. 2210—Health and Aged Care Portfolio: Agency Boards..................... 15188 CONTENTS—continued Monday, 19 June 2000 SENATE 15053 Monday, 19 June 2000 Party, despite a fairly mischievous press re- ————— lease by this minister, have no intention of blocking this bill whatsoever. We put out a The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. release on the back of the minister’s release Margaret Reid) took the chair at 12.30 p.m., which said that we will agree to pass this bill and read prayers. by 30 June 2000. CONDOLENCES The minister has had a number of days to Wilton, Mr Gregory Stuart cogitate on the series of questions that are The PRESIDENT—It is with deep regret currently being pursued by the opposition. I that I inform the Senate of the death, on would like to give the minister the opportu- 14 June 2000, of Gregory Stuart Wilton, a nity to respond to them now. If he requires member of the House of Representatives for some reminder as to what they were, I am the division of Isaacs, Victoria, since 1996. I more than happy to do that in the interests of ask honourable senators to stand in silence in being helpful, as the opposition always is, memory of our late colleague, Greg Wilton. but I doubt whether he does. So there were Honourable senators thereupon stood in the five outstanding questions that we asked their places. the minister. All five questions are in order, on advice from the Clerk. The minister is, LOCAL GOVERNMENT (FINANCIAL therefore, duty bound to make some kind of ASSISTANCE) AMENDMENT BILL attempt to respond to them. So I would ask 2000 Senator Macdonald, given the effluxion of In Committee time, to please now answer the five questions Consideration resumed from 8 June. that we have provided. Senator MACKAY (Tasmania) (12.31 Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queen- p.m.)—In revisiting this now fairly lengthy sland—Minister for Regional Services, Ter- debate on the Local Government (Financial ritories and Local Government) (12.34 Assistance) Amendment Bill 2000, I wish to p.m.)—I must say that,