COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Official Hansard TUESDAY, 30 APRIL 1996 THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION—FIRST PERIOD BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE CANBERRA CONTENTS TUESDAY, 30 APRIL Opening of The Parliament ................................ 1 Commission to Administer The Oath Or Affirmation of Allegiance .... 2 Representation of Victoria ................................ 2 Representation of Australian Capital Territory ................... 2 Representation of Tasmania ............................... 2 Senators: Swearing In .................................... 2 Representation of Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory . 2 Senators: Swearing-in .................................... 2 Governor-General’s Speech ................................ 2 Representation of Victoria ................................ 6 Senators: Swearing In .................................... 7 Representation of South Australia ........................... 7 Governor-General’s Speech ................................ 7 Ministerial Arrangements ................................. 7 Government: Leadership .................................. 9 Australian Labor Party: Leadership .......................... 9 Australian Democrats: Leadership ........................... 11 National Party of Australia: Leadership ....................... 11 Notices of Motion— Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 11 Procedural Motions .................................... 11 Introduction of Legislation .............................. 11 Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 13 Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 13 Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 13 Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 13 Contingent Notices of Motion ............................ 13 Great Famine in Ireland ................................ 23 Documents— The Senate ......................................... 24 Indexed Lists of Files .................................. 24 Correspondence from other Governments and their Representatives . 24 Correspondence between the President and Others .............. 24 Committees— Reports ............................................ 24 Reports: Government Responses .......................... 25 Documents— Tabling ............................................ 25 Assent to Laws ........................................ 27 Bills Returned from The House of Representatives ............... 27 Deaths at Port Arthur .................................... 28 Condolences— Mr Francois Maurice Marie Mitterrand ...................... 28 Hon. Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman OBE, KSJ ............... 28 Days and Hours of Meeting ............................... 33 Condolences— Hon. Michael Jerome Young AO .......................... 33 Adjournment .......................................... 48 Documents ........................................... 48 Proclamations ......................................... 53 Questions On Notice— Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards—(Question No. 9) ......... 54 Administrative Services: Furniture—(Question No. 2346) ......... 54 Foreign Affairs: Domestic Air Travel—(Question No. 2435) ....... 54 Foreign Affairs: Payments to Trade Unions or Community Groups— (Question No. 2498) ............................... 55 Attorney-General: Payments to Trade Unions or Community Groups— (Question No. 2509) ............................... 61 CONTENTS—continued Veterans’ Affairs: Payments to Trade Unions and Community Groups— (Question No. 2516) ................................. 70 Members of Parliament: Unfair Dismissal Claims—(Question No. 2601) 71 Australian Community Safety and Research Organisation Incorporated—(Question No. 2653) ....................... 71 Piracy in Asian Waters—(Question No. 2663) ................. 71 Export Market Development Grants—(Question No. 2688) ........ 72 Veterans’ Affairs: Christmas Cards—(Question No. 2691) ........ 73 Australian Defence Force Reserves—(Question No. 2695) ........ 74 Torres Strait Islanders: War Service Payment—(Question No. 2704) . 75 CONTENTS—continued COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SENATE Hansard 1996 FIRST SESSION OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT (FIRST PERIOD) The Senate, on 30 November 1995, adjourned until 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 13 February 1996. By proclamation the Thirty-seventh Parliament was prorogued by His Excellency the Governor- General on 29 January 1996. The Thirty-eighth Parliament was convened for the dispatch of business on 30 April 1996 at 10.30 a.m., and the First Session commenced on that day. Tuesday, 30 April 1996 House of Representatives: His Excellency the Governor-General, not thinking fit to be present in person at this time, has been pleased to appoint me his Deputy to declare OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT open the Parliament of the Commonwealth, as The Senate met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to will more fully appear from the instrument the proclamation of His Excellency the which will now be read by the Clerk of the Governor-General. Senate. The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. The instrument having been read by the Michael Beahan) took the chair. Clerk— The Clerk read the proclamation. The Deputy said: The Deputy appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General for the opening of the Members of the Senate and Members of the Parliament, the Hon. Sir Gerard Brennan AC, House of Representatives: I have it in com- KBE, Chief Justice of Australia, having been mand from His Excellency the Governor- announced by the Usher of the Black Rod, General to let you know that, after certain entered the chamber and took his seat on the members of the Senate and Members of the dais. House of Representatives shall have been The Deputy directed the Usher to desire the sworn, the causes of His Excellency calling attendance of the members of the House of this Parliament together will be declared by Representatives. him in person at this place; and, it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Members of the House of Representatives Representatives shall be first chosen, you, attending accordingly— Members of the House of Representatives, The Deputy said: will retire to the place where you are to sit and there proceed to the choice of some Members of the Senate and Members of the person to be your Speaker; and later this day 2 SENATE Tuesday, 30 April 1996 you will present the person whom you shall sions of section 21 of the Constitution, I so choose to His Excellency at such time and notified the Governor of Tasmania of the place as he shall appoint. vacancy in the representation of that state caused by the resignation. I have now re- I will attend in the House of Representa- ceived from His Excellency the Governor- tives for the purpose of administering the oath General a copy of the certificate of appoint- or affirmation of allegiance to honourable ment by the Governor of Tasmania of Susan Members of that House. Mary Mackay as a senator to fill the vacancy The Deputy and members of the House of caused by the resignation of John Robert Representatives having retired, the President Devereux. I table the documents. again took the chair— SENATORS: SWEARING IN COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER THE Senator Susan Mary Mackay made and OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF subscribed the affirmation of allegiance. ALLEGIANCE The PRESIDENT—I inform honourable REPRESENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN senators that I have received from His Excel- CAPITAL TERRITORY AND lency the Governor-General a commission to NORTHERN TERRITORY administer to senators the oath or affirmation The Clerk—I produce and lay on the table of allegiance. the certificates of election of senators elected The commission having been read by the to represent the Australian Capital Territory Clerk— and the Northern Territory, as follows: Australian Capital Territory— REPRESENTATION OF VICTORIA Kate Alexandra Lundy The PRESIDENT—I inform the Senate that on 6 February 1996 I received a letter Margaret Elizabeth Reid from Senator the Hon. Gareth John Evans Northern Territory— QC, resigning his place as a senator for the Robert Lindsay Collins state of Victoria. Pursuant to the provisions of Grant Ernest John Tambling section 21 of the Constitution, I notified the Governor of Victoria of the vacancy in the SENATORS: SWEARING-IN representation of that state caused by the The following senators made and subscribed resignation. the oath or affirmation of allegiance: REPRESENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN Kate Alexandra Lundy CAPITAL TERRITORY Margaret Elizabeth Reid The PRESIDENT—On 6 February 1996 I Robert Lindsay Collins also received a letter from Senator the Hon. Grant Ernest John Tambling Robert Francis McMullan, resigning his place as a senator for the Australian Capital Terri- Sitting suspended from 10.51 a.m. tory. Pursuant to the provisions of section 44 to 3.00 p.m. of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, I notified the Chief Minister of the Australian GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH Capital Territory of the vacancy in the repre- His Excellency the Governor-General enter- sentation of that Territory caused by the resig- ed the chamber and, being seated, with the nation. President on his right hand, commanded that a message be sent to the House of Repre- REPRESENTATION OF TASMANIA sentatives intimating that His Excellency The PRESIDENT—On 7 February 1996 I desired the attendance of honourable members received a letter from Senator John Robert in the Senate chamber. Devereux, resigning his place as a senator for Honourable members having come with the state of Tasmania. Pursuant