For the sitting period 23 May to 16 June 1989

PRIVILEGE

Matters of privilege continued to occupy the attention of the Senate.

On 29 May, Senator Schacht, in speaking during the adjournment debate, gave details of a meeting of a number of senators and members relating to Commonwealth funding for abortions. Senator Schacht appeared to have a detailed knowledge of what had transpired at the meeting, including details of what had actually been said. At the conclusion of his speech, Senator Tambling moved, pursuant to standing order 364, that the document from which Senator Schacht was quoting be tabled. The motion was defeated, after a division, on an equal vote.

The question arose whether Senator Schacht's remarks and an alleged unauthorised recording of a meeting in a committee room involved a matter of privilege. The President advised the Senate on 30 May that he had determined that he should not give precedence to a motion to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges, and made a statement relating to the security of sound reinforcement in committee rooms, indicating that he would investigate this element of the matters arising from Senator Schacht's speech. He reported to the Senate on 9 and 13 June.

Also on 30 May, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Chaney) gave notice of his intention to move that there be laid on the table of the Senate any document quoted from or used by Senator Schacht, and a statement by Senator Schacht setting out how he obtained any document from which he quoted. During the adjournment debate on that day, Senator Schacht advised that he had destroyed the documents.

Early in the sitting on 31 May, Senator Chaney, pursuant to contingent notice, moved for the suspension of standing orders to enable him to move a censure motion against Senator Schacht. That question having been agreed to without debate, Senator Chaney moved to censure Senator Schacht for his conduct in making use in the Senate adjournment debate of an illicitly obtained transcript of a private meeting of senators and members and his subsequent destruction of the material. Senator Macklin moved an amendment to the motion, that Senator Tambling, and any other senator who uses material illicitly obtained from an individual or a group or from Department of State, also be censured, and that urged serious consideration of the establishment of an ethics committee. Senator Macklin's amendment to the censure motion was agreed to, after division. Senator Harradine then moved an amendment which would have had the effect of removing both the words of the main motion and the amendment. Senator Harradine's amendment was lost, after division. When the main question (that is, Senator Chaney's motion, as amended on the motion of Senator Macklin) was put, the motion was lost, after a division, with only the Democrats voting for the motion.

During debate on the Adjournment on 16 June, Senator Michael Baume made reference to a letter, which had been sent to the President, concerning remarks made by Senator Morris on 8 June about a named person. The Deputy President advised that the letter had just been received by the President, and, in the President's absence, he would give consideration as to whether it should be referred to the Committee of Privileges under Resolution 5.

COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES REPORTS

The Chair of the Committee of Privileges (Senator Giles tabled two reports during the sitting period. The first, which was tabled on 5 June, gave the Committee's reasons for finding that Mr Greg Blood was not in contempt of the Senate in that he did not interfere with a witness appearing before the Drugs in Sport Inquiry. The Committee's second report, relating to possible interference with witnesses before the Select Committee on the Administration of Aboriginal Affairs, was tabled on 16 June 1989. Also tabled with that report were three volumes of documents relating to the Committee's Inquiry. Volume 3 contains two memoranda of advice from the Clerk of the Senate relating to the right of senators to sit on committee inquiries, and thus has relevance to the operations of all Senate committees. Copies of these memoranda are available from the Committee Office.

SUPERANNUATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH LEGISLATION

Much of the time of senators was taken up, both inside and outside the Chamber, with negotiations on superannuation and community services and health legislation.

Debate on the Superannuation package resumed on 1 June. The Democrats having moved an amendment in committee of the whole which was negatived, an Opposition amendment was passed, which exempted superannuation funds from a proposed 15% tax. Against the Government's wishes, progress on the bill was reported, following a division, on that day.

Before debate resumed on the package on 5 June, the Government moved a motion to postpone debate to a later hour on that day. The Democrats, however, wished to proceed immediately, and accordingly voted against the motion. The motion was nonetheless carried with the support of the Opposition after debate. A further ten days were to elapse before the debate resumed.

Amendments to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.2), the first bill of the package, moved by Senator Haines on 1 June, were still before the committee of the whole when debate resumed on 15 June. Senator Haines withdrew these amendments by leave. A further Opposition amendment was negatived and, following completion of consideration in Committee of the bill, the Minister for Finance (Senator Walsh) sought leave to recommit the bill to substitute the original clauses for the clauses agreed to on 1 June on the motion of the Opposition. Leave was refused. The Committee then proceeded to consider the Taxation Laws Amendment (Superannuation) Bill 1989, to which the Government successfully moved an amendment. Opposition amendments to this bill were negatived.

Following passage through committee of other bills associated with the package, the Minister for Finance moved that the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.2) 1989 be recommitted to effect the changes earlier foreshadowed. This motion was agreed to, after division. The Government's amendments were also agreed to, after division, and the Superannuation package passed the Senate. The House of Representatives agreed to the amendments on 15 June.

The Community Services and Health Legislation Amendment Bill 1989, and two associated bills, were considered, at second reading stage, together with two separate motions, one moved by Senator Puplick to establish a Senate Select Committee on Health Legislation and Health Insurance, to examine certain matters contained in the Community Services bill, and another, moved by Senator Boswell, to refer other matters within that Bill but also having relevance to the other bills in the package, to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs. The consideration of these matters together was brought about by a special order agreed to on the motion of Senator Boswell. To make the procedures on the bill and the associated motions even more complex, amendments were moved to the second reading of the Community Services and Health Legislation Amendment Bill, to Senator Puplick's proposal for the establishment of a select committee (which he himself had amended pursuant to standing order 109) and a further amendment moved to the amendment to the second reading of the bill. Senator Boswell had also amended his proposed reference to the Senate committee, by leave. All amendments were agreed to, as were all motions. The three bills of the Community Services package were then given a second reading.

In committee, two Opposition amendments, one of which was amended on motion of the Democrats, were agreed to. The effect of one of these amendments is to ensure that certain provisions of the Community Services bill cannot come into effect until after the Senate select committee has reported to the Senate, and the Senate has approved that report. During consideration of the bill in committee of the whole, certain information was sought from the Minister. This information not having been made available, a motion was moved to report progress on the bill. This was agreed to after division. Debate on the bill resumed on 15 June, and two further amendments to the bill, moved by the Australian Democrats, were also agreed to.

The House of Representatives, having considered the amendments on 16 June, agreed to three of the four, but disagreed to one (moved by the Democrats). The Senate did not insist on this latter amendment.

OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDED

As indicated in Bulletin No. 41 (page 6), the Senate extensively amended the Wheat Marketing Bill 1989. On 24 May, a House of Representatives Message was reported to the Senate, disagreeing to most of the amendments and making other amendments in substitution for four of the amendments made by the Senate. The debate on the motion that the Senate not insist on the amendments, and agree to the substituted amendments, proceeded in the Senate on 31 May and 1 June. After the question was divided on 1 June, the Senate did not insist on its amendments, after division, and agreed, without division, to the substituted amendments.

On 30 May, the Migration Legislation Amendment Bill was agreed to by the Senate, following substantial amendments moved by the Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (Senator Ray). Indications had previously been given by the Opposition and the Democrats that the bill, as introduced, would not pass the Senate, and Senator Ray's amendments were designed to accommodate many of the objections raised by the Opposition and Democrats. A number of these amendments accommodated views expressed by the Scrutiny of Bills Committee. Further amendments, moved by the Democrats, were negatived. The House of Representatives agreed to the amended bill on 2 June. (And see Migration Regulations Committee, discussed under ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES, below.)

The Industry, Technology and Commerce Legislation Amendment Bill was considered by the Senate on 7 June. Following amendment, agreed to on the motion of the Opposition, the bill was transmitted to the House of Representatives, which agreed to the bill without amendment on 15 June. Similarly, the Subsidy Legislation Amendment Bill 1989, also introduced into the Senate, was agreed to with amendments, moved by the government. One amendment was to the title of the bill, which was separately reported to the Senate in accordance with the standing orders. The House of Representatives agreed to the bill without amendment on 15 June.

Other bills amended by the Senate were:

Social Security and Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill (No.2) 1989 (Democrat amendments) 14 June.

Audit Amendment Bill 1989 (Government Amendments, moved after discussions with Opposition senators, including one amendment to safeguard the financial independence of the Houses) 15 June.

Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 1989 (Government amendments, moved after discussions with Opposition senators) 15 June.

Resources Assessment Commission Bill 1989 (Democrat, Opposition amendments, including one Opposition amendment moved in substitution for another as a result of discussions with the Government) 16 June.

All these amendments were agreed to by the House of Representatives during its special two‑day sitting on 15 and 16 June.

OTHER TAXATION LEGISLATION

Another Taxation package was also considered at length.

On 8 June, when this package came on for debate, the Minister moved a motion to remove the Income Tax (International Agreements) Amendment Bill 1989 from the package. This bill related to a sugar agreement with China, and in the light of the tragic events in that country the Senate decided not to proceed with it. It remains on the notice paper.

During consideration of the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (No.3) 1989 in committee, the Leader of the National Party in the Senate (Senator Stone) moved amendments, on 9 June, relating to privacy provisions contained in the bill. An amendment to the bill, proposed by the Democrats, was negatived on that day. Following a number of matters raised in relation to the amendments, it was agreed that further consideration of the bill be postponed for some days. The Senate then proceeded to consider the remaining bills of the package. These bills passed their remaining stages without amendment, and the Chairman of Committees reported the bills, and the committee's decision to postpone consideration on the Taxation Laws Bill. The two other bills were read a third time on 9 June. The Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, and the postponed amendments, were considered in committee of the whole on 16 June; the amendments were negatived and the bill passed its remaining stages without amendment.

DEBATE ON OTHER LEGISLATION

In addition to bills to which substantive amendments were made, considerable debate took place on bills constituting the Telecommunications and the government business enterprise package. In particular, the Opposition moved a substantial number of amendments to the Telecommunications Bill 1989, which were tested by 17 divisions on 6 June 1989. None of these amendments was successful. As is customary, a significant amount of debating time was also spent in examining the Appropriation Bills with particular reference to matters raised during the hearings of Estimates Committees.

A feature of the consideration of a number of packages of bills was that, even though the bills had been introduced either separately or in smaller groups, by motion moved in the Senate bills were taken together for their remaining stages. This did not inhibit the Senate, or the Committee, if either body so decided, from considering each bill separately at any stage, as the motion "that the bills may be considered together" was permissive but not directive. Thus as indicated above, on 8 June a motion was moved without notice or leave to separate the Income Tax (International Agreements) Amendment Bill 1989 from a group of Tax Bills which had been introduced together.

As also has been a feature of recent sittings of the Senate, a substantial number of bills was transmitted to the Senate by the House of Representatives before the Senate deadline for consideration of government bills had passed (see Bulletin No. 40, p. 13). Consequently, on Friday, 26 May 1989, 14 bills were introduced to the Senate. Further bills had been introduced in the preceding days, as they came to hand. As a result of the Senate's agreement to suspend the order relating to the consideration of bills on 5 June, a further bill was agreed to by the Senate before it rose. Consideration of other government bills, either introduced to the Senate or received from the House of Representatives, was automatically postponed by order of the Senate till the first sitting day in August.

PRIVATE SENATORS' BILLS

The Regulation of Video Materials Bill 1988, introduced by Senator Walters, was further considered on 25 May and 1 June. Discussion on each day centred upon an amendment moved by Senator Jenkins, the effect of which, those arguing against the amendment claimed, would be to destroy the purpose of the bill. The amendment was agreed to on 1 June, after a division. Progress was immediately reported on the bill, to enable further discussions.

Also on 25 May, the Senate passed a bill, entitled the Income Tax Assessment (Tax Agents' Fees) Amendment Bill 1989, introduced by Senator Watson. In agreeing to the passage of the bill, the government indicated that the matters included in the bill would be closely examined by the government. The bill has yet to be debated in the House of Representatives.

The following private senators' bills were introduced during the four week sitting period:

Wheat Marketing (Renewal of Sunset Clauses) Amendment Bill 1989 (Senator Powell), introduced 31 May 1989

Peace Trust Fund Bill 1989 (Senator Vallentine) introduced 15 June 1989

Child Care (National Children's Services Program) Amendment Bill 1989 (Senator Dunn), introduced 15 June 1989

Income Tax Assessment (Savings Accounts interest) Amendment Bill 1989

Income Tax Assessment (Housing Loan Interest) Amendment Bill 1989 (Senator Macklin on behalf of Senator Haines), reintroduced 16 June 1989. These two bills had previously been negatived at second reading stage, on 11 May 1989.

COMMITTEE REFERENCES

Committee activity continued apace during the four week sitting period. In addition to the reference of a matter to the Community Affairs Committee, discussed above in relation to the Community Services and Health Legislation package, other references received by committees are as follows:

The Annual Report 1987‑88 of the Aboriginal Development Commission was initially referred on the motion of Senator Tambling to both the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee and the Joint Committee of Public Accounts. Following discussions between the two Committees, the Chairman of the Senate Committee (Senator Coates) gave notice that the annual report be referred to the Senate Committee only. His motion was agreed to without debate on 6 June. A Message was sent to the House of Representatives advising that House of the Senate's decision.

Following an interim report, tabled on 16 June, from the Industry, Science and Technology Committee, the Chairman of that Committee (Senator Childs) moved, by leave, that precise terms of reference relating to the greenhouse effect be referred to the Committee, in substitution for a general reference which the Committee had sought last November. Senator Childs' motion was agreed to without debate.

Also on 16 June, the Senate agreed to a motion, moved by Senator Hill, to refer the concept of Asia‑Pacific regional economic cooperation to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade for urgent investigation and report.

On 1 June, following a number of points of order relating to the form of notices of motion, the President advised the Senate that he would refer the matter to the Procedure Committee. The Committee reported on 15 June, and the consideration of the report was made an order of the day as business of the Senate for the first sitting day in August, to be considered in conjunction with the Third Report of the Committee, relating to in camera evidence.

Motions for two proposed references to committees were unsuccessful. Immediately following passage of the Social Security legislation on 14 June, Senator Short, by leave and on behalf of Senator Bishop, moved that amendments made to the Bill relating to telephone access to offices be referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration. The motion was negatived.

On 16 June, Senator Lewis unsuccessfully moved an amendment to the motion for the second reading of the Resource Assessment Commission Bill 1989, to refer that bill to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. The amendment was defeated, after division, and the bill passed the Senate with amendments (see also OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDED above).

ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES

As well as the establishment of the Select Committee on Health Legislation and Health Insurance (see COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH LEGISLATION above) two further committees were established during the sitting period. As part of the proposals by the Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (Senator Ray) relating to amendments to the Migration Bill, the Minister gave an undertaking to sponsor the establishment of a joint select committee to supervise the making of regulations by the Minister for the granting of visas and entry permits. Accordingly, on 30 May, the day on which the Migration Bill was debated, Senator Ray gave notice of such a motion. Following further negotiations, the Minister amended the notice of motion pursuant to standing order 109. Further amendments were agreed to, on the motion of the Opposition. A Democrat amendment was negatived. The House of Representatives agreed to the establishment of the Committee on 1 June. The Committee membership has been appointed by both Houses.

In Bulletin No. 41 (p. 8), reference was made to the re‑establishment of the Joint Committee on the Australian Capital Territory. The Senate, in considering the Message from the House of Representatives requesting its concurrence in the establishment, made modifications to the resolution of appointment. The House of Representatives agreed to the Senate modifications on 29 May, and Senate members were appointed on 31 May.

COMMITTEE REPORTS PRESENTED

The long‑awaited interim report by the Environment, Recreation and the Arts Committee on its drugs in sport inquiry was tabled by the Chairman (Senator Black) on 14 June. This report received significant media attention. Another report on drugs, from the National Crime Authority Committee, was also tabled. The emphasis of this report, which was tabled on 25 May, is on drugs, crime and society. The Chairman of Estimates Committee E (Senator Aulich) tabled an erratum to the Report, on 25 May. Additional information received by Estimates Committee D and C was tabled on 29 May and 7 June, respectively.

Reports from a number of joint committees administered by the Department of the House of Representatives were also tabled. In addition, the Senate gave authority to two committees to table reports while the Senate is not sitting. On 15 June, the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters received permission to send to Mr President its report on that part of its reference on the conduct of the 1987 federal elections and 1988 referendums relating to political advertising, while on 14 June the Finance and Public Administration Committee received authority to transmit to the President any reports completed during the months of June and July.

Other committee reports tabled during this period are discussed under REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCES COMMITTEE and COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES.

DIFFICULTIES IN PRESENTING COMMITTEE REPORTS

There was some reluctance on the part of the Government to make time available to committees to table their reports during the last weeks of the sitting, owing to the pressure of Government business. This reluctance was the subject of two questions without notice, one, on 5 June, addressed by Senator Crichton‑Browne to the Manager of Government Business in the Senate (Senator Ray), and the second, on 6 June, by Senator Dunn to Mr President. In addition, when tabling a regular report of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee on 15 June, the Chairman (Senator Cooney) made the following comments:

"The Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills presents its report each Wednesday that the Senate sits. It is an important Committee which informs Parliament of legislation before it that may trespass on people's rights, liberties and entitlements as citizens. These are matters of great moment. The words I used to present the report took less than 30 seconds to recite. It is right and proper for the Senate, whatever its schedule, to expend time in gaining the material contained in such a report. Society is best served when there is a happy balance between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. That balance is disturbed when one invades the territory of another.

IN CAMERA EVIDENCE

On 25 May, owing to pressure of government legislation, consideration of the report of the Legislation Procedures Committee and the Third Report of the Procedure Committee was postponed till the first sitting day in August. It may be recalled that the Procedure Committee Report discussed the use of in camera evidence in minority or dissenting reports. During the adjournment debate on 5 June, the Chair of the former National Resources Committee (Senator Zakharov), who had raised the question in relation to the Committee's report on Kakadu, tabled, by leave, a paper entitled "On Shaky Ground' which analysed the minority report of the Committee and in doing so quoted what appeared to be other in camera evidence to query certain conclusions in the minority report. On 13 June, also during the adjournment debate, Senator Crichton‑Browne, one of the signatories to the minority report, tabled, by leave, the full transcript of the evidence in dispute. This tabling had the effect of a Senate order to produce evidence received by the Committee.

CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS

In addition to debate which proceeded on certain reports immediately on tabling, reports of Parliamentary committees were debated on Wednesday, 24 and 31 May pursuant to sessional order. On 7 June, the Senate adjourned before the consideration of committee reports was called on, while on 14 June, the Senate agreed to a motion that consideration be not proceeded with on that day.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO COMMITTEE REPORTS

On 15 June, the President tabled the customary list of government responses outstanding to Committee reports. In addition, on 31 May Senator Macklin gave a notice of motion of particular relevance to this subject: The notice acknowledges the contribution made by Senate committees to improving the quality of legislation and points out that government responses to such reports have not all been timely or detailed. The notice of motion therefore proposes that, if responses are not provided within 90 days after the day on which a report is presented, any senator may ask the Leader of the Government in the Senate, or any other Minister, to explain why such a response has not been made.

The notice provides that, at the conclusion of the explanation, or if no explanation is given, any senator may move a motion to take note of the explanation or relating to the government's failure to respond to the report. The notice of motion has not yet been debated.

REGULATIONS AND ORDINANCES COMMITTEE

On 15 June, the Chairman of the Committee (Senator Collins) presented its Eighty‑Fifth Report, which covered matters such as the overview and future directions; explanatory statements and citation requirements; guidelines on the application of the committee's principles; and legislation considered during 1987‑88. The Chairman, in tabling that report, also made a statement relating to the Committee's activities during the first half of 1989. He made the comment that, despite the increased workload of the Committee as a result of the increase and diversity of the instruments it is examining, the Committee was pleased to note that it had found less need to take action on the delegated legislation before it. The Chairman's sanguinity was borne out during the four week period, in that only one instrument of delegated legislation was subject to a protective notice of disallowance, and the matters were successfully resolved within a fortnight of that notice having been given.

VALIDITY OF DISALLOWANCE RESOLUTION

Previous Bulletins have referred to controversy surrounding the disallowance of export orders by the Senate in 1987 (see Bulletins Nos. 38 (pp. 5‑6) and 39 (p. 11)). Bulletin No. 39 reported that an interlocutory judgment had been given in the Federal Court against the Minister for Primary Industry, and others, for actions they had taken on the assumption that the disallowance of certain orders by the Senate had not been valid.

On 15 June, the President tabled in the Senate a judgment by the Federal Court, after the full case had been argued, upholding the validity of the Senate's disallowance of the orders in question. The judgment was the subject of immediate debate, during which the Attorney‑General's Department and the Solicitor‑General were criticised for the opinions they had given on the matter.

UNANSWERED QUESTION ON NOTICE — CENSURE MOTION

Reference has been made in previous Bulletins to the order of the Senate relating to the right of senators to seek explanations from Ministers for failure to answer questions on notice after 30 days.

On 3 May, Senator Newman had asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence (Senator Richardson) for an explanation of the delay in providing an answer to a question, notice of which had been given on 3 March 1989 (see Bulletin No. 41, p. 4). Senator Richardson advised, at that time, that the provision of an answer was imminent. On 25 May, Senator Newman, pursuant to the order of the Senate, again asked why the answer had not been provided. The Minister explained that consultations between the Minister for Defence and the Prime Minister had not concluded. Senator Newman thereupon moved that the Senate censure the Minister for Defence and Senator Richardson for their joint failure to answer the question and called on them to provide a detailed answer to the Senate not later than 29 May. The motion of censure was agreed to, after division.

NOTICES OF MOTION AND SUB JUDICE

The question of the content of notices of motion has been the subject of controversy in the Senate. As indicated above (page 12), the President referred the matter to the Procedure Committee, which reported to the Senate on 15 June. In addition to the general question of what should be included in notices, two other matters arose in relation to notices.

The first concerned a notice given by Senator Dunn on 30 May. The notice related to the arrest, on the previous day, of a person who had previously been granted a pardon in relation to another matter. Certain statements in the notice might have given rise to sub judice questions, and the President, pursuant to his powers under standing order 112, amended the notice before it appeared on the notice paper. The question of sub judice in relation to the same matter was discussed during the adjournment debate on the same day, and subsequently during an answer by the Minister for Justice (Senator Tate) to a question.

On 1 June 1989, Senator McGauran began to give a notice of motion which, under standing order 418, was not in order. The President having ruled the notice out of order, Senator McGauran then gave a fresh notice reframed to comply with the standing orders.

Senator Michael Baume was also directed by the President to amend a notice of motion offending against standing order 418.

On 14 and 15 June, senators gave notices of motion on behalf of themselves and certain of their colleagues. Each motion was agreed to as a formal motion.

The amendment of notices by letter to the Clerk, pursuant to standing order 109, has become a regular feature of Senate proceedings (see, for example, Senator Puplick's notice of motion for the establishment of the Select Committee on Health Legislation and Health Insurance, discussed under COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH LEGISLATION above). On 16 June 1989, however, Senator Jenkins amended a notice of motion she had given the previous day, in the Chamber. The notice of motion has not yet been debated.

OTHER PROCEDURAL MATTERS

Attention is drawn to other matters of procedural interest which occurred during the four week sitting period. The date and Journals Page reference are included.

• new procedures relating to the processing of question on notice. 24 May, J 1697.
• debate in the Senate on notification of delay in producing annual report of Aboriginal Development Commission 1987‑88 (report subsequently referred to Finance and Public Administration Committee: see COMMITTEE REFERENCES above). 24 May, J 1698.

President's Statements:

• access by senators and members to ACT schools, 24 May, J 1698.
• standing orders 401 and 402. 25 May, J 1712.
• guidelines for the broadcasting and televising of parliamentary proceedings, 31 May, J 1764 (motion moved by Leader of the Government in the Senate adopting the guidelines agreed to, 1 June, J 1771).
• government proposals relating to arrangements in new Parliament House ‑ answer to question, 16 June, J 1911.
• circulation of advertising material in Chamber, 8 June, J 1838.
• question asked, by leave, of Chair of Privileges Committee and answered on behalf of Committee, 9 June, Hansard, p. 7378
• urgency motion. Minister moved a motion, pursuant to contingent notice, to amend an urgency motion proposed by the Opposition. Motion agreed to, but both amendment and main question negatived, 4 June, J 1806‑7.
• matter of public importance withdrawn after statement by proposer, 15 June, J 1891.
• proposed suspension of standing orders, pursuant to contingent notice, to bring on a notice of motion negatived, 6 June, J 1801.
• suspension of sessional orders to enable sitting to continue during time of normal suspension of sitting of the Senate agreed to, 7 June, J 1829.
• Division called off, by leave of the Senate, 29 May, J 1733.
• The President laid on the table a warrant withdrawing, at his request, Senator MacGibbon from the panel of temporary chairmen and appointing Senator Calvert to the panel. 14 June, J 1871.

APPENDIX HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SITTINGS 28 FEBRUARY — 16 JUNE 1989

1. Parliamentary Privilege
   Reports of Committee of Privileges —
   • Possible False or Misleading Evidence given before Senate Committees (Aboriginal Affairs) (Bulletin No. 39, p.1)
   • Possible False or Misleading Evidence before a Senate Estimates Committee (Defence) (Bulletin No. 39, pp. 1 ‑ 2)
   • Finding relating to possible interference with a witness before a Senate Committee (Drugs in Sport Inquiry) (Bulletin No. 41, p. 1). Reasons for Finding given in Report (Bulletin No. 421, p. 3)
   • Person mentioned in Senate (Bulletin No. 41, p. 2)
   • Possible Interference with Witnesses before a Senate Committee by members of the Aboriginal Development Commission (Bulletin No. 42, p.3)
   • Reference to Committee of Privileges
     • Possible adverse treatment of a witness who gave evidence to a Senate Committee (Bulletin No. 39, p.2)
2. Committees Established
   • Tenure of Appointees to Commonwealth (Joint Select) (Bulletin No. 39, pp. 2-3)
   • Australian Capital Territory (Bulletins No. 41, No. 42, p.13)
   • Health Legislation and Health Insurance (Select) (Bulletin No. 42, p. 4)
   • Migration Regulations (Joint Select) Bulletin No. 42, p. 13)
3. Committee Reports tabled, including
   • In camera evidence, radio and television broadcasting of committee proceedings; questions on notice in Estimates Committees (Procedure Committee) (Bulletin No. 41, p.2)
   • Administration of Aboriginal Affairs (Select Committee) (Bulletin No. 39, p. 6)
   • Education for Active Citizenship (Employment, Education and Training Committee) (Bulletin No. 39, p. 6)
   • Defence Services Homes Amendment Bill 1899 (Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee) (Bulletin No. 39, p. 7)
   • Corporations Legislation (Joint Select Committee) (Bulletin No. 40, p.9)
   • Efficiency Scrutiny Program (Finance and Public
   • Administration Committee) (Bulletin No. 40, p. 5)
   • Sugar Industry (Industry, Science and Technology Committee) (Bulletin No. 41, p. 8)
   • Drugs in Sport Interim Report (Environment, Recreation and the Arts Committee) (Bulletin No. 42, pp. 13 ‑ 14)
   • Notices of Motion (Procedure Committee) (Bulletin No. 42, p. 12)
   • Regulations and Ordinances Committee 85th (Bulletin No. 42, p. 17)
4. Legislation Amended in the Senate (Bulletins No. 3 ‑ 5, No. 40, pp. 1 ‑ 2, No. 41, pp. 4 ‑ 6) No. 42, pp. 3-9)
5. Private senators' bills passed by the Senate
   • Australian Bureau of Statistics Amendment Bill 1988 (Bulletin No. 40, p. 3)
   • Income Tax Assessment (Tax Agents' Fees) Amendment Bill 1989 (Bulletin No. 42, p. 10)
6. Disallowance Power of the Senate
   • upheld in interlocutory judgment of Federal Court (Bulletin No. 39, p.11)
   • upheld in Judgment of Federal Court after full hearing (Bulletin No. 42, pp. 17 ‑ 18)
7. Proclamations of Arts
   • Return to Order (Bulletin No. 40, p. 12)
   • Legislative Instructions by Department Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (Bulletin No.40, p. 12)