I would like to congratulate my dear friend and colleague Senator Rachel Siewert for winning the prestigious Missen Award for integrity in politics.

Rachel has been an outstanding advocate and member of parliament, who has dedicated her time as a Senator to assisting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.

It is pretty well known in Parliament House across party lines that Rachel is one of the hardest working Senators in this place.

As a senate committee chair she has a reputation for getting consensus on committee reports that lead to real outcomes.

NOTICE OF MOTION                                                                                   12 September 2017

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move  –

That the Senate –

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Senator Rhiannon (New South Wales) (20:45): I also have been deeply shocked to hear the reports about what is happening to the Rohingya people. I wish to share tonight the words of some of these Rohingya people in Sydney. They have a right to be heard. We need to listen and to act on the genocide that is occurring. The first words are from Asma:

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Senator Rhiannon (New South Wales) (16:15): I inform the chamber that Senator Dastyari will also sponsor general business notice of motion No. 489 for today. I seek to leave to amend the motion standing in my name and the name of Senator Dastyari, relating to the Bondi Pavilion.

Leave granted.

Senator RHIANNON: I, and also on behalf of Senator Dastyari, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:17): The Electoral and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 reflects the work of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, of which I am a member. We took a great deal of advice on this matter, and this is the bill that has now come before us. I think it's worth making a few comments about the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. I certainly feel fortunate to be on the committee.

The Liberals, Labor and Jacqui Lambie have voted down a Greens motion to defend the priceless Aboriginal cultural heritage in the takayna/Tarkine against the Tasmanian Government's senseless vandalism.

"It is deeply disappointing that all Tasmanian Labor Senators and Senator Lambie chose to ignore the huge damage that will be done if the tracks in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area are reopened," Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

"These are globally significant areas that need to be protected against hooning - both legal and illegal."

The Australian Greens will tomorrow ask the senate to block all business relating to Barnaby Joyce’s ministerial duties until he is replaced as Water Minister, following his repeated failure to act on restoring integrity to the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

“Barnaby Joyce has time and again brushed off serious allegations of corruption and water theft relating to the Murray Darling Basin. We know this issue is widespread and needs immediate action, but we have a minister who is unable and ineligible to do so,” Greens Murray Darling spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.