Motions

Same-Sex Marriages

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 4:30pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.40 pm) - I move:


That the Senate -


(a) notes:
(i) the first same-sex marriages were celebrated in Mexico City in the week beginning 7 March 2010, following the recent passage of legislation removing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, under that city's Marriage Act, and


(ii) Mexico City joins Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Africa and many states in the United States of America that already recognise same-sex marriage as a reality;


(b) recognises that all Australians deserve to be treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sexual orientation and that Australia is becoming increasingly isolated internationally, by refusing to remove discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation from the Marriage Act 1961 (the Act); and


(c) calls on the Australian Government to remove all discrimination from the Act on the basis of sexuality and gender identity and extend the legal right to marry to all.

National Human Rights Consultation Report

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 17th March 2010, 4:30pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (4.02 pm) - I move:


That the Senate -


(a) notes that:


(i) the National Human Rights Consultation delivered its report to the Attorney-General (Mr McClelland) on 30 September 2009, more than 6 months ago, and


(ii) the Attorney-General released a statement that the Government will provide a response in the coming months; and


(b) orders that there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, no later than 4 pm on 11 May 2010, the Government's response to the National Human Rights Consultation report which was delivered to the Attorney-General on 30 September 2009.

Representation of Women in the Indian Parliament

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 4:30pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.39 pm)


- I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 741 standing in my name, relating to the representation of women in the Indian parliament.


Leave granted.


Senator HANSON-YOUNG - I move the motion as amended:


That the Senate


(a) recognises that only 10 per cent of seats in India's Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament) are held by women;

Dalai Lama

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 24th February 2010, 5:00pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (4.04 pm) - I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move:


That the Senate -


(a) congratulates the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, and the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, for meeting His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in December 2009 and February 2010 respectively;


and


(b) calls on the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to meet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama at the earliest possible opportunity.

West Papua - Mr Viktor Kaisiepo

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 4th February 2010, 11:30am
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (10.06 am) - I move:


That the Senate -


(a) notes, with sadness, the recent passing of West Papuan activist Mr Viktor Kaisiepo in his hometown of Amersfoort, in the Netherlands, at the age of 61;


(b) acknowledges Mr Kaisiepo's life-long commitment to raising awareness of the plight of West Papua; and


(c) extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Kaisiepo and to the broader West Papuan community.

Senate Motion on the attacks against international students

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 4th February 2010, 10:56am
in

NOTICE OF MOTION
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young



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


That the Senate


(a) Notes the string of recent attacks against international students studying in Australia;


(b) Recognises
i) The important contribution international students make to Australia's culture and economy; and
ii) Growing concern over the safety of international students studying in Australia;


c) Calls on the Government to:
i) Implement the recommendation from the Senate inquiry into the welfare of international students, to expand the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Ombudsman to cover the international student sector; and
iii) Invest in support programs, and anti-racism campaigns to raise community awareness of the positive contribution international students make to Australia.



Sarah Hanson-Young
Senator for South Australia
February 2010


Motion was defeated with 7 votes in favour, 34 against.


 

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Management

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 4th February 2010, 10:11am
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.58 pm) - I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move:


That the Senate-
(a) notes that:
(i) Tuesday, 2 February 2010 was World Wetlands Day,


(ii) the day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran on 2 February 1971, and


(iii) in 2010, the focus of World Wetlands Day is on ‘caring for our wetlands - an answer to climate change', highlighting the continuing threat our wetlands face from unsustainable human practices and the likely impact that climate change will have on our wetland ecosystems;

Tamil Asylum Seekers in Merak

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 3rd February 2010, 4:31pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) - I move:


That the Senate


(a) Notes that


i) More than 240 Tamil asylum seekers continue to remain on their boat in increasingly squalid conditions in the Indonesian port of Merak, after more than three months;


ii) This boat was intercepted by Indonesia at Australia's request in October;

National Year of Action On Marriage Equality

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 26th November 2009, 12:30pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (10.21 am) - I move:


That the Senate notes that Saturday, 28 November 2009 marks the start of the National Year of Action on Marriage Equality and that rallies will be held in capital cities across the country.


Senator LUDWIG (Queensland - Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary) (10.21 am) - I seek leave to make a short statement.

Civil Partnerships

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 26th November 2009, 12:00pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (10.31 am) - I move:


That the Senate -


(a) notes the recent passing by the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly of the Civil Partnerships Amendment Bill 2009; and


(b) congratulates the first couple to hold a legally recognised ceremony in the Australian Capital Territory, Mr Warren McGaw and Mr Chris Rumble, who on 25 November 2009 celebrated their love and commitment in front of family and friends.