Parliament

(Business of the Senate)
Committee Reference

SENATOR BROWN

That the following matters be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 8 August 2006.

The role of the Exclusive Brethren in:

(a) family breakdown and psychological and emotional effects related to the practice of ex communication or other practices;

(b) Australian politics and political activities, including donations to political parties or other political entities and funding specific advertising campaigns;

In March, with just 24 hours notice, the government rushed motions through the Senate and House of Representatives to privatise Snowy Hydro.
Only seven Senators – the four Greens and three of the Democrats – opposed the motion.
In the House the two independents from NSW, Peter Andren and Tony Windsor, opposed the motion. So of the 216 members of Parliament, only 9 voted 'no'.
There were three essential factors working to give the sale overwhelming support.

Politics? It's gone way beyond a jokeTracee Hutchison - The Age
April 29, 2006

Australian politicians are no longer funny or witty. This should change.

It's a brave politician who would deliberately set him/herself up for public ridicule. Quite apart from the daily pot shots of cartoonists and commentators that come gift-wrapped with the territory, it is a whole other ball game to voluntarily submit to the kind of humiliation that qualifies as a show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to everybody suffering as a result of Cyclone Larry, our thoughts are with you," said Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown.
To make a donation to the cyclone Disaster Relief Fund, you can ring 1800 150 411 with your credit card details, between 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Cheques can be made out to the "Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal Fund" with the account number being 064-013-1000-6800.
Donations can also be made at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank and any gifts over $2 are tax deductible.

As the Tasmanian election heats up, Senator Brown issues a radio statement urging voters to this time vote Green.

Senator Bob Brown is interviewed about his ten year anniversary in the Australian Senate. ABC radio's AM programme.

The annoucement that Recherche Bay is to be protected from logging has meant that years of campaign work by Senator Brown and many others has finally succeeded. Attached is the hansard of Senator Brown's speech.