Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate calls on the Government to ensure that:   (a)   Commonwealth funds are not used to resolve the commercial dispute between Gunns and Forestry Tasmania; and   (b)   assistance to forest contractors is not reduced.

Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber.

Leave not granted.

Question put:

That the motion (Senator Colbeck's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:04]

(The President—Senator Hogg)

Senator Wong did not vote, to compensate for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Coonan.

Question negatived.

United States Economy

At the request of Senator Bob Brown, I move:

That the Senate supports moves by the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to close tax loopholes for those earning a million dollars a year, ensuring that millionaires pay a minimum rate of tax that at least matches that of middle-class families.

Question agreed to.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a very brief statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition has opposed this motion. We think we have enough work in the Australian parliament dealing with all the tax initiatives of the Labor government without concerning ourselves with domestic policy arrangements in the United States of America.