Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon, who initiated the Williamtown contamination inquiry, has called on the Turnbull government to quickly act on all the recommendations including compensation, buy outs and health testing.

"Now the spotlight is on Defence Department's failure to quickly and responsibly deal with the contamination in and around Williamtown RAAF Base Defence Minister Marise Payne should move to immediately implement all recommendations," Senator Rhiannon said.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (17:00): Urban motorways reveal some of the worst aspects of how major parties do politics and the worst aspects of their own transport policies. In Sydney we have this madness of a WestConnex urban motorway project. A 33-kilometre, dirty tollway that would divide Sydney, bring greater air pollution, increase congestion, divide suburbs and rip up bike lanes.

Lee discusses the benefits of the Nuka System in fixing a fragmented and beaurocratic healthcare system. This program and other super utiliser programs integrate medical, dental, behavioural and other types of support services to reduce unnecessary hospital care, increase social benefits, and provide truly universal healthcare.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:53):

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (22:06):

The Greens have developed a positive vision for Australia which includes free and fair higher education, a renewable energy transition plan and an efficient public transport system. 

Lee moves that mandatory minimum standards be applied to cruise ships at White Bay to limit the pollution Sydney residents are exposed to.  The motion was defeated on the combined vote of Labor and the Coalition.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (16:06): I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 659 standing in my name, relating to cruise ship terminals.

Leave granted.

Senator RHIANNON: I move the motion as amended:

The Abbott government seeks to privatise everything from higher education to the Australian Mint to its response to the Ebola crisis. It has extended its reach into state governments' policies in a push for them to privatise their public assets in order to receive infrastructure fundng.

Senator RHIANNON: I now want to move on to issues to do with global health programs.

Senator McEWEN: Senator Rhiannon, just while we are finding someone to answer those questions for you, the mysterious $800,000 was in DFAT's answer to QON 409. It was the amount that had been spent on consultancies for IT integration to date. So perhaps you could take on notice, Mr Varghese, whether that amount is still the same or whether or not it has increased.

Mr Varghese : I am happy to do that.

Senate passes Lee's motion that the government increase Australia's contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:38): I move: 

That the Senate— 

(a) notes that: 

(i) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (the Global Fund) is working to eventually eradicate deaths from these diseases,