Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I join with other colleagues in congratulating Senator Norris on the launch of his archive. I attended the event yesterday, which was a great occasion.

I wish to raise two issues on which we have held debates before and which I hope may be debated this week. The first is a motion seeking the release of Íngrid Betancourt, which I believe has all-party agreement in the House. If it could be laid before the House this week we could agree it before Christmas. Íngrid Betancourt has been detained by FARC guerrillas in Colombia for some years and is facing into another long time in detention unless strenuous international efforts are made to secure her release. It is vital for us to play our part in that by putting this motion together and resolving it before Christmas.

I regret that the Climate Protection Bill I introduced in Private Members' time on 3 October has not been given time for debate this week. I have had communications with the Deputy Leader and the Leader of the House about the matter. It is very disappointing especially for groups such as Friends of the Earth and the Stop Climate Chaos coalition which have been campaigning so hard for legislation on the issue. It is most disappointing, especially in the wake of the Bali talks, that the Bill cannot be given Government time this week as we were promised. When will we get Government time to debate that Bill? Colleagues will remember that 20,000 e-mails supporting the Bill were sent to us by individual members of non-governmental organisations.