Senate debates
Tuesday, 9 May 2006
- Representation of South Australia (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I have received, through His Excellency the Governor-General, the certificate of the choice by the Parliament of South Australia of Cory Bernardi as a senator to fill the vacancy caused by the...
- Senators Sworn (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Senator Bernardi made and subscribed the oath of allegiance.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 29 March, on motion by Senator Minchin: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the Senate that Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, will be absent from question time today, tomorrow and Thursday. Senator Campbell is representing the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, representing the Treasurer. I refer to last week’s decision by the Reserve Bank to lift the interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent. Is the...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Will the minister inform the Senate of the importance of maintaining sound financial management?
- Westpoint (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer. I refer to the Westpoint financial scandal, in which thousands of elderly Australians have lost up to $400...
- Solomon Islands (2 speeches)
My question is directed to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister inform the Senate of recent efforts by Australian personnel to help restore law and order in...
- Westpoint (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer. I again refer to the Westpoint financial scandal in which, as the minister is aware, hundreds of millions of...
- Aged Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Will the minister inform the Senate of any developments in the provision of more aged care places for our elderly Australians? Is the...
- Smartcard (6 speeches)
My question is addressed to Senator Kemp, the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services. What is the government’s understanding of the reasons for the resignation of the head of...
- South-East Marine Protected Areas (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Abetz. Will the minister please update the Senate on...
- Wind Farms (13 speeches)
My question without notice is to Senator Abetz in his capacity representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I refer the minister to the environment minister’s decision not to...
- Oil Prices (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Senator Minchin. Is the minister aware of the remarks by the director of the International Energy...
- Information Technology: Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan. Will the minister update the Senate on new developments in the use of technology to...
- Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for Workplace Relations. Can the minister confirm recent reports that three men were sacked in Victoria after one of them smirked at his...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates; Westpoint (21 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin) and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts...
- Smartcard (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Arts and Sport (Senator Kemp) to a question without notice asked by Senator Stott Despoja today relating to the...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Watson to move on the next day of sitting:That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 11 May...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Marshall for the period 9 May to 11 May 2006, on account of parliamentary business overseas. Question agreed to.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the hours of meeting for Tuesday, 9 May 2006 be from 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 8 pm to adjournment, and for Thursday, 11 May 2006 be from 9.30 am to 6 pm and 8 pm to...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Ian Campbell for the period 9 May to 11 May 2006, on account of government business overseas. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 3 standing in the name of Senator Wong for 10 May 2006, proposing the disallowance of the Workplace...
- Make Poverty History Campaign (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the Make Poverty History campaign’s White Band Day on Sunday, 2 April 2006;(ii)the continuing tremendous efforts of the many non-government...
- Women’S Issues (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the 50th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women was held in New York from 27 February to 10 March 2006, and(ii)the themes for this session...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents listed on today’s Order of Business at item 13 which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and temporary chairs...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Senators’ Interests Committee; Adoption of Recommendation (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the recommendation on page 4 of Report 2/2006 of the Committee of Senators’ Interests be adopted. The report of the Senators’ Interests Committee on its...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Brandis, I move: That the time for the presentation of the final report of the Economics Legislation...
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (14 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I present the sixth report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security under section 102.1A of the Criminal...
- Electoral Matters Committee; Report (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. Mr Acting Deputy President Brandis, as you are also a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, you would be...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report Nos 36, 37 and 38 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the documents. The Auditor-General’s Report No. 36 of 2005-06 is entitled Management of the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Corrigendum (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Senator Mason, I present a corrigendum to the report of the committee on the provisions of the Electoral and...
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party leaders seeking to vary the membership of committees.
- General Insurance Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2006; Health and Other Services (Compensation) Amendment Bill 2006; Ohs and SRC Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the OHS and SRC Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading...
- Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 [2006] (0 speeches)
- Tax Laws Amendment (2005 Measures No. 6) Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum (Annual Fees) Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum (Registration Fees) Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum (Repeals and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum (Royalty) Bill 2006; Offshore Petroleum (Safety Levies) Amendment Bill 2006; Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2005-2006; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2005-2006; Jurisdiction of Courts (Family Law) Bill 2006; Jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Postal Industry Ombudsman Bill 2006; Aged Care (Bond Security) Bill 2006; Aged Care (Bond Security) Levy Bill 2006; Aged Care Amendment (2005 Measures No. 1) Bill 2006; Schools Assistance (Learning Together — Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment Bill 2006; Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006; Energy Efficiency Opportunities Bill 2006; Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Bill 2006; Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Anti-Avoidance) Bill 2006; Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Fees and Charges) Bill 2006; Cancer Australia Bill 2006; Family Assistance, Social Security and Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (2005 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Health Legislation Amendment (Pharmacy Location Arrangements) Bill 2006; Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2006; Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006; Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were reported informing the Senate that he had assented to the bills.
- Ohs and SRC Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Health and Other Services (Compensation) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Report of Community Affairs Legislation Committee (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Humphries, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Health and Other Services (Compensation)...
- Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Statement and Documents (1 speech)
I table the budget statement for 2006-07 and also the following documents: Budget papers—No. 1—Budget Strategy and Outlook 2006-07.No. 2—Budget Measures 2006-07.No....
- Proposed Expenditure; Consideration by Legislation Committees (1 speech)
I table the following documents: Particulars of proposed expenditure: Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2006-2007 Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2006-2007 Appropriation Bill (No....
- Portfolio Budget Statements (2 speeches)
I table the portfolio budget statements for 2006-07 for the Department of the Senate and the Department of Parliamentary Services. Copies are available from the Senate Table Office.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 8.02 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Moral Values (1 speech)
Tonight I wish to speak about the law in Australia and what I refer to as Western values. The purpose of this address is not to cast judgment or to set people against others. However, we need...
- Nardy House (1 speech)
In the Bega Valley of southern New South Wales, about five kilometres south of Cobargo at Quaama, on the Princes Highway, there is a place called Nardy House. It is a respite facility for...
- Smartcard (1 speech)
I rise tonight having just seen the budget papers. The fact is that, despite the campaigns by many people and parties, and even occasional recommendations from Senate committees, a paltry $6.5...
- Prime Minister: Visit to Ireland (1 speech)
This evening I want to talk about something we have recently learned about. The Prime Minister, sometimes unkindly referred to as Junket Johnnie, is about to embark on another grand tour in a few...
- Pacific Islands (1 speech)
I concur with a lot of what Senator Stephens said, as I am another Australian of significant Irish descent and I had the opportunity to be with her on a recent trip to Ireland. She played the...
- Beaconsfield Mine (1 speech)
This is a day of mixed emotions for Tasmania and for Australia. It is a day of great joy and tremendous sadness. The joy is for the safe return of the Beaconsfield miners Todd Russell and Brant...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Administrative Review Council—Report no. 47—The scope of judicial review, April 2006. Army and Air Force Canteen Service Board of...
