Senate debates
Tuesday, 13 June 2006
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Mr Roy Edward Bullock OBE (1 speech)
I inform the Senate of the death on 13 May 2006 of Mr Roy Edward Bullock OBE, a former Clerk of the Senate. Mr Bullock joined the Senate department in 1946 and served until 1980, holding the...
- Royal Commissions Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— ROYAL COMMISSIONS...
- In Committee (8 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme — Initial Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— CHILD SUPPORT...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the Senate that Senator the Hon. Santo Santoro, Minister for Ageing, will be absent from question time today, tomorrow and Thursday. Senator Santoro is representing the Australian...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Skills Shortage (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Does the minister stand by her comments last week that the government is allowing skilled guest workers...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Indonesia, led by Dr Muhammad Hikam. On...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz, representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister update the Senate on the latest employment figures? How is the...
- Skills Shortage (19 speeches)
My question is to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Is the minister aware that in 2000, when allegations were raised that businesses were starting to bring...
- Economy: Performance (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin, representing the Treasurer. Will the minister inform the Senate of the results of the March quarter national...
- Asylum Seekers (16 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Can the minister explain how the government’s new detention policy reflects the position...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Vanuatu, led by the Hon. Esmon Saemon, Second Deputy Speaker...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Environment: Alternative Energy (2 speeches)
I direct my question to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Will the minister inform the Senate of recent steps taken by the Howard government to secure energy resources for...
- Asylum Seekers (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, representing the Minister for Defence. My question relates to the recent announcement by the Minister for Defence about the Australian Navy’s...
- East Timor (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister update the Senate on the ongoing efforts of Australian personnel to help restore law and order in East Timor?
- Soccer World Cup: Antisiphoning List (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Did the minister watch Australia’s emphatic 3-1 victory over Japan in last...
- Indigenous Communities (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. I draw the minister’s attention to a report on ABC radio, which stated that...
- Customs Computer System (14 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ellison, the Minister for Justice and Customs. It concerns the new Customs computer system and the independent audit report handed down last Friday. Can the minister...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Skills Shortage (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (Senator Vanstone) to questions without notice asked today relating to skills...
- Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Senator Ian Campbell) to a question without notice asked by Senator Nettle today relating...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Hon. John Murray Wheeldon (8 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 24 May 2006, of the Hon. John Murray Wheeldon, a senator for the state of Western Australian from 1965 to 1981.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate—(a)notes the recent release of the Report of the International Panel of Independent Legal Experts on: Special Permit...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (9 speeches)
by leave—I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate today be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I move: That the order of the Senate of 10 May 2006, authorising the Parliamentary Joint...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a public meeting during the...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Brandis, I move: That the time for the presentation of the reports of the Economics Legislation...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 2 standing in the name of Senator Siewert for today, proposing the reference of a matter to the...
- Chernobyl Nuclear Accident (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
by leave—I move the motion as amended:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that 20 years have passed since the nuclear reactor accident which occurred on 26 April 1986 at Chornobyl, with...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and a temporary chair of committees since the Senate last sat. In...
- Response to Senate Resolutions (1 speech)
I present a response from the Premier of Queensland, Mr Beattie, to a resolution of the Senate of 28 March 2006 concerning Cyclone Larry.
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following reports of the Auditor-General: Report no. 41 of 2005-06: Performance Audit: Administration of primary...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report of the Community Affairs References Committee Workplace exposure to toxic dust, together with the Hansard record of the committee’s...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 40 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document tabled earlier today. I rise to talk to Audit report No. 40 of 2005-06: Performance audit: procurement of explosive ordnance for...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Portfolio Budget Statements; Corrigenda (1 speech)
I present corrigenda to the 2006-07 portfolio budget statements for the Attorney-General’s portfolio and the Immigration and Multicultural Affairs portfolio.
- Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
- Proposal for Works (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Act 1974, I present two proposals for works within the Parliamentary Zone, together with supporting documentation, relating to the installation...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
Before I call Senator Bernardi, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech. I therefore ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Committee on Publications I present the report of the committee entitled Distribution of the parliamentary papers series together with the Hansard of the proceedings,...
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, I present report No. 8 of 2006 on the proposed fit-out of new leased premises for Centrelink at Greenway, ACT, and I seek leave to move...
- National Capital and External Territories Committee; Report (3 speeches)
I present the report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories entitled Current and future governance arrangements for the Indian Ocean territories. I seek...
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the 74th report of the committee, entitled Treaty tabled on 28 March 2006. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the...
- Asio Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Tax Laws Amendment (Personal Tax Reduction and Improved Depreciation Arrangements) 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 Tax Laws Amendment (Personal Tax Reduction and Improved Depreciation Arrangements) Bill 2006 and move: That these bills be now read a...
- Age Discrimination Amendment Bill 2006; Australian Trade Commission Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Welfare to Work and Other Measures) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2006; Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation (2006 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Fisheries Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fishing Offences) Bill 2006; Plant Health Australia (Plant Industries) Funding Amendment Bill 2006; Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 2) Bill 2006; Excise Laws Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Excise Tariff Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Customs Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Customs Tariff Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table revised explanatory memoranda relating to the Age Discrimination Amendment Bill 2006 and the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2006 and...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Bill 2006; National Health and Medical Research Council Amendment Bill 2006; Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Board and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Membership (0 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives notifying the Senate of the appointment of Dr Jensen to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit in place of Mr Ticehurst.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in his name for today, proposing the reference of matters to the Legal and Constitutional References Committee,...
- Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme — Initial Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (9 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Lundy for the period 13 to 16 June 2006 on account of parliamentary business overseas and to Senator Sherry for the period 13 to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Asio Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (17 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- In Committee (64 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (2 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Personal Tax Reduction and Improved Depreciation Arrangements) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 11pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Mr Roy Edward Bullock OBE (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to honour a man who served the Senate for most of his working life. I refer to Mr Roy Edward Bullock OBE who passed away recently. Roy Bullock was Clerk of the Senate in 1979 and...
- Mr Michael Ferguson MP (1 speech)
I want to talk about a speech presented in the other place and some other matters tonight. On 28 March this year the member for Bass, Mr Michael Ferguson, rose during the adjournment debate and...
- Parliamentary Delegation to Denmark and Sweden (1 speech)
In October last year I had the good fortune to be part of the Australian parliamentary delegation to Denmark and Sweden. The report of this visit was tabled in the Senate during the last...
- Black Hawk Accident: 10th Anniversary; Mater Misericordiae Hospital Townsville; Queensland Health System (1 speech)
Tonight, the Tuesday immediately following the Queen’s Birthday weekend, is the 10th anniversary of two events, one of fairly great significance to our nation and the other not quite so...
- National Electric Wheelchair Sports; Qantas: Wheelchair Policy (1 speech)
I would like to bring to the Senate’s attention the efforts of a group of determined, talented and disabled South Australian sporting stars, who recently had to confront discriminatory...
- Mr Michael Ferguson MP; Queen’s Birthday Holiday (1 speech)
I rise tonight initially to respond to the allegations made by Senator Kerry O’Brien in this chamber just a few moments ago during the adjournment debate, in an effort to besmirch the good...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
It is just over 10 weeks since the Howard government’s extreme industrial relations laws were introduced. And, from week one, we have seen the truth of the Prime Minister’s plan...
- Qantas: Western Australia (1 speech)
From time to time in this place, all of us have come to boast of the uniqueness of our various states and territories. Those of us from Western Australia take particular pride in the unique...
- Cricket: Ashes Tour (1 speech)
Sports tourism is a massively expanding area. Cricket tourism is no exception. Spearheaded by British fans, a Barbados test match featuring England is like a home game now with at least 70 per...
- Howard Government: Ministerial Staff (13 speeches)
I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes. Leave granted. One of the things I have followed over the life of the coalition government is the way that it staffs its ministerial offices. I well remember...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Livestock Export Corporation Limited (LiveCorp)—Report for 2004-05. Australian Maritime College—Report for 2005. Australian...
- Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
The following document was tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 30 May 1996, as amended: Indexed lists of departmental and agency files for the period 1 July to 31 December...
