Senate debates
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
- Aged Care Amendment (Residential Care) Bill 2006; Judiciary Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Privacy Legislation Amendment (Emergencies and Disasters) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
At the request of the Minister for Ageing (Senator Santoro) and the Minister for Justice and Customs (Senator Ellison), I move: That the following bills be introduced:A Bill for an Act to amend...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table the explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Petroleum Retail Legislation Repeal Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (31 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 12 September.
- Adoption of Report (1 speech)
I move: That the report of the committee be adopted. Question agreed to.
- Third Reading (12 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
- Financial Transaction Reports Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (18 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 7 September. Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Middle East (1 speech)
In the last week of the last sittings, the Greens’ Senator Nettle spoke of the situation in the Middle East. I said at that time that I would respond because Senator Nettle’s speech...
- Meat Industry: Mr Aaron Leslie Willis (1 speech)
I would like to take note of a matter that goes to the Australian government’s New Apprenticeships program that provides subsidies to employers who take on trainees under the scheme. The...
- Cluster Bombs; Gunns Ltd (36 speeches)
I first draw the Senate’s attention, following Senator Boswell’s criticism of Senator Nettle, to the vote in the Senate just last week on a motion I moved on cluster bombs, which...
- Indigenous Communities (1 speech)
Much has been said in recent times about the state of Indigenous communities within this country. There is clear evidence of social discord and substance abuse, including alcoholism and petrol...
- Mr David Hicks (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to talk about a matter that I have followed closely since I have been a member of the Senate—namely, the situation faced by one of my constituents, Mr David Hicks, who...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I wish to inform the Senate that Senator Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, will be absent from question time today and tomorrow. Senator Vanstone is representing...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Defence (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. Can the minister confirm reports that the government has dumped a $400 million Defence contract to...
- Crime (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister inform the Senate of measures being implemented by the Commonwealth government to address the problem of...
- Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the minister recall saying in question time yesterday that conditions have never been better for young...
- Internet Content (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government is taking proactive measures to protect Australian...
- Sydney Airport: Regional Airlines (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Is the minister aware that the Productivity Commission has recommended that...
- Nuclear Energy (2 speeches)
I direct my question to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell. I ask the minister: can the world tackle the problem of climate change without nuclear energy?
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree with former vice-president of the US, Al Gore, that ‘global warming is the...
- Health and Ageing: Dementia (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Given that National Dementia Awareness Month commenced last Friday, will the minister outline to the Senate the impact of dementia on...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I would like to draw to the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s Gallery of Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Expatriates, from the Syrian Arab...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Defence (11 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. Senator Hogg has raised with me the fact that Senator Campbell, in answering Senator...
- Indigenous Affairs (6 speeches)
My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Affairs. Is the minister aware that, today, in Parliament House, Bishop Saibo Mabo, the Deputy Chair of the...
- Telstra (4 speeches)
My question is addressed to Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Does the minister recall Senator Joyce’s demands one year ago that the...
- Foxes (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conversation, Senator Eric Abetz. How is the Howard government acting to try and prevent foxes from becoming established in Tasmania? Is...
- Special Broadcasting Service (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Is the minister aware of the announcement by SBS of its intention to introduce advertising during its...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Telstra (14 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (Senator Coonan) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludwig...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin) to a question without notice asked by Senator Nettle today relating to...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senators Hogg, Ludwig, McLucas and Moore to move six sitting days after today:That the Senate—(a)congratulates the Beattie Government on its re-election on Saturday, 9 September...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators:(a)Senator Ian Campbell for 14 September 2006, on account of government business overseas;(b)Senator Vanstone for...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 543 standing in the name of the Leader of the Australian Democrats (Senator Allison) for today, relating to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee (Senator Troeth), I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Employment, Workplace...
- Economics Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Economics Committee (Senator Brandis), I move:That the Economics Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday,...
- Foster Care Week (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senators Siewert and McLucas, move the motion as amended: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)10 September to 16 September 2006 is Foster Care Week in...
- Religious Intolerance and Racial Discrimination (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Mason, move the motion as amended: That the Senate—(a)notes, with deep concern, the existence of religious intolerance and racial...
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Complementary Protection Visas) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to introduce complementary protection visas, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I move: That this bill may proceed...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Education in Afghanistan (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the reported comments by President Karzai, on 8 March 2006, that ‘From fear of terrorism, from threats of the enemies of Afghanistan, today as we...
- MR Barry Hemsworth (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that Mr Barry Hemsworth has been the elected union delegate at Botany Cranes in Sydney for the past 10 years;(b)congratulates Mr Hemsworth on his commitment...
- Child Care (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes, with concern:(i)that child care workers remain among the lowest paid Australians, earning as little as $541 per week,(ii)that women working in child care...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of former distinguished senator the Hon. Tony Messner, minister of the Crown and former administrator of Norfolk...
- Macquarie Marshes (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate calls on the Government to review the threats to the Macquarie Marshes, New South Wales, as a matter of urgency and to take due action to rescue the marshes as a national...
- National Disabilities Advocacy Program Review 2006 (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, no later than 3.30 pm on Thursday, 14 September 2006, the...
- MS Cornelia Rau (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)it has been 19 months since Ms Cornelia Rau was found imprisoned unlawfully in the Baxter detention centre,(ii)Ms Rau has still not received...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Patterson to move on the next day of sitting:(1)That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 27 October 2006:Legislative responses to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Alert Digest (1 speech)
I lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 10 of 2006, dated 13 September 2006. I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In tabling the committee’s Alert Digest No. 10...
- Senators’ Interests Committee; Documents (20 speeches)
On behalf of the Committee of Senators’ Interests, I table documents, including correspondence and minutes of the committee, in relation to two matters considered by the committee over...
- Public Works Committee; Report (5 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Troeth and the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the following reports:Report No. 14 of 2006—Facilities Upgrade to the Shoalwater Bay...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (1 speech)
by leave—I table the document prepared by mpconsulting for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet entitled Analysis of advice on developments in assisted reproductive technology...
- Independent Contractors Bill 2006; Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Bill 2006; Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 5) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— INDEPENDENT...
- Financial Transaction Reports Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (3 speeches)
Consideration resumed.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2005 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 7 September, on motion by Senator Minchin: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Senator Stephens had moved by way of an amendment: At the end of the motion,...
- Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Amendment (Security Plans and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 6 September, on motion by Senator Abetz: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.50 pm, the Senate will now proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the documents. These two documents are: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—Response to Ombudsman’s statements made...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.55 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Iraq (1 speech)
We can only see what is occurring in Iraq by that which the Australian and international media chooses to report. Their decision to constantly convey the negative issues, such as the bombings and...
- Victoria: Labor Government (1 speech)
I listened with interest as Senator Fifield stood up in this place last week and talked of ‘freedom fighters’, giving a commentary on the good work of the Victorian Labor government....
- Beattie Government; Queensland: Dams (1 speech)
The Queensland election was resolved last weekend, as all senators would know. I pass on my congratulations to the Beattie government for being re-elected. I note today the announcement of the...
- Mr John Vander Wyk (2 speeches)
Before I call Senator Fifield, I would like to have a short break in the adjournment debate, if I may. Senators may be aware that Mr John Vander Wyk, the Clerk Assistant (Committees), who is at...
- Music Education (1 speech)
I add my own best wishes as well. When Australians think of the basics of a good education, the first things they think of are literacy and numeracy—English and Maths. The next things they...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Law Reform Commission—Report—No. 104—Fighting words: A review of sedition laws in Australia, July 2006. Migration Act...
