Senate debates
Wednesday, 8 November 2006
- Crimes Amendment (Bail and Sentencing) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 14 September, on motion by Senator Sandy Macdonald: That this bill be now read a second time.
- In Committee (21 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (3 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme — New Formula and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 October, on motion by Senator Santoro: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Senator Chris Evans moved by way of amendment: At the end of the motion, add...
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest. I have been advised an arrangement has been agreed to between senators that there will be a time-share arrangement between Senator...
- Federal Judicial Commission (5 speeches)
It is important that Australians have confidence in our judiciary. There are many fine judges in this country—and they do a great job—but we must have a means by which we can deal...
- Queensland Parliament (3 speeches)
A few weeks ago the Queensland Premier, Mr Beattie, was waxing lyrical about reform of the Senate. His reform, you might recall, consisted of giving him and his fellow Labor premiers a seat in...
- Merchant Seamen (1 speech)
From time to time I have made contributions in this place about the important role that our Australian merchant fleet plays in the security of this nation. I have not heard anything from those...
- Lebanon (1 speech)
I want to report today on my visit to Lebanon in the first week of October, which was funded from my study leave entitlement. I joined Mr Laurie Ferguson, the member for Reid, and 11 Lebanese...
- Western Australia: Economy (1 speech)
Western Australia today is easily the most exciting and dynamic part of this country. Rather amazingly, Perth is set to overtake Sydney as having the highest median home prices in Australia. The...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (4 speeches)
The ABC is one of our most important national institutions. It is widely understood that a strong and independent ABC plays a crucial role in Australia’s media market. The ABC often sets...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the minister recall the Prime Minister’s statement at the last election when he asked,...
- Living Standards (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Is the minister aware of any indications of changes in the living standards of Australian families over the last 10...
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Doesn’t the current advert on the Liberal Party website still claim falsely that the Howard government will...
- Migration (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Vanstone. Will the minister advise the Senate of efforts to manage the migration program in the long-term...
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin. I refer to the Prime Minister’s statement at the coalition campaign launch for the last election when he...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister update the Senate on how the Australian...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! Before I call Senator Murray, I would like to draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the advisers box for the Democrats of former distinguished Democrat senator John...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Australians: Stolen Wages (4 speeches)
Mr President, it is a good thing that you stopped me wandering off to chat to him. My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware of the...
- Indigenous Mental Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro, representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister outline to the Senate the efforts of the government in combating...
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister for Finance and Administration and the Minister representing the Treasurer. Does the minister recall saying in May 2005: ‘There have been no...
- West Papua (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Given that a Newspoll survey earlier this year found that 77 per cent of Australians supported self-determination for...
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is directed to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Is the minister aware that many families in the south-western suburbs of Sydney, who now face increases in...
- Drought Assistance (2 speeches)
My question is to Senator Kemp, the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister outline the services available to help communities access drought assistance measures?
- Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s statement in the House of Representatives on 30 October when, comparing...
- Australian Federal Police (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister inform the Senate of measures taken by the Australian Federal Police to ensure close and ongoing...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Inflation; Interest Rates (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to...
- Indigenous Australians: Stolen Wages (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 Murray today relating to...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Bartlett to move on the next day of sitting:That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958 to restore the application of the Human Rights and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That:(a)on Thursday, 9 November 2006:(i)the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 8.40 pm, and(ii)the routine of business shall be that of a normal Thursday, as set out in...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 608 standing in the name of Senator Nettle for today, relating to water resources of the Murray-Darling...
- International Jewish Solidarity Network (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the petition organised by the International Jewish Solidarity Network and published in the New York Times in September 2006 that declares: i.As Jews of...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in the names of Senators Siewert and Milne for today, proposing the reference of matters to the Rural and...
- Duck Hunting (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)recalls its resolution of 25 March 1998 calling on all state and territory governments to ban the practice of recreational duck hunting;(b)notes that:(i)since that...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That notice of motion No. 619 standing in my name for today, relating to United States military commissions, be postponed till 9 November 2006. Question agreed to.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Inflation and Interest Rates (16 speeches)
I have received a letter from Senator Sherry proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: “The Government’s poor economic...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Privileges Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I present the 129th report of the Committee of Privileges entitled Person referred to in the Senate: Dr Clive Hamilton. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That the report be adopted....
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 10th report of 2006 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 13 of 2006, dated 8 November 2006. Ordered...
- Australian Crime Commission Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
At the request of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiries into cybercrime and the...
- Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006; Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Medical Indemnity Legislation Amendment Bill 2006; Schools Assistance (Learning Together — Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2006; Customs Tariff Amendment (2007 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2006; Customs Amendment (2007 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2006; Communications Legislation Amendment (Enforcement Powers) Bill 2006; Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2006 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2006; Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Amendment Bill 2006; Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2006; Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Bill 2006; Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Consequential, Transitional and Other Measures Bill 2006; Corporations Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations) Bill 2006; Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006; Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2006; Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006; Crimes Act Amendment (Forensic Procedures) Bill (No. 1) 2006; Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006; Public Works Committee 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.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme — New Formula and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.50 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to speak on the tabling of the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation annual report 2005-06.The Special Broadcasting Service, known to...
- Bureau of Meterology (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Bureau of Meterology annual report of 2005-06 outlines some of the bureau’s notable achievements, which include but are not limited...
- Inspector-General of Taxation (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Inspector-General of Taxation seeks to improve the administration of the tax laws for the benefit of all taxpayers. This is achieved by...
- Director of National Parks (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I take note of this Director of National Parks annual report. The name ‘national parks’ is mostly a misnomer in Australia because...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following government documents tabled earlier today were considered: Australian Industry Development Corporation—Report for 2005-06. Motion to take note of document moved by Senator...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 7.20 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Microenterprise Lending (1 speech)
My interest in small business is well known to my friends. It began long ago—my father was a small business man. Indeed, I have been a small business man, having started a number of small...
- Northern Australia (1 speech)
I rise to talk about Northern Australia. There has been a lot of talk lately about development of Northern Australia. It seems to put forward the proposition that it is a big empty space waiting...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Fisheries Management Authority—Report for 2005-06. Australian Industry Development Corporation—Report for 2005-06....
