Senate debates

Thursday, 1 March 2007

• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (2 speeches)
    Senator Ellison to move on the next day of sitting:That, on Tuesday, 20 March 2007:(a)the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;(b)the routine of business from...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the third report for 2007 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm today: No. 6 Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games)...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Nettle, I move: That general business notice of motion no. 729, standing in the name of Senator Nettle, relating to Mr David Hicks, be postponed till the...
• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • Approval of Works (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Brandis, I move:That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal by the National Capital Authority for capital works...
• Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Nettle, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to create marriage equality for all relationships regardless of...
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    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— The Marriage...
• Electoral (Greater Fairness of Electoral Processes) Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, 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 table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
• Migration Legislation Amendment (Removal of Unjust Restrictions) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958 to remove unjust restrictions on applications for protection visas, and for related purposes....
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
• Migration Legislation Amendment (Access to Judicial Review of Migration Decisions) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958 to provide fair access to judicial review of migration decisions. Question agreed to. I move: That...
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
• Nuclear Power Stations (0 speeches)
  • (5 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 735, which endorses the legal ban on nuclear power stations in Australia, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Suspension of Standing Orders (29 speeches)
    At the request of the Leader of the Australian Greens, pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Bob Brown moving a motion...
  • Motion (1 speech)
    I move:That the Senate endorses Australian law which bans nuclear power stations. Question agreed to.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I move:That general business order of the day No. 2, relating to the Charter of Political Honesty Bill 2000 [2004], be discharged from the Notice Paper. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move:That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 14 August 2007:(a)a review of Commonwealth exemptions provided to...
• National Curriculum (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Nettle, I move:That the Senate insists that Australia’s teachers, through their unions, be directly involved in formulating a national curriculum....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 19th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Ministerial Correspondence (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present a volume of ministerial correspondence relating to the scrutiny of delegated legislation for the period March...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Financial Services entitled Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission,...
• Customs Legislation Amendment (Modernising Import Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
  • Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Senator Payne, I present additional information received by the committee relating to its inquiry into the Customs...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I table the following documents. Additional estimates 2005-06—Finance and Public Administration—Standing Committee—Additional information received between 8 and 28 February...
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    Bill received from the House of Representatives.
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    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— This Bill makes some...
• Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • First Reading (1 speech)
    Bill received from the House of Representatives.
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    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— The Australian...
• AVIATION TRANSPORT SECURITY AMENDMENT (ADDITIONAL SCREENING MEASURES) BILL 2007; CORPORATIONS AMENDMENT (TAKEOVERS) BILL 2007; OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AMENDMENT (GREATER SUNRISE) BILL 2007; CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (GREATER SUNRISE) BILL 2007; TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2007 MEASURES; No. 1) Bill 2007 (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— AVIATION...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Committee; Report (7 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, Senator Mason, I present the report of the committee Transparency and accountability of Commonwealth...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; Reference (19 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 28 February, on motion by Senator Siewert and Senator Milne:(1)That the Senate notes:(a)the recommendation of the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change to...
• Australian Technical Colleges (Flexibility in Achieving Australia’S Skills Needs) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (4 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 28 February, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Senator Carr had moved by way of amendment:At the end of the motion...
  • Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
• Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (0 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 8 February, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
• Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (0 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 6 December, on motion by Senator Ellison: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
• Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Second reading (0 speeches)
    Debate resumed. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
• Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Statements of Principles and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (0 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 8 February, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Third Reading (3 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
• Maritime Legislation Amendment (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (0 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 26 February, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
• Family Law (Divorce Fees Validation) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (1 speech)
    Debate resumed from 26 February, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
• Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 6 December, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • In Committee (4 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.
• Acis Administration Amendment (Unearned Credit Liability) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Second Reading (10 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 26 February, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Third Reading (0 speeches)
    Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate. Sitting suspended from 1.57 pm to 2.00 pm
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Howard Government: Economic Management (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister for Finance and Administration. I refer to reports of incorrect costing or the lack of costing of major government promises, including the mature...
  • Defence Procurement (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate in his capacity as Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. I refer the minister to Treasury secretary Ken...
  • Small Business (4 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister update the Senate on the contribution which small businesses make...
  • Defence: Guided Missile Frigates (4 speeches)
    My question is directed to Senator Minchin as Minister for Finance and Administration and representing the Prime Minister. I refer the minister to the project to upgrade the Navy’s guided...
  • Transport: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Will the minister please advise the Senate of how Australia’s strong...
  • Qantas (4 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, is it true that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ASIC, is investigating whether the...
  • Taxation (5 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan, in her capacity representing the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. Will the...
  • Defence (4 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Minchin, in his capacity as the Minister for Finance and Administration. I refer the minister to the Defence budget statements which say that the acquisition of six...
  • Health: Breast Cancer (14 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Santoro, the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, in relation to the cancer cluster at the ABC studios at Toowong, what has been the...
  • Telstra (7 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. I refer the minister to her answers to questions in this chamber relating to broadband on...
  • Australian Youth (9 speeches)
    I would like to take this opportunity to wish Senator Heffernan a happy birthday for this weekend. My question is to the Minister for Community Services, Senator Scullion. Will the minister...
  • Defence: Royal Australian Navy (4 speeches)
    My question is directed to Senator Ellison representing the Minister for Defence. Can the minister confirm that the Navy submarine rescue vessel, the Remora, which sank off Rottnest Island three...
  • Aged Care (3 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Will the minister outline to the Senate how the Howard government has been able to increase the safety and security of older...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Qantas (1 speech)
    I add briefly to an answer I gave earlier to Senator Fielding. I am happy to report that the Treasurer’s office has confirmed with ASIC that there is no ASIC investigation into the...
  • Defence: Royal Australian Navy (1 speech)
    I undertook to get back to the Senate in relation to a question from Senator Forshaw in relation to the Remora. Defence continues to work on the recovery of the Remora. The discussions have...
  • Managed Investment Schemes; Water (1 speech)
    On 8 February Senator O’Brien and Senator Bartlett asked questions and I undertook to take aspects of them on notice. I seek leave to incorporate the relevant information in Hansard. Leave...
• Environment Groups: Deductible Status Tasmanian Pulp Mill (0 speeches)
  • Return to Order (1 speech)
    I understand that Senator Bob Brown yesterday raised an inquiry about the production of certain documents. I inform Senator Brown and the Senate that regarding the documents he refers to the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (14 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today relating to a range of defence matters. I say at the outset that there are probably not...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
    I present three government responses to committee reports. I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard. Leave granted. The documents read as follows— Government Response to the...
  • Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee: Joint; Report: Government Response (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the documents. I want to note that one of the government’s responses tabled today is to a report from the Joint Standing Committee on...
  • Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account Committee; Report: Government Response (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I want to speak on the government’s response to the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Native Title and the Aboriginal and...
  • National Capital and External Territories Committee; Report: Government Response (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Senators’ Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Webber, I present the annual report for 2006 of the Senate Standing Committee on Senators’ Interests. Ordered that the report be printed.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
    The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 20 June 2001, as amended: Departmental and agency contracts for 2006—Letters of advice— Agriculture,...
  • 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...
• Migration Amendment (Maritime Crew) Bill 2007; Customs Legislation Amendment (Augmenting Offshore Powers and Other Measures) 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— MIGRATION...
• Nuclear Power (0 speeches)
  • (54 speeches)
    I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)nuclear energy is not economically viable in Australia,(ii)nuclear energy is not a climate change solution for Australia, and(iii)the delay in...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! It being 6 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
  • Murray-Darling Basin Commission (2 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 8 February, on motion by Senator Ian Macdonald: That the Senate take note of the document.
  • Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (1 speech)
    Debate resumed from 8 February, on motion by Senator Ian Macdonald: That the Senate take note of the document.
  • Commonwealth Grants Commission (5 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 27 February, on motion by Senator Ian Macdonald: That the Senate take note of the document.
  • Consideration (0 speeches)
    The following orders of the day relating to government documents were considered: Tourism Australia—Report for 2005-06. Motion of Senator Ian Macdonald to take note of document called on....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from party leaders seeking variations to the membership of committees.
• Australian Citizenship Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Returned from the House of Representatives (0 speeches)
    Message received from the House of Representatives agreeing to the amendments made by the Senate to the bill.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 27 February, on motion by Senator Mason: That the Senate take note of the report.
  • Intelligence and Security Committee: Joint; Report (1 speech)
    Debate resumed from 26 February, on motion by Senator Patterson: That the Senate take note of the report.
  • Australian Crime Commission Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    Debate resumed from 28 February, on motion by Senator Ian Macdonald: That the Senate take note of the report.
• Corporations Amendment (Takeovers) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Report of Corporations and Financial Services Committee (1 speech)
    When the debate was on earlier in the week, no-one sought leave to continue their remarks and so I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate...
  • Australian Crime Commission Committee: Joint; Report (1 speech)
    I seek leave to first of all go back to the discussion on the committee’s report on the Australian Crime Commission and then to incorporate my speech, which I prepared to deliver when I...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Debate resumed from 7 December, on motion by Senator Payne: That the Senate take note of the report.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Committee; Report: Government Response (1 speech)
    Debate resumed from 27 February, on motion by Senator Ferris: That the Senate take note of the document.
  • Consideration (0 speeches)
    The following order of the day relating to committee reports was considered: Economics—Standing Committee—Report: Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 7) Bill 2006—Hansard...
• Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 20 of 2006-07 (2 speeches)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 20 of 2006-07—Performance audit: Purchase, chartering...
  • Consideration (0 speeches)
    The following orders of the day relating to reports of the Auditor-General were considered: Auditor-General—Audit report no. 18 of 2006-07—Performance audit—ASIC’s...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! It being 7.30 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
  • Small Business (1 speech)
    It is good to touch base again with something I touched on in my maiden speech and to continue to pursue that issue. So I rise to speak on behalf of small businesses and consumers, who are being...
  • Asbestos Related Diseases (1 speech)
    Almost coincident with the first payment of $184 million by James Hardie to the new $4 billion asbestos injuries compensation fund came the announcement by the Australian Securities and...
  • Mr Billy Thorpe (1 speech)
    I would like to speak tonight to pay tribute to and recognise a truly iconic and widely admired and loved figure in the Australian music scene, Billy Thorpe, who died tragically and very...
  • Water (1 speech)
    The national plan for water security announced by the Prime Minister in January and focusing on the Murray-Darling Basin is indeed a bold initiative. It will not only provide a foundation upon...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (0 speeches)
    The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: [Legislative instruments are identified by a Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) number] Australian National University...