Senate debates
Thursday, 29 March 2007
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Following the receipt of a satisfactory response, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall withdraw business of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Selection of Bills Committee (Senator Ferris), I present the fifth report of 2007 of the committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (Senator Payne), I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Foreign Affairs,...
- 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 Bartlett for today, proposing the reference of a matter to the Rural...
- Human Rights: United States of America (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
by leave—I move the motion as amended: That the Senate rejects the dictum of former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that ‘interrogations must always be planned...
- Macquarie Island (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)condemns the failure of Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Ms Paula Wriedt, to respond reasonably and adequately to the environmental...
- Repatriation of Citizens Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Stott Despoja, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the repatriation of Australian citizens held in detention overseas,...
- 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— Our Repatriation of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- 50TH Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that the week beginning 25 March 2007 marks 50 years of European integration with the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome; and(b)acknowledges that...
- Slavery and Trafficking of Humans (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that 25 March 2007 was the 200th anniversary of the passing of William Wilberforce’s bill for the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave...
- Workplace Relations (Restoring Family Work Balance) Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to give back Australian workers their public holidays, meal breaks, penalty rates and overtime and to protect their redundancy,...
- 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 first media release...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move the motion as amended:That the Senate, noting that private equity may often include investment by funds holding the superannuation savings or investment monies of millions...
- MR David Hicks (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that the guilt or innocence of Mr David Hicks cannot be definitively assessed as he has not faced a fair and proper legal process; and(b)calls on the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Standing committee on Publications (Senator Barnett), I present the 20th report of the committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (5 speeches)
I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services on the exposure draft of the Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007, together with the...
- Community Affairs Committee; Additional Information (3 speeches)
I present follow-up information received by the Standing Committee on Community Affairs on an inquiry by the former references committee into petrol sniffing in Aboriginal communities, and move:...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Amendment Bill 2007; Governance Review Implementation (Treasury Portfolio Agencies) 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— PRIMARY...
- Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2007; Auscheck Bill 2006; Native Title Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Welfare to Work and Vocational Rehabilitation Services) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 March, on motion by Senator Brandis: That this bill be now read a second time. (Quorum formed)
- In Committee (66 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question put.
- Corporations Amendment (Takeovers) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 1 March, on motion by Senator Coonan: That this bill be now read a second time.
- In Committee (6 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.
- Migration Amendment (Review Provisions) Bill 2006 [2007]; Migration Amendment (Border Integrity) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 7 December 2006, on motion by Senator Ellison, and from 28 March, on motion by Senator Scullion: That these bills be now read a second time. (Quorum formed)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Minchin in his capacity representing the Prime Minister. Can the minister confirm that some of Australia’s largest coal producers, like BHP Billiton and...
- Forest Management (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Abetz. Will the minister outline to the Senate how the Howard government is leading the world in acting to reduce...
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the minister’s statement in the Senate yesterday: Yes, we adopted a Kyoto target of 108 per cent...
- Goods and Services Tax (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin, and it goes to the core of our economic wellbeing and an effective and fair tax system. Minister, will you inform...
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. Is the minister aware that, under the EU arrangements, the United Kingdom agreed to cut its...
- Illicit Drugs (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Johnston. Will the minister provide details of what the government is doing to combat the devastating effects of illicit drugs...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Abetz. Why is it that, under Work Choices, more than eight million Australian workers are...
- Media Ownership (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Will the minister update the Senate on the government’s reform to media laws? Is the...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the public gallery of former distinguished senator for New South Wales, John Tierney.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Can the minister confirm that, in addition to the government’s $55 million...
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin. I refer to the Prime Minister’s announcement today regarding the spending of $200 million over five years to...
- Defence Procurement (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. I refer the minister to the government’s decision to implement Kinnaird’s two-pass approval system by...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Privatisation (1 speech)
On 22 March 2007, Senator Fielding asked a question in relation to private equity. I undertook to obtain further information in relation to Senator Fielding’s question from the Treasurer. I...
- Zimbabwe (1 speech)
On 21 March 2007, Senator Stott Despoja asked me a series of questions in relation to sanctions as applicable to Zimbabwe. I undertook to get her some further information, which I now have. I...
- Iraq (1 speech)
On 27 March, Senator Faulkner asked me about the Prime Minister’s response to the Iraqi casualty figures published in the Lancet and the public comments made by some members of the United...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (11 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. It is an inconvenient truth for this government that the PM has long said that climate...
- 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 Milne today relating to carbon...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Manager of Government Business in the Senate (Senator Abetz), I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, he shall move: That the hours of meeting for...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Global Initiative on Forests and Climate (10 speeches)
I table a ministerial statement made by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Mr Turnbull) on global initiatives on forests and climate and seek leave to have the statement...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
I present three government responses to committee reports as listed at item 13 on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to have the documents...
- Community Affairs Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
Order! The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of a committee.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Department of the Senate (1 speech)
I present two reports relating to training provided by Senate officers for overseas legislatures. In tabling these two reports, I would like to alert honourable senators to the excellent work...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 31 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: Audit report No. 31 of 2006-07: Performance Audit: The conservation and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the second progress report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee on reforms to Australia’s military justice system, together with the Hansard record of proceedings....
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Selection of Bills Committee (Senator Ferris), I present the sixth report of 2007 of the committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
Order! The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of a committee.
- Migration Amendment (Review Provisions) Bill 2006 [2007]; Migration Amendment (Border Integrity) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate continue to sit between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm. Question agreed to.
- Migration Amendment (Review Provisions) Bill 2006 [2007]; Migration Amendment (Border Integrity) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (20 speeches)
MIGRATION AMENDMENT (REVIEW PROVISIONS) BILL 2006 [2007] Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
- Health Insurance Amendment (Provider Number Review) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 March, on motion by Senator Colbeck: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Advance to the Finance Minister (0 speeches)
- In Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the committee approves the statement of Issues from the Advance to the Finance Minister as a final charge for the year ended 30 June 2006. Question agreed to. Resolution reported;...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2006-2007; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2006-2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 28 February, on motion by Senator Brandis: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bills passed through their remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 5.56 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Fincorp (1 speech)
Today’s editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald parallels many of my own thoughts on the collapse of the property and investment group Fincorp. It states: Two hundred million dollars buys a...
- Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
I rise tonight to talk about a very disturbing series of incidents here in Canberra. A worker fell through a fifth-storey penetration on a Thiess Pty Ltd building site in the ACT on Wednesday, 8...
- Mr William Wilberforce (1 speech)
We all have heroes, and tonight I would like to speak about and celebrate the life of William Wilberforce. William Wilberforce’s impact on Australia was substantial. This week we celebrate...
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
I rise this evening to talk about the impact of Work Choices on families. Two weeks ago the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission released an important report called It’s about...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
The following document was tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 20 June 2001, as amended: Australian Institute of Family Studies
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: [Legislative instruments are identified by a Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) number] Civil Aviation Act—Civil Aviation...
