Senate debates
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
- Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 3) Bill 2007; Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (18 speeches)
TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2007 MEASURES No. 3) BILL 2007 TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (SMALL BUSINESS) BILL 2007 Bills—by leave—taken together and as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
- Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 12 June, 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.
- Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 2) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (12 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 May, on motion by Senator Johnston: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 12 June, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Queensland: Beattie Government (1 speech)
The most arbitrary disenfranchising of what are probably the most vulnerable communities in Queensland is about to be undertaken by the Queensland Labor government. At a time when we should be...
- Iraq (1 speech)
It has now been over four years since our Prime Minister took our nation to war in Iraq on the lie that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. When it became clear that there were no...
- Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
I want to speak today about a range of factors impacting on and relating to Indigenous Australians. A few weeks back we had a lot of events, ceremonies and commemorations for the 40th anniversary...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I am standing here today to express concern about the standover and privileged role union bosses would play in the workplace with the election of a Rudd Labor government and the election of Labor...
- Defence: Procurement (1 speech)
I have spoken many times about this government’s poor record on managing major defence procurement projects. It seems that little has changed, judging by the latest information disclosed at...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Liberal Party (9 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer the minister to his answer yesterday where he said that the Liberal Party paid $2,128.50 for food and...
- Workplace Relations (15 speeches)
My question is to Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. The minister may be aware of reports that unions are apparently...
- Liberal Party (6 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware that under section 287 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act, services provided...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the gallery of the former distinguished senator from Queensland, Len Harris. Welcome back.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Telecommunications (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 support for competition in...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the chamber of a distinguished parliamentary delegation from Mexico, led by Senator Carlos Jimenez Macias. On behalf of all...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Former Senator Ian Campbell (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ellison, Minister for Human Services. Is the minister aware that his predecessor, Ian Campbell, has won a $35,000-a-year board appointment with Perth based IT company...
- Crime (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Johnston. What is the federal government doing to develop its international law enforcement operations both here in Australia and...
- Smartcard (4 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Human Services. I ask the minister when the new exposure draft of the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill will be made public. When will...
- 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 Malaysia, led by the Hon. Tan Sri Ramli, Speaker of the House of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Volunteers (2 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Community Services, Senator Scullion. Would the minister advise the Senate of the level of assistance that the Australian government provides to...
- Fuel Prices (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan as the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Revenue. Does the minister recall the Prime Minister last year dismissing as...
- Renewable Energy (16 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, representing the Prime Minister, and concerns the report of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading. Given that the overseas experience...
- Telecommunications (7 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Is the minister aware of recent comments by her colleague Senator Joyce: ‘If wireless...
- Economy (3 speeches)
My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister for the Arts and Sport. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government’s sound management of the Australian economy has benefited the...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (1 speech)
On 29 March, Senator Milne asked me, as the Minister representing the Prime Minister, a question without notice about support for PNG forest protection. I undertook to obtain an answer for...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Liberal Party (27 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 Senators McEwen and Wong today...
- Access Card (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Human Services (Senator Ellison) to a question without notice asked by Senator Stott Despoja today relating to proposed...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Bob Brown to move on the next day of sitting: That the Senate: (a)notes that:(i)the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002 to provide necessary...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (5 speeches)
I present the ninth report for 2007 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Nash today, on account of ill health. Question agreed to.
- New South Wales Flood (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of all senators from New South Wales, move the motion, as amended: That the Senate—(a)notes the extensive and destructive flooding of the New South Wales Central Coast...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Joint Standing Committee on Publications; Meeting (1 speech)
I move:That the Joint Standing Committee on Publications be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Monday, 18 June 2007, from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm, to take...
- Kerang Rail Accident (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of all Victorian senators, move:That the Senate sends:(a)its sympathies to the families of the 11 people who were tragically killed in the Kerang train disaster;(b)a message...
- Telstra (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senators O’Brien, Polley and Sherry, move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the comments by the Member for Bass, Mr Michael Ferguson, on 17 August 2005 that...
- Water Management: Northern Rivers (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 798, standing in my name and that of Senator Nettle for today relating to water conservation, be taken as a formal motion.
- Food Advertising to Children (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)recognises that, according to a survey of parents commissioned by the Coalition on Food Advertising to Children:(i)86.2 per cent support a ban on advertising of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I present the sixth report of 2007 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 6 of 2007, dated 13 June 2007. Ordered...
- Australian Crime Commission Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission, Examination of the annual report of the Australian Crime Commission 2005-06, together with the...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Delegation to Malta, Spain and Kuwait (1 speech)
I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to the Republic of Malta and to Spain, which took place from 14 to 24 April 2007, and on a visit to Kuwait, which took place from...
- Department of the Senate (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Acting Deputy President: For the information of the Senate, I present a report, dated 2007, prepared by Eureka Strategic Research for the Department of the Senate on senators’...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 43 of 2006-07 (1 speech)
The Acting Deputy President: In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Audit report No. 43 of 2006-07: Performance...
- Council of the National Library of Australia (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
The Acting President: The President has received a letter from the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Minchin, nominating a senator to be a member of the Council of the National...
- Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Bill 2007; Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Management System and Other Measures) Bill 2007; Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2007; Fisheries Levy Amendment Bill 2007; Migration Amendment (Statutory Agency) 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— EVIDENCE AMENDMENT...
- Workplace Relations Amendment (a Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to this bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Before I call Senator Birmingham, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech. I therefore ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
- Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- 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.
- Native Title Amendment (Technical Amendments) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 12 June, on motion by Senator Scullion: That this bill be now read a second time. (Quorum formed)
- In Committee (32 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.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.50 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Immigration: Ministerial Response (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is a response from the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to the report tabled today by the Commonwealth Ombudsman. I will speak to...
- Commonwealth Ombudsman (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is a companion document to the previous report, so I will continue on in the same vein. This is the actual report from the Commonwealth...
- Refugee Review Tribunal (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is a report from the Refugee Review Tribunal looking at those refugee review cases that had not been completed within 90 days. This is also...
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I have a series of Migration Act reports here today. This report is on a topic similar to the last one. It has to do with a pledge by the Prime...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following government documents tabled earlier today were considered: Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000—Report for 2006 on the operation of the Act. Motion to take note of document...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! There being no further consideration of government documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Forestry (1 speech)
A surprising comment came from a Tasmanian Labor senator when he recently said, ‘Timber workers must not be used as election bait by the Liberal Party at the upcoming election.’ Had...
- Defence: Procurement (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to talk to the Australian National Audit Office Audit report No. 34 2006-07: High frequency communication system modernisation project. As you would be aware, Mr Acting...
- Palestine and Israel (1 speech)
In January I visited Palestine and Israel and 10 June this year marked the day when, 40 years ago, Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip...
- Liberal Party (16 speeches)
I—
- 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] Auslink (National Land Transport)...
