Senate debates
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
- Workplace Relations Amendment (a Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (12 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 June, on motion by Senator Colbeck: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Senator Wong had moved by way of amendment: At the end of the motion, add...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Broadband (26 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. I refer the minister to her claim that her broadband plan will provide very fast broadband...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is directed to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Will the minister outline to the Senate the importance of productivity in ensuring the continuing strength...
- Broadband (18 speeches)
My question without notice is to Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. I ask: why did the minister deem it necessary for cabinet to examine maps...
- Firearms (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Johnston. In light of yesterday’s tragic shooting in the Melbourne central business district, could the minister advise the...
- Superannuation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin, also representing the Treasurer. Minister, from 1 July, payouts from a superannuation fund will be tax free for...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister update the Senate on the important work that the Office of the...
- Broadband (7 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. I refer the minister to the Howard government’s plans to send a direct mail-out to...
- Tasmanian Pulp Mill (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin. Given the Prime Minister’s support for the Gunns pulp mill proposal and the federal government subsidies...
- Broadband (6 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Can the minister explain to the Senate how the member for Stirling, Mr Keenan, was...
- Medical Services for Western Sydney (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Brandis, who represents the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Will the minister inform the Senate of government...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
I wish to add to an answer I gave to Senator Evans about an advertisement placed by Mr Michael Keenan, the member for Stirling, in relation to the broadband policy. He has confirmed to my office...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Broadband (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (Senator Coonan) to questions without notice asked today relating to...
- Firearms (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Johnston, to a question without notice asked by Senator Fifield today relating to hand guns....
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given on the last day of sitting, I now withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos 2 and 3 standing in my name for seven sitting days after today.
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Sterle to move on the next day of sitting: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Independent Contractors Act 2006, and for related purposes. Independent...
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the name of Senator O’Brien for today, proposing the reference of a matter to the...
- Dalai Lama (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate congratulates the Dalai Lama for his dignity, compassion and forbearance during his popular visit to Australia. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Ronaldson, I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Economics Committee on private equity markets be extended to 16 August 2007. Question agreed to.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I move:That general business order of the day no. 16 relating to the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill 2002 [2004] be discharged from the Notice Paper. Question...
- Human Rights (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move the motion as amended: That the Senate:(a)notes that:(i)hundreds of thousands of children are driven into the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade every year,(ii)more...
- Climate Change (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Nettle, move the motion as amended: That the Senate:(a)notes:(i)the impact of reduced rainfall on inflows into river systems in northern New South...
- Defence (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence all documents including briefs to ministers concerning complaints and allegations made in 1997 and...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 45 of 2006-07 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 45 of 2006-07: Performance audit: the National Black Spot...
- Corporations Legislation Amendment (Simpler Regulatory System) Bill 2007; Corporations (Fees) Amendment Bill 2007; Corporations (Review Fees) Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees; Reports (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports from all standing committees on the 2007-08 budget estimates, together with the Hansard record...
- Social Security Amendment (Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up for Australian Apprentices) 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 Social Security...
- Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2006-2007; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2006-2007 (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— APPROPRIATION...
- Workplace Relations Amendment (a Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 10.05 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Centenary of Canberra (1 speech)
In the course of tonight’s debate on the workplace relations legislation, some have accused those on this side of the chamber of looking backwards. On the adjournment debate tonight I want...
- Advertising Campaigns (9 speeches)
One of the most important supports of Australia’s political system is the ability of elected officials to make the distinction between their responsibilities as members of a government and...
- Disabled Supplementary Services Payment (1 speech)
I wish to draw the attention of the Senate to a serious issue relating to a government reform to disability payments which threatens to disadvantage some of the most vulnerable families in...
- Millennium Development Goals (1 speech)
Almost seven years ago, leaders from all 189 member states of the United Nations agreed on a vision for the future: a world with less poverty, hunger and disease; greater survival prospects for...
- Defence Equipment Purchases (1 speech)
This government now faces a critical decision to be made by the end of this month: how it is going to spend some $10 billion on two key shipbuilding projects. On the board are orders for three...
- Broadband (5 speeches)
I rise to make a few comments about the government’s broadband plan, Australia Connected—
- City of Stirling: Citizenship Ceremonies (1 speech)
When you become a senator in this place you are invited to do a whole range of interesting things, most of them outside the building. Some of them are a great pleasure and, indeed, an honour to...
- Communications Electrical Plumbing Union Election (2 speeches)
Senator Conroy, I hope you noticed the tie I have on tonight.
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
Tonight I want to discuss the implication of climate change in the Northern Territory, and I begin with the 2007 report titled State and territory greenhouse gas inventories 2005 released by the...
- Indigenous Australians (1 speech)
I seek leave to speak for longer than 10 minutes. Leave granted. I want to speak tonight about a few different reports that have appeared in the last week. They address issues that affect...
- Children’s Health (1 speech)
One in four Australian children is overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically over the last five years. One in eight children has asthma and one in 12 has a chronic allergy. But...
- 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 Bureau of Statistics...
