Senate debates
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
- Quarantine Amendment (Commission of Inquiry) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (25 speeches)
If I may, I will make just a few brief comments and put on record my apology for last night not being here to sum up on the second reading debate. At least one person dropped off the speakers...
- Higher Education Endowment Fund Bill 2007; Higher Education Endowment Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (27 speeches)
I would like to speak to the second reading of the Higher Education Endowment Fund Bill 2007 and the Higher Education Endowment Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007. These bills establish...
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- Ageing Parents of Children with a Disability (1 speech)
I would like to speak today about an ongoing and serious issue for parents of children with a disability. The issue actually hinges on the very poignant question: what happens when we are too old...
- Mr Bruce Trevorrow (1 speech)
I rise today to draw the Senate’s attention to a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of South Australia concerning an Indigenous Australian, Mr Bruce Trevorrow. On 1 August this year,...
- Tiwi Islands (1 speech)
I rise today to draw the Senate’s attention to land clearing on the Tiwi Islands. I think most Australians would be appalled to know what is happening in this beautiful part of Australia. I...
- Problem Gambling (1 speech)
It is estimated that there are around 300,000 Australians who are problem gamblers and a further 2.3 million people who are directly affected by problem gambling. It is a very serious problem and...
- Eye Health (1 speech)
On its website, the International Trachoma Initiative defines trachoma as a ‘hidden disease’. Trachoma itself is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It has been known about...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability (13 speeches)
My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Is the minister aware of a report released yesterday that says...
- Government Administration (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Will the minister inform the Senate of the importance of maintaining efficiency in government administration? Is...
- Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Is the minister aware of data contained in the Housing Industry...
- Broadband (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. As the minister is aware, the delivery of broadband services is very important across...
- Skilled Migration (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ellison, the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Can the minister confirm reports that the 457 visas of two Chinese men have been...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer the minister to false claims being made that the Howard government’s...
- Petrol Sniffing (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ellison. My question concerns petrol sniffing and the eight-point plan for the rollout of non-sniffable...
- Arts Funding (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Brandis. Would the minister inform the Senate about the current state of the arts industry in Australia and how the Australian...
- Equine Influenza (20 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to information supplied to the Senate last night about...
- Indigenous Housing (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Community Services. Noting the minister’s comments during a number of question times, including today’s question time, about ‘the complete...
- Climate Change (11 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to a Citigroup review on the effect of climate change that...
- Women in Parliament Exhibition (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr President, I have a question to raise with you. I understand that a decision has been made to permanently close and dismantle the Women in Parliament display and exhibition, which is currently...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Community Services (Senator Scullion) to questions without notice asked by Senators Webber and Campbell today relating...
- Petrol Sniffing (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 Siewert today relating to petrol sniffing....
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Payne, I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, she will move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the suffering of the ‘comfort women’ in the 1930s...
- Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- 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— Australia has a drinking...
- Child Protection Week (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the week beginning 2 September 2007 was National Child Protection Week, and(ii)there have been repeated, fundamental major failures by a number of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Sexual Slavery (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 882, standing in my name and in the names of Senator Stott Despoja and Senator Nettle for today, relating to Japan and sexual slavery during World...
- Women in Parliament Exhibition (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Senator Crossin asked me at the conclusion of question time about the Women in Parliament display which is in the public area of the Presiding Officers display area near the Parliament House...
- Treatment of Prisoners (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)thirteen Melbourne men accused of terrorist-related crimes have been held for nearly 2 years in the maximum security Acacia unit in Barwon prison;...
- Cluster Munitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that the Government:(i)has announced an additional $1 million to help the people of Lebanon clear unexploded cluster munitions, and(ii)describes itself as...
- Proposed Pulp Mill (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate endorse the commitment of the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) that ‘the final decision to go ahead with the project [Gunns Limited’s proposed pulp mill] would be...
- Coral Sea (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that the Coral Sea is one of the world’s most diverse and pristine tropical marine regions, covering approximately 800 000 square kilometres,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 10th 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. 12 of 2007, dated 19 September 2007....
- Australian Crime Commission Committee; Report (9 speeches)
I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission entitled Inquiry into the future impact of serious and organised crime on Australian society, together...
- Public Works Committee; Reports (3 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, I present three reports of the committee, as listed at item 11 on today’s Order of Business. I move: That the Senate take...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations Act (13 speeches)
I table a document on agreement making in Australia under the Workplace Relations Act for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006.
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I rise here today as the 75th senator for Tasmania and the 519th person who has had the honour to sit in the Senate of the Australian parliament. The relativity of these two numbers highlights...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Dental Services) Bill 2007; Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment (Cape York Measures) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- 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— HEALTH INSURANCE...
- Higher Education Endowment Fund Bill 2007; Higher Education Endowment Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (41 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Stott Despoja, I move Democrat amendment (1) on sheet 5353: (1) Clause 40, page 30 (lines 7 to 9), omit subclause 40(2), substitute:...
- Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
I rise to speak on the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007. I note that Labor are supportive of this bill; we will support it and vote...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Wool Industry (1 speech)
Over recent weeks we have been made aware through various special events that this year is the 200th anniversary of the first export of a commercial bale of wool from Australia. Tonight I rise to...
- Heiner Affair and Lindeberg Grievance (7 speeches)
Paedophilia, child abuse and rape—these issues were discovered in the Heiner inquiry.
- Toowoomba (1 speech)
This evening I want to talk on a couple of points about my home town, which is the city of Toowoomba. As people may or may not know, this is a very special time of year in Toowoomba because it is...
- Australian Republic (1 speech)
On 30 August 2007, the Real Republic organisation that supports the direct election of an Australian president sent a letter to all federal politicians. The letter was from Dr Clem Jones and the...
- Heiner Affair and Lindeberg Grievance (1 speech)
Paedophilia, child abuse and rape: documents concerning these issues discovered in the Heiner inquiry were shredded because of the wish to cover up crimes because of certain individuals who were...
