Senate debates
Thursday, 14 February 2008
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Bartlett to move on the next day of sitting:That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to establish an Office of National Commissioner for Children and Young People, and for...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (12 speeches)
I present the first report for 2008 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the following bills be considered from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm today. Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008 Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion no. 13 standing in my name for today, calling for wage restraint for members of parliament, be postponed until Tuesday, 11 March...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move:That the provision of standing order 111(6) which prevents the continuation or resumption of the second reading debate on a bill within 14 days of its first introduction in either House...
- Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this bill...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to limit unfair banking and credit card penalty fees, and...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act for the administration of poker machine harm reduction tax and the establishment of the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Transition...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Stolen Generation Compensation Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for ex gratia payments to be made to the stolen generation of Aboriginal children, and for related purposes. Question...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Climate Change (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bali, Indonesia in December 2007, an action plan was agreed to, which,...
- Renewable Energy Legislation Amendment (Renewable Power Percentage) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 to set renewable power percentages for the period commencing 1...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum and have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Solar Energy Technology (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)in December 2007 Ausra Inc. announced that it will build a manufacturing plant in Nevada for solar thermal power systems,(ii)Ausra’s...
- Myanmar (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the military junta in control of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, has announced its intention to hold a constitutional referendum in...
- Whaling (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the evidence provided to the Government by its ship, the Oceanic Viking, of whales being slaughtered in Australia’s Antarctic Territorial...
- Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
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 sexual orientation or gender...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table the explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Gaza (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the comments of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East on 29 January 2008 that...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(1)That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect.(2)That the following bills be restored to the Notice Paper and that...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008; Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (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— AGED CARE...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Economy (1 speech)
by leave—I wish to clarify an answer I gave at question time yesterday in response to a question asked by Senator Ian Macdonald. Yesterday in Senate question time, I gave an answer based on...
- Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bills passed through their remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Apology to Australia’S Indigenous Peoples (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 13 February, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That the Senate take note of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Automotive Industry (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. I refer to the minister’s answer yesterday when he asserted that it was ‘incorrect’...
- Economy (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Sherry. In light of the serious inflation problem inherited from the former Liberal government, can...
- East Timor (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Faulkner. Can the minister provide the Senate with details of the current situation in East Timor which...
- Cost of Living (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. I refer to Labor’s repeated promises to reduce the cost of petrol and household groceries. Minister, when can...
- Latrobe Aquifer (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Minister, Family First is very concerned that the Gippsland farmers are disadvantaged by falling water levels in the...
- Investing in Our Schools Program (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Carr. Will the minister advise the Senate whether the government intends to scrap the highly successful Investing...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Wong. Can the minister inform the Senate what impact Australian workplace agreements have...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of a parliamentary delegation from Morocco, led by His Excellency the Hon. Omar Hilale,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Mobile Phone Services (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. In the minister’s media release of 11 February titled ‘Minister discusses CDMA...
- Indigenous Communities (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The Prime Minister’s historic statement of apology...
- Air Security Officer Program (7 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Attorney-General. Has the minister seen press reports that the Rudd government plans to cut back the number of sky...
- Answers to Questions (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
by leave—Mr President, I would like to ask a question of you about ministers who have confused their answers in question time or given incorrect answers at question time and who then come...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (16 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. I want to take note today particularly of the answers given by Senator Carr in response to...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 22 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 22 of 2007-08: Performance Audit—Administration of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move:(1)That the routine of business for the remainder of the day be as follows:(a)government business order of the day no. 1 (appointment of joint committees);(b)committee...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Joint Committees; Establishment (1 speech)
Consideration resumed from 13 February of House of Representatives resolutions for the concurrence of the Senate and messages relating to the establishment of joint committees, as follows:...
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party leaders nominating senators to be members of committees.
- Apology to Australia’S Indigenous Peoples (0 speeches)
- (7 speeches)
Debate resumed. (Quorum formed)
- Rural and Regional Australia (0 speeches)
- (38 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the challenges facing Australia’s rural and regional communities, and(ii)that the Government is showing its contempt of rural and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Acting Deputy President: Order! It being 6 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Wet Tropics Management Authority (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I do so to draw the attention of the Senate and the community, and particularly the new government, to the serious and significant challenges...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to government documents were considered: Commissioner for Superannuation (ComSuper)—Report for 2006-07. Motion of Senator Nash to take note of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to committee reports and government responses were considered: Intelligence and Security—Joint Statutory Committee—Report—Review of the...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 10 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is the Auditor-General’s report into the whole-of-government Indigenous service delivery arrangements. These whole-of-government...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
Orders of the day Nos 1 to 3 and 5 to 15 relating to reports of the Auditor-General were called on but no motion was moved.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
I have received letters from party leaders nominating senators to be members of committees.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.26 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Dragons Abreast Australia (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak briefly regarding the commendable work currently being undertaken by Dragons Abreast Australia and to highlight its premier event, the 2008 hospital boat challenge, due to...
- Northern Land and Water Taskforce (1 speech)
I want to use my first opportunity in the new parliament to do something that my colleagues will find very strange coming from me, as I am generally a big hater. I want to congratulate the new...
- Human Rights (1 speech)
I rise this evening to talk about two related issues: the situation in Darfur and the intake of refugees in this country. I want to start by drawing the Senate’s attention to the stand that...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
Given there are no other speakers on the list, I shall ensure that the time has not gone to waste in raising another matter of significance in the adjournment debate on what is already the final...
- 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] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...
- Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
The following document was tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 20 June 2001, as amended: Departmental and agency contracts for 2007—Letter of advice—Australian Research Council.
