Senate debates
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
- Communications Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to communications, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this...
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
I present the explanatory memorandum 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 granted. The speech read...
- Social Security and Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Allowances) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 11 March, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
- In Committee (8 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.
- Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (7 speeches)
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— Mr President, I move...
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Skills Australia Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (23 speeches)
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— SKILLS AUSTRALIA BILL...
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Industry Policy (1 speech)
Today, I want to respond to an article in today’s Australian Financial Review by Alan Mitchell, the economics editor. The article makes the case that Labor Party policy seems to be heading...
- Hon. Sir Charles Walter Michael Court AK, KCMG, OBE (1 speech)
When I first rose to speak in this place to deliver my maiden speech as a freshman senator in 2002, I had occasion to thank the many people who had contributed to my elevation to the Senate....
- Health Services (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the necessity for health reforms in this country. We all know that the Rudd Labor government and its successors will face major challenges in the funding and delivery of...
- Economy (1 speech)
If you watch good leaders, you will soon notice a common trait among them is their ability to stay positive and to motivate their teams. A motivated team in a positive frame of mind performs...
- Dr Val Plumwood (1 speech)
I want to celebrate the life and contribution to this nation of the great ecophilosopher and feminist, Val Plumwood. I am indebted to have with me the obituary from her friend Joan Staples, who...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Will the minister guarantee that the reinstated lump sum bonus payments for carers and pensioners will not be...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Can the minister outline Australia’s recent productivity performance. Can the minister advise the Senate how...
- 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 Vietnam led by His Excellency Mr Trong, President of the National Assembly of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Communities (14 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the minister agree that one child sexually abused is one child too many? If so, will the minister now repudiate...
- Skills Shortage (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Education. Can the minister inform the Senate about the causes of the skills crisis Australia now faces and about the...
- Schools (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Education. Does the minister agree with Professor Barry McGaw, Labor’s hand-picked head of the National Curriculum...
- Kangaroo Culling (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, and it regards the impending death of 400 kangaroos at the Belconnen Naval Transmission...
- Climate Change (14 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. I refer to the ministerial statement made yesterday pertaining to the meeting of the Kyoto targets, and in...
- 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 the Republic of Estonia, led by Ms Ene Ergma, President of the Estonian...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Sherry. Can the minister outline what approaches the government is taking to managing the Australian...
- Workplace Relations (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Wong. Will the minister guarantee that no individual Australian worker will be worse off...
- Wool Industry: Mulesing (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I draw the minister’s attention to the growing boycott of Australian wool by retailers in...
- Superannuation (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry. Can the minister guarantee that the government will not cave in to union demands to lift the compulsory...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I will add to and confirm my answer to Senator Bernardi relating to the carers payment. The answer is that the carers payment is tax free.
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Communities (14 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to a question without notice asked by Senator Scullion today, relating to the...
- Kangaroo Culling (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Climate Change and Water (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by the Leader of the Australian Greens...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Sherry to move on the next day of sitting: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to superannuation, and for related...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the second report of 2008 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 26 standing in the name of Senator Bartlett for today, proposing the introduction of the National...
- Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that at the first ever global forum to fight the crime of human trafficking, the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking was held from 13 February to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Alcohol Abuse (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:(1)That the Senate, noting concern in the community at the abuse of alcohol, asks that the Government refer the following matter to a parliamentary committee, an appropriate body or a...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- KPMG Abc Funding Review Report (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, no later than 4.30 pm on Thursday, 20 March 2008, a copy of the KPMG ABC Funding...
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Stott Despoja, move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)8 March was International Women’s Day,(ii)Australia trails other comparable economies in the area...
- Special Broadcasting Service Amendment (Prohibition of Disruptive Advertising) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to prohibit disruptive advertising in SBS television programs, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the 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 have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Electoral Matters Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
I move:(1)That the following matter be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for inquiry and report: All aspects of the 2007 Federal Election and matters related thereto,...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bartlett, 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...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Environment, Communications and the Arts; Reference (1 speech)
I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the notice of motion by Senators Allison and Ronaldson on the sexualisation of children in the media. Leave granted. I want to put on the record...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the first report of 2008 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 1 of 2008, dated 12 March 2008. Ordered...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Fertility Policy (1 speech)
On behalf of the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Ms Macklin, I table a statement on the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into paid maternity...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Fertility Policy (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I thank the Senate for its indulgence. The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon....
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party leaders seeking variation to the membership of committees.
- Advisory Council on Australian Archives; Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust (0 speeches)
- Appointment (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from a party leader nominating senators to fill vacancies on two statutory authorities.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (0 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of the appointment of members to joint committees as follows: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement...
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Poisons Standard) Bill 2008; Trade Practices Amendment (Access Declarations) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Poisons Standard) Bill 2008 and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the...
- Skills Australia Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (7 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- In Committee (7 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.
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (11 speeches)
Debate resumed from 11 March, on motion by Senator Wortley: That the following address-in-reply be agreed to: To His Excellency the Governor-General MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY–We, the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
by leave—I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee report on its inquiry into the exposure drafts of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being past 6.50 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Refugee Review Tribunal (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document, the report pursuant to section 440A of the Migration Act on the conduct of the Refugee Review Tribunal Reviews not completed...
- Commonwealth Ombudsman: Government Response (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document relates to a similar topic to the one I have just been speaking to. This is the response by the Minister for Immigration and...
- Commonwealth Ombudsman (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. It should be emphasised that when the parliament made amendments to the Migration Act to require the examination of all people in immigration...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
General business orders of the day Nos 1, 5 and 6 relating to government documents were called on but no motion was moved.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 7.11 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Association (1 speech)
This evening I rise to draw to the Senate’s attention the work of a tremendous community based organisation, working with Aboriginal families in remote Central Australia—the Waltja...
- Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
Tonight I wish to examine the current status of trades training in Australia and to raise some positive aspects being displayed by the Australian technical college in my home city of Launceston...
- Mr John Russell (1 speech)
I rise in the adjournment this evening to advise the Senate of the passing last Thursday morning of very good friend to me and many in the labour movement, a man called John Russell. I had known...
- Israel (1 speech)
Earlier today in the other House a motion was passed to mark the 60 years of the state of Israel and Australia’s strong and enduring ties of friendship with Israel. The Senate did not...
- Mr John Russell (1 speech)
I would like to associate myself with the remarks that my colleague Senator Hutchins has made about John Russell. John Russell was a great Labor stalwart. I have to say that I have not...
- 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] Civil Aviation Act—Civil Aviation...
