Senate debates
Monday, 16 June 2008
- Tax Laws Amendment (Personal Income Tax Reduction) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (18 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 15 May.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008; Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (8 speeches)
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— WHEAT EXPORT...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
by leave—Could I just indicate to the chamber that Senator Kim Carr, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and Senator Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Hybrid Vehicles (12 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Can the minister confirm that the engine for the hybrid Toyota Camry to be...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Sherry. Can the minister please update the Senate about how the Rudd government is going about achieving a fiscally responsible...
- Hybrid Vehicles (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Isn’t it a fact that, while the Australian government pays $35...
- Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Could the minister update the Senate on the government’s progress in...
- Hybrid Vehicles (15 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Given that the government has admitted that the funding made available to...
- Stolen Generation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans: I want to follow up on the government’s apology to Indigenous Australians taken into care—known as the...
- Hybrid Vehicles (6 speeches)
My question is also directed to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Given the comments by Toyota chief, Mr...
- Zimbabwe (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Faulkner, the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Can the minister update the Senate on developments in Zimbabwe? What action are Australia and the...
- Member for Robertson (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to allegations concerning threats and demands made by the member for Robertson at Iguanas...
- Savannah Cats (7 speeches)
My question is to do with the proposed importation of so-called Savannah cats—domestic cats interbred with wild African cats. Is the minister aware of the comments by Professor Tony Peacock...
- Whaling (5 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Attorney-General. Prior to the last election, Labor clearly proposed that it would take legal action against the Japanese...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 373 (5 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to question...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Hybrid Vehicles (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to...
- Stolen Generation (1 speech)
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 Murray today relating to...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Mr Milivoj Emil (Misha) Lajovic (4 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 5 June 2008, of Milivoj Emil (Misha) Lajovic, a senator for the state of New South Wales from 1975 to 1985.
- Mr Leonard Thomas Devine (1 speech)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 29 May 2008 of Leonard Thomas Devine, a member of the House of Representatives for the division of East Sydney, New South Wales,...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Hogg to move on the next day of sitting:That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate on Wednesday, 18 June...
- 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 Siewert for today, proposing a reference to the Environment,...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senators Carr and Conroy for the period 16 to 20 June 2008 on account of ministerial business overseas. Question agreed to.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I present ministerial statements. The list read as follows— Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum and the WA gas disruption
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Yet again, with this ministerial statement, the government has proved to the Australian people that it is a government paralysed...
- World Intellectual Property Organisation: Nomination of New Director-General (3 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. On 3 May this year the Coordination Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organisation nominated Dr Francis Gurry, an...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents, as listed below, which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and Temporary Chairmen of Committees since the Senate...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Representation of Victoria (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I table the original certificate of the choice by the Parliament of Victoria of Jacinta Mary Ann Collins to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Robert Ray.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Airservices Australia (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I refer to the corporate plan of Airservices Australia and in particular to concerns raised in recent times regarding safety at...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 36, 37, 38 and 39 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following reports of the Auditor-General: Report No. 36 of 2007-08: Performance audit: Australian Taxation Office:...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Portfolio Budget Statements (1 speech)
I table corrections to the 2008-09 portfolio budget statements for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts portfolio.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2008; First Home Saver Accounts Bill 2008; Income Tax (First Home Saver Accounts Misuse Tax) Bill 2008; First Home Saver Accounts (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 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—...
- Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (1999 Montreal Convention and Other Measures) Bill 2008; Customs Amendment (Strengthening Border Controls) Bill 2008; Customs Legislation Amendment (Modernising) Bill 2008; Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco Content) Bill 2008; Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2008; Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008; Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008; Farm Household Support Amendment (Additional Drought Assistance Measures) Bill 2008; Fisheries Legislation Amendment (New Governance Arrangements for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Other Matters) Bill 2008; Health Care (Appropriation) Amendment Bill 2008; Health Insurance Amendment (90 Day Pay Doctor Cheque Scheme) Bill 2008; Higher Education Support Amendment (2008 Budget Measures) Bill 2008; Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Amendment (2008 Budget Measures) Bill 2008; Law Officers Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits — Cost Recovery) Bill 2008; Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2008; Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Quarantine Amendment (National Health Security) Bill 2008; Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008; Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — Superannuation) Bill 2008; Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Employment Entry Payment) Bill 2008; Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 3) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008; Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (International Agreements and Other Measures) Bill 2008; Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Bill 2008; Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008; Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; National Fuelwatch (Empowering Consumers) Bill 2008; National Fuelwatch (Empowering Consumers) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008; Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Bill 2008; Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table a replacement explanatory memorandum relating to the Fisheries Legislation Amendment (New Governance Arrangements for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Other Matters) Bill...
- Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Board and Other Measures) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation Amendment (One-Off Payments and Other Budget Measures) Bill 2008; Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008; Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008; Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2008; Cross-Border Insolvency Bill 2008; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Review of Prudential Decisions) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were reported, informing the Senate that he had assented to the bills.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability in Australia Committee; Report (6 speeches, 3 comments)
I present the report of the Select Committee on Housing Affordability in Australia, A good house is hard to find: housing affordability in Australia, together with the Hansard record of...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, I present the report on the Stolen Generation Compensation Bill 2008 together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
- Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008; Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- 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] A New Tax System (Family Assistance)...
