Senate debates
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of business of the Senate order of the day no. 2, relating to the reference of bills to committees. Question agreed to.
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — Superannuation) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008; National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits — Cost Recovery) 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; 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; Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 3) Bill 2008; Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Referral to Committees (53 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 June, on motion by Senator Ellison:No. 1—(1) That:(a) the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation)...
- Dental Benefits Bill 2008; Dental Benefits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (6 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— DENTAL BENEFITS...
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 (4 speeches)
I have circulated a speech for incorporation on the Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008, which I believe has been accepted. I therefore seek leave to incorporate the speech which was distributed by...
- Zimbabwe (1 speech)
The presidential election in Zimbabwe is due on 27 June. The presidential election that is coming up in that country bears no resemblance to the information and knowledge we have in this country...
- Federal Election: Commitments (22 speeches)
I would like to associate myself with the remarks of Senator Moore—although I am not sure that Senator Moore will want to associate herself with the remarks I am about to make on a matter...
- Guantanamo Bay; Mr Roger Stapledon (1 speech)
The previous debate reminds me there are some things I may not miss about this place! In this last MPI opportunity before me, I want to discuss an issue of human rights that has been dear to the...
- Mr Bruno Riccio (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to a special Australian who recently passed away, Bruno Riccio OAM. Bruno was a fundraising stalwart for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute for over 14 years....
- Motor Neurone Disease (1 speech)
I rise today to mark a special day in the calendar of this nation—the global day in honour of motor neurone disease, 21 June. Every year since 1997 the International Alliance of Motor...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (11 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. In the recent...
- Water (9 speeches)
I direct my question to the Minister for Climate Change and Water. When did the minister or her department receive the report by scientists, to which reference was made on today’s AM...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry, representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Can the minister please outline to the Senate the...
- Education Funding (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Wong. Is the minister aware of the refusal by the New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australian Labor state...
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (4 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. I refer to the announcement by the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Japan proposing to establish an...
- Tasmania: Rail Infrastructure (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Faulkner. Was the Australian government advised of...
- Same-Sex Relationships (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister inform the Senate what the Rudd government is doing to remove discrimination against Australians...
- Zimbabwe (2 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. Minister, can you inform the Senate of what measures the government has taken to send Australian election observers to...
- Renewable Energy (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Senator Wong. Regarding applications for the rooftop photovoltaic rebate, can the minister...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the chamber of a delegation from the Appointments Committee of the Parliament of Ghana, led by the first Deputy Speaker...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Same-Sex Legislation (5 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Attorney-General. I refer his attention to today’s Journals of the Senate, which indicates to us that the inquiry into the Same-Sex...
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
My question is to Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline for the Senate the government’s progress in developing...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Budget (8 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 Crossin today relating to the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Colbeck to move on the next day of sitting: That Health Insurance (Dental Services) Amendment and Repeal Determination 2008, made under subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (39 speeches)
I present the fifth report of the 2008 Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF BILLS...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 100 standing in the name of the Leader of the Australian Democrats (Senator Allison) for today, relating to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Murray, move:(1) That the Senate—(a) notes the report by CHOICE on charities, published online in March 2008, that highlights the...
- Skills Shortage (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a) notes that the statement by the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Education Union, Group Training...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name relating to a reference to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts. Leave...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bishop, I move:That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Friday, 20 June 2008,...
- Privileges Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 134th report of the Committee of Privileges, entitled Effective repetition. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That the Senate endorse the principles outlined in paragraph...
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity on the examination of the annual report for 2006-07 of the Integrity...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Reports (1 speech)
I present the fifth report of 2008 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills and I lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 5 of 2008. I also present the report Work of the...
- Australian Crime Commission Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission on the examination of the annual report for 2006-07 of the Australian Crime Commission, together with...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 41 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. 41 of 2007-08: Performance audit: Management of personnel...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Election Commitments No. 1) Bill 2008; Income Tax (Managed Investment Trust Withholding Tax) Bill 2008; Income Tax (Managed Investment Trust Transitional) Bill 2008; Commonwealth Securities and Investment Legislation Amendment 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— TAX LAWS AMENDMENT...
- Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007 [2008] (0 speeches)
- Report of Community Affairs (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Senator Moore, I present the report of the committee on the Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007 [2008] together with the...
- Dental Benefits Bill 2008; Dental Benefits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed.
- In Committee (3 speeches)
Bills—by leave—taken together and as a whole. (Quorum formed)
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
- First Home Saver Accounts Bill 2008; Income Tax (First Home Saver Accounts Misuse Tax) Bill 2008; First Home Saver Accounts (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bills passed through their remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 16 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 16 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time. (Quorum formed)
- Valedictory (0 speeches)
- (38 speeches)
I hope that they have the television on at home or I will be in trouble. I wish to commence my remarks by acknowledging the kind and not so kind comments directed at me by opposition senators...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a personal explanation. Leave granted. I wanted to come into the chamber at the earliest opportunity following a phone call from the office of my friend...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission—Telecommunications reports for 2006-07—Report 1: Telecommunications competitive...
