Senate debates
Thursday, 25 September 2008
- Temporary Chairmen of Committees (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing order 12, I lay on the table a warrant nominating Senator Ellison as an additional Temporary Chair of Committees when the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees is absent.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Hanson-Young to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)Friday, 10 October 2008 marked the sixth annual World Day Against the Death Penalty, and(ii)this day...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 p.m. till not later than 2 p.m. today: No. 4 AusLink (National Land...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following item of business was postponed: General business notice of motion of motion no. 183 standing in the name of Senator Milne for today, proposing the introduction of the Energy...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management (Repeal and Consequential Amendment) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005, 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 have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— COMMONWEALTH RADIOACTIVE...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move:That the following matter be referred to the Economics Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day of April 2009: The funding, planning, allocation, capital and equity of...
- Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Legislation (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That a message be sent to the House of Representatives requesting that the House immediately consider the Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Bill 2008. Question agreed to.
- Voluntary Student Unionism (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)recognises that university enrolments for 2009 are due to begin in the week beginning 28 September 2008 around the country;(b)notes:(i)the summary report, The...
- Freedom of Information (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)prior to the 2007 federal election the Australian Labor Party (ALP) promised to reform the Freedom of Information (FOI) process and establish an FOI...
- South Africa: Sand Mining (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the South African Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, in the week beginning 21 September 2008 put on hold the mining rights...
- Exclusive Brethren (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Yesterday I sought leave to table the book Behind the Exclusive Brethren. I gave that to opposition and government representatives overnight and I now seek leave to have the book tabled.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Carol Brown, I present the fifth report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Senators’ Interests Committee; Documents (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee of Senators’ Interests, I present the following documents:(a)Register of senators’ interests, incorporating statements of registrable interests and...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Evidence Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- 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— INTERNATIONAL TAX...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Committee; Report (3 speeches)
I present the report of the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Towards recovery: Mental health services in Australia, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (2 speeches)
I see that Senator Coonan is not here at the moment and we might want to put it off until a later part of the day, but I will just inform everybody what it is about. I seek leave to move a motion...
- Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (33 speeches)
Debate resumed from 24 September, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Reference (0 speeches)
Pursuant to order of the Senate agreed to on 25 September, the following matter in relation to the Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 and the Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate)...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That we continue with government business order of the day no. 1 till not later than 1.45 pm. Question agreed to.
- Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (16 speeches)
I draw to the attention of the committee that both of these bills in this package are classified under section 53 of the Constitution as bills imposing taxation for the purposes of proceedings in...
- Auslink (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (10 speeches)
Debate resumed from 24 September, on motion by Senator McLucas: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Senator Chris Evans: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate. Sitting suspended from 1.57 am to 2.00 pm
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer to the comments by the Labor member for Leichhardt, Mr Jim Turnour, who said yesterday that he could survive...
- Economy (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. In light of the minister’s statements yesterday on the IMF’s endorsement of the responsible economic...
- Workplace Relations (31 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Ludwig. Does the government agree with the ACTU President, Sharan Burrow, who has called...
- Food Standards (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. When did the minister first have information that the Chinese sweet, White Rabbit Creamy Candies,...
- Climate Change (30 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. In view of the Prime Minister’s statement overnight in the United States in relation to the proposed emissions...
- Budget (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister inform the Senate why changes to the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds are necessary?
- Hospital Menus (12 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Is the minister aware that some rural hospitals like Gilgandra and Coonabarabran in...
- Banking: Performance (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Senator Sherry. This week the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority released a report on...
- Broadband (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Given Senator Evans’s commitment on behalf of the government in question time yesterday...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Food Standards (1 speech)
In response to Senator Siewert’s question in relation to imported food products from China, I wish to provide the additional information that these candies—that is, the White Rabbit...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Budget (21 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Human Services (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Carol Brown today relating to the Medicare...
- Food Standards (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Human Services (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to food...
- North West Shelf Project (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I seek leave to table a document. Earlier today, during my second reading contribution on the Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008, I made reference to a recent letter from the...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Caring for our Country (28 speeches)
On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Mr Garrett, I table a ministerial statement entitled Caring for our country.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
I present three government responses to committee reports as listed on today’s Order of Business. They are as follows: Community Affairs References Committee—Workplace exposure to...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 5 of 2008-09 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 5 of 2008-09: Performance Audit: the Senate order for...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- 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— FAMILIES, HOUSING,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the order of business for the remainder of today be as follows:(a)general business order of the day No. 62 (Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008...
- Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (23 speeches)
Debate resumed from 24 June, on motion by Senator Johnston: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to government documents were considered: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority—Report for 2006-07. Motion of Senator Nash to take note of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- State Government Financial Management Committee; Report (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Senator Ian Macdonald: That the Senate take note of the report.
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to committee reports and government responses were considered: Economics—Standing Committee—Report—O ffshore Petroleum Amendment...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to reports of the Auditor-General were considered: Auditor-General—Audit report no. 4 of 2008-09—Performance audit—The Business...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! There being no further consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General’s reports, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Cronulla Beaches National Surfing Reserve; Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (3 speeches)
Tonight I rise to talk about ‘the shire’. As everyone knows, that is the Sutherland Shire. You Google it—God’s own country—and it comes up ‘Sutherland...
- Plantation Forestry (3 speeches)
Plantation forestry is a vital component of the makeup of the social and economic fabric of many of our regional communities right around Australia. There is a debate within the community about...
- Mr Andrew Chin (1 speech)
This week a highly valued and very well respected member of the staff of the Parliamentary Library, Mr Andrew Chin, retires. Many senators will have benefited from Mr Chin’s advice on a...
- 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] AusLink (National Land Transport)...
