Senate debates
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
- Freedom of Information (Removal of Conclusive Certificates and Other 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 access to information, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move:...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (4 speeches)
I move: That government business notice of motion no. 2 standing in the name of the Minister for Human Services (Senator Ludwig) for today, relating to the consideration of legislation, be...
- Water Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (102 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 25 November.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Automotive Industry (1 speech)
The automotive and component manufacturing industry is important for my home state of South Australia and Australia as a whole, providing highly skilled, well-paid jobs for thousands of...
- Water (1 speech)
I wish today to speak on an important matter of public interest which has seen a cruel blow dealt to a small rural community in my home state of Tasmania. I have spoken previously of the effects...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
I rise today to address the issue of domestic violence in Australia. Yesterday was White Ribbon Day. Nine years ago the United Nations General Assembly declared that 25 November would be observed...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Having been part of the union movement for 19 years, and a past branch secretary of the National Union of Workers Queensland branch, the introduction of the Work Choices legislation was one of...
- New South Wales North Coast (1 speech)
I wish to inform parliament about my visit with the Nationals Leader, Warren Truss, to the New South Wales North Coast last week. After arriving late Monday, we started early Tuesday when Warren...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Broadband Network (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Now that Telstra has confirmed that it is not prepared to submit a formal bid in response to...
- Dr Bernhard Moeller (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. I refer to the case of Dr Bernhard Moeller and his family, who were refused permanent visas by the Department of...
- 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 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by the speaker of the Shura Council, Dr. Saleh...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is also to Senator Conroy. The minister can stop shaking, because it is not about the broadband fiasco but in his role representing the Treasurer. Will the minister rule out issuing...
- Broadband (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer to the government’s national broadband network tender process and associated...
- Climate Change (12 speeches)
Does the minister agree with the member for Denison, Mr Kerr, that the zinc works is an important industry in southern Tasmania and that the government takes Nyrstar’s concerns relating to...
- 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 Parliament of Singapore, led by the Speaker, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi. On...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. It is on a topic that I know both sides of the chamber have great interest in:...
- Royal Australian Navy (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Faulkner. With Australia’s Navy on Christmas holidays for the next two months, can the minister reassure this...
- Alcohol Advertising (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Given that the National Centre for Education on Training and Addiction released statistics this...
- Council of Australian Governments (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Has the government received any representations or had any discussions on issues relating to this Saturday’s...
- Women in the Workplace (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Status of Women, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline to the Senate some of the challenges faced particularly by women in the...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Climate Change; Council of Australian Governments (35 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Climate Change and Water (Senator Wong) and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to questions...
- National Broadband Network (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Sterle to move on the next day of sitting: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee on matters specified in part (2) of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (8 speeches)
I present the 16th report of 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 BILLS...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Moore on 27 November 2008 on account of parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- 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 Milne for today, proposing the disallowance of the Environmental and...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 11 not apply to the Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding Appropriation Bill 2008, allowing...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hurley, I move:That the Economics Committee be authorised to:(a)hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 26 November 2008, from 4.30 pm, to...
- Agricultural Research and Development Institutions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes and agrees with the comments of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Mr Burke) when he called for all governments to refocus on agricultural...
- Traveston Crossing Dam (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I refer to general business notice of motion No. 299, standing in my name. I indicate that I am also moving this motion on behalf of Senator Russell Trood, a Queensland colleague who has taken a...
- Cyprus (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the role of the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Cyprus, the Honourable Alexander Downer, to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem;...
- Grocerychoice (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Fisher, move:That the Senate—(a)notes the Government’s GROCERYchoice website is:(i)not delivering any valuable information to consumers with website...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Alert Digest (1 speech)
As Chair of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, I lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 13 of 2008, dated 26 November 2008, and I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Trans-Pacific Partnership; Economy (13 speeches)
I table two ministerial statements relating to: (a) promoting free trade in the Asia-Pacific region, together with a document outlining views that emerged in public consultations; and (b)...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Commonwealth Ombudsman (1 speech)
I present the report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman for the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 on the Ombudsman’s activities under part V of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of committees.
- Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding Appropriation Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bill received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.
- Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008; Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 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— AGED CARE...
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the House of Representatives (0 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives returning the bill and informing the Senate that the House of Representatives has made the amendments requested by the Senate to the bill.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — Superannuation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of House of Representatives Message (3 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives returning the bill and informing the Senate that the House has agreed to amendments (2), (3) and (4) made by the Senate, disagreed to amendment...
- Guarantee Scheme for Large Deposits and Wholesale Funding Appropriation Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (8 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- In Committee (54 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.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That government business order of the day no. 1, the Water Amendment Bill 2008, be postponed till the next day of sitting. Question agreed to.
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 25 November, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 7.20 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Education (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on the issue of education and talk about some of the good news and the good work that is being done in some of our schools. It is very timely that I give this speech,...
- Tasmanian Forests (1 speech)
In recent times there have been accusations of violence in the forests of Tasmania between workers and protesters. Violence and other unlawful conduct need to be condemned—and condemned...
- White Ribbon Day (1 speech)
On Saturday, 22 November, I, along with over 100 other Tasmanians, including my federal parliamentary colleague the member for Denison, Duncan Kerr, and state MPs Lisa Singh and Nick McKim,...
- People with Disabilities (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak to a very important issue, that of people with disabilities. I also wish to recognise the upcoming International Day of People with Disability, which will occur on 3...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post)—Equal employment opportunity program—Report for 2007-08. Crimes Act 1914Authorisations...
