Senate debates
Thursday, 19 March 2009
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Heffernan to move on the next day of sitting:That the following matter be referred to the Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries for inquiry and report: The incidence and...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Senator Crossin, I move: That business of the Senate order of the day no. 3, relating to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Association of Former Members of the Parliament of Australia (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
At the request of the President, I move:That the Senate—(1)Recognises the Association of Former Members of the Parliament of Australia, formed in 1988, as a forum in which former Members...
- Turkey (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)celebrates and commends the achievements of the Turkish community here in the Commonwealth of Australia that has been created as a result of this agreement in the...
- Same-Sex Couples: Legislative Changes (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the appreciation of the gay and lesbian community of the recent passing of the same-sex law reforms;(b)recognises:(i)concerns raised by the gay and lesbian...
- Swift Parrot (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I move:That the Senate noting the words of the Government (Minister for Human Services, Senator Ludwig) in the Senate on 17 March 2009 that, ‘Under the EPBC Act the Minister for the...
- Whaling (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)expresses its concern over the treatment of Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, two Japanese Greenpeace activists who were held without charge for 26 days and are...
- Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)an Environment, Communication and the Arts Committee inquiry found numerous and fundamental flaws in the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
I move:That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 15 May 2009: Any Government proposal to implement the Government’s announced...
- Terrorism (0 speeches)
- (1 speech, 1 comment)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 410 standing in my name for today relating to legislation for an independent reviewer of terrorism laws. Leave granted. I move the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion no. 407 standing in his name for today, proposing an amendment to the order of continuing effect in relation to departmental and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 5 standing in my name for today by substituting for the reporting date of 12 May 2009 the reporting date of 18 June 2009. Leave...
- Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Legislation (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)it has been 268 days since the House of Representatives received the Senate’s message regarding amendments to the Reserve Bank Amendment...
- Traveston Crossing Dam (0 speeches)
- (20 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 411 standing in my name for today, relating to the Traveston Crossing Dam and the Greens preferences in the Queensland election, be taken as a...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (7 speeches)
At the request of Senator McLucas, I move:That on Thursday, 19 March 2009:(a)the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;(b)consideration of general business, and...
- Turkey (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I rise to make a short statement on Senator Ferguson’s motion No. 402 in relation to Turkey. I wish to have it noted that I could not support that motion. I do not take issue...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 (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— This bill amends various...
- Auscheck Amendment Bill 2009 (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— AUSCHECK AMENDMENT BILL...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Committee; Report (4 speeches)
I present the report of the Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Grasping the opportunity of Opal: assessing the impact of the petrol sniffing strategy, together with the Hansard record of...
- Finance and Public Administration Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, Senator Polley, I present the report of the committee on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2008....
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (4 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 18 March.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Fuel and Energy Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate Select Committee on Fuel and Energy have leave to meet during the sitting of the Senate today. Question agreed to.
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of:(a)government business order of the day no. 5 (Social Security Amendment (Liquid Assets Waiting Period) Bill...
- Social Security Amendment (Liquid Assets Waiting Period) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Senator McLucas: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Senator McLucas: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Alcopops (18 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Why will the government not act on the advice of the Senate and introduce legislation today to validate the $300 million...
- Economy (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Is the minister aware that the major advanced economies are in recession, including the United States, the United...
- Medicare (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing—
- Emissions Trading Scheme (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. The government has said that it would go to a 15 per cent reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions if there were a...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy, and refers to the insolvency statistics released this week by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The...
- Executive Payments (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry. Can the minister please update the Senate on the government’s decisive response to shareholder and...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Minister Wong. Will the minister confirm that the Queensland coalmining communities are being placed in an untenable position due to...
- Credit Rating Agencies (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry. The role played by credit rating agencies has been roundly criticised for giving favourable, undeserved and...
- Banking (19 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Conroy. I refer to reports in this morning’s...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Economy (1 speech)
On 12 March, Senator Scullion asked me two supplementary questions regarding the stimulus package. I have those answers from the Treasurer’s office, and I seek leave to incorporate them in...
- Ms Britt Lapthorne (1 speech)
I seek leave to incorporate some additional information to an answer I gave to Senator Fielding yesterday, relating to the case of Britt Lapthorne. Leave granted. The answer read as...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Emissions Trading Scheme (12 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 Senator Boswell today, relating to the...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Corporal Mathew Hopkins (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate record its deep regret at the death, on 16 March 2009, of Corporal Mathew Hopkins, while on combat operations in Afghanistan, and place on record its...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- FIFA World Cup (1 speech)
On behalf of the Minister for Sport, Ms Kate Ellis, I table a ministerial statement on the progress of Australia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
I present the government’s response to the 93rd report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on its inquiry into treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2008, and seek leave to have...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 26 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. 26 of 2008-09: Performance audit-rural and remote health...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf Senator McGauran, deputy chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present report No. 100 of the committee, Treaties tabled on 25 June 2008 (2). I seek leave to move a motion...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
The Clerk: Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to senators. Details of the documents appear at the end of today’s Hansard.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 1 (Fair Work Bill 2008). Question agreed to.
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the fourth report of 2009 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...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Crossin, I present the final report of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on the exposure draft of the Personal Property Securities Bill...
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate continue to sit at 12 midnight and the sitting of the Senate be suspended when the third reading the Fair Work Bill 2008 has been determined. Question agreed to.
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, Senator Sterle, I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee be...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Joint; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade be authorised to...
- Membership (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Climate Policy—Select Committee— Appointed––Participating members: Senators...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 3 (Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008). Question...
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 11 March.
- In Committee (11 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.
- Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Death of an Australian Soldier (6 speeches)
by leave—It is with great sadness that I make a statement to the Senate concerning the death of an Australian soldier, unfortunately for the second time this week. I know all Australia was...
- TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2009 MEASURES; No. 1) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical Devices and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [2009] (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 3 December 2008, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
- MS Barbara Belcher (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
by leave—I rise to acknowledge the quite outstanding contribution made by a quiet and unassuming public servant, Ms Barbara Belcher, who will be retiring before Easter from her position as...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2008-2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (26 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 and 17 March, on motions by Senator Ludwig and Senator Arbib: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Medical Devices and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [2009] (0 speeches)
- In Committee (5 speeches)
Consideration resumed. Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of House of Representatives Message (16 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives returning the Fair Work Bill 2008 informing the Senate that the House has agreed to amendments (1) to (30), (35) to (93), (95) to (135), (137)...
- Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (11 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- In Committee (4 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Bill read a third time.
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2008-2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
- Advance to the Finance Minister (0 speeches)
- In Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the committee approves the statement of Issue from the Advance to the Finance Minister as a final charge for the year ended 30 June 2008. Question agreed to. Resolution reported,...
- Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009; Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Bill 2009 (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— Higher Education...
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate at its rising adjourn until Tuesday, 12 May 2009 at 12.30 pm, or such other time as may be fixed by the President or, in the event of the President being unavailable, by...
- Australian Labor Party (3 speeches)
Mr President, I seek leave to speak for up to 20 minutes on the adjournment. Leave granted. I thank the Senate for its indulgence. There is a new dichotomy in Australian politics. We have today...
- 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] Airports Act—Select Legislative...
