Senate debates
Thursday, 17 September 2009
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Fielding to move on the next day of sitting:(1)That there be laid on the table, no later than 16 November 2009, a report by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on its...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the government business orders of the day listed on page 4 of today’s Order of Business, under the heading “At 12.45 pm” be considered from 12.45 pm till not...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following item of business was postponed: General business notice of motion no. 527 standing in the name of Senator Xenophon for today, proposing the introduction of the Water Licence...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:Customs Amendment...
- Nuclear Weapons (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)more than 2 000 nuclear weapons tests have been conducted between 1945 and 2009,(ii)the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all...
- Renewable Energy (Certificates and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 in relation to certificates, and for other purposes. Question agreed to. I...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum to the bill and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Death Penalty in Vietnam (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the Socialist Republic of Vietnam continues to apply the death penalty, with at least 19 reported executions in 2008 alone,(ii)the right to life is...
- Swift Parrot Habitats (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
I move: That, following the sightings of a flock of swift parrots feeding in the forests of southeast New South Wales surrounding Bermagui, the Senate calls on the Minister for the Environment,...
- Renewable Energy (Food Processing Activities) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 in connection with food processing activities. Question agreed to. I present...
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table the explanatory memorandum, and I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- World Alzheimer’S Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September, is a day when organisations around the globe unite in their efforts to raise awareness about the disease...
- National Babies Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)Saturday, 19 September 2009 is National Babies Day,(ii)this day is about remembering the babies who passed away too soon and celebrating the lives...
- Britt Lapthorne Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to ensure that families of Australians reported missing overseas are given essential help and information, and for related...
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
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— Tomorrow, it will be the...
- Death Penalty (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
At the request of Senators Moore and Humphries, I move: That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the right to life is a fundamental human right recognised in:(a)the Universal Declaration of Human...
- Timor Sea Oil Spill (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate—(a)notes the intention of the Government to hold an inquiry into the Montara oil spill; and(b)calls on the Government to ensure that the terms of reference for the...
- Safe Climate (Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to introduce an emissions intensity cap and building efficiency certificate trading scheme for non-residential buildings to...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table the explanatory memorandum to the bill and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The...
- Nuclear Nonproliferation (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 576 standing in my name for today by omitting paragraph (b)(i). Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
- Affordable Health Care (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 575 standing in my name in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
- Traveston Crossing Dam (0 speeches)
- (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate—(a)rejects the assertion by the Queensland Premier, Ms Anna Bligh, that the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam will save threatened species like the Mary River cod,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Carol Brown, I present the 13th report of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Budget (0 speeches)
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 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 gives the...
- Higher Education Support Amendment Bill 2009; Personal Property Securities 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...
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (0 speeches)
- Motion for Disallowance (10 speeches)
I move: That the Inclusion of ecological communities in the list of threatened ecological communities [Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania], made on 18 June 2009 under section 181 of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Economics References Committee, Senator Eggleston, I present the report of the committee on bank mergers, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
- Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Access to Justice (Civil Litigation Reforms) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Superannuation Amendment (Removal of Excessive Super) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- 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, Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Termination Payments)...
- Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Termination Payments) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 September, on motion by Senator Wong: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Foreign States Immunities Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 14 September, on motion by Senator Faulkner: 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.
- National Health Security Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 September, on motion by Senator Ludwig: 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.
- Customs Amendment (Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2009; Customs Tariff Amendment (Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 16 September, 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.
- 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, the Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008;...
- Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (12 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 16 September.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Corporations Amendment (Improving Accountability on Termination Payments) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 September, on motion by Senator Wong: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Building the Education Revolution Program (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. I refer the minister to the Australian Technical College - Spencer Gulf and Outback,...
- Economy (12 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sherry. Is the Assistant Treasurer aware that overnight the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development released the...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib. Minister, why did the government remove the requirement for companies tendering for...
- Afghanistan (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence and it is about Afghanistan. I quote from Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States, who told the Senate Armed...
- Broadband (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to today’s statement by former ACCC Chairman Allan Fels that:...
- Border Security (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. When will the Labor government honour the Prime Minister’s election eve commitment in relation to unlawful...
- Child Pornography (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister explain how the government can really claim to be serious about stopping child pornography when...
- Aged Care (17 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister indicate to the Senate how many aged-care places were offered as residential in...
- Citizenship (9 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans.
- MR Gerard Martin (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
I advise the Senate that this is the last sitting day for Mr Gerard Martin in his current position in the Office of the President of the Senate. Gerard has been the senior adviser to the...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Economy (1 speech)
Yesterday, in response to a question from Senator Humphries, I committed to provide more information on the insulation in the energy efficiency package. I confirm to the Senate that, at this...
- Centrelink (1 speech)
I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard an answer to a question from Senator Williams asked of the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services on 15 September 2009. Leave granted. The...
- Economy (1 speech)
Last week I took on notice to obtain some further details in response to a question from Senator Coonan relating to the stimulus package. I have to read some of this data into the record as I do...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Aged Care (21 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Special Minister of State (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Williams today relating to residential aged...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Fielding to move on the next day of sitting:That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to protect jobs in Australia by preventing the transfer of personal information to...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Aged Care Services (5 speeches)
I inform the Senate that Senator Williams has withdrawn the matter of public importance which he had proposed for today.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 5 of 2009-10 (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 2009-10: Performance audit: Protection of residential...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 14th 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 read...
- Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present report No. 106 of the committee, Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and seek leave to move a motion in relation to the...
- Economics References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I present the report of the Economics References Committee on foreign investment in Australia, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. Ordered...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of the government business order of the day no. 2 (Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment Bill...
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment Bill 2009; Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety Levies) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 10 September, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That these bills be now read a second time.
- In Committee (12 speeches)
Bills—by leave—taken together and as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of the government business order of the day no. 5 (Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Repeal Bill 2009). Question...
- Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Repeal Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (26 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 August, on motion by Senator Sherry:
- 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 intervening business be postponed till after consideration of the government business order of the day no. 7 (Fuel Quality Standards Amendment Bill 2009). Question agreed to.
- Fuel Quality Standards Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
- 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. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Test Review and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Health Insurance Amendment (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (1 speech)
This weekend in Toowoomba, my home town, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Carnival of Flowers. The Carnival of Flowers has a very special meaning for people who come from my part of...
- Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson (2 speeches)
Today marks the last day on which the member for Bradfield, the Hon. Brendan Nelson, sits in this parliament. His distinguished 13 years of service will come to an end as he officially resigns...
- Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson; Traveston Crossing Dam (1 speech)
I support and endorse the remarks of my colleague Senator Abetz in relation to a very, very fine man, one of the most honourable and genuine persons you would meet in this political job we are...
- Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson (1 speech)
I rise to speak only very briefly at this time of night on Dr Brendan Nelson’s departure from federal parliament. I do not do this very often. I just want to say to Brendan that I...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 30 May 1996, as amended: Indexed lists of departmental and agency files for the period 1 January to 30 June...
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975Great Barrier Reef outlook report 2009. Motion of Senator Adams to take note of document debated. Debate...
