Senate debates
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (26 speeches)
At the request of Senator Minchin, I seek leave to move a motion to give precedence to:the introduction and consideration of: a bill for an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to provide...
- Health Insurance Amendment (Revival of Table Items) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
On behalf of the opposition and also at the request of the Leader of the Family First Party, Senator Fielding, and of Senator Xenophon, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for...
- Second Reading (15 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Health Insurance Amendment (Revival of Table Items) Bill 2009 amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to provide for the revival of certain...
- Third Reading (2 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
- Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2009 (0 speeches)
- Motion for Disallowance (13 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of the Leader of the Family First Party, Senator Fielding, and Senator Xenophon, move: That items 42698, 42701, 42702 and 42718 in Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Health...
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Employment (1 speech)
Today I rise to highlight the importance of the Rudd government’s stimulus strategy to Western Australia. Since the global financial crisis began, unemployment has risen rapidly in my home...
- Education (1 speech)
A few months ago I was speaking to a university student who told me about a midsemester assignment she had received for one of her courses. I took an interest in the assignment because the class...
- Tasmania: World Heritage (1 speech)
Having sat here through the Howard years, in which bigotry was at the fore and denial of equality and access to equal rights was part and parcel of governance, I find it is not possible to simply...
- Bilingual Education (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about a topic which is of great importance to many of my constituents. It relates to the education field and has been quite controversial of late in the Northern Territory....
- Afghanistan (1 speech)
As is so often the case in the war in Afghanistan, we are again at another point of decision, one of immense importance to the country’s future. As many analysts have noted, the political...
- Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia (3 speeches)
I would like to take up the last few minutes of this debate today by acknowledging that 150 years ago, exactly today, six Irish Mercy nuns arrived in Goulburn to set up the first Mercy...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (34 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the fact that the people on board the Oceanic Viking have indicated that they do not want to...
- Manufacturing (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Can the minister update the Senate on the current state of play in Australian manufacturing? What is...
- Asylum Seekers (38 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. I refer the minister to his answer yesterday when he accused Senator Nash of using...
- Renewable Energy (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Minister, do you stand by your assurances to the Senate earlier this year that solar hot water and heat pumps would only...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation led by the Hon. Maxime Carlot MP, Speaker of the Republic of Vanuatu. On behalf of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Attorney-General. I refer the minister to the evidence of the Australian Federal Police Commissioner Negus in estimates on 19 October...
- Economy (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Conroy. Can the minister outline the government’s fiscal strategy and how important it has...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation led by the Honourable Maxime Carlot MP, Speaker of the Republic of Vanuatu. On...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Private Health Insurance (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Is the minister aware that the Rudd Labor government’s decision to target more than 100,000...
- Health: Dental Prosthetics (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. I refer to an article in the Age on 22 August 2009 which revealed that an increasing number of...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Timor Sea Oil Spill (1 speech)
I seek leave to incorporate additional information in answer to a question and to two supplementary questions that Senator Siewert asked me yesterday about the impact of the Timor Sea oil spill...
- Illegal Fishing (1 speech)
I seek leave to incorporate additional information in answer to a question asked of me on 27 October by Senator Colbeck about Australian fisheries. Leave granted. The answer read as...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (16 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to questions without notice asked by Senators Fierravanti-Wells and Scullion...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
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 Milne today relating to renewable...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Humphries to move on the next day of sitting:That the time for the presentation of reports of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee be extended as...
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the names of Senators Boswell and Macdonald for today, proposing the disallowance of the...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Barnett for the period 28 October to 29 October 2009 on account of personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Sisters of Mercy (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate—(a) notes that 28 October 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Goulburn congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, the first Mother House in...
- Renewable Energy Target Scheme (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the Renewable Energy Target Scheme allows renewable energy certificates to be generated from the installation of solar hot water and heat pumps, even...
- Fair Work Australia (0 speeches)
- (22 speeches)
I move: That: (a)when the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee meets to consider additional estimates in 2010:(i)the committee further examine Fair Work Australia,...
- Tasmanian Logging Contractors (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the financial plight of Tasmanian logging contractors, who have endured frequent cuts to timber quotas and shutdowns of mills and chippers; and(b)calls on...
- Sri Lanka (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 597 relating to the need for the Sri Lankan government to treat the Tamil people who are currently being held, and others, in a better...
- Poker Machine (Reduced Losses — Interim Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to put in place interim measures to regulate the rate of poker machine losses. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move:...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Determination 2009 (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with section 10B(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the Senate approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Determination 2009 made under...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion no. 4 standing in her name for today, proposing a reference to the Economics References Committee, be postponed till the next day of sitting....
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Border Security (14 speeches)
I have received a letter from Senator Parry proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The continued policy failures of the Rudd...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Reports (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports of the committee: Review of the listing of Al-Shabaab as a terrorist organisation and...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Coonan, I present the 12th report of 2009 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No.13 of...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support for Students) 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— Higher education is...
- Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (7 speeches)
I seek leave to amend a motion relating to government business notice of motion No. 2. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition...
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (13 speeches)
Debate resumed from 27 October, on motion by Senator Wong: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Senator Cormann moved by way of amendment: At the end of the motion, add “and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following government documents tabled earlier today were considered: Department of Climate Change—Report for 2008-09. Motion to take note of document moved by Senator Parry. Debate...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! There being no further consideration of government documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Geraldton Community Cabinet (1 speech)
I rise this evening to thank the community of Geraldton and the surrounding region for their support for the recent community cabinet held on 1 October. This was the third community cabinet held...
- Tree of Knowledge (6 speeches)
We have just heard the previous speaker waxing lyrical with regard to community cabinets. The truth of those community cabinets is that they are absolutely controlled to the hilt by the prime...
- Veterans Affairs: Pensions (1 speech)
In the adjournment debate tonight I wish to address a matter of substance, a matter I have raised on previous occasions—namely, the defence widows pension. It is also known, incorrectly...
- Poverty (1 speech)
A few weeks ago I met with six very inspirational young adults from South Australia as part of the Micah Challenge. As many of my peers will agree, there is something incredibly inspirational...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled: Administrative Review Council—Report for 2008-09. Airservices Australia—Report for 2008-09. Australian Bureau of Statistics—Report for...
