Senate debates
Monday, 22 February 2010
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate today, from 3.30 pm, to take evidence for the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the government business orders of the day relating to the Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2009 [No. 2] and the Fairer...
- Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge — Fringe Benefits) Bill 2009 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (19 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 February, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Broadband (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to the fact that as of 31 October last year the NBN Co had a monthly...
- Economy (9 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sherry. Can the Assistant Treasurer inform the Senate on what the latest economic indicators tell us about Australia’s emergence from the...
- Telecommunications (10 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister specifically explain how the $250 million rebate for commercial television...
- Afghanistan (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Faulkner. Noting the amount of reporting on the International Security Assistance Force operation in Helmand province, can the minister update...
- Broadband (14 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the current Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Minister, when and how did you become aware that the taxpayer funded...
- Forestry (17 speeches)
My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In view of the revelations from Dr Alison Bleaney and Sydney scientist Marcus...
- Home Insulation Program (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. As the minister responsible for stimulus plan work opportunities, when did the minister...
- Health (6 speeches)
My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister inform the Senate of the government’s achievements and plans in the health...
- Home Insulation Program (24 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. Did the minister brief Minister Garrett, the Prime Minister or any other ministers...
- Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib. Can the minister outline how Australian workers and their families would be...
- Senator Kroger (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
On behalf of all the Senate, I wish Senator Kroger a quick recovery from what sounds like a very terrible incident. I heard her quoted as saying that she would still be watching question time. On...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
I seek to add to an answer that I gave to the Senate today in question time concerning the hiring practices of the NBN Corporation. I have to apologise to Mr Quigley for misrepresenting the...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Broadband (11 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to questions without notice asked by opposition senators...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Cormann to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the Rudd Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the amount of money left in the Education...
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given at the last day of sitting, on behalf of the Chair of the Regulations and Ordinances Committee I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Kroger for the period 22 February to 19 March 2010 on account of personal reasons. It has been widely circulated in the media...
- 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 Xenophon for today, proposing a reference to the Community Affairs...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (56 speeches)
The President has received a letter from Senator Williams proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The dangers presented by the...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Burma; Economy; India; Indigenous Affairs (3 speeches)
I present ministerial statements as follows:Current developments in Burma (made in the House of Representatives on 8 February 2010)Exit from the government guarantee of large deposits and...
- Burma (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the statement on Current developments in Burma. I rise to make some very brief remarks on the ministerial statement that was tabled by the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents listed on today’s Order of Business at item 11 which were presented to the President, Deputy President and temporary chairs of...
- Risk Register and Management Plan (5 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document, tabled out of session on Friday last week, is indeed a very clear example of the government’s mismanagement...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 22 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. 22 of 2009-10: Performance audit: Geoscience Australia.
- Parliamentary Privilege (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I table advice from the Clerk and related correspondence on the subject of a criminal case in the Northern Territory in which subpoenas had been issued for senators to give evidence on a sitting...
- Australian Solomons Gold Limited (0 speeches)
- Return to Order (1 speech)
I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning landholder agreements with Australian Solomons Gold Ltd.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee: Joint; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Forshaw, I present the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on the Defence Subcommittee visit to East Timor.
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the 73rd annual report of the committee, and seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report. Leave granted. I...
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator McGauran, the Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the 109th report of the committee on the treaty tabled on 2 February 2010, tabled in the...
- Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee; Membership (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That Senator Birmingham replace Senator Boswell on the Environment, Communications and the Arts References Committee for the committee’s inquiry into the Energy...
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill 2010; Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Bill (No. 2) 2010 (0 speeches)
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009; National Health Security Amendment (Background Checking) Bill 2009; Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 6) 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— International Tax...
- Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Customs) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — Excise) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges — General) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2010; Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2010; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (4 speeches)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Bill 2010; Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Message from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the bills.
- Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Re-Registration of Providers and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the House of Representatives (0 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives returning the bills informing the Senate that the House has agreed to amendment No. (1) and disagreed to amendments Nos (2) and (3) made by the...
- In Committee (9 speeches)
I move: That the committee does not insist on its amendments to which the House of Representatives has disagreed. This is an important piece of legislation that seeks to ensure confidence in this...
- Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2009 [No. 2]; Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge — Fringe Benefits) Bill 2009 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.50 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Defence Procurement (1 speech)
As one with a long interest in defence matters, I wish to speak about procurement. In particular, I want to give credit where it is due for changes implemented in the last two years. There have...
- Government Expenditure (5 speeches)
Recently, I was struck by a comment made by the Prime Minister during the summer recess. At an Australia Day reception, in talking about the former Howard government, he said: ... the concerns...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Heywire (1 speech)
In 1998, the ABC launched a brand new program called Heywire to give rural youth a voice. I remember travelling in a car between Cairns and Townsville listening to the radio, as I always...
- 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] Appropriation Act (No. 1)...
