Senate debates
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Fuel and Energy Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of Senator Cormann, I move: That the Select Committee on Fuel and Energy be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order...
- Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 11 May, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
- In Committee (45 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.
- Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (43 speeches)
Debate resumed from 11 May, on motion by Senator Chris Evans: That this bill be now read a second time.
- New Therapeutic Groups (0 speeches)
- Return to Order (1 speech)
I table a statement relating to the order for the production of documents concerning therapeutic groups.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, we will now move on to matters of public interest. Senator Hutchins.
- Poland (1 speech)
Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President, for the call and for getting my name correct. I will deal with Senator McGauran on another date, but I want to deal with a serious matter today. On 10...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about Labor’s great big new tax on mining. Labor’s latest massive tax grab is a tax grab which, it saddens me to say, has been initiated by a Prime Minister who...
- Internet Content (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to make some brief remarks on the government’s proposed mandatory net filter, and it is an issue that I have raised a number of times in this parliament over a period...
- Health, Education and Infrastructure (2 speeches)
Today I would like to talk about health, education, infrastructure and how the Rudd government is delivering in these important areas. Let me take this opportunity to challenge the...
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Act 2010 (6 speeches)
Today I want to speak on an important initiative by the Rudd government—that is, the move to help keep our children safer by introducing the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (24 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Can the minister confirm that Labor has budgeted for a deficit of more than $40,000 million next financial year, the...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s Gallery of former senator, Chris Schacht. We extend a warm welcome to you, Chris, and trust you enjoy...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (56 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. In the 2008-2009 budget, the Labor government forecast that this financial year we would have a surplus of $19.7...
- Renewable Energy (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Wong. It has been reported that pensioners who have installed solar panels or other forms of renewable...
- Budget (31 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator Carr. Minister, with the budget’s return to surplus dependent upon the imposition of a great big...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Budget (15 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Evans) to questions without notice asked today. I would like to make a few remarks...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Ludwig to move on the next day of sitting:That—(1)To ensure appropriate consideration of time-critical bills by Senate committees, the provisions of all bills introduced into the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Carol Brown for the period today and 13 May 2010 on account of personal reasons. 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 Xenophon for today, proposing a reference to the Community Affairs...
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
Mr Acting Deputy President, I do not know if this is the appropriate time, but I would like to withdraw general business notice of motion No. 787 standing in my name.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- National Volunteer Week (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate notes:(a)that from 10 May to 16 May 2010 is National Volunteer Week, the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia;(b)that one in four, or more than...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (0 speeches)
- Order (2 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i) under the agreement reached between the Commonwealth Government and the states, stimulus funding under the...
- Green Loans Program (0 speeches)
- Order (2 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, no later than noon on 13 May 2010, a copy of the following reports relating to the...
- Home Insulation Program (0 speeches)
- Order (1 speech)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, no later than noon on 13 May 2010, a copy of correspondence...
- Bisphenol-a (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the growing body of evidence that the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), used in plastics, including food packaging, is harmful to humans even in minute...
- Make Poverty History; Millennium Development Goals (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the pledge, first made by Australia in the year 2000, to spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising...
- Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Project (0 speeches)
- Order (1 speech)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, no later than 4.00 pm on 15 June 2010, the following:(a)documents containing National Interest...
- Mako/Porbeagle Shark Fishing (0 speeches)
- Order (2 speeches)
I move:That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts, Senator Wong, by 13 May 2010, the following documents relating...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- National Broadband Network Committee; Report (4 speeches)
At the request of Senator Macdonald, I move: That the resolution of the Senate of 25 June 2008, as amended, appointing the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network, be amended to omit...
- Asylum Claims (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the recent decision by the Rudd Government to suspend the processing of asylum claims from Sri Lankan and Afghan nationals for 3 and 6 months...
- Boat Arrivals (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the treacherous, and sometimes fatal journey asylum seekers who arrive by boat take in reaching Australia, including the reports as early as the week...
- Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to establish an independent Office of the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People, and for related purposes....
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I present the explanatory memorandum and 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...
- High Speed Rail Network (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to commission a feasibility study into the staged construction of a high speed rail network on the east coast of Australia, which could deliver...
- Windsor Hotel (0 speeches)
- (8 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the Australian Constitution was drafted at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, in 1898 and it housed many of Australia’s ‘founding fathers’...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Rudd Labor Government (27 speeches)
The President has received a letter from Senator Parry proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The reckless spending, high taxing...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- National Library of Australia (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
The President has received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Abetz, nominating a senator to be a member of the Council of the National Library of Australia.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
Order! The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
- Cyber-Safety Committee; Membership (1 speech)
The President has received letters from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of the appointment of Mr Danby, Mr Fletcher, Mr Hawke, Mr Perret, Mr Oakeshott, Mr Ripoll and Ms...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support for Students) Bill 2009; Australian Centre for Renewable Energy Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 6) Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (2009 GST Administration Measures) Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (2010 GST Administration Measures No. 1) Bill 2010; Health Insurance Amendment (Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation) Bill 2009; Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2010; Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2009-2010; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2009-2010; Corporations Amendment (Financial Market Supervision) Bill 2010; Corporations (Fees) Amendment Bill 2010; Crimes Amendment (Working with Children — Criminal History) Bill 2009; Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-Off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009; Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Bill 2010; Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008; Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care) Bill 2010; Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill 2009; Trans-Tasman Proceedings (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2009; Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Bill 2010; Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (2009 Measures) Bill 2010; Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2009; Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2010; Aviation Transport Security Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009; Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Bill 2010; Textile, Clothing and Footwear Strategic Investment Program Amendment (Building Innovative Capability) Bill 2009; Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009; Social Security and Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the bills.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Siewert, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Health Practitioner Regulation...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Hurley, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures...
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Siewert, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Health Insurance Amendment (Pathology...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Personal Property...
- Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the Chair of the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee, Senator McEwen, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the...
- Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.50 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Independent Review of the Administration of the Home Insulation Program (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I take note of this report and, in doing so, I wanted to make a few comments to highlight the shameful display by this government with respect...
- Australia’s Future Tax System (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I take note of this report on Australia’s future tax system and the tax policy statement, together with the report to the Treasurer, and...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The government documents tabled earlier today were called on but no motion was moved. The following orders of the day relating to government documents were considered: Energy Efficient Homes...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I table a petitioning letter which does not conform with the standing orders. Petitioning letter received.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! There being no further consideration of government documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to acknowledge the impending 80th birthday of the Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser, who was born on 29 May 1930. This is a celebration of an impressive birthday milestone, but it is also the...
- Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (1 speech)
This evening I rise to talk about the significance of the federal government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, and in particular its importance to Western Australian...
- Palestine (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
This evening I wish to talk about a trip that a group of my friends did with others to visit Palestine in March 2010. This was a trip organised by the Union Aid Abroad group, APHEDA, of which I...
- 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] Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals...
- Return to Order (0 speeches)
Letters of advice in response to the continuing order relating to departmental and agency appointments, vacancies and grants, are tabled.
