Senate debates
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (41 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 November 2010, on motion by Senator Pratt: That the following address–in–reply be agreed to: To Her Excellency the Governor–General MAY IT PLEASE YOUR...
- Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget Measures) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (12 speeches)
Debate resumed from 24 November 2010, on motion by Senator Feeney: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Middle East (1 speech)
I rise on a matter of public interest at a time when Palestinians are still being denied their fundamental human rights, including the right of self-determination. The need for justice and...
- Local Government (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on local government, part of my shadow portfolio. It was very interesting during the last election: Australia saw a rise in the prominence of the role of local government,...
- Timor Sea Oil Spill (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the fallout from the oil spill in the Timor Sea—the PTTEP and Montara spill—the need for ongoing improvement in our oil and gas regulations and concerns I have...
- Commemoration of Bombing of Darwin (1 speech)
On 19 February 1942, Darwin was bombed, culminating in the death of 251 people. Although it remains one of the largest losses of life arising from a single event in Australia’s history, we...
- New South Wales Government (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a forthcoming date: 26 March, the date of the state election in New South Wales. It will be of real interest to see how that election pans out on the day. In 1995 the Carr...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I table for the information of the Senate a revised ministry list reflecting changes to the ministry made in January 2011. The changes reflect the appointment of Senator Ludwig as...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Australian Natural Disasters (12 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Conroy. I ask specifically whether the government is prepared to extend access to its current loan scheme to...
- Queensland Floods (19 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery. Can the minister please...
- Egypt (17 speeches)
My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Conroy, and it is regarding events in Egypt. Has the government joined other world governments...
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, the very busy Senator Conroy! I refer the minister to reports this...
- Flood Levy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of ensuring that the flood recovery package for Queensland and...
- Broadband (10 speeches)
My question is to the Senate’s man of the moment, Labor’s man of fibre, the minister for communications, Senator Conroy.
- Hospitals (6 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. The South Australian government announced in last year’s state budget that it is cutting its...
- Indigenous Affairs (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Arbib. Why did the government announce in January that the...
- Australian Natural Disasters (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Senator Sherry. Is the government aware of the effects on small business of the recent natural disasters that have hit many parts of Australia?...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 367 (34 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to question No. 367 in relation to...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Queensland Floods (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Acting Leader of the Government in the Senate (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Brandis today, relating...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Chris Evans to move on the next day of sitting:That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the National...
- Withdrawal (3 speeches)
Mr Deputy President, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 145.
- 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 Fisher and Ludlam for today, proposing a reference to the...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That Senator Evans be granted leave of absence for the period 9 and 10 February 2011 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move:(1)That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 May 2011: The provisions of the Water Act 2007 (the Act),...
- Economics References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move:That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2011: Mechanisms and options for the development of a robust capital market...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Kroger, move:That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2011:...
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Senator Boyce, I move:That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and...
- Economics References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Economics References Committee, Senator Bushby, I move:That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the...
- Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee, Senator Back, I move:That the time for the presentation of reports of the Education, Employment...
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Moore, I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Hurley, I move:That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Bishop, I move:That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate as follows:(a)from 10 am to 1.30...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional...
- Building the Education Revolution (0 speeches)
- Order (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the Australian Government has entered into separate bilateral agreements with the states and territories and with Block Grant Authorities (BGAs) in...
- Water Act 2007 (0 speeches)
- Order (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the conflicting and confusing positions of the Labor Government in regards to the legal interpretation of the Water Act 2007,(ii)that the Minister for...
- White Ribbon Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)25 November is designated by the United Nations as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and that the white ribbon is the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Mr Deputy President, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 148 standing in my name relating to peace negotiations in the Philippines.
- Murray-Darling Basin (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate calls on the Government to request the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to agree to produce the modelling for the socio-economic impacts of the sustainable diversion limit...
- Lower Lakes, South Australia (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the bund at Narrung in South Australia is having a negative impact on the Lower Lakes and, in particular, the Lake Albert community, by restricting...
- Siev221 (0 speeches)
- (9 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the tragic events surrounding Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel 221, which saw the drowning of 30 asylum seekers off the coast of Christmas Island on 15...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Flood Levy (25 speeches)
The President has received the following letter from Senator Fifield proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The Gillard...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the first report of 2011 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 1 of 2011, dated 9 February 2011. Ordered...
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications, I present the committee’s second report. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Reports (1 speech)
I present the following two reports of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit: Report 418: Review of Auditor-General’s Reports Nos 04 to 38 (2009-10) and Report 419: Inquiry into...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Prime Minister, I table a ministerial statement on Indigenous Australians, together with the Prime Minister’s report of 2011 on closing the gap.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents as listed below which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and Temporary Chairs of Committees since the Senate last...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
by leave—at the request of the Chair of the Economics References Committee, I move: That the final report of the Economics References Committee on the decision of the Australian Competition...
- Legislation and References Committees; Reports (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That consideration of the following committee reports be listed on the Notice Paper as orders of the day.Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Australian Information Commissioner (4 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the correspondence from the Australian Information Commissioner which was received on 23 December 2010 and 3 February 2011 and tabled today. I...
- Court of Disputed Returns (1 speech)
For the information of senators, I present Orders from the Court of Disputed Returns:(a)withdrawing the election petition in respect of the matter of Hawkins v Abetz; and(b)remitting the election...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
In accordance with the usual practice, I table a report of parliamentary committee reports to which the government has not responded within the prescribed period. The report has been circulated...
- Publications Committee; Report: Response (1 speech)
I present a response to those recommendations in the report of the Joint Committee on Publications on the development of a digital repository and electronic distribution of the Parliamentary...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report Nos 16 and 26 of 2010-11 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following reports of the Auditor-General: Report Nos 16 and 26 of 2010-11: Report No. 16 of 2010-11 –...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
I present the following documents: Supplement to the 12th edition of Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice – Updates to 31 December 2010 Business of the Senate: 1 January to 31 December...
- Responses to Senate Resolutions (1 speech)
I present the following responses to various Senate resolutions: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Mr Bowen) - 29 September 2010 - Government responses outstanding to reports of the...
- Tabling (1 speech)
I table the following documents relating to travel: Parliamentarians’ expenditure on entitlements paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation for the period 1 January to 30 June 2010...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
I have received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
- National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Bill 2010; Higher Education Support Amendment (2010 Budget Measures) Bill 2010; Social Security Legislation Amendment (Connecting People with Jobs) Bill 2010; Corporations Amendment (No. 1) Bill 2010; Higher Education Support Amendment (Fee-Help Loan Fee) Bill 2010; International Financial Institutions Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010; Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 4) Bill 2010; Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010; Health Insurance Amendment (Pathology Requests) Bill 2010; Territories Law Reform Bill 2010; Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2010; Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010; National Measurement Amendment Bill 2010; Service and Execution of Process Amendment (Interstate Fine Enforcement) Bill 2010; Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2010; Radiocommunications Amendment Bill 2010; Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Parenting Orders and Other Measures) Bill 2010; Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; Airports Amendment Bill 2010; Corporations Amendment (Sons of Gwalia) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the bills.
- Airports Amendment Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2010; Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2010; Service and Execution of Process Amendment (Interstate Fine Enforcement) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Federal Financial Relations Amendment (National Health and Hospitals Network) Bill 2010 (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— The Federal Financial...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Mental Health (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Acting Deputy President: A message has been received from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of a resolution agreed to by the House relating to mental health. The House of...
- Social Security Amendment (Income Support for Regional Students) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf 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 Families, Housing,...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Report (5 speeches)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Hurley, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Federal Financial Relations Amendment...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.50 pm, the Senate will proceed to consideration of government documents.
- Australian Public Service Commission (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In moving to take note of the State of the service report 2009-10, I note that the report says that employee identity perceptions within the...
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority annual report 2009-10. I have the report with me—it is the annual...
- Australian Agency for International Development (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This excellent report of the Australian Agency for International Development reviews development effectiveness in 2009 and is incredibly...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following government documents tabled earlier today were considered: Criminal Code Act 1995Control orders and preventative detention orders—Reports for 2009-10. Motion to take note of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I speak to the 114th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. Senators might be interested to know why I am choosing to...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being almost 7.20 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Glebe Post Office (1 speech)
Tonight I want speak about a matter of great importance to my own local community of Glebe in Sydney—the closure of the Glebe Post Office. Local residents were aghast when they heard the...
- Murray-Darling Basin (3 speeches)
Before I begin, I acknowledge Senator Faulkner’s contribution. Forget about the Prussian revolution in 1870; it was all happening in Glebe! That was probably the most detailed and...
- Mr Bill Mansfield (1 speech)
Bill Mansfield spent the majority of his working life in industrial relations and had a distinguished career in the trade union movement. He became active in trade unionism as a young man and in...
- Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
Tonight I want to talk about a topic that is dear to the heart of any Western Australian member of parliament—that is, the Murray-Darling Basin, a topic previously addressed by Senator...
- 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. An explanatory statement is tabled with...
- Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
The following document was 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 July to 31 December...
- Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 24 June 2008, as amended: Departmental and agency appointments and vacancies—Additional estimates—Letters of...
- Return to Order (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 24 June 2008: Departmental and agency grants—Additional estimates—Letters of advice— Australian...
