Senate debates

Thursday, 12 May 2011

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011; In Committee (96 speeches)
    Debate resumed.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the fifth report 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 as...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (2 speeches)
    To move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   0;the current resources boom is generating enormous wealth...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ludwig, I move:   That the order of general business for consideration today be general business notice of motion no. 241 relating to Budgets. Question agreed to.
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ludwig, I move: That the following list of general business orders of the day be considered under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators'...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee, Economics References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move:   That the Economics Legislation and References Committees be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of...
  • Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ludwig, I move: (1) To ensure appropriate consideration of time critical bills by Senate committees, the provisions of all bills introduced into the House of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ludwig, I move:   That the temporary orders of the Senate of 25 November 2009 and 22 November 2010, relating to modified rules for question time and the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing...
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate on:...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on the Commonwealth contribution to former forced adoption policies be extended to 21...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Public Service Amendment (Payments in Special Circumstances) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Public Service Act 1999. Public Service Amendment (Payments in Special Circumstances) Bill 2011. Question agreed to....
  • Public Service Amendment (Payments in Special Circumstances) Bill 2011; 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....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Community Hospitals (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Ferguson, Bernardi, Birmingham, Fisher, Minchin and Xenophon, move: That the Senate—   (a)   recognis es the important role...
  • Alcohol Pricing (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes with concern decisions by major retailers to heavily discount alcohol as a 'loss leader' to increase market share, with beer...
  • Cluster Bombs (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 246 standing in my name for today relating to cluster munitions. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate—...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Carol Brown, I present the sixth report of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications. Ordered that the report be adopted.
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates, as listed at item 7 on today's Order of Business. Economics Legislation Committee––5 volumes Environment...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Ronaldson, the deputy chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present a volume of ministerial correspondence relating to the scrutiny of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Air Cargo) Bill 2011, Customs Amendment (Export Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Trans-Tasman Proceedings Amendment and Other Measures Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    Bills received from the House of Representatives.
  • Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Air Cargo) Bill 2011, Customs Amendment (Export Controls and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Child Care and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Trans-Tasman Proceedings Amendment and Other Measures Bill 2011; 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— Aviation...
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Provisional Voting) Bill 2011; Returned from the House of Representatives (0 speeches)
    Message received from the House of Representatives agreeing to the amendments made by the Senate to the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Provisional Voting) Bill 2011.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Electoral Matters Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives agreeing to the resolution of the Senate with an amendment relating to the appointment of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the first report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, entitled Incidents on board HMAS Success between March and May 2009 and subsequent events. Ordered that...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Comm­ittee, Senator Crossin, I present the report of the committee on the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; In Committee (17 speeches)
    Debate resumed.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Budget (39 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. When does the government expect to go past the current limit of $200 billion in total stock of Commonwealth government...
  • Carbon Pricing (35 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. I refer to the massive uncertainty being caused to Australian families and businesses by the government's inability to...
  • Coal Seam Gas Projects (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. What role does the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing have in contributing to, or signing...
  • Carbon Pricing (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Is the Prime Minister's promise that the impact of the carbon tax will be budget neutral as credible as her promise...
  • Budget (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Many Australians, Minister, are asking whether they will see the benefits of the resources boom. What...
  • Soccer World Cup (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Arbib, the Minister for Sport. Just two days ago, the UK parliament's House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee heard alarming evidence that two FIFA...
  • Budget (16 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. Can the minister confirm that the actual spend in mental health over the forward estimates...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Crime (1 speech)
    Yesterday Senator Field­ing asked me a question about the impact of changed names on tracking people's identity. I seek leave to have additional information in response to the question...
  • Forestry (1 speech)
    yesterday Senator Bob Brown asked me a question about the transfer of equipment from Tasmania by rec­ipients of the Tasmanian forestry contractors exit assistance program for use in other...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (60 speeches)
    I stand today pursuant to standing order 74(5) to ask Minister Carr, representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, for an explanation as to why answers have not been provided to 105...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by Senators Evans, Wong, Ludwig and Carr to questions asked by coalition senators. Mr Deputy President, you may be surprised, but I actually...
  • Coal Seam Gas Projects (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; In Committee (2 speeches)
    Debate resumed.
  • Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; 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)
  • Economics References Committee, Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee, Treaties Committee, Intelligence and Security Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present seven government respon­ses to committee reports as listed on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I present the sixth report of 2011 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
  • Membership (3 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from party leaders and an Independent senator requesting changes in the membership of a committee.
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion varying a motion agreed to today authorising a committee to meet during a sitting of the Senate. Leave granted. I move: That the resolution of the Senate agreed to...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Budget (12 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Fifield, I move: That the Senate notes the Labor Government's ceaseless and ongoing commitment to debt and to deficit budgeting, which is putting upward pressure on interest...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Statement and Documents (2 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion:   That the Senate take note of the budget statement and documents.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Women's Workforce Participation (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to speak briefly about women's work and the contribution that women's paid work has made to their own empowerment, to the financial security of their families and to the productive...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the NDIS. The federal Labor government asked the Productivity Commission to investigate the feasibility of new approaches for...
  • Anzac Day and Day of Mourning (1 speech)
    I rise to commemorate the lives of those who have served our nation in our armed forces. Each year on Anzac Day, Australians all around the country and overseas pause to acknowledge and reflect...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I remind honourable senators that legislation commi­ttees meet to consider estimates in the fortnight beginning 23 May 2011. Program details will be published on the Senate website. The...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations: Staffing (Question No. 399) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 10 February 2011: (1) Can a list be provided detailing the number of departmental staff (and...
  • Prime Minister (Question No. 405) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, upon notice, on 10 February 2011: With reference to the Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Question No. 410) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 1 March 2011: With reference to advice that the town of Bridgetown in the Great Southern Area of Western...
  • Superannuation (Question No. 433) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, upon notice, on 11 March 2011: With reference to the practice of identity theft for the purpose of stealing from superannuation accounts:...
  • Superannuation (Question No. 434) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 11 March 2011: With reference to a letter dated 26 October from Ms Fiona Codd, Director of Governance, Systems and...
  • Flood Levy (Question No. 435) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 11 March 2011: With reference to the Flood Levy: (1) Have the likely administrative and compliance costs of implementing the...
  • Taxation (Question No. 436) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 11 March 2011: With reference to non commercial loss rules: (1) How many applications has the Commissioner of Taxation received, in...
  • National Cycling Strategy (Question No. 440) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, upon notice, on 16 March 2011: The National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016 notes that...
  • National Indigenous Television (Question No. 441) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Arts, upon notice, on 16 March 2011: With reference to National Indigenous Television (NITV): (1) As current funding for NITV runs out on 30...
  • Australia Network (Question No. 443) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 16 March 2011: With reference to the tender for the Australia Network (Australia's publicly funded...
  • National Heritage Strategy (Question No. 446) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 16 March 2011: With reference to national heritage strategy and...
  • Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (Question No. 452) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 21 March 2011: With reference to the Tasmanian Wilderness World...
  • Defence: Freedom of Information (Question Nos 497 to 499) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 and for each agency within the responsibility of the...
  • Defence: Project Funding (Question Nos 515 to 517) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010: (a) what 'First Pass' Project approvals; and (b) what 'Second...
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (Question No. 532) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: (1) Does the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) consider that the current supermarket duopoly does...
  • Fair Work Australia (Question No. 534) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: What was the rate of unfair dismissal lodgements for January and February 2011 in...
  • Ausroads (Question No. 536) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: (1) Is the department aware of any problems with the Austroads standards in relation...
  • Australian Communications and Media Authority (Question No. 539) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: (1) Given the Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) report on the story...
  • Home Insulation Safety Program (Question No. 540) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 24 March 2011: (1) What: (a) qualifications are; or (b) experience is, required of...
  • Foreign Investment (Question No. 542) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011: (1) Was the department consulted prior to the change in Australia's foreign investment rules; if...
  • Foreign Affairs (Question No. 546) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011: For each calendar year, from 2005 to 2010, in regard to travel by departmental staff based in...
  • East Timor Regional Processing Centre (Question No. 551) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011: (1) Have any departmental officials been appointed to work on the Government's proposed East Timor...
  • United Nations (Question No. 558) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011: With reference to the reception for United Nations' representatives from African Union countries,...
  • United Nations Security Council (Question No. 559) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 March 2011: Did any representative from an African Union country express support for Australia's bid for a...
  • Lucas Heights Reactor (Question No. 568) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research , upon notice, on 4 April 2011: With reference to the maintenance problems of the Open Pool Australian Lightwater (OPAL) reactor...
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Question No. 569) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research , upon notice, on 4 April 2011: With reference to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the...
  • Australian Federal Police (Question No. 575) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 4 April 2011: With reference to the attendance of Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers at public rallies: (1)...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 589) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: With reference to prescribed burns carried out by the Western Australian...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 590) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: With reference to prescribed burns carried out in the Northern Territory and...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 591) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: With reference to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, and commercial...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 592) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: With reference to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions, and commercial...
  • Fair Work Ombudsman (Question No. 597) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: (1) How many former Maritime Union of Australia officials are now employed as Fair...