Senate debates

Thursday, 16 June 2011

• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day No. 55 (Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011) be postponed to a later hour of the day. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010; In Committee (55 speeches)
    Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
  • Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010; Third Reading (8 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. In doing so, could I say how disappointing today is for 57,000 people who expected that this fair indexation bill would go through this chamber. I...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (0 speeches)
    The petition of the undersigned shows: Australia is currently one of the only developed countries which does not have a Complementary Protection process in place for those who arrive in Australia...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (0 speeches)
    Senators Cormann, Xenophon and Williams to move: That:   (a)   the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment Regulations 2011 (No. 2), as contained in Select...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber relating to the consideration of private senators' bills: That the following list of general business orders of the day be considered...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—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...
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the...
  • Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave— On behalf of the chair of the Rural Affairs Transport References Committee (Senator Heffernan), I move: That the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee be authorised to...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (0 speeches)
    The following items of business were postponed: Government business notices of motion Nos 2 and 3 to 23 June.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend the motion standing in my name for today proposing a reference to the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee on live export markets. Leave granted. I move the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Declared Countries) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, in relation to the declaration of third countries for the removal of offshore entry persons....
  • Migration Amendment (Declared Countries) 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. Leave granted. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Centenary of the Choice of a Design for the National Capital (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Lundy, move: That the Senate—(a) notes that:   (i) 24 May 2011 marks the centenary of the launch of an international competition to design an...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That, on Monday, 20 June 2011:   (a)   the hours of meeting shall be 10 am to noon, 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm;...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of New Taxes Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Cormann, I move: That the Select Committee on the Scrutiny of New Taxes be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1)...
  • National Capital and External Territories Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Crossin I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tarkine Wilderness (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   reaffirm s the World Heritage significance of the Tarkine wilderness in the north-west of Tasmania;...
  • Phosphate-based Laundry Detergents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   congratu lates the not-for-profit organisation Do Something! for its successful 'National Phosphate Ban' campaign which has...
  • DeforestACTION Program (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:&# 160;     (i)   the dire situation facing wild orang-utan populations in...
  • Proposed Gas Hub and Bilby Habitats (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   0;the bilby is...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the final report of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee on its inquiry into exposure drafts of Australian privacy amendment legislation be presented by 30...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
    by leave—I seek to amend the motion standing in my name relating to a reference to the Community Affairs References Committee before asking that it be taken as formal. I seek to amend the...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee relating to the 2010-11 additional estimates.
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I present two reports of the committee as listed at item 7 on today’s Order of Business, and seek...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, Adequacy of aviation and maritime security measures to combat serious and organised crime, together with the Hansard...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Election Commitments and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Financial Viability) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    Bills received from the House of Representatives.
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Election Commitments and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Financial Viability) Bill 2011; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Election Commitments and Other...
  • Governance of Australian Government Superannuation Schemes Bill 2011, ComSuper Bill 2011, Superannuation Legislation (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011, Taxation of Alternative Fuels Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Excise Tariff Amendment (Taxation of Alternative Fuels) Bill 2011, Customs Tariff Amendment (Taxation of Alternative Fuels) Bill 2011, Energy Grants (Cleaner Fuels) Scheme Amendment Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    Bills received from the House of Representatives.
  • Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; 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 bill.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Australia's Immigration Detention Network Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives transmitting for concurrence a resolution proposing the formation of a joint select committee. Copies of the message have been...
  • Membership (0 speeches)
    Messages received from the House of Representatives notifying the Senate of the appointment of Mr Scott to the Joint Stand­ing Committee on the National Broad­band Network as a...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulatory Levies Legislation Amendment (2011 Measures No. 1) Bill 2011, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulatory Levies (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011, Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Enrolment and Prisoner Voting) Bill 2011, Australian Research Council Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2011, Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 1) Bill 2011, Human Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill 2011, Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Personal Property Securities (Corporations and Other Amendments) Bill 2011, Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Bill 2011, Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Provisional Voting) Bill 2011, Autonomous Sanctions Bill 2011, Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Copyright) Bill 2011; Assent (0 speeches)
    Messages from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the bills.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, I present the report, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee, of the...
  • Legislation Committees; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation from the Economics Legislation and the Community Affairs Legislation committees...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time. to which the following amendment was moved: At the end of the motion, add "and further consideration of the bill be an...
  • National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010; In Committee (8 speeches)
    Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Exports (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Prior to the minister imposing a suspension on the export of live cattle to Indonesia, was he aware of a...
  • Manufacturing (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Is the minister aware of the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today showing a fall in...
  • Live Animal Exports (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. When and how did the government become aware that some Australian cattle were being treated cruelly in some...
  • Forestry (38 speeches)
    My question is also to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig, in his capacity as minister for forests. Yesterday the minister told the parliament that the...
  • Carbon Pricing (24 speeches)
    I have a question for Senator Wong as the minister for climate change. Can the minister explain what purpose it will serve for Australia to enter into a carbon tax—
  • Economy (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Senator Sherry. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the government is helping ease the red tape burden on small businesses and, in...
  • Carbon Pricing (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. I refer the minister to today's announcement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy...
  • Air Safety (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Given so many travellers were recently left stranded in airports and the failure of...
  • Broadband (160 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. I refer to revelations in the media and testimony to parliamentary committees over recent weeks that NBN Co....
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
    I have a short answer to the couple of questions took on notice from Senator McGauran yesterday. Given the circumstances, I will read it out briefly—it is only a paragraph: The Minister for...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (Senator Wong) to questions without notice asked by Senators...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 48 2010-11 (1 speech)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 48 of 2010-11: Performance audit: monitoring and compliance...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    It is my privilege to present on behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Privileges, Senator Johnston, correspondence relating to the application of parliamentary privilege to...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (0 speeches)
    The Clerk: Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to senators. Details of the documents appear at the end of today’s Hansard.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from party leaders nominating senators to be members of committees.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of consideration of government business orders of the day for the remainder of today be as follows: No. 2––Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (34 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from Senator Fifield proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The Gillard government's failure...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2011; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2011; In Committee (4 speeches)
    Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
  • Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Social Security Amendment (Parenting Payment Transitional Arrangement) Bill 2011; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Social Security Amendment (Parenting Payment Transitional Arrangement) Bill 2011; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated. Before I call the minister to move the third reading, does any senator wish to have a committee stage on the bill to ask further questions or...
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Bill 2011, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Bill 2011, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011; In Committee (80 speeches)
    Bills—by leave—taken together and as a whole.
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Job Seeker Compliance) Bill 2011; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated. Before I call the minister to move the third reading, does any senator wish to have a committee stage on the bill to ask further questions or...
  • Midwife Professional Indemnity Legislation Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Midwife Professional Indemnity Legislation Amendment Bill 2011; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires the bill be considered in committee of the whole.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Haskell, Mr William 'Bill' James Bernard, OAM (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the death of a person I did not spend a lot of my life with but for whom I have huge respect, and I refer to William Bernard Haskell, known as Bill Haskell. Bill was born on 9...
  • Soviet Espionage In Australia (1 speech)
    Towards the end of World War II, and in the opening stages of the Cold War, Australia was seen by other nations as a high-value target for sourcing valuable intelligence. Despite having...
  • Kidd, Mr Grahame (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to pay tribute and respects to Mr Grahame Kidd. Mr Grahame Kidd was a keen golfer. He was not a professional who won tournaments. Grahame Kidd was not a person who won Australia...
• 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...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Burma (Question No. 334) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 6 December 2010: With reference to the Thai Burma border: (1) Has AusAID, in regard to its Burma aid program,...
  • Burma (Question No. 564) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 4 April 2011: With reference to the statistical summary of the statement of Australia's International Development...
  • Asylum Seekers (Question No. 595) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 12 April 2011: (1) With reference to Group 2 asylum seekers, unauthorized boat arrivals: (a) can a...
  • Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (Question No. 600) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, upon notice, on 15 April 2011: In each of the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 (to date) financial...
  • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 602) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Citizenship Ceremonies (Question No. 608) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: (1) What monitoring does the department conduct of compliance by local government...
  • Government Departments: Staffing (Question No. 611) (2 speeches)
    asked the Prime Minister and other ministers, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed. (2) What is the total number of staff with a disability...
  • Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: Staffing (Question No. 614) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's portfolio: (1)...
  • Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government: Staffing (Question No. 615) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies...
  • Immigration and Citizenship: Staffing (Question No. 618) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed. (2) What is the total number...
  • Infrastructure and Transport: Staffing (Question No. 619) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed. (2) What is the total...
  • Health and Ageing: Staffing (Question No. 620) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed? (2) What is the total number of staff...
  • Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities: Staffing (Question No. 622) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies...
  • Finance and Deregulation: Staffing (Question No. 623) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's portfolio: (1) What is the total number of...
  • Innovation, Industry, Science and Research: Staffing (Question No. 624) (2 speeches)
    asked the asked the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, upon notice , on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's portfolio: (1)...
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Staffing (Question No. 626) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed. (2) What is the total number of staff with a...
  • Resources and Energy: Staffing (Question No. 627) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: (1) What is the total number of staff currently employed. (2) What is the total number of...
  • Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: Staffing (Question No. 628) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's...
  • Human Services: Staffing (Question No. 629) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's portfolio: (1) What is the...
  • Veterans' Affairs: Staffing (Question No. 630) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies within the Minister's portfolio: (1) What is...
  • Ross Sea (Question No. 631) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 28 April 2011: (1) Has there been any increase in the number of...
  • Bauxite Mining (Question No. 632) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 28 April 2011: With reference to the current and future bauxite...
  • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 648) (20 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 3 May 2011: With reference to the proposed carbon pricing mechanism, has the department conducted any research or modelling into...
  • Imports (Question No. 650) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 5 May 2011: (1) Can details be provided of the 3 month compliance campaign into low value imports, including the:...
  • Nuclear Energy (Question No. 651) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 5 May 2011: (1) Who represents Australia on the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation...
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Question No. 652) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, upon notice, on 5 May 2011: With reference to the independent review of the current state of health and safety arrangements at...
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Question No. 654) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 5 May 2011: With reference to the independent review of the Comcare report regarding the...
  • Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (Question No. 655) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 11 May 2011: Can a list be provided of all Tasmanian businesses that are receiving Tasmanian Freight...
  • Liquefied Natural Gas (Question No. 656) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 11 May 2011: With reference to the Minister's decision regarding...
  • Uranium Mining (Question No. 659) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 19 May 2011: With reference to referrals made under the...
  • Centrelink (Question No. 661) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 24 May 2011: Did Centrelink contract for any 'cosmetic services' between June 2010 and June 2011; if so, in each...