Senate debates

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Chris Evans, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011, and for...
  • National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I table the explanatory memorandum and 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...
  • Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget Measures) Bill 2010; In Committee (50 speeches)
    Debate resumed.
  • Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget Measures) 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.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011 (18 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Migration (1 speech)
    I wish to speak on this matters of public interest discussion to bring to the attention of the Senate and the wider community a matter of significant concern raised by a constituent who came to...
  • Member for Dobell (1 speech)
    Much has been said about the member for Dobell's activities regarding his credit card usage. Today I would like to focus on some local issues about political integrity that are very pertinent to...
  • Northern Territory Emergency Response (1 speech)
    In June this year, the government launched its Stronger futures for the Northern Territory discussion paper. This paper tries to set out some issues for discussion about the future of the...
  • Building the Education Revolution Program (8 speeches)
    I rise to speak in the matters of public interest debate on an issue that is very important: that is, the Building the Education Revolution. One of the delights I have as a senator is being able...
  • East Africa Famine (1 speech)
    Today, the lives of more than 12 million people, including 2.23 million children, are being threatened as they face starvation and malnutrition in the Horn of Africa. Drought, unrest and a...
  • Livestock Slaughter (1 speech)
    May I say thank you to the Senate and in particular members of the government for allowing me to fill these few minutes before question time in the matter of public interest debate. No-one that I...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Member for Dobell (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and the Minister representing the Minister for School...
  • Mining (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Senator Sherry. Is the minister aware of the profit results announced by the country's largest mining companies in recent days? Have these...
  • Carbon Pricing (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to a Bligh government commis­sioned report tabled in the...
  • Hicks, Mr David (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Ludwig. Last November the United Nations Human Rights Committee sought a response from the Australian government to a...
  • Carbon Pricing (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing Minister for Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the submission to the government from the Energy...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of an APEC delegation from South Korea. On behalf of all senators, I wish you a warm welcome to Australia and in...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Manufacturing (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Given growing concerns with the two-speed growth in our economy, can the minister outline to the...
  • Automotive Industry (14 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. I refer to the Prime Minister's claims at her joint press conference on Monday that the...
  • Apple Imports (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Senator Conroy. On 1 February 2011 the Australian and New Zealand delegations to the WTO jointly advised the World Trade...
  • Carbon Pricing (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Evans. Given that schools are already struggling with rising power costs, can the...
  • Trade (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister Ludwig. Can the minister please outline to the Senate the importance to trade of Australian agriculture? Can the...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Marriage (2 speeches)
    by leave—On behalf of Senator Polley and myself, from Tasmania and Queensland respectively, I table a petition of 52,000 signatures supporting the current definition of marriage as outlined...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (11 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 today by...
  • Hicks, Mr David (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Ludwig, on behalf of the Attorney-General, in response to my question. My question was regarding the fact that, last November, the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (9 speeches)
    To move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   26 August 2011, marks the 10th anniversary of the rescue of 433...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That consideration of government business continue from 6.50 pm to 7.20 pm. 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 Hanson-Young for today, proposing the disallowance of the Migration...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Landholders' Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide Australian landholders the right to refuse the undertaking of coal seam gas mining activities on their land without...
  • Landholders' Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) 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 the Hansard. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Fisher, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee on the status, health and sustainability of the...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the ninth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 9 of 2011 , dated 24 August 2011. Ordered that...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Moore, I present the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling—Genetically Modified Material) Bill 2010,...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present two reports of the committee as listed at item 10 on today’s Order of Business, together with the Hansard record...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Australian National Audit Office (1 speech)
    I present a ministerial statement on the Australian National Audit Office.
  • Manufacturing (2 speeches)
    I present a ministerial statement in relation to manufacturing. I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the document. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate take note of the statement. Our...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Unproclaimed Legislation; Tabling (0 speeches)
    The following documents were tabled pursuant to standing order 139(2): Unproclaimed legislation—Document providing details of all provisions of acts which come into effect on proclamation...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Wright replace Senator Rhiannon on the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee for the committee’s inquiry into the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011, Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011, Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010; Consideration of House of Representatives Message (0 speeches)
    Messages received from the House of Representatives agreeing to the amendments made by the Senate to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011, the Australian National Registry of...
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2011, Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    Bills received from the House of Representatives.
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2011, Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) 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— This Bill amends...
  • Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Schools Assistance Amendment Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    Bills received from the House of Representatives.
  • Cybercrime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Schools Assistance Amendment 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— The Cybercrime...
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010; Returned from the House of Representatives (0 speeches)
    Message received from the House of Representatives agreeing to the amendment to the bill requested by the Senate.
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2010; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. I seek leave to have incorporated a statement which was omitted from the previous discussion when this matter was before the chamber. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Economics Legislation Committee, Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 30 April 2011. Ordered that the reports be printed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion: That this bill be now read a second time.
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I now call Senator Rhiannon to make her first speech and ask honourable senators that the usual courtesies be extended to her. I call Senator Rhiannon.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    Debate resumed on the motion that: This bill be now read a second time.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Fibre Deployment) Bill 2011; In Committee (62 speeches)
    Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Neil, Mr Walter Rex (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise as part of the adjournment debate to pay my respects to a man who could only be described as a true believer and a carrier of the light on the hill. Walter Rex Neil, known as Rex,...
  • Freedom of Speech (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about something I believe should concern all Australians. It is, in my view, one of the fundamental underpinnings of our society and something that, if allowed to erode...
  • Apple Imports (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about an issue which I believe relates to the worst decision the government has made—that is, allowing the importation of New Zealand apples into Australia. I still cannot...
  • Trachoma (1 speech)
    We are going from fire blight to sandy blight, in fact, because tonight I would like to speak about the terrible and entirely preventable eye disease, trachoma, which is also known as sandy...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Banking (Question No. 74) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, upon notice, on 28 September 2011: Does a bank require confirmation from every customer signing a guarantee...
  • Banking (Question No. 77) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, upon notice, on 28 September 2011: Given that most people faced with a problem under a guarantee have...
  • Status of Women: Stationery (Question No. 254) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Status of Women, upon notice, on 29 November 2010: Since 14 September 2010, for each Minister and any Parliamentary Secretaries in their...
  • Social Housing and Homelessness: Stationery (Question No. 257) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness, upon notice , on 29 November 2010: Since 14 September 2010, for each Minister and any Parliamentary Secretaries in their portfolio:...
  • Defence: Hospitality (Question Nos 491 to 493) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: (1) For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010:   (a) what was the hospitality spend for each...
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (Question No. 601) (2 speeches)
    ask the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 15 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Minerals Resource Rent Tax and following the recent Federal Court of Australia decision...
  • Attorney-General: Justice Reinvestment (Question No. 691) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 15 June 2011: (1) Has the department undertaken any research or analysis of international experiences, both government and...
  • Burrup Peninsula (Question No. 692) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 15 June 2011: In regard to an explosive event conducted by Holcim...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Question No. 693) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 15 June 2011: In regard to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): (1) How does the ABC propose to...
  • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 709) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon notice, on 23 June 2011: (1) What number of Navy uniformed personnel were employed in the Defence Materiel Organisation as...
  • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 710) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon notice, on 23 June 2011: (1) What number of Army uniformed personnel were employed in the Defence Materiel Organisation as...
  • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 711) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon notice, on 23 June 2011: (1) What number of Air Force uniformed personnel were employed in the Defence Materiel...
  • Horizontal Waterfalls (Question No. 715) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 29 June 2011: In regard to the Horizontal Waterfalls of the...
  • National Rental Affordability Scheme (Question No. 717) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 29 June 2011: With reference to the National Rental Affordability...
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Question No. 729) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice on 4 July 2011: With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 670, relating to the...
  • Defence: Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 741) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2011, what specific savings have been made in the Strategic Reform...
  • Defence: Submarines (Question No. 753) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: (1) For the period 1 January to 30 June 2011: (a) which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) fleet...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 795) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Human Resources area, in achieving the Gap to Average...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 814) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Non-Equipment Procurement area, if the Gap to Average...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 815) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Non-Equipment Procurement area, in achieving the Gap to Average...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 816) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Non-Equipment Procurement area, if the Gap to Top Quartile...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 817) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Non-Equipment Procurement area, in achieving the Gap to Top...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 818) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Non-Equipment Procurement area, if the Gap to Average Performance could be achieved, as...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 819) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Non-Equipment Procurement area, in achieving the Gap to Average Performance, as identified...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 820) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Non-Equipment Procurement area, if the Gap to Top Quartile Performance could be achieved,...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 821) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Non-Equipment Procurement area, in achieving the Gap to Top Quartile Performance, as...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 824) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: The levels of employment in the Information and Communication Technologies area, if the Gap to Average...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 825) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Information and Communication Technologies area, in achieving the...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 826) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Information and Communication Technologies area, if the Gap to...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 827) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the levels of employment in the Information and Communication Technologies area, in achieving...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 828) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Information and Communication Technologies area, if the Gap to Average Performance could be...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 829) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Information and Communication Technologies area, in achieving the Gap to Average...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 830) (2 speeches)
    To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence— In regard to the Information and Communication Technologies area, if the Gap to Top Quartile Performance could be achieved, as...
  • Defence: Budget Audit Review (Question No. 831) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: In regard to the Information and Communication Technologies area, in achieving the Gap to Top Quartile...
  • Resources and Energy (Question No. 842) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 21 July 2011: In regard to the attendance of departmental personnel at the Berri Barmera Council meeting held in Berri, South...
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet: Media Staffing (Question No. 845) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 25 July 2011: (1) Has the Prime Minister or anyone in the Prime Minister’s office offered any direction or advice to...
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Departmental Reports (Question No. 848) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 25 July 2011: (1) How many contracts were issued for variations or...
  • Government Departments: Staffing (Question Nos 849 to 890) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister representing the Treasurer, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Minister for Broadband,...
  • Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations: Penalty Rates (Question No. 895) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 29 July 2011: With reference to award penalty rates, is it correct that a baker employed by a...