Senate debates
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
- Statement by the President (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a delegation from India led by his Excellency Mr Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Gillard Government (14 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer the minister to the Prime Minister's press conference yesterday and, in particular, to her...
- Broadband (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Given that the ACCC has approved Telstra's structural separation undertaking, can the...
- Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Does the minister agree with statements by the Minister for Resources and Energy,...
- Dental Health (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Ludwig. The report by the National Advisory Council on Dental Health was released, interestingly, at 5 pm yesterday....
- Australian Defence Force Academy (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Carr. I refer the minister to the decision of the Minister for Defence to abuse his statutory powers in removing...
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the government has supported Australian jobs and delivered ongoing economic...
- Workplace Relations (13 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib. I refer to the government's bill to abolish the Australian Building and...
- Indigenous Suicide (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig representing both the Minister for Indigenous Health and the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. My question relates to the government's response to the tragic...
- Small Business (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business and very recently promoted Manager of Government Business in the Senate, and as this is my first question to him in that new promoted role I...
- Food and Grocery Industry (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Defence Materiel, Senator Carr. Can the minister respond to the claims today of the Australian Food and Grocery Council that...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Water (1 speech)
On Monday, 27 February 2012 during question time, Senator Brown asked me a question as the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities...
- Australian Federal Police (1 speech)
On Thursday, 9 February I provided additional information to the Senate in response to a question without notice from Senator Milne on Tuesday, 7 February. I have since been advised by the...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Gillard Government, Small Business (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (Senator Evans) and the Assistant Treasurer (Senator Arbib) to...
- Indigenous Suicide (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Wright today relating...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
I move: That the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the...
- Meeting, Reporting Date (1 speech)
I move: That: the Joint Select Committee on Cyber Safety be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 14 March 2012, from 4.15 pm. the Joint Standing...
- Meeting (1 speech)
I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday,...
- Australia's Immigration Detention Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hanson-Young, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Higher Education (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the quality of our higher education contributes to Australia’s social well-being and builds...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Gillard Government (25 speeches)
It is obvious that we have to have this discussion and it will go on. The Labor Party, and the Greens to support them, have said that we are going into a period of stability. I have been...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Australian Defence Force Academy (2 speeches)
by leave—Madam Acting Deputy President, I wish to make a short statement to clarify an answer I gave in question time today. Today I was asked a question by Senator Johnston with regard to...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Kurdish Society of Victoria; Tabling (1 speech)
I present a response from Victorian Minister for Police and Emergency Services (Mr Ryan) to a resolution of the Senate of 15 September 2011 concerning the Kurdish community.
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Commonwealth Grants Commission (4 speeches)
I rise to speak on the Commonwealth Grants Commission's Report on GST revenue sharing relativities—2011 update and move: That the Senate take note of the document. Just two weeks ago I rose...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Mining (1 speech)
On 8 February last, I spoke in this place about the dramatic challenges facing Australia as a result of the so-called mining boom. I drew attention to a report by Port Jackson Partners which...
- Human Trafficking (1 speech)
As the opposition spokesperson for the status of women, I rise this evening to address an issue that is unfortunately gaining prominence in Australia. That issue is sex trafficking, the...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
Before I took my seat in the Senate last year I worked in the mental health division of the Guardianship Board of South Australia for over 10 years. It was challenging work, and over that time I...
- Anglesea Barracks (1 speech)
On 2 December 1811, Governor Macquarie selected a small green hill just outside Hobart town as the site to build new barracks for the colony's soldiers. Named after the Marquess of Anglesey, the...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
This month is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and tomorrow is Teal Ribbon Day, a day to raise money for and awareness of ovarian cancer. Today is also five years to the day that a former senator,...
- World War II (1 speech)
This year we are acknowledging the 70th anniversary of many significant events that occurred in our region during World War II. Many Australian troops and civilians died or were injured in those...
- Australian Public Service (1 speech)
I want to contribute to the Senate's adjournment debate tonight by raising an issue which affects a large number of hard-working and dedicated public servants, in this city particularly. In the...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
I rise tonight to join with a colleague from the other side in relation to ovarian cancer. I spoke on this issue earlier this month, because February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. As I said...
- Havel, Mr Vaclav (1 speech)
Tonight I want to pay tribute to the life and work of Vaclav Havel, playwright, activist, prisoner, president. Havel died on 18 December 2011, of course during our parliament summer recess. Havel...
- Western Australia: Infrastructure, Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
This evening I am delighted to rise to talk about the Gillard government's important investments in Western Australian infrastructure. It is particularly significant because a growing and booming...
- Trade Unions (1 speech)
I rise to lend my support to the many thousands of men and women across the world who last week took part in the 2012 Global Days of Action for Trade Union Freedom in Mexico. The week of 19 to 25...
- World Population (1 speech)
Before I begin I would like to acknowledge the speech made earlier this evening by Senator Fisher and to acknowledge that five years ago today, in this very spot, Senator Jeannie Ferris made her...
- Gillard Government (1 speech)
History will harshly judge the events of the last three days. These events have clearly shown that the Gillard government is divided and dysfunctional, consumed in personal acrimony and internal...
- Schools (1 speech)
Following the recent release of the Gonski report on school funding, tonight I would like to focus on the Gillard government's reforms in school education and, indeed, challenge some of the...
- Vietnam: Human Rights (1 speech)
I rise tonight in support of the great people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For too long, the Vietnamese people have had their basic human rights denied by the ruling Communist Party of...
- World War II (1 speech)
On 9 February last year in this very chamber, long before any motion was put and passed in the House of Representatives, I put before this parliament my very strong view that 19 February, the day...
- World War II, Livestock Exports, Private Health Insurance (1 speech)
I would like to associate myself with the comments of Senator Crossin. I was also fortunate enough to be in Darwin for the weekend, particularly for 19 February, and I was at both the Peary and...
- Colvin, Ms Marie, Sri Lanka, Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (1 speech)
Tonight I pay my respects to journalist Marie Colvin and photojournalist Remi Ochlik, who were recently killed in Syria. Marie lost her eye in Sri Lanka when she was shot at by the military while...
- Member for Dobell (1 speech)
by leave—On a number of previous occasions I have traversed the murky dealings of the member for Dobell and his New South Wales right-wing mates. Since my last contribution in this place on...
- Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Finance and Deregulation (Question No. 1305) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 31 October 2011: In regard to the announcement made by the Government that it would remove the necessity for restaurants and cafes...
- Fair Work Ombudsman (Question No. 1522) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 24 January 2012: With reference to the Fair Work Ombudsman annual report for 2010 11: (1) Does...
