Senate debates

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales (1 speech)
    I inform the Senate that Senator Arbib resigned his place as a senator for the state of New South Wales on 5 March 2012. Pursuant to the provisions of section 21 of the Constitution, the Governor...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold an in camera hearing during the sitting of the Senate today, from 12.30 pm to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010; In Committee (34 speeches)
    I move Greens amendment (8) on sheet 7037 on the new running sheet: (8)   Page 10 (after line 30), after Division 2, insert: Division 2A—Requirements for ministerial...
  • National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010; Third Reading (7 speeches)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time.
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—Mr President, I table for the information of the Senate a revised ministry list reflecting changes to the ministry made on 5 March 2012. It has been circulated to party leaders and...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Minister for Defence (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister and the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. Given that the Prime Minister has now on two occasions made...
  • Economy (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate how the Gillard government is...
  • Fair Work Australia (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Does the minister acknowledge that the Fair Work Act in fact empowers Fair Work Australia to...
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Senator Conroy. It relates to reports that the government has agreed to set aside the question of investor state dispute...
  • Asylum Seekers (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. I refer to the fact that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship now costs more than...
  • Economy (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Senator Lundy. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the government is supporting industry and jobs? Further, can the...
  • Future Fund (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Has the minister, the minister's office or the minister's department received a verbal recommendation from Mr David...
  • Live Animal Exports (9 speeches)
    I direct my question to the primary industries minister, Mr Joe Ludwig. Following the footage of animal cruelty at the Temur Petir—
  • Carbon Pricing (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to modelling by the Centre for International Economics, which...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Minister for Defence (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (Senator Evans) to a question without notice asked by Senator Johnston...
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notices of motion Nos 508 and 531 standing in my name.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 15 March 2012 under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators’ bills:...
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That Senator McLucas be granted leave of absence for today, on account of parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request 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...
  • Treaties Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Birmingham, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to meet during the sitting of the Senate today, from 8.15 pm, for a...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Furner, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of the chairs of the Community Affairs Legislation and References committees, Senators Moore and Siewert, I move: That: (a)   the Community Affairs...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Boyce, on behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of...
  • Electoral Matters Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Carol Brown, on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be authorised to hold a...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Exports (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   footage of animal cruelty at the Temur Petir and Cakung abattoirs in...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Economy (26 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today Senators Fifield and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The question of which...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (2 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing orders, I present the following documents which were presented to the Deputy President and a temporary chair of committees after the Senate adjourned on 1 March 2012. In...
  • Responses to Senate Resolutions; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present a response from the Charge d'Affaires, a.i. (Jawdat Ali), Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic, to a resolution of the Senate of 9 February 2012 concerning Syria.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, National Broadband Network Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Fuel and Energy Select Committee, Scrutiny of New Taxes Committee; Government Response to Report (3 speeches)
    I present government responses to committee reports as listed at item 15(b) on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to have the documents incorporated in...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the government's response to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee's report on the Airports Amendment Bill 2010. Leave...
  • National Broadband Network Committee (9 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the government's response to this committee's first report on the review of the rollout of the National Broadband Network.
  • Electoral Matters Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I present the report on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Maintaining Address) Bill 2011, together with the...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the reports of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services on the statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and on the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper. I...
  • Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; 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— CORPORATIONS...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House relating to appointment of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. Copies...
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from the party leader requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2012, Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2012, Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge — Fringe Benefits) Bill 2012; Reference to Committee (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2012 and two related bills be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee. I do so because this is the latest betrayal by the...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Moore, Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Legislation...
  • Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2012, Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2012, Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives (Medicare Levy Surcharge — Fringe Benefits) Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Those who assert they support the public hospital system, those who assert they support access to health services for the underprivileged and those who assert the provision of first-class health...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Scotland's Radical Exports: Book Launch (3 speeches)
    I rise tonight to talk briefly about a book that I launched in Collins Street in Melbourne. It is unusual for me to be launching a book in Collins Street, especially with Collins Street being the...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I cannot let my colleague's contribution go without some comment. I am very pleased to have significant Scottish blood flowing through my veins and I am equally pleased not to be a trade...
  • Palestine (1 speech)
    I would like to share with senators the story of one woman—a woman who until her untimely death last year was a success story of international development, of self-reliance and...
  • International Women's Day (1 speech)
    The first Australian International Women's Day rally took place in the Sydney Domain on 25 March 1928. It was organised by the Militant Women's Movement and called for equal pay for equal work,...
  • F1 in Schools (3 speeches)
    I rise tonight to speak about a wonderful and worth while initiative called the F1 in Schools program. I have had the privilege to play a very small part in this program over the last three...
  • Rural and Regional Health Services (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about mental health in our regional, rural and remote areas. Access to quality health care, including mental health care, is a basic human right. With one in five...
  • World War I (2 speeches)
    This is one of the last opportunities to speak before this year's Anzac Day. I would like to give the first of six speeches in the lead-up to the centenary of the outbreak of World War I on 28...
  • Human Rights (1 speech)
    Many people grapple with new media and how it can be used for good and how we can ensure that, as a society, it achieves positive benefits. We have seen over recent years many social, political...
  • Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak in relation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, or CHOGM, a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations which was held in...
  • International Women's Day (1 speech)
    I am very pleased to rise this evening because last week it was Interna­tional Women's Day and I had the privilege of celebrating the 101st International Women's Day at a number of events,...
  • Military Discipline (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to address the subject matter of military justice. In particular, I want to consider the recent interim report by DLA Piper and its set of recommendations. I do this as a...
  • Water (1 speech)
    In Australia, access to safe drinking water and to hygienic sanitation is pretty much a given. We do have the odd problem, as we have had in Queensland during the past 12 months, where, because...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Over the years I have had the great pleasure of visiting many workplaces throughout Australia. From my time as a union official to more recently as a senator, I have had the great honour of...
  • Australian Natural Disasters (1 speech)
    I want to make some reflections on some issues arising out of the natural disasters which are currently affecting our country. As we speak in this place, large parts of particularly the...
  • National Women's Alliances (1 speech)
    Last Thursday, as we all know, around this nation and the world we celebrated International Women's Day. I want to take the opportunity to talk about this government's initiative of creating the...
  • Bailey, Mr Raymond Frederick (1 speech)
    A wonderful Tasmanian, a former president of the Legislative Council in Tasmania, Ray Bailey, passed away late last month. Tonight I would like to talk about Ray and the wonderful contributions...
  • Female Genital Mutilation (1 speech)
    With International Women's Day celebrated last week on 8 March, it is timely to reflect on the treatment and status of women, both overseas and here in Australia. While much progress has been...
  • People with Disability (1 speech)
    Mr Acting Deputy President Furner, I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes. Leave granted. Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President. People with disability face significant challenges in their daily...
  • Beetson, Mr Arthur, AO (1 speech)
    Mr President, I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes. Leave granted. Mr President, I thank the Senate. 'He was a giant of man, a giant of a footballer and a giant of a bloke'. Those are the words...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Great Barrier Reef (Question No. 1525) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 2 February 2012: With reference to the proposed strategic...
  • Defence (Question No. 1527) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 2 February 2012: Does the Royal Australian Navy have an ice strengthened vessel or ice breaking vessel in its fleet; if...
  • Treasury (Question No. 1532) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, upon notice, on 3 February 2012 In follow up to questions taken on notice during the 2010 11 Supplementary Budget estimates hearing of the...
  • Curtin Detention Centre (Question No. 1536) (2 speeches)
    ask ed the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice , upon notice , on 6 February 2012: With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 1432, regarding...
  • Defence: Air Travel (Question No. 1543) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 8 February 2012: For the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011, or if more convenient for data purposes the 2010-11...
  • Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities: Air Travel (Question No. 1544) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 8 February 2012: For the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December...