Senate debates

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011, Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Service Reform) Bill 2011, Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Bill 2011; In Committee (37 speeches)
    It is my privilege to deal with these bills on behalf of the coalition and in the absence for personal reasons of Senator Birmingham. This is a very truncated debate today. I notice that because...
  • Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011, Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Service Reform) Bill 2011, Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of these bills be agreed to and the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Service Reform) Bill 2011 and the Telecommunications...
  • Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2012; Second Reading (15 speeches)
    Thuggery, lawlessness and illegal behaviour are all being legislatively embraced in this Greens-ALP alliance bill euphemistically called the Building and Construction Industry Improvement...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Mining (32 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to statements made by her on Insiders on Sunday morning and...
  • Health Services Union (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Ludwig. I refer to the report released by Fair Work Australia last Friday on its...
  • Queensland Economy (12 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Is she in agreement—
  • Member for Dobell (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. On the eve of the 2010 federal election, Minister Albanese and Craig...
  • Small Business (6 speeches)
    My question this afternoon is for Senator Lundy, the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of small business to the...
  • Customs (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Defence Materiel, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to the statement of...
  • West Papua (11 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Minister, last week you met with your counterpart from Indonesia.
  • Agriculture (17 speeches)
    My question—
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard answers to a question asked of me by Senator Siewert on 15 March in my capacity representing Minister Macklin, the Minister for Families, Community...
  • Economy (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard answers to a question of me by Senator Payne yesterday in my capacity representing the Prime Minister. Leave granted. The answer read as follows—...
  • Family Court (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard an answer to a question taken on notice on 15 March 2012 from Senator Macdonald in relation to the Townsville legal profession. Leave granted. The answer...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard answers to questions from Senator Cash on 19 March that I took on notice. Leave granted. The answer read as follows— Many of those involved in...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (20 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to all questions without notice asked today. It is amazing that we have the most failed finance minister in our nation's...
• Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
  • (69 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a brief personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Ludwig on 21 and 22 March 2012 on account of parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Cyber-Safety Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—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, 9 May 2012, from 4.15 pm. Question...
  • 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 a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 22 March 2012,...
  • Migration Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Migration be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 9 May 2012, from 10.30 am. Question...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Coal Seam Gas (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   that there is uncertainty about the level of leakage, flaring and venting...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 27 of 2011-12 (7 speeches)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 27 of 2011-12—Performance audit—Establishment,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table a replacement revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012 and a replacement explanatory memorandum relating to the Stronger Futures...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present two reports of the committee, the 75th annual report , and the 2nd report of 2012––Referrals made in...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012, Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012, Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and two revised explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and I move: That these bills...
  • Insurance Contracts Amendment 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.
  • Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bills be...
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) 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.
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I 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 speech read as follows— CLASSIFICATION...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports from the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2012; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    As we lurch towards another guillotine on which I presume the Greens will be joining the government, it is another marvellous example of democracy. You say one thing for years and then, when push...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    This bill seeks to put into effect several changes to the Higher Education Support Act. The bill will increase the maximum amount a higher education provider may charge under the compulsory...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012, Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2012; Second Reading (42 speeches)
    The proposition that remuneration equates to safety is flawed. It has no basis in fact. Yet this flawed and unsubstantiated thinking is the basis on which the Greens-ALP alliance comes before...
  • Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2012, Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question is that the remaining stages of these bills be agreed to and that the bills now be passed.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Bill 2012; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    The coalition supports measures that improve the crime-fighting abilities of our law enforcement agencies. The coalition therefore supports the aims of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Radisich, Ms Jaye Amber MP (1 speech)
    It is my sad honour to rise today to deliver a vale for my friend and colleague Jaye Radisich, the former member for Swan Hills in the Parliament of Western Australia. Jaye passed away on...
  • RAAF Accident, Canberra 1957 (1 speech)
    This speech is dedicated to Mrs Alma Shaw, Mr Jim Macdonald, Mrs Kim Best and Mr Doug Mackrill, who sat in the gallery of this chamber last night to join me in this speech, on a night which had...
  • Mining (1 speech)
    Last year at CHOGM the Prime Minister launched the government's Mining for Development Initiative. The stated aim of this initiative is to help developing countries find sustainable ways to...
  • Food and Grocery Industry (1 speech)
    Have you ever thought about how important our food manufacturing industry is? It is more than just the food we buy in the supermarket and that which we serve at our kitchen tables. The Australian...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Sky News (Question No. 1022) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 23 August 2011: (1) Will the Australian Government require Sky News to reveal: (a) the details of the...
  • Immigration and Citizenship (Question No. 1534) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 6 February 2012: With reference to the following examples of skilled workers in the technical and...