Senate debates

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Palmer, Mr Clive (36 speeches)
    I move: That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion, namely: That the Senate calls on the Liberals and Nationals to condemn the defamatory comments...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Indirect Tax Laws Amendment (Assessment) Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Courtesy of the Labor Party and the Greens, debate on this important piece of legislation will be gagged at 10 o'clock this morning. Courtesy of the Greens' suspension of standing orders this...
  • Indirect Tax Laws Amendment (Assessment) Bill 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.
  • Fair Work Amendment (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry) Bill 2011 [2012]; Second Reading (33 speeches)
    Australia's fashion and clothing manufacturing sector is doing it tough. Be it the enterprises or the workers and contractors engaged in that sector, they are doing it tough. But this bill, the...
  • Fair Work Amendment (Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry) Bill 2011 [2012]; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and that this bill, as amended, be now passed.
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio) Bill 2011 [2012]; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    What an utter mockery of parliamentary democracy we have here. I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio) Bill 2011 [2012]. I am the first speaker on this...
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio) Bill 2011 [2012]; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and the bill, as amended, be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2012 introduces two changes, in particular, to the legislation: it introduces a standard definition of 'flood' in insurance contracts and it introduces a...
  • Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 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.
  • Excise Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011, Customs Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Excise Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011 and the Customs Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011 establish a seven-day cycle for returns and the...
  • Excise Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011, Customs Amendment (Reducing Business Compliance Burden) Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of these bills be agreed to and that these bill now be passed. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011; Returned from the House of Representatives (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives returning the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency Bill 2011, and informing the Senate that the House has made the...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation (1 speech)
    During this matter of public importance I wish to speak on the current debate concerning the investment strategy of our $1.3 trillion superannuation sector. This debate has been occurring...
  • World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
    Today, 21 March, is World Down Syndrome Day. It was a specially chosen day because Down syndrome is caused by the triplication of—having three; not the usual two—chromosome 21. It is...
  • Walsh, Mr David, Gibson, Ms Miranda (1 speech)
    I want to begin by acknowledging that speech from my fellow senator Senator Boyce, to endorse it, to also acknowledge the great times I have had with people with Down syndrome throughout my life...
  • Transport Industry (2 speeches)
    Before I make my remarks to this matter of public interest I formally and warmly—from the bottom of my heart as part of a trucking family—pass on my sincere thank you to Senator Brown...
  • World Forestry Day (1 speech)
    I rise on a matter of public interest: World Forestry Day. This occurs today, 21 March, which is the 43rd World Forestry Day. World Forestry Day was first observed in November 1971 by the...
  • Member for Dobell (1 speech)
    Today I will detail how the member for Dobell, Mr Thomson, has pursued a personal and political vendetta at the expense of unemployed young people on the Central Coast. For months now media focus...
  • Small Business (1 speech)
    I would like to draw the chamber and the public's attention to a couple of facts that will be uncomfortable for the government as it conducts its war on the small business community in Australia....
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I inform the Senate that Senator Ludwig will be absent from question time today and tomorrow. Senator Lundy will be representing him in respect of his responsibilities as Minister for...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Is the minister aware of research by the Energy Users...
  • Broadband (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister inform the Senate if he is aware of any recent research that looks at the...
  • Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the report released by the Energy Users Association of...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a delegation from New Caledonia, led by the Hon. Rock Wamytan, President of the Congress of New Caledonia. On behalf...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence Exercises (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr. Minister, have you been briefed on, and what can you tell the Senate about, the foreign affairs implications of the biggest...
  • Carbon Pricing (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I also refer the minister to the report by the Energy Users Association of...
  • Infrastructure (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Kim Carr. Can the minister inform the Senate of what the government is doing to help regional...
  • Member for Dobell (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. Did the member for Dobell write to Minister Garrett on 20 July 2011...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Conroy, representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Mr Burke. This morning, the Adelaide Advertiser held an event on...
  • Military Justice (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to comments made by the then Minister for Defence, Senator Faulkner, on 26 August 2009,...
  • Harmony Day (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Lundy, and I congratulate her on a very successful Harmony Day event this morning. Can the minister inform the Senate about...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • National Heritage Strategy (1 speech)
    I have some additional answers to a question without notice from Senator Waters. I seek to incorporate the answer in Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as follows— On 19 March 2012,...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong) to questions without notice asked by Senators Cormann, Joyce and Edwards today...
  • Defence Exercises (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Bob Carr) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to United States...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Stronger Futures Legislation (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a petition of 31,833 signatures requesting the withdrawal of the Stronger Futures legislation that is not a standard petition and which I have circulated to other members...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills on the future direction and role of the committee be extended to 9 May 2012. Question...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Heffernan, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Senator Boyce, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for equity in relation to the provision of certain dental services, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I...
  • Health Insurance (Dental Services) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Carol Brown, Siewert and Fifield, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that 21 March 2012, marks the 7th anniversary of World Down...
  • Sri Lankan Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Humphries and Bob Carr, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   on 13...
  • Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   Medicare has completed audits of 89 dentists who accessed the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Member for Dobell; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   on 20 May 2009, Mr Craig Thomson MP wrote to the then Minister for...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2011; In Committee (24 speeches)
    Minister, you would be aware that the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has completed the Focusing Australia's Publicly Funded Research Review. I am sure you are aware of...
  • Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    As a result of the Labor-Greens guillotine that is in place, we now have 15 minutes to talk about an important piece of legislation, the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1)...
  • Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; In Committee (6 speeches)
    As I started to say earlier in the second reading debate, the key purpose of the amendments circulated in my name is to remove the set of provisions in schedule 4 of the bill before the Senate....
  • Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    This Labor government is a high-spending, high-taxing government that has left us with record levels of debt. This is a government that has delivered four deficits in a row. This is a government...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    Order! Before I call Senator Bob Carr, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech; therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012; Second Reading (20 speeches)
    I am not sure if we have just seen Bob the senator or Bob the historian or Bob the blogger but I do congratulate my new colleague on his first speech. I note with some interest the content of...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Advance to the Finance Minister; In Committee (1 speech)
    I move: That the committee approves the issues from the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts as a final charge for the year ended 30 June 2011. Question agreed to. Resolution reported;...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    It is a very difficult process to talk about this range of bills in this place because we know that there is so much pain and concern out there in the community about what has happened around the...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    I rise in tonight's adjournment debate to talk about my experiences in the 'Walk a Day in the Shoes of an Aged Care Worker' campaign earlier this month. This is a very important initiative that...
  • Victoria: Natural Disasters (1 speech)
    I rise to reflect on some issues arising from the natural disasters which are currently affecting my home state of Victoria. As I speak, families are moving back into their homes in Nathalia, a...
  • Stynes, Mr Jim (1 speech)
    I rise today to pay tribute to a wonderful footballer and an even better human being, Jim Stynes. With the passing of Jim Stynes, Australia did not just lose a great sportsperson but a wonderful...
  • New South Wales Rugby Football League (1 speech)
    'The better team drew!' Those were the famous words of Warren Ryan, coach of the Newtown Jets, after one of the most unusual games in Australian Rugby League football history. He was talking...