Senate debates

Thursday, 22 March 2012

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Committee; Membership (3 speeches)
    I have received letters from a party leader and Senator Madigan seeking appointment to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. There are two nominations for one position on the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Solar Hot Water Rebate Bill 2012; Second Reading (21 speeches)
    I rise to speak in favour of the Solar Hot Water Rebate Bill 2012. This bill is actually quite a simple one. All it does is compel the government to spend the full $63.5 million in funding...
  • Assisting Victims of Overseas Terrorism Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    When I was rudely interrupted whilst speaking on this bill earlier, I was admiring the government's continued inability to have the courage of its policy convictions. If this government truly...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Cormann I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4 standing in his name for today proposing a reference of the Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the fourth report of 2012 for the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That government business be interrupted at 1 pm to allow consideration of the following government business orders of the day till not later than 2 pm today: Family Assistance and Other...
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a) general business order of the day no. 66––Landholders’ Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the time for presentation of the report of the Senate Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Adams from 23 March 2012 to 29 June 2012, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012, National Water Commission Amendment Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bills be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, and for other purposes, and a Bill for An Act to amend the National WaterCommission...
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012, National Water Commission Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda, and a correction to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Broadcasting Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012, and I move: That these bills be now read a...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend government business notice of motion No. 3. Leave granted. I move the motion, as amended: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Tuberculosis Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Rhiannon, move: That the Senate—   (a)   recognises that 24 March 2012 is World Tuberculosis Day, in observance of a preventable...
  • Nuclear Nonproliferation (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   affirms its support for:      (i)   the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, and...
  • Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that in 2008 the Government and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia signed the Closing the Gap...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and...
  • Gambling Reform Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Crossin, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Export Control Act 1982 to prohibit the export of live animals for slaughter, and for related purposes. Question...
  • Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition 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. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Farmers and Settlers Association (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Joyce, Senator Nash, Senator Scullion, Senator Boswell and Senator McKenzie, move: That the Senate notes:   (a)   Wednesday, 28 March...
  • Australian Defence Force Academy (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes the findings by Andrew Kirkham AM, RFD, QC into the 'ADFA Skype affair', in particular his finding that the Commandant of the...
  • Privileges Committee (55 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   expresses confidence in the President's handling of the recent privileges issue for which Senator Kroger sought precedence; and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Heffernan, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on operational issues in export...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Macdonald, 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...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Poker Machine Harm Reduction ($1 Bets and Other Measures) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Madigan and Xenophon, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation of poker machines to reduce the harm of...
  • Poker Machine Harm Reduction ($1 Bets and Other Measures) 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)
  • Constituents Request Program (13 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Macdonald, move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that Buckingham Palace has issued two official portraits to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the ascension to...
  • Privileges Committee (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a short statement of no longer than one minute.
  • Mining (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes a current report by The Australia Institute, which finds:      (i)   the mining boom...
  • Privileges Committee (4 speeches)
    I move: That the President of the Senate report to the Senate on the next day of sitting on whether the Committee of Privileges is endangered with politicisation by 'SLAPP' writ style references,...
  • Acknowledgement of Country (2 speeches)
    I move: That recognising the Indigenous people of Australia be the first matter for the Senate each day, as it is in the House of Representatives.
  • Nuclear Energy (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   that a crackdown by over 6 000 police on non-violent anti-nuclear...
  • Marine Conservation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   up to 90 per cent of marine life within the Great Australian Bight...
  • Mining (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that in the past 6 months since the Greens motion for a moratorium on coal seam gas mining was first defeated in the Senate,...
  • Great Barrier Reef (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   a recent Galaxy poll found 88 per cent of Queenslanders oppose...
  • World Water Day (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 735 standing in my name relating to World Water Day 2012. I indicate that I will be moving it also on behalf of Senator Bob Carr and...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
    My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Is the minister aware that a report prepared by Deloitte Access...
  • Economy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate how the Gillard government's...
  • Carbon Pricing (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. The minister will be aware that the Townsville City Council in publicly published information...
  • Queensland: Bimblebox Nature Refuge (28 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Bimblebox Nature Refuge is an 8,000-hectare privately...
  • Carbon Pricing (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Given the minister's detailed knowledge of Labor's carbon tax and her interest in...
  • Automotive Industry (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Lundy. Can the minister update the Senate on today's announcement of a co-investment in Australia's...
  • Economy (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Given that under a Labor state government Queensland's public debt is projected to peak at $85 billion by...
  • Manufacturing (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Lundy. Can the minister explain why the $1 billion clean technology investment programs, including...
  • Education Funding (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. I refer the minister to the concerns raised by Catholic and independent...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Military Justice (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard responses to a question taken on notice by me yesterday to a question asked in my capacity representing the Minister for Defence. Leave granted. The...
  • Defence Exercises (1 speech)
    I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard an answer to a question taken on notice yesterday from Senator Ludlam in relation to the Australia-United States Status of Forces initiatives. Leave...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing, Economy (14 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, 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 Opposition senators...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 151st report of the Committee of Privileges, entitled Possible imposition of a penalty on, or interference with, a witness before the Rural Affairs and Transport References...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the following government business orders of the day shall be called on immediately and have precedence over all other business till not later than 4.30 pm: Family Law...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Orders and Other Measures) 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.
  • Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Orders and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    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— This Bill responds to...
  • Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Orders and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (3 speeches)
    ) ( ): I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I am not sure how artful I feel this afternoon—
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I present the report of the committee into revisions of the Classifications (Publications,...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Senator Sterle, I present the report of the committee on the Air Navigation and Civil Aviation...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Senator Sterle, I present the report of the committee on the 2011-12 additional estimates, together...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Landholders' Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill 2011; Second Reading (33 speeches)
    The Landholders' Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill 2011 was last debated on 21 September 2011. All parties, except for the Greens, spoke in this chamber of their intention to vote against it....
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Livestock Exports (1 speech)
    I rise with pleasure to comment on the report, under the Australian Meat and Live-Stock Industry Act, on livestock mortalities during export by sea during the period January to June 2011. I will...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Stynes, Mr Jim (1 speech)
    I hope that my colleagues will give me some latitude in relation to the matter I am about to speak about. I express my personal deep regret and the deep regret of all colleagues following the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tourism Australia (6 speeches)
    The Tourism Australia report for 2010-11 is an interesting document. I thank Tourism Australia for attending Parliament House just this morning and for conducting a forum to explain their...
  • Torres Strait Regional Authority (2 speeches)
    I wish to talk today about government document No. 6: The Torres Strait Regional Authority Annual Report 2010-11. The TSRA generally do a very good job. Their report that is before the chair...
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (1 speech)
    As everyone is aware, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has one of the most important jobs in this country—that is, to ensure that one of the wonders of the world is kept in a...
  • Commonwealth Grants Commission (3 speeches)
    It is with some disappointment that I rise to note the Commonwealth Grants Commission's Report on GST revenue sharing relativities: 2012 update. I go to section 2, the recommendations, and it is...
  • National Water Commission (4 speeches)
    I rise to take note of document No. 13, the National Water Commission Act 2004: COAG review into the National Water Commission. This report obviously looks at the National Water Commission, the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity—Joint Statutory Committee—...
  • Electoral Matters Committee; Report (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters report on the so-called Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Protecting Elector Participation) Bill 2012. We did not have an...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    It is my privilege and pleasure to speak on the report of the Joint Standing Committee's visit to the Middle East Area of Operations on 14 May through 18 May 2011. The visit to the ADF units in...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I wish to comment on the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (MySuper Core Provisions) Bill 2011 and Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Obligations and Prudential Standards) Bill 2012...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I would like to make some comments in relation to not just some of the circumstances following the release of this final report but also what we are now seeing in terms of the repercussions of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Judges and Governors-General Legislation Amendment (Family Law) 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.
  • Judges and Governors-General Legislation Amendment (Family Law) 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— JUDGES AND GOVERNORS...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Alert Digest (1 speech)
    I lay on the table the Scrutiny of Bills Committee Alert Digest. Ordered that the report be printed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Maintaining Address) Bill 2011, Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Protecting Elector Participation) 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.
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Maintaining Address) Bill 2011, Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Protecting Elector Participation) Bill 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— ELECTORAL AND...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 15th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Moore, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the Social...
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, Senator Furner, I present a volume of ministerial correspondence relating to the scrutiny of delegated legislation...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till Tuesday, 8 May 2012, at 12.30 pm, or such other time as may be fixed by the President or, in the event of the President being unavailable, by...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to every member of the Senate from the end of the sitting today to the day on which the Senate next meets. Question agreed to.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Hurley, Mr Frank (1 speech)
    This year, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of Frank Hurley—photographer, filmmaker, explorer. Hurley was at the centre of many of the 20th century's great...
  • Privileges Committee (43 speeches)
    I rise to respond to the Standing Committee of Privileges report on whether there was any improper influence in relation to political donations made by Mr Graeme Wood in questions without notice...
  • Horse Industry (1 speech)
    I wish to draw the attention of the chamber this evening to the importance of an industry that I believe is under the radar and should not be: the importance and relevance of the horse industry...
  • Gillard Government (1 speech)
    Thank you, Senator Back, for cooperating with sharing the remaining time. This has been a red-letter week for the Australian government and for the people of Australia. The Gillard government has...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Immigration and Citizenship (Question No. 1548) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 9 February 2012: Is the department aware of any cases where section 457 visas are being used to...
  • Uranium Exports (Question No. 1566) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 27 February 2012: (1) Has the department provided advice to the Minister, the Ministers office or the New...