Senate debates

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Statement and Documents (1 speech)
    I table the following documents: The Budget 2012-13—Statement by the Treasurer (Mr Swan), dated 8 May 2012. Budget papers— No. 1—Budget strategy and outlook 2012-13. No....
  • Proposed Expenditure (1 speech)
    I table the following documents: Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013. Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of Senator Macdonald, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Disability Support Pension Participation Reforms) Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise today to speak on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Disability Support Pension Participation Reforms) Bill 2012. The key purpose of this bill is to implement the...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Disability Support Pension Participation Reforms) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the parliamentary secretary to move the third reading, unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in the Committee of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 2, Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other Measures) Bill 2012. This bill seeks to implement a range of income support measures as set out by...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I call the minister to move the third reading, unless any senator requires the bill to be considered in the Committee of the Whole.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That government business notices of motion Nos 1 and 2 be postponed to a later hour. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Report of Legislation Committee (5 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I present the report on the Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012, together with...
  • Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    So the bill is now on, is it?
  • Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the parliamentary secretary to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in the Committee of...
  • Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I rise today to speak on the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. This bill seeks to implement changes that the government announced in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal...
  • Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    Amendments have been circulated by Senator Xenophon, who cannot be here today to move them. Before I call the parliamentary secretary to move the third reading, does any senator wish to have a...
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2012, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I rise to contribute to the debate on the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill and related bills. I am very disappointed at the environment in which we are having this debate. I will...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Tobacco (1 speech)
    The Cancer Council of Australia and the Heart Foundation have advised that tobacco kills over 15,000 Australians each year and five million worldwide and is widely recognised as the single...
  • Olive Oil Industry (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about a very important industry here in Australia that has been established over recent years—a rather new industry—that is really getting done over. I refer to the...
  • Welfare Reform (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on a matter that I believe is of extreme public interest: the current state of Newstart and other allowance payments in this country. It is a timely issue, given the government's...
  • National Palliative Care Week (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the forthcoming National Palliative Care Week, commencing on 20 May and going through to 26 May. It is important that this event is recognised to improve the profile of the...
  • Cybersafety (1 speech)
    I rise this afternoon to speak about an important social issue for young people throughout regional and metropolitan Australia. It concerns the evolution of tech­nology and in particular the...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I table for the information of the Senate a revised ministry list dated 8 May 2012 which updates representative responsibilities of Labor ministers in the chamber. I seek leave to have it...
• Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
  • Australian Greens (4 speeches)
    by leave—On behalf of the Australian Greens I wish to inform the chamber of changes to our leadership arrangements. On Friday, 13 April, Senator Bob Brown resigned as Leader of the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Budget (27 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Can the minister confirm that over its first four budgets the government budgeted for deficits totalling $99 billion but...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I note the presence in the President's gallery of former President of the Senate Alan Ferguson. Welcome, Senator Ferguson. I am sure you will feel quite comfortable with question time. I draw to...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Budget (54 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Can the minister confirm that, according to Labor's budget last night, revenue for 2012-13 is expected to...
  • Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Does the government acknowledge and accept the conclusions of the Victorian report entitled The regional effects of...
  • Budget (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the election at the weekend of new governments in France and possibly in Greece. How confident is...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Bimblebox Nature Refuge (1 speech)
    On 22 March, Senator Waters asked me a question about the Bimblebox Nature Refuge. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as follows— QUESTION...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Budget (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to the 2012-13 Budget. Here we have it again: another year,...
• 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 Health Insurance Amendment (Professional Services...
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 and government business notice of motion No. 2.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 10 May 2012 under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators' bills: No. 65 Air...
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons:   (a)   Senator Urquhart from 8 May to 10 May 2012;...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legisla­tion Committee (Senator Sterle), I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the...
  • Gambling Reform Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services be...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Legislation Committees (1 speech)
    I move: That— (1)   To ensure appropriate consideration of time critical bills by Senate committees, the provisions of all bills introduced into the House of Representatives...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Monday, 18 June 2012 be interrupted at approximately 5.30 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Heffernan, I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committe on Law Enforcement, Senator Nash, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement be authorised to hold a...
  • Senators' Interests Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Standing Committee of Senators' Interests, Senator Bernardi, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Standing Committee of Senators'...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Community Affairs References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 9 May 2012, from 5 pm, to take evidence for the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Centenary of Canberra (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   the national significance of celebrating the centenary of the foundation...
  • Childcare Funding (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 750 standing in my name, relating to a Productivity Commission inquiry into childcare funding, as circulated in the chamber. Leave...
  • Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, no later than noon on Thursday, 22 March 2012, information relating to the most recent meeting convened...
  • Overseas Development Assistance (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   reaffirms its commitment to increase overseas development assistance (ODA) to at least 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI)...
  • Burma (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD) won 43 of the 45 seats...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Birmingham, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   the Murray-Darling Basin...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (42 speeches)
    I ask that government business notice of motion No. 1 relating to the consideration of the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (Schoolkids Bonus Budget Measures) Bill 2012 be taken...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Budget (11 speeches)
    The Gillard government's budget is indeed a budget of cooked books, with the toxic carbon tax as its centrepiece and with yet more debt. Before I make any observations about last night's budget,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! I have received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Asbestos (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about the legacy of asbestos in this country and in relation to some recent movements on this issue. I last spoke in this place about this deadly carcinogen during Asbestos...
  • Regional Development Assistance Program (1 speech)
    It is my honour this evening to rise to support an application by the Wagin community in the Great Southern region of Western Australia to the Australian government for the Regional Development...
  • Partners of Veterans Association (1 speech)
    Two weeks ago today, people around Australia stood back and remembered those who fought for our country in the past and those who continue to serve on Australia's behalf today. For me,...
  • Fashion Industry (1 speech)
    Last week, I was very pleased to see the announcement that 19 editors of Vogue magazines around the world had made a pact to project the image of healthy models. They agreed to 'not knowingly...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet (Question No. 1736) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the Minister's...
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question No. 1753) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the Minister's...
  • Resources and Energy, and Tourism (Question Nos 1754 and 1755) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the...
  • Social Inclusion (Question No. 1762) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Inclusion, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the...
  • Human Services: Staffing (Question No. 1767) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the...
  • Public Service and Integrity (Question No. 1773) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency...
  • Muckaty Land Trust (Question No. 1784) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 26 March 2012: With reference to the contract signed in June 2007 by the Commonwealth Government, the...
  • Muckaty Land Trust (Question No. 1786) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 26 March 2012: With reference to the contract signed in June 2007 by the Commonwealth Government, the...
  • Uranium Exports (Question No. 1787) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice , on 27 March 2012: With reference to paragraph 12 of the answer to question on notice no. 1566 (Senate Hansard,...
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Question No. 1788) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General , upon notice , on 28 March 2012 : In regard to the detention and questioning powers of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation...
  • Gambling (Question No. 1795) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 2 April 2012: Was the department represented at the Interdepartmental Committee meeting held on 8 July 2011, during which poker...
  • Prime Minister (Question No. 1799) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 4 April 2012: In regard to the visit by the Indian national cricket team to Kirribilli House on 3 January 2012:...