Senate debates
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I move: That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
My grandfather was a wharfie and in 1972, whilst he was working on the Hungry Mile docks in Sydney, he was seriously injured when he fell from a container on a ship that he was unloading. He...
- Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on an issue that is dear to my heart: the family. Without it I would be nothing and nor would most of the population on the planet. I do not mean to delve into cliches, but...
- West Papua (1 speech)
I rise today to express my grave concerns about a tragic situation that is unfolding on Australia's doorstep at this very moment. I speak of the issue of West Papua, where alarming abuses of...
- Defence Procurement (1 speech)
Earlier this week I tabled report No. 429 from the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit on the 2011 Major projects report by the Australian National Audit Office. Included within that...
- Foreign Investment (1 speech)
I have been an advocate for the interests of Northern Australia for my entire parliamentary career. For 23 years I have been drawing the attention of this chamber, the media and the people of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Carbon Pricing (17 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to her answer in Senate question time yesterday...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from Thailand led by the President of the Thailand-Australia Parliamentary...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate on how the government is helping...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces from France led by Senator Didier...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the government's decision to abandon two of its key budget measures—its plan to...
- Media Ownership (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Given today's announcement of further media concentration with News Limited's reported...
- Housing Affordability, Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Evans. Given that the national housing shortage has increased by 14 per cent to 228,000 dwellings as at June 2011,...
- Marine Sanctuaries (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting— I did actually think Senator Macdonald was interested in...
- Carbon Pricing (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Has the government taken any steps to monitor or assess the number of jobs that...
- WikiLeaks (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. On what basis have grossly irresponsible statements been made by lawyers within our cabinet: the Prime Minister...
- Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Given that there are only 11 days until the carbon tax is introduced, can the...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Migration (1 speech)
On 19 June 2012 I took a question on notice from Senator Hanson-Young regarding migration. I now seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability (9 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 Payne...
- Carbon Pricing (9 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 Opposition senators today relating to the...
- WikiLeaks (3 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 Ludlam...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday,...
- Gambling Reform Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Crossin, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Tuesday, 26 June 2012,...
- National Capital and External Territories Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Pratt, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Queen Elizabeth II: Diamond Jubilee (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate notes that: (a) the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II occurred on 2 June 1953; (b) the Diamond Jubilee of Queen...
- World Refugee Day (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Lundy, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that Wednesday, 20 June 2012 is World Refugee Day, recognising the importance of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Marine Sanctuaries (15 speeches)
A letter has been received from Senator Fifield: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The failure of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present a statement on the work of the committee and seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. This statement has been...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Macdonald, I present the sixth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 6 of 2012....
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
On behalf of the chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Responses to Senate Resolutions; Tabling (2 speeches)
I present a response from the Special Minister of State (Mr Gray) to a resolution of the Senate of 22 March 2012 concerning the Constituents' Request Program.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report Nos 45 and 46 of 2011-12 (2 speeches)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following reports of the Auditor-General: No. 45––Administration of health and hospitals fund:...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Australian Citizenship Amendment (Defence Families) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012, Tax Laws Amendment (Cross-Border Transfer Pricing) Bill (No. 1) 2012, Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Amendment (Scheme Enhancements) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
I indicate to the Senate that these bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I will be moving a motion to have the bills listed...
- Australian Citizenship Amendment (Defence Families) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012, Tax Laws Amendment (Cross-Border Transfer Pricing) Bill (No. 1) 2012, Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Amendment (Scheme Enhancements) 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— AUSTRALIAN...
- Navigation Bill 2012, Navigation (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012, Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Bill 2012, Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law (Consequential Amendments) 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.
- Navigation Bill 2012, Navigation (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012, Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Bill 2012, Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law (Consequential Amendments) 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— NAVIGATION BILL...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Antarctica (1 speech)
I rise in tonight's adjournment debate to make a contribution about an event I attended on Sunday on behalf of the federal government and the environment minister, Mr Tony Burke. The forum on...
- Gillard Government, Marine Sanctuaries (4 speeches)
I rise on the adjournment this evening to talk about a government which is intent on repeating the errors of its short history and a government which cares more about fish than it cares about...
- Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation: 40th Anniversary (1 speech)
Tonight in Darwin there will be a night of celebration and success, a night of celebrating the history of one of the most successful Indigenous economic enterprises the Territory has seen. It is...
- Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Special Minister of State (Question No. 1774) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 22 March 2012: (1) Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the...
- Treasury (Question No. 1789) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, upon notice, on 28 March 2012: (1) At what stage of the four phase implementation schedule is the Australian Charities...
- Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 1790) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 29 March 2012: With reference to section 136 of the Environment...
- Carbon Pricing (Question No. 1791) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 29 March 2012: How many jobs will be created as a result of the Carbon Tax?
- Mining (Question No. 1792) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 29 March 2012: With reference to the Treasurer's Economic Note dated 25 March 2012, how many jobs will be created as a result of the...
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question No. 1793) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 2 April 2012: (1) Can details be provided of the trials for the evaluation of methyl iodide products...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1794) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 2 April 2012: With reference to the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Act 1992...
- Fair Work Australia (Question No. 1796) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 2 April 2012: With reference to the media release issued by the General Manager of Fair Work Australia (FWA) on 14 March...
- Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Question No. 1797) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform, upon notice, on 2 April 2012: With reference...
- Australia Post (Question No. 1798) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 3 April 2012: With reference to Clause 22 of the formal agreements made between Australia Post and...
- Productivity Commission (Question No. 1800) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, upon notice, on 4 April 2012: Does the Productivity Commission have a practical knowledge and appreciation of contemporary workplace...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Question No. 1801) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 4 April 2012: With reference to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, can a breakdown be provided...
- Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Question No. 1802) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 5 April 2012: Can a detailed description be provided of the nature of the content or stories aired on the...
- Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 1803) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 12 April 2012: With reference to the time taken to list threatened...
- Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (Question No. 1807) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 13 April 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. HS 7, taken on notice during the 2011-12 Additional Estimates hearing...
- Syria (Question No. 1808) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 18 April 2011: With reference to the violence in Homs, Syria: (1) Does the Minister agree with the Secretary-General of the United Nations...
- Prime Minister and Cabinet (Question No. 1810) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: With reference to question on notice no. 1696: (1) What was the total amount spent on catering Cabinet and...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1811) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: What marketing has been undertaken in relation to 'workforce communications'.
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1812) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: Has the department undertaken an evaluation of successful Jobs Fund projects;...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1813) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: Who sits on the Homeworkers Code of Practice Committee.
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1815) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: What are the labour market and migration issues associated with the offshoring...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1816) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: Can a breakdown be provided of the cost of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1817) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: (1) Who sits on the High Level Officials Group in relation to workplace...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1818) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: (1) Who sits on the Workplace Relations Reform Steering Committee. (2) Who is...
- Home Affairs (Question No. 1819) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: With reference to the documents released under freedom of information (FOI) laws to journalist...
- Treasury (Question No. 1820) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2012: Given that, according to data from the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM), the total value of currently...
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (Question No. 1821) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 20 April 2012: (1) Has the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and/or the department...
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (Question No. 1822) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 23 April 2012: With reference to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and overseas travel: (1) What is the approval...
- Australian Taxation Office (Question No. 1824) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 23 April 2012: With reference to the Australian Taxation Office Annual Report 2010-11, which states that 'during 2010-11, 3 466...
- Burma (Question No. 1825) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 3 May 2012: (1) Is an Australian business delegation to Burma being organised by the department or by the Australian...
- Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1826) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 4 May 2012: With reference to the answer to question no. 1160, taken on notice during the 2011...
- Housing (Question No. 1829) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, upon notice, on 8 May 2012: With reference to the increase to the Commonwealth Aged and Disability Support Pension, of approximately $10...
- Foreign Affairs and Trade (Question No. 1832) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 9 May 2012: (1) What was the total cost incurred by the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in hosting the...
- Human Services (Question No. 1835) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 10 May 2012: (1) What are the formal roles and responsibilities of the position Special Advisor to the Secretary....
- Human Services (Question No. 1836) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 10 May 2012: (1) What are the formal roles and responsibilities of the position Deputy Director – Child Support. (2) Who occupies this...
- Human Services (Question No. 1837) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 10 May 2012: How many change of assessment applications have been processed by the department in the period July 2004 to June 2011.
- Human Services (Question No. 1838) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 10 May 2012: How many change of assessment applications have been processed where: (a) the applicant has substantiated their reason to...
- Human Rights (Question No. 1850) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 17 May 2012: With reference to the Prime Ministers meeting with President Bongo of Gabon: (1) Was the Prime Minister aware of...
- Burma (Question No. 1852) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 17 May 2012: (1) On what date did the Burmese Government first extend an invitation to Australia to send electoral observers, and what was...
- Fair Work Ombudsman (Question No. 1856) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 18 May 2012: With reference to the legal case between the Fair Work Ombudsman and Wegra...
- Finance and Deregulation (Question No. 1860) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 18 May 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question on notice no. 1305: Have any representations been made to the...
- National Broadband Network (Question No. 1865) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 30 May 2012: In relation to the National Broadband Network rollout in Tasmania, were plans submitted for...
