Senate debates

Monday, 25 June 2012

• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 15 August 2012, be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That government business notice of motion No. 2, to exempt a bill from the cut-off order, be postponed to the next day of sitting. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (National Children's Commissioner) Bill 2012; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    After careful consideration, the opposition has decided to oppose this bill. We do so mindful of the considerations recited by the coalition members of the House of Representatives Standing...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (National Children's Commissioner) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and this bill be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Senator Cameron, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Broadcasting Services Amendment...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Improved Access to Television Services) Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Improved Access to Television Services) Bill 2012. At the outset of my remarks, let me reflect on what we just saw in the chamber. I am not...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I present the report of the committee on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012 together with...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012; Second Reading (22 speeches)
    The Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012 is part of the Labor-Greens carbon tax—the carbon tax we were promised before the last election that we would not get; about which the Prime...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Gillard Government (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the three priorities the Prime Minister set for herself at her first press conference...
  • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. Before I ask the question, though, I would acknowledge on behalf of the Greens the tragedy...
  • Burma (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister brief the Senate on the outcomes of his recent visit to Myanmar?
  • Carbon Pricing (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Will the minister confirm that Alcoa's review of its Point Henry aluminium smelter...
  • Remand Population (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ludwig, representing the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice, and it is about the unprecedented growth in Australia's remand population over the last 30 years,...
  • Department of Human Services (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Kim Carr. Given the growing demand for Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support Agency services, can the minister advise the Senate what...
  • Mining (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to modelling undertaken by UBS showing that the government's mining tax will raise only $4.8 billion...
  • Landcare (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister please outline to the Senate the investments the government has made in supporting...
  • Carbon Pricing (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. What does the government say to...
  • Broadcasting Legislation (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister inform the Senate about measures the government is taking to improve access...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (13 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ronaldson today relating to the...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Sport (Senator Lundy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating to asylum seekers. In doing so,...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Yallourn Mine (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Conroy, I seek leave to incorporate answers to questions taken on notice from Senator Madigan on 21 June 2012 concerning the Yallourn Mine. Leave granted. The answer read as...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Brown for today for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Women's Suffrage in Australia (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that 2013 is:      (i)   the 110th anniversary...
  • Meniere's Disease (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Di Natale, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   up to one million...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Financial Ombudsman Service; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators Cormann and Johnston, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, by noon on Thursday, 28 June 2012, all documents,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Aid Budget (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Milne, move: That the Senate—   (a)   congratulates the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) on her appointment to co-chair a global...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (10 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...
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Tasmania (1 speech)
    I table the original certificate of the choice by the Parliament of Tasmania of Lin Estelle Thorp and Peter Stuart Whish-Wilson to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations of Nick Sherry and...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report Nos 49 and 50 of 2011-12 (1 speech)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following reports of the Auditor-General: Report No. 49 of 2011-12—Security assessments of individuals:...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network, I present the third report of the committee on the review of the rollout of the National Broadband Network, together...
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of committees.
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation from the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (7 speeches)
    I present the final report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee's inquiry on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010, together with the Hansard record of proceedings...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012; Second Reading (17 speeches)
    Before question time, I was speaking about this complete waste of money, this $10 billion that is going to be pumped into what is little more than a giant slush fund to appease the Green partners...
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed and the bill be now passed.
  • Clean Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Clean Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, the Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2012....
  • Clean Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question is that the remaining stages of these bills be agreed to and these bills be now passed. Bills read a third time.
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2012-2013, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2012-2013, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2012-2013; Second Reading (15 speeches)
    This year's budget was yet another bad, old-fashioned Labor budget. There was more spending; there were more taxes, yet again; there was another increase in the debt ceiling; there was the...
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) 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.
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment 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— The government believes...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Stronger Super) Bill 2012, Superannuation Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    As part of our commitment to help work towards the most efficient, the most transparent and the most competitive superannuation system possible, the coalition supports the Superannuation...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Defence Budget (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to address the Defence budget, the hysteria it seems to have generated and the reality behind that. As with so many other issues in public life, the Defence budget has been greeted...
  • New South Wales Central Coast (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about the Central Coast region within my state of New South Wales. Just one hour's drive north of Sydney with an approximate population of 312,000, it attracts a mix of residents,...
  • International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about and commemorate tomorrow's International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This day is observed internationally every year on 26 June as a reminder that torture is one...
  • Whiteley, Mr Brett, Allen, Mr Peter (3 speeches)
    In this month 20 years ago Australia lost two great figures in our cultural life, two unique contributors to our nation's artistic legacy, two men who died too young, two men who will be...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Immigration and Citizenship (Question No. 1806) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 13 April 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. 328, taken on notice during the...
  • Cabinet (Question No. 1867) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 30 May 2012: With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 1810, has there been a shortfall between the Cabinet Trust...