Senate debates

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Instrument of Designation of the Republic of Nauru as a Regional Processing Country (26 speeches)
    It is another sad day in this Australian parliament. It is a sad day because I am sure that at some time in the future our kids are going to ask us, 'How on earth did you let this happen?' Ten...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I am pleased to be finally in a position to give this speech. I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012. This bill amends the Broadcasting Services Act...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Employment (1 speech)
    I rise on a matter of public interest: the proposition that Australian workers should be benchmarked against African workers in order to lift the competitive position of the Australian mining...
  • Rhiannon, Senator Lee (4 speeches)
    It is again an honour to follow Senator Cameron, whose capacity to twist the words of a great Australian is almost beyond measure. While I am on my feet, referring to the weight of people when...
  • Marine Plastic (1 speech)
    Senator Sinodinos, as someone who has worked in the World Trade Centre complex, I find your words today very disturbing, as would all my Green colleagues, and I am sure they will be addressed in...
  • Grey Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
    I also rise to speak on a matter of public interest—namely, infrastructure investment in the electorate of Grey. I recently had the pleasure of accompanying the Minister for Regional...
  • Women in the Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    Before I turn to the matter of public interest I want to raise, I just want to say, having listened to some of the MPIs this afternoon, that I think the Greens need to come into this chamber and...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Fisheries (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer to the press conference that the minister held yesterday with the minister for the environment, in...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Swedish Parliamentary Committee on Taxation, led by Mr Henrik von Sydow MP. On behalf of all senators, I...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Education (13 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister and the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate how the...
  • Live Animal Exports (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to the government's knee-jerk ban on the export of live cattle to Indonesia last year,...
  • Same-Sex Marriage (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Given that the Tasmanian House of Assembly has passed the Greens bill enabling equal access to marriage for same-sex...
  • Fisheries (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer to the minister's supportive statement in question time on Monday regarding the trawler the Abel...
  • Employment (9 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Kim Carr. Following the deep cuts across the board in Queensland's budget, announced yesterday by the Liberal-National...
  • Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Can the minister confirm that the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation is currently operating without a board and...
  • Reserve Bank of Australia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer to revelations on ABC TV's 7.30 last night and in Fairfax newspapers today regarding the Reserve Bank of...
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Does the Gillard government now recognise that the dodgy and ill-thought-out mining tax deal it negotiated, exclusively...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    On 11 September 2012, I took a question on notice from Senator Hanson-Young regarding migration. I seek leave to have the answer incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Fisheries (13 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today...
• Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek leave to make a brief personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented. Leave granted. I thank the Senate. On 30 August 2012 Fairfax Media made...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the Foreign Investment Review Board national...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate today, from 4.30 pm,...
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Back, I move: That the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Disability Employment Services (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   recognises that the rate of employment for people with disability in Australia is significantly less than for people without...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Colbeck, Xenophon, Nash, McKenzie and Madigan, move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee...
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Milne, move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 27 November 2012: Allegations of corruption,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Search and Rescue (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Milne, move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes the importance of clarifying and codifying best practice guidelines for Australian...
  • Israel (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   Senator Rhiannon has acknowledged that some votes shifted away from...
  • Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 917 standing in my name for today relating to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Burmese Democracy Activists (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   on 29 August and 30 August 2012 the Burmese regime removed the names of 1...
  • Protection of Threatened Species and Wilderness Places (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:      (i)   the intention of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water,...
  • Riley, Ms Vikki (10 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) expresses its condolence at the death of Ms Vikki Riley who passed away on 10 September 2012 and extends this...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax Amendment (Protecting Revenue) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2012, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That...
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax Amendment (Protecting Revenue) 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 relating to the bill and have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes the report titled Alternatives to Prohibition – Illicit Drugs: How we can stop killing and criminalising young...
  • Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that the Supreme Court of Victoria issued interim injunctions against the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union...
  • Fair Work Australia (6 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Fierravanti-Wells, move: That the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee publish all the documents received from Fair Work Australia...
  • Israel (4 speeches)
    Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement on the boycotts, divestments and sanctions campaign.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Military Superannuation Pensions (19 speeches, 2 comments)
    I have received the following letter 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Macdonald, the chair, I present the 10th report of 2012 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No....
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Stephens, I present the second report of 2012 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights on the examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme, Child Care (1 speech)
    I present two ministerial statements, relating to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and childcare growth.
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (4 speeches)
    by leave—In relation to the ministerial statement by Minister Macklin, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Minister Macklin's statement observes that there have been a number...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Committee, Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Child Care (1 speech)
    I seek leave to speak to the ministerial statement on child care. Leave granted. I seek leave to continue my remarks. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012, Courts Legislation Amendment (Judicial Complaints) 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.
  • Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012, Courts Legislation Amendment (Judicial Complaints) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    (): I present the explanatory memoranda and table revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012, and I move:...
  • National Portrait Gallery of Australia Bill 2012, National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) 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.
  • National Portrait Gallery of Australia Bill 2012, National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) 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— National Portrait...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legislation Committees; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 30 April 2012. Ordered that the reports be printed.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs 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 Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee and the Community...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Anti-siphoning) Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    As I was saying before my remarks were interrupted previously, Australians love their sport. The government understands this and understands that not all Australians can afford, or want, to opt...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Kite, Ms Delcia (1 speech)
    On 21 August, just four days before her 89th birthday, a great Labor stalwart, Delcia Kite, died. Delcia was an institution in the Left of the Labor Party—a party activist always, a...
  • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to continue my remarks on the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report into defence procurement and specifically on the additional comments that I have...
  • Bielski, Ms Joan Margaret, AO, Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Group (1 speech)
    I express my sadness and acknowledge our great loss at the recent death of Joan Bielski, and I pay tribute to her memory. Joan is remembered for her passionate commitment to social justice and...
  • National Stroke Week (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the issue of National Stroke Week. I am wearing a badge that I was given this morning when I attended breakfast with the Parliamentary Heart Foundation and Stroke...