Senate debates
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the matter of public interest and wish to make a contribution about the distribution of GST revenues to the states and territories. The Australian government raises the...
- World Wildlife Fund (1 speech)
I rise today to outline what I consider to be the latest example of the extortion schemes that are ruining Australian industry. Hardworking primary producers in a growing range of industries are...
- James Price Point Gas Hub Precinct, National Science Week (1 speech)
I raise the issue of James Price Point in the Kimberley and its relationship to the conversation we have been having in this place over the last week about science. It is National Science Week...
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
I rise in this matter of public interest debate to talk about my hope for our multicultural society going forward. The events of Saturday in Sydney were deplorable. We have all seen the coverage....
- United Arab Emirates (1 speech)
In January 2009, a highly respected Victorian businessman working in Dubai, Mr Matthew Joyce, attended a meeting with Dubai police. He was not allowed to leave this meeting and was incarcerated...
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
I rise on a subject similar to that which Senator Bilyk talked about—that is, the issue of GST funding its distribution across the country. Senator Bilyk and others are misleading the...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the Senate that Senator Bob Carr, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will be absent from the Senate today and tomorrow. As a result we have sought to allocate his responsibilities at...
- Shadow Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I seek leave to table a revised shadow ministry list. Leave granted. The document read as follows— COALITION SHADOW MINISTRY Shadow Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Will the minister rule out increasing taxes to pay for the new spending...
- Education (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education: in light of the OECD report Education at a glance 2012, which states that socioeconomic status is still strongly...
- 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 Myanmar led by the Speaker, the Honourable Thura U Shwe Mann MP. On behalf of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to her comments in a media release earlier this year about funding commitments when she said:...
- Afghanistan (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans, and relates to Afghanistan. Was Australia told or even consulted before the decision was made by NATO to...
- Economic Competitiveness (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. I refer the minister to the fact that many economies—
- Broadband (9 speeches)
My question is to the , Senator Conroy. Can the minister advise the Senate on recent developments with the National Broadband Network and how they benefit regional Australia?
- Lewis, Major General Duncan: Resignation (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the resignation of the Secretary for Defence, former Major General Duncan Lewis, a...
- Biosecurity (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. In the only visible alteration made by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to its 2009...
- Asylum Seekers (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. I refer the minister to her response in question time yesterday to a question asked by me,...
- Agriculture (29 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister update the Senate on any new data on Australian farm income? What does this data say about...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Budget (10 speeches)
Mr Deputy President, I rise to 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 the Leader of...
- Afghanistan (1 speech)
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 Milne...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Joyce for 20 September 2012 on account of parliamentary reasons. Leave granted.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 10 October 2012, be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Dementia Awareness Week (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Polley, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) dementia is the greatest cause of...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Pratt and Senator Moore, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that two-thirds of Australian women who have experienced domestic violence...
- National Family Business Day (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges: (i) that 19 September 2012 is National Family Business Day, and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Migratory Birds (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Australia has been a signatory to the Japan-Australia Migratory...
- Wind Turbines; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health, by 5 pm on Thursday, 11 October 2012, the contents of the following National Health and Medical...
- Environmental Conservation (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the intention of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water,...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Defence (28 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 Gillard...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Macdonald, I present the 11th 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. 11, dated...
- Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the third report of 2012 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights on the examination of...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I present a ministerial statement relating to the future of workers' penalty rates and public holidays.
- Nuclear Medicine (2 speeches)
I also present a ministerial statement on the investment in nuclear medicine and treatment, and move: That the Senate take note of the document. Today's announcement is very good news for the...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise to speak to the ministerial statement by the Hon. Bill Shorten entitled 'Future of workers penalty rates and public holidays', and I move: That the Senate take note of the statement. That...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 3 of 2012-13 (2 speeches)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 3 of 2012-13: Performance audit: Design and conduct of the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party members requesting changes to the membership of committees.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (32 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business for Thursday, 20 September 2012. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion in the name of the Leader of the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
I intend to make very limited remarks in this debate on the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012. I hope to avoid the misrepresentation of my remarks that has occurred in a previous debate about...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- African Development Fund, African Development Bank (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I note the national interest analysis and the appended agreements relating to Australia's bid for membership of the African Development Bank and...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Affairs: Education (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about a range of Indigenous education matters. It is a subject that I am pretty passionate about and have a strong personal commitment to. In the last week, three reports...
- Health: Hepatitis C (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to speak about an important new drug that has become available in Australia for the treatment of hepatitis C. But, before I do so, I would like to make some background...
- Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (3 speeches)
I rise to speak about the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program. This week as we speak 15 Australian Defence Force personnel will be deployed in Parliament House for the annual exchange...
- Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Question No. 1973) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 31 July 2012: In regard to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Special Broadcasting Service,...
- Australia Post (Question No. 1992) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 6 August 2012: (1) Does Australia Post verify each Licensed Post Office’s (LPOs)...
- Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (Question No. 2022) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 16 August 2012: Can the Minister confirm whether the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service or the Australian...
