Senate debates

Thursday, 11 October 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine Parks Accountable) Bill 2012; Second Reading (42 speeches)
    I rise today to make a contribution to a very important piece of legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine Parks Accountable) Bill 2012. It is...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present the 13th report of 2012 of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That: (a) government business orders of the day nos 3 to 5 be considered from 12.45 pm today under the temporary order relating to non-controversial government business; and (b)...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted for Senator Joyce for 11 October 2012 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the chairs of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee and the Environment and Communications References Committee I move: That the Environment and...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 November 2012: The...
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Reference (7 speeches, 1 comment)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind Farms) Bill 2012 be referred to the Environment and Communications...
  • Diplomatic Relations with Thailand (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 974 standing in my name for today relating to diplomatic relations with Thailand before asking that it be taken as formal. Leave...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee be authorised to...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Service of Overseas Peacekeepers (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No 978 relating to the service of overseas peacekeepers. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended in the terms circulated in the...
  • World Sight Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Di Natale, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Thursday, 11 October is World Sight Day, (ii) over half a million Australians aged over 40 are living...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Australian Charities...
  • Parramatta Female Factory Precinct (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 969, standing in my name for today, relating to the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct before asking that it be taken as a formal...
  • Marriage Equality Legislation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate calls on the Gillard Government to rule out a Commonwealth challenge of any state-based marriage equality legislation that is passed into law by any state parliament in...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Data Retention Advice; 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 Monday, 29 October 2012, advice provided to the Attorney-General by the...
  • National Data Retention Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, no later than noon on Monday, 29 October 2012, the following: (a) a list of dates, invitees and...
  • Public Interest Disclosure Bill, Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Special Minister of State and the Minister representing the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity, by 1 November...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    As the chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, I present an addendum to the report of the committee on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin. Ordered that...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to the following estimates: Economics Legislation Committee Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Foreign Affairs,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 20th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Federal Circuit Court of Australia Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, Higher Education Support Amendment (Maximum Payment Amounts and Other Measures) Bill 2012, Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012, National Health Security Amendment Bill 2012, First Reading; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    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— FEDERAL CIRCUIT...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2012: Any proposed government amendments in...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment Bill 2012 and indicate that the coalition will not be opposing this bill. This bill amends the Industrial...
  • Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The coalition supports this bill, the Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012, but I do want to remind the Senate that this debate takes place in the wake of the Gillard government's...
  • Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated so I will now call Senator Feeney to move the third reading.
  • National Portrait Gallery of Australia Bill 2012, National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2012; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    The purpose of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia Bill 2012 and the National Portrait Gallery of Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2012 is to establish the...
  • Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012, Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    ): I table a replacement explanatory memorandum relating to the Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012.
  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Student Visas) Bill 2012, Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Migration Legislation Amendment (Student Visas) Bill 2012. Whilst the coalition will not be opposing the bill, we do have some concerns with it. The purpose of the bill is...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. The minister, I am sure, will be familiar with the refinery operated by...
  • Bali Bombings (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister inform the Senate about the Australian government's memorial services for the 10th anniversary of the 2002...
  • Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to Grain Products Australia, a Tamworth business that...
  • Solar Energy (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister Ludwig. Is the minister aware of the overwhelming, across-the-board support in Port...
  • Carbon Pricing (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to a joint press release issued by the Minister for Climate...
  • Rural and Regional Services (14 speeches)
    My question is also for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister please outline to the Senate what support the government provides to Australian...
  • Union Funds (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Wong. I refer to the findings of improper use of union funds by former HSU officials and...
  • International Year of Co-operatives (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. In these closing stages of the International Year of Co-operatives, with the United Nations and other international...
  • South Australian Economy (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the dire set of economic data in her home state of South Australia after yet another two major...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing; Tabling (19 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to table the electricity invoices from Grain Products Australia, all six of them over the three-month period, as I stated in a question during question time....
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Union Funds (25 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Boyce, the deputy chair, I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services on the Corporations Legislation Amendment...
  • Economics Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy (Charges — Excise) Amendment Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Charges — Customs) Amendment Bill 2012, Excise Tariff Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Auctions) Amendment 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.
  • Clean Energy (Charges — Excise) Amendment Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Charges — Customs) Amendment Bill 2012, Excise Tariff Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Per-tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012, Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge — Auctions) Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda and 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...
  • Social and Community Services Pay Equity Special Account Bill 2012, Social and Community Services Pay Equity Special Account (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.
  • Social and Community Services Pay Equity Special Account Bill 2012, Social and Community Services Pay Equity Special Account (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda and 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...
  • Dental Benefits Amendment Bill 2012, Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2012 Budget and Other Measures) 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...
  • Dental Benefits Amendment Bill 2012, Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2012 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda and 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Reference (6 speeches)
    As senators will perhaps recollect, I was just getting warmed up on this committee reference. I want to remind the chamber of exactly why I have taken the decision to tie up a little more time...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill 2012; Second Reading (15 speeches)
    Events of recent weeks involving the cruel treatment of the live export shipments from Australia and the failure of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System highlight yet again why it is time...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Grain Products Australia (2 speeches)
    I table the electricity accounts for Grain Products Australia, as requested by the government and people like Senator Evans during question time today.
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Report on digital transmission and reception dated October 2012 is a document which any senator who has an interest in rural and regional...
  • Australian War Memorial (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Australian Research Council (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present the interim report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, together with the Hansard record of...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. As Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee I rise to speak on the committee's report into the detention of Indonesian...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I rise to address the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee final report on the Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011. The coalition has dissented from the majority report in this...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    The Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill 2012 was debated earlier today, although I understand that the debate has not yet been concluded. That is a bill that was brought forward by...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Infrastructure (3 speeches)
    I note Senator Ian Macdonald's contribution and rise, ironically, to deal with significant infrastructure spending in a very safe Liberal seat. I had the honour of representing Minister Garrett...
  • Australian Capital Territory Election (1 speech)
    I rise to intervene in a debate which is happening around the ACT at the present time, a debate which I am sure members of the Senate could not be unaware of. It is a debate about an issue in the...
  • Mental Health (1 speech)
    I rise to speak tonight in relation to the consultations I have been conducting throughout country Australia about the delivery of, and access to, mental health services in rural, regional and...
  • Abortion (1 speech)
    Women should have the right to a legal, accessible and affordable abortion in Australia. Women should have the right and the opportunity to make decisions about their bodies. According to a...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1983) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 3 August 2012: With reference to Budget estimates hearings of the Education, Employment and...
  • Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government (Question No. 2012) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, upon notice, on 14 August 2012: With reference to the $300,000 research grant...
  • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2098) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 23 August 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. EW0290_13, taken on...
  • Ministerial Staff: iPad and iPhones (Question No. 2101) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 23 August 2012. How many: (a) iPad 2 or equivalent tablet devices have been provided to Defence related personnel in...
  • Defence: Consultancy (Question No. 2106) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 23 August 2012: (1) Given that there are 356 senior officers within the department, why was it necessary to spend $61...
  • Defence (Question No. 2109) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 23 August 2012, Can the Minister provide a relevant response as to why the Middle East Area of Operations contract has...
  • Homelessness (Question No. 2115) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Homelessness, upon notice, on 24 August 2012: (1) Can specific figures be provided on the reduction in the number of...
  • Housing Assistance and Homelessness (Question No. 2116) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Homelessness, upon notice, on 24 August 2012: (1) Can a full breakdown be provided of the expected allocation of...
  • Treasury: Official Hospitality (Question No. 2118) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 24 August 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. BET 601 608, taken on notice during the 2012 13 Budget...
  • Professor Ian Chubb (Question No. 2123) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, in writing, on 30 August 2012: (1) Since being appointed as Chief Scientist, in a public forum has Professor Ian Chubb...
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question Nos 2125 and 2126) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 31 August 2012: With reference to the advice provided on 22 May 2012, that Government responses to the 5 yearly review...
  • Defence (Question No. 2129) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 31 August 2012: (1) Does the department or any of its agencies have an option or arrangement to purchase all or part of...
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question No. 2130) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 31 August 2012: Under what circumstances and in accordance with which legal instrument would compensation be payable in...
  • HRL Dual Gas Pty Ltd (Question No. 2132) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources & Energy, upon notice, on 31 August 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. SR11, taken on notice during the 2011-12 Supplementary Budget...
  • Browse Joint Venture (Question No. 2134) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 5 September 2012: With reference to the proposed Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct at James Price Point and the recent...
  • Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (Question No. 2137) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 5 September 2012: With reference to the Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate...
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2143) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 7 September 2012 : With reference to the answer provided to question no. EW0015_13, taken on...
  • Small Business (Question No. 2145) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, in writing, on 7 September 2012: With reference to an article in the Australian Financial Review dated 15...
  • Defence (Question No. 2146) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 10 September 2012: In regard to each department and agency within the Minister’s responsibility: (1) Has there been...
  • Health and Ageing (Question Nos 2150 and 2151) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 10 September 2012: In regard to each department and agency within the Minister's responsibility: (1) Has there been a...
  • Human Services (Question No. 2152) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 10 September 2012: In regard to each department and agency within the Minister’s responsibility: (1) Has there been a reduction in the...
  • Commercial Horse Assistance Payment Scheme (Question No. 2155) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 10 September 2012: Given that, under the Commercial Horse Assistance Payment Scheme introduced in 2007, horses were...