Senate debates

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012; In Committee (35 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012. The question is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    I rise today to make some remarks regarding the Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012. The coalition will not be opposing this bill. We are certainly very...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012; In Committee (6 speeches)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to government amendments (1) and (2) to be moved to this bill. By leave—I move government amendments (1) and (2) on sheet BM336...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious Drugs, Identity Crime and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious Drugs, Identity Crime and Other measures) Bill 2012 contains a range of measures relating to Commonwealth criminal justice legislation, including...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious Drugs, Identity Crime and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated. Before I call the minister to move the third reading, does any senator wish to have a committee stage on the bill to ask further questions or...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Healthy Body Image (1 speech)
    Today I want to draw attention to two issues of concern currently being championed by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and about which I have spoken previously in the chamber. These are...
  • Prime Minister (3 speeches)
    I quote from the transcript of a press conference in Canberra on 29 April. In it the Prime Minister says: Australians are entitled to expect that people in public life uphold the highest...
  • Carr, Senator Bob (3 speeches)
    Today I would like to reflect on some exchanges in the New South Wales parliament which raise issues relating to Mr Carr's judgement in relation to Mr Obeid. The basic question is whether Mr Carr...
  • Asian Century White Paper (2 speeches)
    I rise today in this matters of public interest discussion to speak on the government's Asian century white paper. We live in an age of great change for the world. Like those looking forward at...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Corruption (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Is the minister aware that Australia is a party to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in...
  • Broadband (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister advise the Senate what the government is doing to ensure Australian homes...
  • Docetaxel (6 speeches)
    My question is a very serious one to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing relating to the treatment of cancer patients. I refer the minister to reports this morning that...
  • Asylum Seekers (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. The immigration minister has just announced that refugees who have arrived post 13...
  • Middle East (6 speeches)
    My question today is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr, and follows on from my question yesterday. Knowing the concerns of all senators here about the crisis in Gaza, can the...
  • Marine Sanctuaries (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. I refer to reports that the environment minister's...
  • Docetaxel (19 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to Minister Ludwig, representing the Minister for Health. Further to Senator Macdonald's line of questions in relation to the chemotherapy drug docetaxel, does the minister...
  • Economy (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to a recent briefing he and Minister Combet received from the government's Industry Update...
  • Anti-discrimination Legislation (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business, Senator Lundy. Can the minister state whether the claims reported in the Australian newspaper today, suggesting that...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Convention against Corruption (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy President, yesterday I referred to an exchange in the New South Wales parliament on 9 September 1999. I attributed some comments to Mr Carr and asserted that he had made some...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Corruption (45 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Bob Carr) to a question without notice asked by Senator Fierravanti-Wells today relating to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Abetz for 21 November and 22 November, for personal reasons; to Senator Joyce for 22 November, for parliamentary reasons; and to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—at the request of Senator Heffernan, I move: That the time for presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the NZ Potatoes...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—at the request of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Moore, I move: That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private...
  • Privileges Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That the following matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report: Whether there was any unauthorised disclosure of the draft report of the Select Committee...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Deepavali (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Lundy, I move: That the Senate notes that: (a) Friday, 16 November 2012, was the celebration of Deepavali, a special day in the calendar for Indian Australians; (b)...
  • White Ribbon Day (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 25 November 2012 marks White Ribbon Day, the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; (b) recognises that:...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation Programming Audio Description Trial (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1036, standing in my name and the name of Senator Siewert for today, relating to the audio description trial for ABC programming before...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation Tasmania Production Unit Closure (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senators Brown and Bushby and the Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Milne, I move: That the Senate— (a) records its disappointment at the decision by the Australian...
  • Middle East (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip; (b) supports Israel's right to defend itself against these unacceptable and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that: (i) Port Waratah Coal Services is seeking approval to construct a major new coal terminal in Newcastle Harbour called Terminal 4 or T4, with a...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Seismic Survey (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes Bight Petroleum's referral of a proposed action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Reference Number: 2012/6583); (b)...
  • Middle East (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) as of 19 November 2012, the tragic loss of over 100 Palestinian and three Israeli lives in the latest conflict in Gaza, (ii) the disproportionate...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Nuclear Waste; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate orders that there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, no later than noon on Monday, 26 November 2012, a map revealing...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I move: That general business notice of motion No. 1037 standing in the name of Senator Macdonald for today, relating to the macropod harvesting industry, be withdrawn.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Environment (11 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from Senator Siewert: Dear Mr President, Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair, Senator Macdonald, I present the fourteenth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest no....
  • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking a variation to the membership of a joint committee.
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment Regulation 2012 (No. 6); Disallowance (7 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Abetz, I move: That the Migration Amendment Regulation 2012 (No. 6), as contained in Select Legislative Instrument 2012 No. 237 and made under the Migration Act 1958, be...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012, 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 (8 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012, which is part of a package of legislation that once again demonstrates—
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Big Steps Campaign (3 speeches)
    What does it take to give a child the best start in life? It is a question that is reflected upon daily by parents, teachers, early childhood educators and politicians, and one that we must...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    The United Nations charter sets out in article 51: Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a...
  • Bardenhagen, Dr Marita (1 speech)
    I rise in the Australian Senate tonight to speak about Dr Marita Bardenhagen, a family friend and great Tasmanian who sadly passed away in Launceston this week. Although this is only a brief...
  • International Day for Asbestos Victims (1 speech)
    I was fortunate to have been invited to represent Australia at the International Day for Asbestos Victims recently, a conference organised by the French national association of asbestos victims,...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Health: Financial Management and Accountability (Question Nos 2255, 2259 and 2268) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 3 October 2012: In regard to each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and...
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet (Question No. 2330) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister in the Senate, upon notice, on 9 October 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and...
  • Social Inclusion (Question No. 2356) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Inclusion, upon notice, on 9 October 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and...
  • Defence Housing Australia (Question No. 2382) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 16 October 2012: With reference to the potential sale, from the department to Defence Housing Australia, of the...
  • Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question No. 2394) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 24 October 2012: (1) What is the end- or renewal-date for the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF) quota fishing season. (2)...