Senate debates

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment Bill 2012; In Committee (37 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2012.
  • Fair Work 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.
  • Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to make a contribution on behalf of the coalition on the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012. I indicate at the outset that the coalition is not supporting this piece of...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Trade Unions (4 speeches)
    Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
  • Anzac Centenary (1 speech)
    The centenary of ANZAC provides our nation with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that all Australians, particularly young Australians, understand the sacrifices that have been made by...
  • Australian Peacekeepers (1 speech)
    Today I want to pay tribute to the important work of Australia's peacekeepers, some of whom join us in the gallery today. What is it that they do for us in our name? Let us start by going back in...
  • Industrial Relations (1 speech)
    For more than a year, and increasingly over recent weeks, there has been growing concern over the scandal involving the Australian Workers' Union Workplace Reform Association—described by...
  • Georgia (1 speech)
    I rise today to report on a visit undertaken by me and Senator Mark Furner to Georgia on 1 October this year as part of the international contingent of election observers. It was a rushed trip...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! Before I call Senator Abetz, I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Australian Political Exchange Council 21st delegation from the People's...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Middle East (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr. I refer the minister to his remarks on Sky Agenda yesterday: 'There is a feeling in the Labor Party that you go for abstention....
  • Economy (11 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Has the minister seen any recent international reports on the performance of the Australian economy? How does this compare...
  • Middle East (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr. I remind the minister that Australia has had a policy since 1948 through the governments of Chifley, Menzies, Holt, McEwen,...
  • Climate Change (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister Ludwig. In light of the terrifying scientific evidence presented to the United Nations...
  • Defence Equipment (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to my unanswered questions of 1...
  • Automotive Industry (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Lundy. What is the minister's reaction to comments by the managing-director of General Motors Holden...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong, and I preface my question by acknowledging that the National Disability Awards will be held in Canberra tonight and that...
  • Cooperatives (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Given that the UN-declared International Year of Co-operatives is coming to an end, given that the sector has invested...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Middle East, National Disability Insurance Scheme (13 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Bob Carr) and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong) to questions without...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Farrell on 29 November 2012, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2012; First Reading (3 speeches)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this...
  • Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table the explanatory memorandum to the bill and 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes, with concern, the recent and growing job losses in state governments around Australia, as well as the difficulties many state public sector employees...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I move: That the following matters be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 20 March 2013: (a) recent trends on the frequency of extreme...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Uranium Mining (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) demonstrations will be held in Adelaide, Perth and Darwin to mark the Toro Energy Limited annual general meeting on Wednesday, 28 November 2012, (ii)...
  • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to give asylum seekers and refugees the legal right to work.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a brief statement.
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend business notice of motion No. 4 standing in my name for today, proposing a reference to the Community Affairs References Committee on air quality, before asking that it be...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Biosecurity Bill 2012, Inspector-General of Biosecurity Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bills be introduced: A bill for an act relating to diseases and pests that may cause harm to human, animal or plant health or the environment, and for related purposes,...
  • Biosecurity Bill 2012, Inspector-General of Biosecurity Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I table the explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • African Anti-homosexuality Legislation (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1041, standing in my name for today, relating to anti-homosexuality legislation in Africa. I have circulated the amendments to the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Stephens, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Sterle, I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee be authorised to meet during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 29 November...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That notice of motion No. 1069, standing in my name, be postponed until 29 November. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Peacekeepers (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Australian peacekeepers make a significant contribution to international peace and security, (ii) 48 Australians have died on peacekeeping...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, I present a report of the committee. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the final report of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee on the performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services, together with the Hansard records of...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present a report of the Economics References Committee on the post-GFC banking sector together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. Ordered that the...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I present the report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on Medicare funding for hyperbaric oxygen treatment, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 131st report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, on treaties tabled in 21 August, 11 and 18 September 2012, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The Joint...
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the seventh report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights on the examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights Parliamentary Scrutiny Act 2011. Ordered...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of my colleague Senator Nash I represent the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement on the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2012 together with the...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee under provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2012 be presented by 18 March 2013....
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee, Public Accounts and Audit Committee, Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chairs of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee and the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee and on behalf of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Media Related Activity in Parliament House and its Precincts (1 speech)
    On behalf of the President and for the information of senators I present the Rules for Media Related Activity in Parliament House and its Precincts which the Speaker and the President have agreed...
  • World Health Sight Day (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the response by the Minister for Health to the Senate resolution on World Health Sight Day. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate take note of the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government response to the President's report of 28 June 2012 on government responses outstanding to parliamentary committee reports. I seek leave to have the document incorporated...
  • Treaties Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I rise to make some brief remarks about the government's response to the 126th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and move: The Senate take note of the document....
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair, Senator Heffernan, I present an interim report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the Foreign Investment Review Board national...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Bern and Bilateral Visits to Germany and Austria (1 speech)
    I present the 125th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly report of the Australian parliamentary delegation in Bern, Switzerland, and bilateral visits to Germany and Austria, which took place from...
  • Parliamentary Delegation to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia (1 speech)
    by leave—I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to the People's Republic of China and to the Republic of Indonesia, which took place from 26 August to 7 September...
  • Parliamentary Delegation to the Solomon Islands and Samoa (1 speech)
    by leave—I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to the Solomon Islands and Samoa, which took place from 31 July to 11 September 2011. I seek leave to move a motion...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking to appoint members to a committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) 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.
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Customs Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2012, Customs Tariff Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) 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.
  • Customs Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2012, Customs Tariff Amendment (Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) 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— CUSTOMS AMENDMENT...
  • Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper. I...
  • Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) 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— HEALTH AND OTHER...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    The President has received a message from the House of Representatives transmitting for concurrence a resolution proposing the formation of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan; Disallowance (23 speeches)
    I move: That the Basin Plan 2012, made under Part 2 of the Water Act 2007, be disallowed. I rise today to speak in favour of this motion. It is with a heavy heart that I do, because I would have...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Gietzelt, Mr Ray, AO (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to recognise the life and contribution of the late Ray Gietzelt. Ray was a reformer and moderniser. For 30 years he fought to open up his union and the Labor Party to the voices of...
  • Rural and Regional Family Support Services (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to draw to the attention of the Senate a matter that is of ongoing concern to regional communities in Western Australia. I refer to the funding arrangements for the Rural And...
  • Australian Republican Movement (1 speech)
    I want to take this opportunity to speak about recent events in the ongoing movement towards an Australian republic. On Sunday, 18 November, I was fortunate to attend the launch of the Our...
  • Economy (13 speeches)
    Before I make my own intended remarks tonight, I will just say that in hearing Senator Singh's very thoughtful speech that I do have to say my recollection of Australian history is that it was in...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • The Lodge and Kirribilli House: Costings (Question No. 2138) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister in the Senate, upon notice, on 5 September 2012: With reference to The Lodge and Kirribilli House, detailed separately, can the following...
  • Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2367) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity in the Senate, upon notice, on 9 October 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and...