Senate debates

Thursday, 29 November 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011; Second Reading (23 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011, reminding myself this morning that we only spoke about this same issue very...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind Farms) Bill 2012; Second Reading (14 speeches, 3 comments)
    I rise today to speak to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind Farms) Bill 2012. The excessive noise from wind farms bill is important and necessary. The issues...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice of intention given yesterday, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name relating to the disallowance of the National Health (Weighted average...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 16th report of 2012 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Boswell for today, 29 November 2012, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of...
• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • Approval of Works (4 speeches)
    I move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the following proposals by the National Capital Authority for capital works within the Parliamentary...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 21 March 2013: The impact of recent proposed federal court fee...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Christian Assyrians in Iraq (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Fierravanti-Wells, I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that: (i) Christian Assyrians, a minority religious and racial group in Iraq, are subject to ongoing...
  • Freedom of Information (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) there is widespread community support for broad freedom of information laws and transparency in government, (ii) the Freedom of Information Act...
  • National Asbestos Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) formally marks National Asbestos Awareness Week, which in 2012 is being held between 26 November and 30 November; (b) acknowledges the ongoing and devastating...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2013: The role, adequacy and effectiveness of...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 21 March 2013: Progress in the implementation of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Iran (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) with deep concern the human rights situation in Iran, including the use of the death penalty, the intimidation and arbitrary arrest of human rights...
  • Cancer Treatments (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Fierravanti-Wells and Madigan, move: That the Senate— (a) notes the concerns of key stakeholders in relation to the price reduction of chemotherapy drug...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Senate Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications, I present the 22nd report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, Senator Furner, I present a volume of correspondence relating to the scrutiny of delegated legislation for the...
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present the report of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee, The adequacy of...
  • Senators' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Standing Committee of Senators' Interests on the code of conduct inquiry, together with submissions received by the committee. Ordered that the report be printed. In...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Water Amendment (Water for the Environment Special Account) 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. I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (14 speeches)
    I move: That, on Thursday, 29 November 2012: (a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and 7 pm to adjournment; (b) divisions may take place after 4.30 pm; (c) any proposal pursuant to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I resume talking about the draft voluntary code of conduct proposed for the Australian wheat industry. The draft code is flawed in that it is not binding, it is not independent, it does not have...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Middle East (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Did the minister or the government give any undertakings to other countries that Australia would abstain from the vote on...
  • Education Funding (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. What is the government doing to ensure a decent start for all...
  • Privatisation (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to a recent letter sent from the Prime Minister to the secretary of the Electrical Trades Union...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the President's gallery of former senator Andrew Murray. Welcome to question time. I am sure you haven't missed too much! Honourable...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Environment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Last week Sir David Attenborough and 32 other world...
  • Indigenous Employment (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Employment and Development, Senator Wong. I refer to the ongoing uncertainty for job placement providers under the...
  • Queensland Floods Recovery (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister update the Senate on the reconstruction effort in Queensland after the floods and cyclones...
  • Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. I remind the minister that on 1 July 2014 the government's carbon tax, the...
  • Food Labelling (10 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Health. On 28 January 2011 Dr Neal Blewett presented his report Labelling logicthe final report of the Review of Food...
  • New South Wales: Grazing Trial (27 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Last week the New South Wales government announced a...
  • Education (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Evans. Could you advise the Senate on how the Gillard government's record of investment in higher...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (111 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. As we end 2012 we see a government in shambolic disarray, a...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    By order of the Senate, by a motion moved earlier today, the time allocated for the second reading debate on this bill has expired. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012; In Committee (29 speeches)
    by leave—I move Australian Greens amendments (1) and (3) on sheet 7294 revised 2 together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit "3", substitute "4". (3) Page 2 (after line 11), after...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (24 speeches)
    The Labor Party has no shame when it comes to casting around for more cash to feed its addiction to reckless and wasteful spending. The Labor Party has got no shame when it comes to rushing...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (0 speeches)
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! I have received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
  • Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    In accordance with the usual practice, I table a report of parliamentary committee reports to which the government has not responded within the prescribed period. The report has been circulated...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Delegation to Pakistan (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to Pakistan, which took place from 29 August to 2 September 2012.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Commonwealth Ombudsman Report 2011-12; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present the 2011-12 report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman on activities under part V of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two government responses to committee reports as listed on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard....
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Maritime Powers Bill 2012; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table a replacement explanatory memorandum relating to the Maritime Powers Bill 2012.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Special Purpose Flights; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present a schedule of special purpose flights for the period 1 January to 30 June 2012. The Clerk: Documents are tabled pursuant to statute. Details will be recorded in the Journals of the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Further MySuper and Transparency Measures) Bill 2012; First Reading (48 speeches)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time. I table the revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Further MySuper and Transparency Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...