Senate debates
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I seek leave to make a brief personal explanation for three minutes as I claim to have been misrepresented. Leave granted. I rise as a result of a newspaper article written by Jessica Wright that...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Australian Natural Disasters (1 speech)
Summer is a time of excesses in this country. The extremes of the climate—the joy of families working and playing on the land and at the beach, the parched deserts and the rainforests, the...
- Member for Dobell (1 speech)
Today I rise once again to make comments in relation to the member for Dobell. Given the proceedings currently on foot, I will not comment on the specifics of the154 charges he is currently...
- Great Barrier Reef (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak about the future of one of Australia's most treasured icons, the Great Barrier Reef. I raise this because of the warnings by the global World Heritage body that the Great...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
I rise today to make a contribution on a matter of public interest. Each year in Australia, February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and to...
- National Security Strategy (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the launch of Australia's National Security Strategy, which the Prime Minister announced on 23 January. I welcome the release of the National Security Strategy. It is...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Obeid, Mr Eddie (24 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. How does the minister reconcile his declaration on ministerial letterhead that he had received benefits from Mr Eddie Obeid in a...
- Indigenous Affairs (11 speeches)
My question is to Senator Carr, who is the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Five years ago, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised...
- Superannuation (24 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. Does the government intend to keep its solemn promise made to Australians saving for their retirement through...
- Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Senator Lundy. Last week, when I was visiting the Manus Island detention centre, I was banned from taking in my camera...
- Mining (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I seek the minister's assistance in relation to the revenue raised by the MRRT. As a former...
- Mali (6 speeches)
My question today is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister please update the Senate on the crisis in Mali?
- Housing Affordability (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Senator Kim Carr. Can the minister explain how splitting the housing portfolio back into two levels of...
- International Student Visas (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Lundy representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. On 30 June 2011 the Knight review into the student visa framework handed down 41 recommendations to...
- Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ludwig, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. I remind the minister that on 11 October last year I raised with you in question...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 2384 (16 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr, for an explanation as to why answers have not been provided to question No. 2384,...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Obeid, Mr Eddie, Superannuation (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to questions without notice asked by the Leader of...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Sport (Senator Lundy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating to detention centres....
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (6 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1092 standing in my name for today related to revenue collected from the minerals resource rent tax be withdrawn, and I seek leave to make a...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
I move: That the following temporary orders of the Senate continue to operate as temporary orders until 30 June 2013: (a) modified rules for question time; (b) consideration of private senators'...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Environment and Communications References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Senator Birmingham, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment and...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I move: That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Bishop, I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit: (a) be authorised to meet on Wednesday, 13 March 2013, as follows: (i) to hold a private meeting...
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Senator Boyce, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and...
- Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, Senator Cash, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I move: That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised...
- Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Senator Crossin, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on...
- Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, Senator Nash, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement be authorised to hold...
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Moore, and the Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee, Senator Siewert, I move: That the Community...
- Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Senator Ryan, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Finance and Public...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Whitehaven Coal (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the disruption to stock market trading caused by a media release which falsely purported to announce the withdrawal of a $1.2 billion loan facility...
- Access to Justice (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises: (i) research from early 2012 by the Australia Institute which revealed that approximately 500 000 Australians are missing out on essential legal...
- Minerals Resource Rent Tax (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that it is in the public interest to release the total amount of revenue raised from the Minerals Resource Rent Tax in order to provide confidence as to...
- Final Budget Outcome for 2012-13 (5 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Williams, move: That the Senate calls on the Government to instruct Treasury to: (a) expedite the completion of the Final Budget Outcome for 2012-13 as soon as...
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate supports the boundary extension for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area as proposed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World...
- Parenting Payments (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges: (i) the physical, emotional and financial stress and anxiety that single parent families who were affected by the parenting payment cuts have...
- International Automatic Tax Information Exchange (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that off shore tax havens are a vehicle for international corruption with a current value of at least $21 trillion globally; (b) supports the European...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Renewable Energy (14 speeches, 2 comments)
I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Cormann and Siewert each submitted a letter to the President in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Macdonald, the chair, I present the first report of 2013 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest...
- Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the first report of 2013 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights on the examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011....
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Gilbert, Mr Edward (Eddie) (1 speech)
Thirty-five years ago the great Aboriginal fast bowler Eddie Gilbert died. Eddie Gilbert was a Queensland Aborigine and first-class cricketer famous for his exceptionally fast bowling and...
- International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (1 speech)
As the coalition spokesperson for the status of women I rise in the Senate this evening to acknowledge that today, 6 February 2013, is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital...
- Cyber Security, Swartz, Aaron (1 speech)
I would like to thank Senator Cash for taking up the issue of female genital mutilation with such passion. I rise to make some remarks about some of the perverse consequences that can come into...
- Stolen Generations (1 speech)
Last week I called on this federal government to focus on and now commit to compensating those directly affected by past policies of forced removal in the Northern Territory. Compensation for the...
- Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget: Efficiency Dividend (Question Nos 2176 and 2216) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 18 September 2012: (1) What is the net financial effect on the department's budget of: (a) the...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question Nos 2337 and 2377) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 10 October 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act...
- Australian Communications and Media Authority: Closed Captioning (Question No. 2387) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 19 October 2012: With reference the role of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in...
- Defence Integrated Distribution System Contract (Question No. 2392) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 19 October 2012: With reference to the Defence Integrated Distribution System contract that outsourced the management of...
- Tenix (Question No. 2393) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 19 October 2012: (1) How many departmental representatives attended meetings with Tenix executives, the Tenix subsidiary...
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Question No. 2396) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: (1) Has the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) conducted any...
- Australian Sports Commission (Question No. 2398) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Sport, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: With reference to questions asked during the 2012-13 Supplementary budget estimates hearing of the Rural and Regional Affairs and...
- Prime Minister and Cabinet (Question No. 2399) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister in the Senate, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Treasury (Question Nos 2400, 2423 and 2444) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 31 October 2012 – Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential Government...
- Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (Question No. 2401) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Defence: Electorate Data Spending (Question Nos 2405, 2434 and 2438) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Personnel and Science and Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel,...
- Government Programs (Question No. 2408, 2409, 2439 and 2440) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Management, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010,...
- Foreign Affairs; and Trade and Competitiveness: Programs, Initiatives and Decisions (Question Nos 2412 and 2419) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual...
- Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities: Programs, Initiatives or Decisions (Question No. 2413) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any...
- Finance and Deregulation: Government Programs, Initiatives and Decisions (Question No. 2414) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential Government programs,...
- Government Program Initiatives (Question Nos 2415, 2424, 2431, 2432 and 2443) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Minister...
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Government Programs, Initiatives and Decisions (Question No. 2416) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by electorate dissections for actual or potential Government...
- Resources and Energy and Tourism: Government Programs, Iniatives and Decisions (Question Nos 2417 and 2418) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Resources & Energy and the Minister for Tourism, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or...
- Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (Question No. 2420) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (Question No. 2421) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual...
- Social Inclusion (Question No. 2425) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Inclusion, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (Question No. 2427) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Housing; and Homelessness: Programs, Initiatives or Decisions (Question Nos 2428 and 2429) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Homelessness, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for...
- Human Services: Electorate Data Spending (Question No. 2430) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential Government programs, initiatives...
- Veterans' Affairs: Government Programs, Initiatives or Decisions (Question No. 2433) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, upon notice 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential...
- Public Service and Integrity (Question No. 2436) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity in the Senate, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections...
- Special Minister of State: Government Programs, Initiatives and Decisions (Question No. 2437) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or potential Government...
- Community Services and Status of Women (Question Nos 2441 and 2442) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Community Services and the Minister for the Status of Women, upon notice, on 31 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate...
- Tax Studies Institute (Question No. 2449) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: With reference to the Tax Studies Institute announced in October 2011 as an outcome of the Tax Forum, and for which...
- Council of Australian Governments: Meetings (Question No. 2450) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: (1) What meetings were held, either before or after the April 2012 Council of Australian Governments (COAG)...
- Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (Question No. 2452) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: With reference to expenditure under the Tasmanian...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2454) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister in the Senate on 2 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and each...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question Nos 2455, 2478 and 2499) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act1997 and each Commonwealth...
- Defence; Defence Personnel and Science; and Defence Materiel (Question Nos 2460, 2489 and 2493 amended) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Minister representing the Minister for Defence Personnel and Science and Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon...
- Infrastructure and Transport: Staffing (Question No. 2462) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: (1) How many Australian Public Service full-time equivalent staff are engaged by...
- Finance and Deregulation: Financial Management and Accountabililty (Question Nos 2465, 2466, 2483, 2484, 2496 and 2497) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform; the Minister for Housing and the Minister for...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2468) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2469) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question Nos 2470, 2479, 2486, 2487 and 2498) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Minister...
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Question No. 2471) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act1997 and each...
- Resources and Energy, and Tourism: Staffing (Question Nos 2472 and 2473) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question Nos 2477, 2481 and 2490) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act1997 and each...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2480) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Inclusion, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and...
- Human Services: Staffing (Question No. 2485) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and each Commonwealth authority...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2491) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Public Service and Integrity, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and...
- Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2492) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act...
- Clean Energy Legislation (Question No. 2502) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: (1) What are the costings for all measures linked to the Clean Energy package, on an underlying cash basis and a...
- Asylum Seekers (Question No. 2507) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 02 November 2012: (1) Have Sri Lankan authorities, including the Sri Lankan Navy, ever informed Australian officials of illegal boats...
- Immigration and Citizenship: Staffing (Question No. 2511) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: (1) What is the total expenditure on staffing for the department and for all...
- Immigration and Citizenship: Advertising and Marketing (Question No. 2514) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, upon notice, on 2 November 2012: (1) How much has the department spent on advertising and marketing since November...
