Senate debates

Thursday, 7 February 2013

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2012 [2013], Public Service Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise this morning to speak on behalf of the opposition on both of these bills before the Senate—one, the Public Service Amendment Bill 2012, a government bill and one, the Parliamentary...
  • Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2012 [2013], Public Service Amendment Bill 2012; In Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the President, I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the amendments circulated by the President. I seek leave to move amendments (1) and (2) proposed by the...
  • Public Service Amendment Bill 2012; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine Parks Accountable) Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to continue speaking on the Environment Protection and Biosecurity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine Parks Accountable) Bill 2012. Since I commenced my comments on this bill I have had...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the first report of 2013 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 BILLS...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a) general business notice of motion no. 1112 standing in the name of Senator Fifield relating to the Gillard...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
    I move Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in the name of Senator Di Natale for today: That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the resolution of the Senate of 20 September 2012, relating to the terms of reference of the Community Affairs References Committee on the sterilisation of people with disabilities,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Syria (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises the worsening conflict in Syria that has resulted in two million displaced citizens and a further 743 000 Syrians who are seeking refuge outside of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Caring for People on Newstart) Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move that the following bill be introduced: A bill for an act to amend the Social Security act 1991 and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this bill may...
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Caring for People on Newstart) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard and to continue my...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Female Genital Mutilation (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Kroger, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Wednesday, 6 February 2013 marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation,...
  • Victorian Bushfires (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Humphries, move: That the Senate— (a) notes the devastating bushfires that swept through parts of Portland, Creswick, the Gippsland and Alpine regions of...
  • Bushfires (7 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Colbeck, I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises and supports the need for fuel reduction burns as an important management strategy aiding in the protection of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Gambling Reform Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform for inquiry and report by 16 May 2013: The advertising and promotion of gambling services in sport,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Violence against Women (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) with deep concern that throughout the world and in Australia, one in three women will experience violence such...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I seek leave to make an amendment and move the reporting date out by a week to 7 March. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the following matter be referred to the Finance and...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 3, standing in my name and the name of Senator Madigan.
  • Gambling Reform Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move general business notice of motion No. 1113, as amended, in the terms circulated in the chamber: That the following matter be referred to the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform for...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1106 by omitting '19 June 2013' in paragraph (b) and substituting '15 May 2013'. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 3 in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the following matters be referred to the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia Transport Infrastructure; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, by noon on Monday, 25 February 2013, submissions provided to Infrastructure...
  • Court Filing Fees; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by the next day of sitting, the following: (a) results and findings of the review conducted in 2011 by...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Immigration Detention Facilities (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate calls on the government to: (a) facilitate media access to the detention camps in Nauru and Manus Island to provide for transparency and public accountability about the...
  • UK Marriage Equality Legislation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate congratulates the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Mr David Cameron MP, for his leadership in passing historic marriage equality legislation...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Environment and Communications References Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting of the...
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee of Regulations and Ordinances, Senator Furner, I present a volume of ministerial correspondence relating to the scrutiny of delegated legislation...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Senator Boyce, I present the report on statutory oversight of the Australian Securities...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 4) 2012, International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2012, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Compliance Measures) Bill 2012, Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan 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...
  • Customs Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2012, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 4) 2012, International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2012, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Compliance Measures) Bill 2012, Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan 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...
  • Low Aromatic Fuel Bill 2012 (1 speech)
    I rise to congratulate and acknowledge the work of my colleague Senator Rachel Siewert. Since 2005 she has worked to remove sniffable fuel from the Northern Territory and recognise the health...
  • Water Amendment (Water for the Environment Special Account) Bill 2012; In Committee (84 speeches)
    I move Nationals amendment (4) on sheet 7336: (4) Schedule 1, item 2, page 8 (after line 36), after section 86AE, insert: 86AEA Limit on purchase of water access rights...
  • Water Amendment (Water for the Environment Special Account) 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.
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Procedure) Bill 2012 (3 speeches)
    The Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Procedure) Bill 2012 is the result of the recommendations and work of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. It deals with...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Obeid, Mr Eddie (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. In his answer to my question yesterday the minister told the Senate that he knew his six-star board and lodgings at Perisher were...
  • Rural and Regional Services (16 speeches)
    I have a policy question for the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Can the minister inform the Senate what funding the Gillard government has provided to support regional...
  • Carbon Pricing (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy—Eddie's boy. I refer the minister to comments made by the Prime Minister on ABC Sydney on 9 August last year....
  • Coal Seam Gas (8 speeches)
    My questions is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment. Can the minister explain why Minister Burke supported handing over environmental approval power from...
  • Superannuation (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy—my new best friend. Given that the Prime Minister has now told the Australian people—
  • International Development Assistance (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. I ask the minister if he could advise the Senate on threats to cut—
  • Defence Equipment (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to the government's decision to cancel the $225 million contract to buy self-propelled...
  • East Timor (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Minister, in light of the fact that in 16 days, on 23 February this year, the CMATS treaty between Australia and Timor-Leste...
  • South Australian Economy (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to a recent National Australia Bank monthly business survey released that showed that South...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Parenting Payments (1 speech)
    Mr President, I have further information in answer to a question asked by Senator Siewert earlier this week. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as...
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), and with notice given to the relevant minister's office, I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister Lundy, for an...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Gillard Government (16 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators...
  • Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by the Leader of...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, Closing the Gap (6 speeches)
    I present ministerial statements as listed at item 13 on today's order of business.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee, Intelligence and Security Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present four 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....
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (1 speech)
    I present the response to the final report of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the performance of the Department of Parliamentary Services. I seek...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Proposed Additional Expenditure (1 speech)
    I table particulars of proposed additional expenditure and seek leave to move a motion to refer the documents to legislative and general purpose standing committees. Leave granted. I move: That:...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Gillard Government (13 speeches)
    I move the motion standing in Senator Fifield's name: That the Senate notes the failure of the Gillard Government to live within its means or to develop a coherent fiscal strategy. The Labor...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
    I move: Debate resumed on the motion: That the Senate take note of the NBN Co. Ltd Report for 2011-12. It is not with great pleasure, regrettably, that I rise to speak in relation to item No.9...
  • Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (3 speeches, 1 comment)
    I want to talk about superannuation and I want to talk about the DFRDB and the DFRB indexation issue.
  • Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 Report (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I want to bring to the chamber's attention an item that was in the Colac Herald yesterday. It alluded to the fact—I will read the press...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (2 speeches)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (Senator Crossin) I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Gillard Government (1 speech)
    I am very proud to be a part of the federal Labor government. We have introduced and achieved so many good and important Labor initiatives that will improve the lives of all Australians now and...
  • Australian Greens (1 speech)
    It has been over a year since Bob Brown slammed the so-called hate media, also known as the Murdoch press, declaring: … we need news in our papers but we're getting opinion far too much. It...
  • Bushfires (3 speeches)
    I would like to speak this evening with respect to the bushfire that is currently burning in Tasmania down in the Derwent Valley, the brave crews who are fighting that and the chaotic situation...
  • World War I (1 speech)
    On Tuesday morning this week the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial. Seeing them pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I remind honourable senators that legislation committees will meet next to consider estimates, commencing on Monday at 9am. Program details are published on the Senate website. Senate adjourned...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2344) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 9 October 2012 For each department and agency under the Financial...
  • Defence (Question No. 2384) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 19 October 2012: (1) What military and civilian response plans, if any, does the Australian Government have in place to...
  • Government Programs, Initiatives or Decisions (Question No. 2407) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 30 October 2012: Since 1 July 2010, have any electorate-by-electorate dissections for actual or...
  • Financial Management and Accountability (Question No. 2476) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act1997 and each...
  • Veterans' Affairs (Question No. 2488) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, upon notice, 1 November 2012: For each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and...
  • Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and School Education, Early Childhood and Youth (Question No. 2516) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012 : Can an update be provided in relation to questions on notice nos 900 and...
  • 2012-13 Budget (Question No. 2517) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: (1) What reductions or savings have been made within the portfolio following...
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2518) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Can a full list be provided of all savings that have resulted from the...
  • Fair Work Australia (Question No. 2519) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Will the Government intervene in the case General Manager of Fair Work...
  • Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association National Conference (Question No. 2520) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: (1) Did the department have any input into former Minister Evans' speech to...
  • Fair Work Australia (Question No. 2521) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Did the Government submission to Fair Work Australia on penalty rates go to...
  • Health Services Union (Question No. 2522) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: What was the total cost of the intervention by the Minister in the Health...
  • Workplace Relations (Question No. 2523) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Can a list be provided detailing all resolutions of the Workplace Relations...
  • Budget Estimates: Question No. EW0031_13 (Question No. 2525) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Can an update be provided to question no. EW0031_13, taken on notice during...
  • Fair Work Act (Question No. 2526) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to question on notice no. 1907 (Senate Hansard, 15 August...
  • Fair Work Act (Question No. 2527) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to the Fair Work Act Review report titled Towards more...
  • Fair Work Act (Question No. 2528) (1 speech)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: What is the final, total cost of the Fair Work Act Review, and can a full...
  • The Future of Work: Chatham House Rule (Question No. 2529) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Was the Minister's meeting of 4 July 2012, relating to 'The Future of Work',...
  • Fair Work Australia (Question No. 2530) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: What is the cost of the Minister ' s intervention in the Fair Work Australia...
  • Fair Work Act (Question No. 2531) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: At any time, did the Minister consider pulling his application to the High...
  • Fair Work Australia: Staffing (Question No. 2532) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister forEmployment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Can full details be provided of the standard due-diligence that would usually...
  • Budget Estimates: Question No. EW0035_13 (Question No. 2533) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to question no. EW0035_13, taken on notice during the 2012-13...
  • Budget Estimates: Question No. EW0036_13 (Question No. 2534) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relationsupon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to question no. EW0036_13, taken on notice during the 2012-13...
  • Employment and Workplace Relations: Prime Minister's Address to the Australian Industry Group (Question No. 2535) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Did the department or the Minister ' s office have any input into the Prime...
  • International Labour Organization Conventions (Question No. 2536) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Is the Government considering withdrawing support from, or de-ratifying, any...
  • Employment Projections (Question No. 2537) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Does the department agree with the article, published in The Australian on 17...
  • Fair Work Act (Question No. 2538) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question on notice no. 1906 (Senate...
  • Meet the Press (Question No. 2539) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: With reference to the Minister's interview with Mr Paul Bongiorno on Meet the...
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Question No. 2540) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012 : Is the Minister considering any further amendments to the Fair Work...
  • Qantas (Question No. 2541) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Does the Minister stand by the Government's statements that Qantas is a...
  • International Labour Organization Occupational Safety and Health Convention (Question No. 2542) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: Does the Government continue to stand by article 16 of the International...
  • Fair Work Australia (Question No. 2543) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister forEmployment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 November 2012: In relation to Fair Work Australia (FWA): (1) With reference to the financial...
  • Commonwealth Firearms Advisory Council (Question No. 2544) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, upon notice, on 8 November 2012: (1) During the period after Mr Jason Clare's appointment as Minister in December 2011...
  • Radioactive Waste (Question No. 2546) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources and Energy, upon notice, on 12 November 2012: With reference to the storage of radioactive waste at the Australian Defence Industries (ADI) site at St Marys and...
  • Centrelink (Question No. 2547) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 12 November 2012: With reference to applications for the Low Income Supplement: (1) Why does Centrelink not accept a driver licence, which...
  • Arnhem Land Coastal Region (Question No. 2548) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 15 November 2012 : With reference to mining exploration...
  • Bremer Basin (Question No. 2549) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 15 November 2012: Have Arcadia and their joint venture partner...
  • Exploration Permit: Bremer Basin (Question No. 2550) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Resources & Energy, upon notice, on 15 November 2012: Have Arcadia and their joint venture partner Enovation undertaken a 3D seismic survey of the Bremer Basin, Western...