Senate debates

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

• Business (0 speeches)
  • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Carr, I move: That the Senate adopt the recommendations of the first report of 2013 of the Procedure Committee. The recommendations are as follows: Electronic petitions...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    One of the first referendums was the 1967 referendum, where the Australian people were asked whether Aboriginal people should be counted in the national census and be subject to Commonwealth laws...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition 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...
  • Maritime Powers Bill 2012, Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    The Maritime Powers Bill 2012 and the Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012 seek to establish a framework for the exercise of the Commonwealth's maritime enforcement powers. The...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales Labor Government (64 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the need for Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs to have an unblemished reputation for probity. Accordingly, I refer to the...
  • Education (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Kim Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Given the importance of teacher quality, what is the government doing...
  • Regional Development Australia Fund (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to the government's decision last...
  • Zygier, Mr Ben (12 speeches)
    My question without notice is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Carr, regarding Ben Zygier, otherwise known as Prisoner X. Minister, have you formerly requested from the Israeli...
  • Prime Minister: Western Australia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to my question to him on 27 February relating to the Prime Minister's next visit to my home...
  • Migrant Workers (25 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's support for all Australian workers?
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales Labor Government (28 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 the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    I move: That Senator McLucas be granted leave of absence for today for parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 14 March 2013 under the temporary order relating to consideration of private senators' bills: Environment...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw notice of motion No. 1148 standing in my name.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Eggleston, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on aid to Afghanistan be extended to...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate rejects the vilification of refugees and asylum seekers. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Material of Local Significance) Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this...
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Material of Local Significance) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. Leave granted. I table the explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have...
  • Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for parliamentary approval of certain binding international agreements, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I...
  • Citizen Initiated Referendum Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech, 1 comment)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. Leave granted. I table the explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Education (32 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator Fifield proposing that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The Gillard Government's missed opportunity for...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (2 speeches)
    I present documents listed on today's Order of Business at item 12 which were presented to the President and the Temporary Chair of Committees after the Senate adjourned on 28 February 2013. The...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Tabling (1 speech)
    I present a response from the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory (Mr Mills) to a resolution of the Senate of 22 November 2012 concerning conviction records. The response read as...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government report. It was a privilege to sit on the Joint Select Committee on...
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee— Appointed—...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Senator Sterle, I move: That business of the Senate order of the day no. 5, relating to the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation from the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee, the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Maritime Powers Bill 2012, Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I was saying just before lunch that the Labor government is destroying the fishing industry and I was explaining how. First, work in a policy vacuum. Then let a department that is wholly and...
  • Maritime Powers Bill 2012, Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012; In Committee (17 speeches)
    Minister, why is there no mention of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea even when this bill allows the extraterritorial application of maritime powers?
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Senator Sterle, I present the report of the committee on the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997 — Live-stock mortalities during exports by sea — Report for the period 1 July to 31 December 2012 (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Each year Australia exports millions of live animals, but before the sheep, cattle and other exported animals reach their destinations tens of...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Centenary of Canberra (1 speech)
    Back in late 2008, I gave the first of a series of speeches over recent years devoted entirely to Canberra's wonderful centenary history. The speech recognised the historic decision by federal...
  • Apprenticeships (1 speech)
    As we all very well know, apprentices are the lifeblood of so many vital sectors in Australia. Not only do apprenticeships offer important career paths to hundreds of thousands of people, but...
  • Environment: Dampier Peninsula (1 speech)
    I rise to talk about a very important decision that the federal government made recently listing the monsoon vine thickets on the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley as a threatened ecological...
  • National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about one of the Gillard Labor government's ways for working on preventing bullying and violence in Australian schools. I speak about this because 15 March, which is Friday, marks...
  • Adamson, Mr Bob (1 speech)
    The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has produced many great working class leaders over its history. Bob Adamson ranks with the best of them. Bob passed away on 19 February 2013 at the age...
  • World Glaucoma Week (1 speech)
    The 10th of March this year marked the beginning of World Glaucoma Week. World Glaucoma Week is a joint initiative of the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association. Its...
  • Western Australian Wheat Farmers (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to inform the chamber of the crisis which has unfolded in the Western Australian wheat belt during the last growing season and the summer subsequently. This is been caused,...
  • Environment (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about an article in The Conversation this week by Tasmanian scientist Dr Jennifer Lavers, with whom I have been lucky enough to work in past years as part of the Surfrider...
  • Child, Hon. Gloria Joan Liles, AO (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to make some comments, and add to the very many comments that have been made over the last few weeks, about Joan Child. She was a special, inspirational woman who served her...
  • Australian Islamic Peace Conference (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about an event that is happening in Melbourne this weekend, an event that some Australians may not be aware of yet it is something that all Australians should be informed...
  • Asthma (1 speech)
    Next week in Canberra, this city will be hosting the 2013 National Asthma Conference, Tackling Asthma in Australia—the next 5 years. I wanted to rise this evening to provide a contribution...
  • Immigrant Women's Speakout Association of New South Wales (1 speech)
    Last year the Speakout association for immigrant women turned 30, and tonight I would like to honour the achievements of this community-based organisation, run by the most remarkable and...