Senate debates

Thursday, 14 March 2013

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Retaining Federal Approval Powers) Bill 2012; Second Reading (19 speeches)
    I rise to speak in support of my bill, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Retaining Federal Approval Powers) Bill 2012. This is a crucial bill because it seeks to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I present the third report of 2013 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That: (a) government business orders of the day nos 5, 6 and 7 be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after consideration of the bills listed in...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 21 March 2013 under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators' bills: No. 102...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee be authorised to hold an in camera hearing during the sitting of the Senate on Monday, 18 March 2013,...
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—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...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Heffernan, I move: That the time for the presentation of reports of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee be extended as follows: (a)...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Goulburn Sesquicentenary (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Stephens, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that Royal Letters Patent issued by Queen Victoria on 14 March 1863 established the Anglican Diocese of Goulburn,...
  • Fiji: Human Rights (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the apparent torture and inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees in Fiji, as recently reported in an online video; and (b) calls on the interim...
  • Renewable Energy Certificates (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Assistant Director of Regional Projects for the Department of Planning and Community Development in Victoria has confirmed That the Waubra...
  • International Development Assistance (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1177 standing in my name relating to the importance of the overseas budget and the need for the government and the coalition to...
  • Parenting Payments (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges the financial hardship that single parent families who were moved from Parenting Payment to Newstart on 1 January 2013 have experienced; and (b)...
  • Education Funding (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that: (i) improving teacher quality is one of the various important components to raising education standards in Australian schools, (ii) measures to...
  • Coal Seam Gas (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) no coal seam gas projects or coal mines have been assessed under Australia's national environment laws for their impacts on the climate or water...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Finance) Bill 2013; 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.
  • Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Finance) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I 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 speech read as follows— The Export Finance and...
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2013; 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.
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Select Committee on Broadcasting Legislation; Appointment (2 speeches)
    The President has received a message from the House of Representatives transmitting for concurrence a resolution proposing the appointment of the Joint Select Committee on Broadcasting...
  • Legislation Committees; Report (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2012. Ordered that the reports be printed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    At the outset I indicate that the coalition will be supporting this Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013. But there are a couple points to make along the way in relation to how...
  • Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013; 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...
  • Customs Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (6 speeches, 1 comment)
    The Customs Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2012 makes a number of amendments to the Customs Act relating to the importation of restricted goods, Customs controlled areas and cargo...
  • Customs Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2012; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated. Before I call the parliamentary secretary to move the third reading, does any senator wish to have a committee stage on the bill to ask further...
  • Completion of Kakadu National Park (Koongarra Project Area Repeal) Bill 2013; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise to speak on behalf of the coalition regarding our support for the Completion of Kakadu National Park (Koongarra Project Area Repeal) Bill 2013. This, of course, is a very simple bill that...
  • Completion of Kakadu National Park (Koongarra Project Area Repeal) Bill 2013; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to continue my contribution to the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 2012. It was interesting to reflect on the comments of Senator Brandis in his contribution to the Customs...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Media (33 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer again to the lack of proper and sensible process in cabinet's consideration of the...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I welcome in the gallery former Senator John Tierney. Welcome. Good to see you. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Budget Office (25 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation.
  • Media (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to the provisions of the ironically titled News Media (Self-Regulation)...
  • International Development Assistance (17 speeches)
    My question without notice is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Carr. Does the minister acknowledge the concerns of the Movement to End Poverty and of the 1,000 young people engaged in...
  • Indigenous Employment (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Kim Carr. I refer to the unresolved funding issue under the Indigenous...
  • Migration (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. Can the minister advise the Senate why the government is implementing changes to the 457...
  • Schools: Computers (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I remind the minister that former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised in 2007 that all one...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I note the presence in the gallery of former senator Grant Chapman. Welcome to question time. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Agriculture (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig, in relation to the matters I raised with him yesterday in question time. With regard to the consultation...
  • World Wildlife Fund (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to statements by the World Wildlife Fund International that it is focusing on...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Media Ownership (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 Senators...
  • International Development Assistance (1 speech)
    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 Australian Greens (Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government's response to the report of the Economics Legislation Committee on its examination on annual reports, No. 2 of 2011, and seek leave to have the document incorporated in...
  • Broadcasting Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Free Speech (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate notes Labor's relentless attacks on free speech. I begin this debate on the coalition's motion on free speech by reflecting on the fact that we have a government in...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) — Report for 2011-12, Addendum (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I take this opportunity in looking at this addendum to the AusAID annual report because it continues the work that was in the original report. I...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (39 speeches)
    On 7 March, the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee released its report Implementation of the National Health Reform Agreement. The focus of the inquiry, which featured...
  • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government final report on the majority finding of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    It has been quite a robust debate here today—congratulations, ladies; it is nice to see a bit of passion in the chamber. I rise to speak on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin report...
  • National Broadband Network Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network fourth report. I refer to one part of it which says: The service was launched in Armidale, New South Wales providing a...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • International Women's Day (1 speech)
    Every year on 8 March women all over the world join together to celebrate International Women's Day. In South Australia, we really get behind and support International Women's Day, and this year...
  • Victoria: Health Funding (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to raise serious concerns faced by many in Australia and, I suggest, all Victorians. We know that the Australian public has wised up to a couple of things about the Labor...
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (1 speech)
    I wish to address the Senate about Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. One may be forgiven for thinking that this was an ailment that, if contracted, would put one in the dentist's chair, but in fact...