Senate debates

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chairs of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Senator Cameron, and the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Heffernan, I...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the intervening business be postponed until after consideration of government business order of the day No. 1, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2013. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2013; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    The cooperative approach that we certainly believe needs to be taken in relation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme is well exemplified by the Prime Minister and the New South Wales...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2013; In Committee (75 speeches)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion to enable the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee to meet during the sitting of the Senate today. Leave granted. I move: That the Rural and...
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (3 speeches)
    Today I rise in the matters of public interest discussion to make a contribution to the ongoing debate about the cost of living. As we know, cost of living is an issue which the opposition love...
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs (4 speeches)
    I rise today to raise a matter of deep concern to me. It is a matter of critical interest to the coalition and, I would think, to all Australians who follow the management of the Foreign Affairs...
  • Charitable Organisations (1 speech)
    Today I rise to speak on an issue that is fundamental to many Australian charities, and that is an issue that is currently being canvassed by the Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee,...
  • Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exits Program (1 speech)
    I rise today to comment on the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program. I am very pleased that the Senate agreed yesterday that there should be an...
  • Western Australia: Election (1 speech)
    Today I want to talk about the very fantastic phenomenon that was the Western Australian state election. In May 2001 the Labor Party, for the first time in my home state's history, took control...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to his statement to the Senate yesterday that: NBN Co. go through...
  • Pensions and Benefits (14 speeches)
    Sorry, Mr President, I was daydreaming—what an embarrassment! My question today is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Kim Carr. I apologise for the daydream, but it is Seniors Week...
  • Antidiscrimination Legislation (14 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I remind the minister that his own Labor colleagues are quoted today as saying that the government's now dumped...
  • Human Rights (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General. I refer to the government's decision to abandon legislation to consolidate Commonwealth human rights law and include additional...
  • Industry Fees and Charges (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer to the import clearance program industry equalisation reserve, which is industry money held by the...
  • Rural Research and Development (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of investment in rural research and development?...
  • South Australia: Employment (28 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the collapse this week of...
  • Water (13 speeches)
    Thank you, Mr President. My question is to Senator Conroy, representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. On 28 October 2012, Minister Burke, in a...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Income Equalisation Reserve (1 speech)
    (—) (): I wish to answer a question asked by Senator Colbeck at additional estimates, question 179. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard. The answer read as follows—...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of all answers to questions without notice asked today. The particular answers to which I wish to address myself are the answers given by Senator Conroy to...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (2 speeches)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the exposure draft relating to the Australian Jobs Bill 2013 be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted, on 21 March 2013, to the following senators: (a) Senator Stephens, for parliamentary business; and (b) Senator Brown, for personal...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 21 March...
  • 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 3 June 2013: The current framework and operation of subclass...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tibet (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate notes the Australian Government's efforts to urge Chinese authorities to: (a) address the underlying causes of tension in Tibetan regions; (b) end the use of harsh...
  • Peacekeepers (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) about 70 000 Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police personnel have been deployed on over 60 peacekeeping operations throughout...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Great Barrier Reef) Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for related purposes. Environment Protection and...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Great Barrier Reef) 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 an explanatory memorandum and I seek leave to have...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1203 standing in my name and the name of Senator Xenophon for today, ordering the production of documents relating to children in...
  • Review of Commonwealth Fisheries Management Legislation; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1204 standing in my name for today, relating to the production of documents on the fisheries management legislative review. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee; Government Response to Report (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1199 standing in the name of Senator Back, relating to the government response to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Snowy Scientific Committee (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) with concern, the New South Wales Government's intention to abolish the Independent Snowy Scientific Committee established under section 57 of the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bill, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings. Tax Laws Amendment (2012...
  • Rearrangement (91 speeches)
    I move government business notice of motion No. 1: That, on Thursday, 21 March 2013: (a) the hours of meeting shall be 9.30 am to adjournment; and (b) the routine of business shall be:...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to table the fourth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, which, amongst other things, deals with both the NDIS and the broadcasting series of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2013; In Committee (15 speeches)
    We are considering amendment (1) on sheet 7362, moved by Senator Xenophon.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (6 speeches)
    I move: That the sitting of the Senate be suspended until 7 pm.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on the media reform bills package, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (42 speeches)
    I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and move: That these bills be now read a second time and I seek leave to have the second...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I seek leave to present additional comments relating to the report of the Environment and Communication Legislation Committee on the media reform bills package tabled earlier this evening. Leave...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I note that there are 22 speakers after me in relation to this debate and that this debate is due to conclude at 9 pm. To say that this is an abrogation of our duties in the Senate to properly...
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2013; Third Reading (4 speeches)
    Senator Xenophon, I seek your guidance. Are you going to be withdrawing or moving your amendments?
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    In relation to the document tabled earlier this evening on the media reform bills package by the opposition, I move: That the document be printed and included in the report by the Environment and...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Colbeck replace Senator Nash on the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for the committee's inquiry into the Auditor-General's...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2013, Foreign Affairs Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2013, Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2013; 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...
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013, Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2013, Foreign Affairs Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2013, Insurance Contracts Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013 and I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to...
  • Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (Registration Fees) Bill 2013, Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Amendment (Registration Fees) Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (Registration Fees) Bill 2013, Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Amendment (Registration Fees) Bill 2013; 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— WATER...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the two reports of the committee as listed at item 11 on today's Order of Business. The list read as follows— 4th...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the Community Affairs References Committee report Australia's domestic response to the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health report 'Closing the gap...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Macdonald, the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, I present the 4th report of 2013. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No.4...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Heffernan, the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, I present an interim report of the committee on fresh pineapple imports, New...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I present the committee's report Family business in Australia, together with the Hansard record of...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the Environment and Communications References Committee's report The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity, together with...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia (1 speech)
    Acknowledging that Easter is approaching, this is our last parliamentary sitting week until May. As such, I would like to briefly reflect on the achievements of the Rudd and Gillard governments...
  • Indigenous Employment (1 speech)
    There are very serious community and professional concerns relating to this government's apparent, if not admitted, dismantling of a highly effective scheme for giving Indigenous Australians the...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech, 1 comment)
    There was a time when Australia was a country known for its compassion and hospitality. It was a place to which many turned for assistance and refuge. We welcomed displaced persons from Europe...
  • Open Government Partnership (1 speech)
    Tonight I would like to highlight inconsistent evidence provided at the recent budget estimates round by the Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in...