Senate debates

Thursday, 21 March 2013

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Towards Transparency) Bill 2012; Second Reading (32 speeches, 2 comments)
    The coalition commends to the Senate the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Towards Transparency) Bill 2012. Let me say at the outset that unions do have a very important place in...
  • Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    It gives me great pleasure to rise today to support the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment Bill 2013 because it represents a reform which is, frankly, long overdue. This...
  • Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment 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...
  • Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Finance) 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...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Further Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2013; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise to make some comments on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Further Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2013. I can indicate to the chamber that the coalition does support the bill....
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Further Streamlining and Other Measures) Bill 2013; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in committee of the whole. There...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • In Committee (1 speech)
    I move: That the committee approves the advances provided under the annual Appropriations Acts as a final charge for the year ended 30 June 2012. Question agreed to. Resolution reported; report...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    (—) (): I present the government’s response to the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on its inquiry into Commonwealth contribution to former forced adoption...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Apology for Forced Adoptions (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate support the apology given on this day by the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation, to people affected by forced adoption and removal policies and practices in the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Prime Minister (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does he still have full confidence in the Prime Minister?
  • Fisheries (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's review of Commonwealth fisheries and can he outline...
  • Broadband (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to his repeated statements that he receives daily updates from NBN Co. I...
  • Animal Welfare (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Is the minister aware of ABC Lateline footage of workers kicking, punching and bashing birds at a turkey...
  • Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. I refer the minister to the fact that five boats carrying over 300 people have arrived...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Kim Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Disability Reform. Following the passage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme legislation through the...
  • International Education Industry (12 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Lundy. I refer the minister to revelations that the government...
  • Environment (9 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Yesterday I asked a series of questions...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Gillard Government (31 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion that the Senate declares that it has no confidence in the government's ability to govern itself. Leave not granted. I move: That, pursuant to contingent notice, so...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Environment (1 speech)
    Senator Xenophon asked me questions at question time about funding for water projects in the Riverland. I table additional information in response to the questions and seek leave for the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the exposure draft relating to the Australian Jobs Bill 2013 be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 14 May 2013. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Harmony Day (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Lundy, I move: That the Senate notes that: (a)   Harmony Day is celebrated throughout Australia on 21 March and is a significant day for Australians to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on the impacts on health of air quality be extended to 26 June 2013. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Newstart (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate acknowledges that the current level of Newstart is too low. Question agreed to.
  • Grandparent Carers (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate acknowledges: (a) the valuable contribution that grandparents who take on the primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren make to the Australian community; (b)...
  • World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators McLucas, Fifield, Boyce and Siewert, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 21 March 2013, marks the 8th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and the second...
  • National Close the Gap Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 21 March is National Close the Gap Day and that at least 900 community events are being held around the...
  • Sri Lanka: Human Rights (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1211 standing in my name by removing the name of Senator Rhiannon and adding the name of Senator Xenophon. Leave granted. I, and also...
  • Organ Harvesting (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1212 standing in my name by omitting subparagraph (b)(ii). Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a)...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Heffernan, 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...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Syria (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) it is 2 years since violence erupted in Syria, an estimated 70 000 people have been killed and more than 1...
  • Live Music (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Thistlethwaite, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the strong work conducted by the Commonwealth Arts portfolio to promote the contribution live music makes to...
  • Sporting Club Funding (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that local sporting clubs bring significant social and health benefits to communities, and (ii) with concern, the South Australian Government's...
  • Australian Rail Track Corporation (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) a spokesperson for the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport was quoted on 16 March 2013 as saying That the level of particulate matter...
  • Western Sahara (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes That the question of Western Sahara remains unresolved; (b) expresses its strong support for the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, in...
  • World Tuberculosis Day (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day, (ii) tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and treatable disease claiming the lives of up to 1.4 million people...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee take evidence in Tasmania for its inquiry into the Auditor-General's reports nos 26 of 2007-08 and 22 of 2012-13 in...
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the fourth 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...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Ruston for 21 March 2013 for parliamentary reasons. Question agreed to.
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Valedictory (6 speeches)
    by leave—As you are aware, I announced when I resigned from the ministry that I would leave the Senate fairly shortly after that. As this will be my last day in the parliament—I will...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of a committee.
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 June 2013: The effectiveness of current...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Vyhnalek, Mr Milan (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to pay tribute to a prominent Tasmanian who sadly passed away recently: Mr Milan Vyhnalek. I had the opportunity to meet Mr Vyhnalek in the early 1990s when I was a young...
  • Senate (3 speeches, 1 comment)
    I know it sounds a little peculiar but there are some things I should say. This is a time of turmoil on the other side of the House. Soon we may well get ourselves another Prime Minister and I...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the President's response to the report of the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee on the committee’s inquiry into the performance of the Department of...