Senate debates
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- Literacy Skills (1 speech)
I have spoken previously in this place about the National Year of Reading 2012 and the importance of encouraging children to read, and I was really proud to serve as a national ambassador for...
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (1 speech)
I want to talk today about the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. ASIC is a problem as an agency. Its administration and management have been of very serious concern to many in...
- Refugees (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the issues of immigration and refugees. Refugee Week is being celebrated right around the world this week and tomorrow is World Refugee Day, which is supported and...
- Anzac Day Remembrance Tour (3 speeches)
It is a great privilege to make a 15-minute contribution on a matter of public interest. I have the pleasure of being the patron of the Darling Range Sports College in Western Australia, which is...
- Parliamentary Privilege (1 speech)
As a member of the Senate for 30 years, I appreciate that members of parliament are given considerable privileges, but with those privileges come great responsibility. Nowhere does this...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. Does the minister agree with media reports yesterday which described former Prime Minister Rudd as 'the master and...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I welcome the former President of the Senate, Paul Calvert. Welcome to question time. We trust that you will enjoy your stay here today. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Older Australians (6 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator McLucas. Can the minister advise the Senate how the Australian...
- Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
My question is addressed to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. I refer to the letter sent by the South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local to the Prime Minister seeking...
- Parent and Community Engagement Program (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Lundy. My question refers to the Wyndham Early Learning Activity centre, called...
- Budget, Asylum Seekers (26 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Given that yesterday, when asked, the minister was not prepared to stand by her expenditure estimates in relation to...
- Education (8 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Lundy. Can the minister explain to the Senate why it is so vitally important that...
- Television Sports Broadcasts (12 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I refer the minister to his media release of December 2010 regarding...
- Mt Gellibrand Wind Farm (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Minister, in light of the imminent construction of the...
- Farm Finance (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to the government's announcement that it would provide concessional loans of up to $650,000 to farmers...
- Human Rights (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister outline to the Senate Australia's approach to global human rights concerns?
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
Mr President, for the information of senators I table additional information on two questions asked of me in the Senate yesterday by Senator Birmingham. I seek leave to have this additional...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Farm Finance (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator McKenzie today...
- Parent and Community Engagement Program (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Sport (Senator Lundy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to the Wyndham Early Learning...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I move: That Business of the Senate order of the day no. 1, standing my name for today, be discharged from the Notice Paper. Question agreed to.
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senators Singh and Sterle on Thursday 20 June 2013 on account of personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee (1 speech)
I ask that General Business notice of motion no.1269 standing in Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Senator McKenzie's name relating to a committee matter be taken as...
- Human Rights: Iran (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate— (a) supports freedom of religion as a universal human right; (b) does not support the imprisonment or persecution of individuals on the basis of...
- Foreign Affairs (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises: (i) the signing of the Charter of the Commonwealth by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia and Head of the Commonwealth, on 11 March...
- Iraq (1 speech)
At the request of Senators Moore, Williams and Cameron, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the concerns about the security of the residents of Camp Hurriya in Iraq which was subject to a...
- Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Crossin, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the Yirrkala bark petitions, and (ii) these petitions were: (a)...
- Health (4 speeches)
I ask that General Business Notice of Motion No. 1274 standing in my name for today, relating to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into unpaid carers be taken as formal.
- Tibet (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the current visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Australia, and the visit of the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mr Penpa Tsering, to...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Constitutional Recognition of Local Government (15 speeches)
I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Fifield and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The question of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the sixth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 6 of 2013, dated 19 June 2013. Ordered that the...
- Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the eighth and ninth reports of the committee. Ordered that the reports be printed. I move: That the Senate take note of...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Charities Bill 2013, Charities (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) 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.
- Charities Bill 2013, Charities (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) 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 speech read as follows— CHARITIES BILL 2013...
- Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Measures) Bill 2013, Customs Tariff (Anti-Dumping) 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.
- Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Measures) Bill 2013, Customs Tariff (Anti-Dumping) Amendment 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 speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— CUSTOMS AMENDMENT...
- Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013, Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) 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.
- Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013, Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) 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— MARRIAGE AMENDMENT...
- Australian Capital Territory Water Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2013, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Law Enforcement Integrity, Vulnerable Witness Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Bill 2013, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013, Social Security Legislation Amendment (Public Housing Tenants' Support) Bill 2013, Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) Bill 2013; First Reading (1 speech)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013. I indicate to the Senate that these bills are being introduced together....
- Australian Capital Territory Water Management Legislation Amendment Bill 2013, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Law Enforcement Integrity, Vulnerable Witness Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2013, Migration Amendment (Offshore Resources Activity) Bill 2013, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013, Social Security Legislation Amendment (Public Housing Tenants' Support) Bill 2013, Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) 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 speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL...
- Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013, Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2013, Student Identifiers Bill 2013; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation from the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee and the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
This year I have spoken on numerous occasions in this chamber about how the coalition is increasingly relying on the tactics perfected by the Tea Party movement in the United States. The Tea...
- Committee Reports: Government Responses (1 speech)
I rise this evening to express disappointment in this Labor government. It is a long sad litany. If we rose all the time to give illustrations of this, we would do little else. On this occasion I...
- Whistleblowers (1 speech)
I rise tonight to make some remarks about whistleblowers, their importance to democracy and how their treatment reflects on the state of democracy in Australia and in other democracies around the...
- Rogers, Mr Gregory (1 speech)
Last month in Brisbane, my friend Greg Rogers died. A couple of days later, many of his friends—unfortunately I could not be there because, naturally, we were sitting—gathered...
