Senate debates

Thursday, 13 February 2014

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2013; Second Reading (28 speeches)
    I seek to speak on a private member's bill in respect of defence—the Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2013. I suppose it is with some regret that I am in this...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Border Protection; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy President, I table the following documents relating to the order for production of documents concerning border protection operations. The documents read as follows—...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the first report of 2014 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)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move:   That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown in the list circulated in the chamber be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Apology to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (3 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Peris, Senator Siewert and Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 13 February 2014 marks the 6th anniversary of the National Apology to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Bishop, I move: That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Fawcett, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate, from 11 am to 1 pm, as follows:...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Sterle, 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) future of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Greste, Mr Peter (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) with deep concern, the charges the Egyptian Government has laid against Australian citizen and journalist, Mr Peter Greste, and fellow Al Jazeera...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Great Barrier Reef Legislation Amendment Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bills be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to the Great Barrier Reef and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move:...
  • Great Barrier Reef Legislation Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table an explanatory memorandum and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard and to continue my remarks. Leave...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Statements by the Queensland Premier (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the Queensland Premier (Mr Newman) has made recent public statements that: (i) any lawyer acting for a member of a motorcycling gang is part of what he...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Procedure Committee; Reference (7 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Procedure Committee for inquiry and report: That consideration be given to amending section 50 of the standing orders to replace the prayer...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 May 2014: (a) responses by the Australian Securities and...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Madigan, move: That business of the Senate notice of motion no. 5 standing in the names of Senators Xenophon and Madigan for today, proposing a...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matters be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 May 2014: (a) the natural world heritage values of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Bell Bay Pulp Mill (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the conditions of the Gunns Pulp Mill approval (EPBC 2007/3385) by the then Minister for the Environment, on 10 March 2011, which requires 'no wood...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement; Order for the Production of Documents (6 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, by 3 March 2014, the modelling and associated reports referred to by the Prime Minister...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Rail Track Corporation (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the recent Senate inquiry into the impacts on health of air quality in Australia recommended health impact assessments for new mining developments...
  • Cambodian Elections (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that on 3 January 2014, a peaceful protest of garment factory employees in Cambodia for increased wages became violent when government security...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia's most trusted news and current affairs broadcaster, (ii) the ABC is an extremely...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (6 speeches)
    I move:   (1) That the order of the Senate of 4 December 2013 relating to estimates hearings for 2014 be amended as follows:      2013-14 additional estimates,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Operation Sovereign Borders; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection no later than noon on Friday, 21 February 2014, a copy of the report of the Review of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Coal Seam Gas (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Wright, Hanson-Young and Ludlam, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the concern of communities in South Australia and Western Australia about their land...
  • Sri Lanka (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Moore, Rhiannon and Milne, move: That the Senate— (a) notes Australia's co sponsorship of the: (i) 2012 United Nations (UN) General Assembly Human Rights...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches, 3 comments)
    I rise to speak on the Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013 and to register my and the Greens' extreme concern at the direction of the Abbott government in regard to climate change....
  • Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    While I do support the Australian Research Council Amendment Bill, I believe we need to look more closely at the way we fund research and development activities in Australia. I note that while...
  • Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2013; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2013; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2013. I do appreciate that it is in the category of non-controversial legislation; however, a number of...
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous 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 the Committee of the Whole.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) Bill 2013 was also introduced by the Labor government during its previous term and is being supported by us in opposition....
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Consumer Protection) 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...
  • Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I would like to speak on the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2013. This bill seeks to make amendments that will empower the Tuition Protection Services—the...
  • Education Services for Overseas Students 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...
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) Bill 2013. This bill is in large part a reintroduction of a bill listed in the last parliament, so of course we will be...
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) 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 require the bill to be considered in committee of the whole? If not, I call...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Baird, Corporal Cameron Stewart, MG (3 speeches)
    by leave—I would like to make a statement relating to the awarding of the 100th Victoria Cross for Australia. Australia's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross for Australia, will be...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • SPC Ardmona (17 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. The Victorian government has been shamed into taking action on SPC by Daniel Andrews and Labor. I note that the...
  • DisabilityCare Australia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Can the minister provide an update to the Senate on the operation of the four trial sites of the National Disability...
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (6 speeches)
    My question is directed to the Assistant Minister for Health. Can the minister confirm that the assistant secretary to the Department of Health with responsibility for the health star...
  • Western Australia: Shark Cull (16 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. I refer to the exemption granted by the Minister for the Environment of the Western...
  • Building and Construction Industry (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Has the minister seen the report in today's Herald Sun that more than a dozen militant union officials have been banned from...
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (21 speeches)
    On what date did the Prime Minister approve the appointment of her chief of staff? Was the Prime Minister informed about her chief of staff's shareholding in a food industry lobbying firm before...
  • Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. What will be the effect of further delays in dealing with the carbon tax repeal legislation?
  • Imports (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Senator Ronaldson. In 2011, the then opposition leader, now Prime Minister, announced that the coalition's policy on dumping...
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health. I refer the minister to her intervention causing the removal of the Health Star Rating website just hours after it went live. Can the minister...
  • National Security (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General acquaint the Senate with recent testimony provide by General James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy President, I may have inadvertently misled the chamber during question time, and I seek to make a correction. During my answer to a question I asserted that in the lead-up to the last...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Assistant Minister for Health (Senator Nash) to questions without notice asked by Senators Faulkner, Wong and McLucas today relating...
  • Western Australia: Shark Cull (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to the Western Australian...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Border Protection (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of documents tabled by Senator Cash this morning. Senator Cash was decent enough to provide me with a copy of this letter that she has tabled....
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Female Genital Mutilation (1 speech)
    I table a statement by the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Cyber Safety, Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two government responses to committee reports as listed at item 14 on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Law Reform Commission Report 122; Tabling (1 speech)
    I table the Australian Law Reform Commission's report on copyright and the digital economy, and a summary of the report. I seek leave to make some short remarks in relation to that report. Leave...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Proposed Expenditure (1 speech)
    I table particulars of proposed additional expenditure and the Issues from the advances provided under the annual Appropriation Acts for 2012-13 and seek leave to move a motion to refer the...
  • Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (1 speech)
    I also table the portfolio additional estimates statements 2013-14 in accordance with the list circulated in the chamber.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Jobs (25 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns: (i) the failure of the Government to:   (A) articulate a comprehensive innovation policy so that Australia has the high skill, high wage...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (1 speech)
    I table the portfolio additional estimates statements for 2013-14 for the Department of Parliamentary Services. Copies are available from the Senate Table Office.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a five-minute statement about an answer given by Minister Nash today in question time. Leave granted. I thank the Senate. I rise to address a most serious matter which...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Director of National Parks — Report for 2012-13 (3 speeches)
    In addressing the annual report for 2012-13 of the Director of National Parks, I want to use the opportunity to place on record the thanks of the Senate, the parliament, the government and, I am...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I thank the Senate for the opportunity to take note of the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee, Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events. This...
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Trade (1 speech)
    Tonight, I rise to speak about Australia's antidumping regime and its effect on Australia's food manufacturers. The Prime Minister has made it clear that our government will be pragmatic and...
  • Dyslexia (1 speech)
    Tonight I would like to congratulate Mr Jim Bond, a resident of Killarney Vale, New South Wales, on his recent completion of a Master of Politics and Public Policy at Macquarie University. Jim's...
  • Kelly, Hon. Bert (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to note an anniversary that will take place next week. It is not a date that will ring a bell with most Australians, and indeed the occasion itself was something that probably...