Senate debates

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Health Amendment (Simplified Price Disclosure) Bill 2013; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    This is a bill that implements a change that Labor announced in August last year. It goes to the question of price disclosure for the way that the government purchases pharmaceuticals and the...
  • National Health Amendment (Simplified Price Disclosure) Bill 2013; In Committee (21 speeches)
    I have some preliminary questions, just following up the questions I put in my second reading contribution. Does the government acknowledge that this accelerated price disclosure was not part of...
  • National Health Amendment (Simplified Price Disclosure) 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.
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on the wide range of issues covered in the provisions of this...
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013; In Committee (32 speeches)
    The question now is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
• Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
  • South Australia State Election (1 speech)
    I rise to contribute to this matters of public interest debate on a matter of extreme importance to my home state of South Australia. In just 10 days time, on Saturday, 15 March, South Australia...
  • Queensland: Legislation (2 speeches)
    Today many of us take for granted the presumption of innocence, freedom of association and our right to be treated equally before the law. Similarly we assume the judiciary is free to make...
  • Tasmania: Economy (7 speeches)
    I rise today to make a contribution on a matter of public interest in respect of my home state of Tasmania and the dire economic situation that that state is in, principally because of the...
  • Federal Election (5 speeches)
    As the nation knows, Western Australia has a historic senate election underway. It is an unprecedented event in our nation's political history. I am very pleased to be a candidate, proud to be a...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Qantas (47 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Johnston, the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Minister, did the government make an assessment about the impact of job...
  • Environment (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Given that the Prime Minister said last night: We have quite enough national parks. We have quite enough locked up...
  • Carbon Pricing (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. I refer the minister to an article by Paul Howes in yesterday's Australian...
  • Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health. I refer to the minister's answer to my question yesterday in which she claimed Mondelez, the parent company of Kraft and Cadbury, was not a...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Assistant Minister for Health; Censure (44 speeches)
    Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That the Senate censures the Assistant Minister for Health for misleading the Senate, failing to comply with an order for the production of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (2 speeches)
    I move: That a motion to censure the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash, may be moved immediately and have precedence over all other business this day till determined.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Assistant Minister for Health; Censure (33 speeches, 1 comment)
    I move: That the Senate censures the Assistant Minister for Health for misleading the Senate, failing to comply with an order for the production of documents, and failing to account for her...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (4 speeches)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to various bills, as set out in the list circulated in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, with effect from 1 April 2014, for inquiry and report by 26 June 2014: An inquiry into...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • International Women's Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Moore and Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 8 March is International Women's Day (IWD) and That the theme for IWD 2014 is 'Equality for women...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Trade and Foreign Investment (Protecting the Public Interest) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to protect Australian laws by banning investor state dispute settlement provisions, and for related purposes. Question agreed to....
  • Trade and Foreign Investment (Protecting the Public Interest) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
  • National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Tasmania) Bill 2014; First Reading (5 speeches)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011, and for related purposes. Question agreed to.
  • National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Tasmania) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Gender Equality (5 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 155 standing in my name. Leave granted. I amend the motion in the terms circulated in the chamber and move the motion as amended: That...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (16 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend notice of motion No. 4, in the terms circulated in the chamber, standing in my and Senator Xenophon's name proposing a reference to the Rural and Regional Affairs and...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 16 June 2014: The history, appropriateness and effectiveness...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, with effect from 20 March 2014, for inquiry and report by midday 27 March 2014: An...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I ask that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 5 standing in my name for today, proposing a reference to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, be withdrawn.
  • Fair Work Australia (1 speech)
    I seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. Yesterday, in a discussion by leave regarding general business notice of motion 142, I stated that Senator Fierravanti-Wells had made copies...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Broadband (30 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter from Senator Moore: Dear Mr President Pursuant to standing order 75, I move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the second report and Alert Digest No. 2 of 2014 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. Ordered that the report be printed. I seek leave to continue my remarks...
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present the Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 2 of 2014.
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the third report of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications. Ordered that the report be adopted.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Great White Shark; Tabling (2 speeches)
    I present a response from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Hunt, to a resolution of the Senate of the of 12 February 2014 concerning the great white shark and move: That the Senate take note...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014, Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014; 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 Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014, Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014; 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— CUSTOMS TARIFF...
  • Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2014, Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Bill 2014, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014; 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...
  • Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2014, Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Bill 2014, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014; 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— GOVERNOR-GENERAL...
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2013-2014; 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.
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2013-2014; 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— APPROPRIATION...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Auction Revocation Determination 2014; Disallowance (1 speech)
    I move: That the Clean Energy Auction Revocation Determination 2014 made under section 113(1) of the Clean Energy Act 2011 be disallowed. This is an incredibly important debate. We have in...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Productivity Commission (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of the Productivity Commission inquiry report No. 65, Mineral and energy resource exploration. The inquiry, commissioned by...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Whyalla Wig Library (2 speeches)
    Order! I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
  • Regional Queensland (1 speech)
    Can I say that I wish to associate myself with the remarks of Senator Ruston about the Whyalla Wig Library. It is certainly a very important initiative for Whyalla and I congratulate them on it....
  • Montara Oil Spill (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about an issue that I have not talked about for some time in this chamber—that is, the impact of the Montara oil spill. Last month I visited East Nusa Tenggara, West...
  • Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to briefly talk about the coalition's agricultural competitiveness white paper, which is designed to ensure a vibrant, innovative and competitive agricultural sector, by...