Senate debates

Thursday, 27 March 2014

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Privacy Amendment (Privacy Alerts) Bill 2014; Second Reading (31 speeches)
    I rise to speak to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Alerts) Bill 2014. Labor believes Australians should be told when there has been a breach of their privacy. It is time that companies who are...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Shark Cull (1 speech)
    by leave—I present to the Senate a petition, from 88,160 citizens, which is not in conformity with the standing orders as it is not in the correct form.
  • Fulton, Ms Roseanne (1 speech)
    by leave—I present to the Senate the following petition, from 110,000 citizens, which is not in conformity with the standing orders as it is not in the correct form. Petitions received.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given on 26 March 2014, as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No.1 standing in my name for 10...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the fourth report of 2014 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (3 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 pm today: Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014 Marriage Amendment (Celebrant...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on Australia Post be extended to 27 August 2014. Question agreed to.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Sinodinos be granted leave of absence for today, 27 March 2014, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on illegal fishing be extended to 28 August 2014. Question agreed to.
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 28 August 2014: With reference to the committee's earlier...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Migration Regulations 1994; Disallowance (9 speeches)
    I move: That the amendments to the Migration Regulations 1994 made by the Migration Amendment (Unauthorised Maritime Arrival) Regulation 2013, as contained in Select Legislative Instrument 2013...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Wong, I move: (1) That the proposed Korea Australia Free Trade Agreement be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the hours of meeting for Tuesday, 13 May 2014 be from 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 8 pm to adjournment, and for Thursday, 15 May 2014 be from 9.30 am to 6 pm and 8 pm to adjournment, and...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to defence, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this...
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memorandum and 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...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Defence Force...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to Live Animal Export (Slaughter) Prohibition Bill 2014 Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this bill may...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, School Funding Select Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on public transport be extended to 4 December 2014. That the time for...
  • Abbott Government's Commission of Audit Select Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    I move: That the resolution of appointment of the Select Committee into the Abbott Government's Commission of Audit be amended, as follows: After subparagraph (3)(b), insert: (c) a participating...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the visit to Australia by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Wednesday, 16 April 2014, to Friday, 25 April 2014, (ii) That...
  • Barton Highway (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) That the Barton Highway, connecting Canberra to Yass, is a single carriageway throughout New South Wales except for a 6 km section near the Yass...
  • Polio (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Rhiannon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia region has maintained its polio-free status for the...
  • Research Funding (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to: (a) respect research as fundamental to our country's health and prosperity; (b) maintain public funding for all areas of research in the May...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Draft Labour Market Growth Rate Projections; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Carr, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the failure of the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to comply with the order of the Senate of 25 March 2014 for the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Health Insurance Amendment (GP Services) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Private Health Insurance Act 2007, and for related purposes Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That...
  • Private Health Insurance Amendment (GP Services) 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on its inquiry into a public interest immunity claim.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Amending Acts 1901 to 1969 Repeal Bill 2014, Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014, Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 1) 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.
  • Amending Acts 1901 to 1969 Repeal Bill 2014, Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014, Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 1) 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— AMENDING ACTS...
  • Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014, Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) 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.
  • Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014, Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) 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— Marriage...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the interim report of the Community Affairs References Committee on speech pathology services, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee....
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (6 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to move a motion that Business of the Senate order of the day No. 1, relating to the presentation of the report of the Education and Employment References...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I present the Education and Employment References Committee report titled Effectiveness of the National Assessment Program—Literacy and numeracy together with the Hansard...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014, Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise in support of the Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014 and the Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2014, because these are bills which reflect very...
  • Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014, Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Defence Force Retirement Benefits Legislation Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to support the Defence Force Retirement Benefits Legislation Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2014. This bill will allow for what is described as triple indexation of the DFRB and the...
  • Defence Force Retirement Benefits Legislation Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2014; 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.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I present the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on the Australian Building and Construction Commission, including the provisions of the Building and...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (3 speeches)
    by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Johnston, the Minister for Defence, will be absent from the Senate today. He is attending the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium hosted by the Chief of Navy.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer the Attorney-General to the comments by the President of the Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, who describes his proposed...
  • Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Senator Ronaldson. I refer the minister to a recent statement by the Hon. Martin Ferguson in Perth: … the Maritime...
  • Aged Care (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. I refer the minister to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise of 'no cut to pensions'. I also refer the minister...
  • Medibank Private (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Senator, you have announced that Medibank Private, which has been in government hands since it was founded in 1976, will be sold off....
  • Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, representing the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Can the minister advise the Senate how many people-smuggling...
  • Veterans' Affairs (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Ronaldson. I refer the minister to his media release of 5 March when he announced a three-week consultation on the future of...
  • Public Service (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Senator Abetz. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's approach to wage negotiations for the...
  • Migration (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Brandis. In recent months there has been much discussion about the rorting of our...
  • Mental Health (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer the minister to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise that 'No cuts to health means no cuts to...
  • Early Childhood Education (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Assistant Minister for Education, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate what the government's reaction is to the Auditor-General's...
  • Australian Honours (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Was the Minister representing the Prime Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate consulted on the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Earlier this week the Attorney-General shocked the Australian...
  • Veterans' Affairs (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by Senator Ronaldson—or, more precisely, non-answers given by Senator Ronaldson. I asked Senator Ronaldson a very simple question that...
  • Medibank Private (3 speeches)
    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 Di Natale today relating to the proposed sale of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Treaties Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government's response to the 128th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on its inquiry into the Treaties Ratification Bill 2012. In accordance with the usual practice,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Schools; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present a response from the Minister for Education, Mr Pyne, to a resolution of the Senate of 11 December 2013 concerning schools funding.
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Corrigenda to Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee under Senator Thorp's leadership, I present a corrigendum to the report of the committee on the direct action...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (31 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I present the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on the provisions of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2013 together with the...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I present the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee inquiry into Operation Sovereign Borders, together with the Hansard record of proceedings...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (6 speeches)
    I present the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on Qantas jobs, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Commonwealth Procurement Policy (7 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate calls on the Government to alter Commonwealth procurement policy in order to require all government departments to only use...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Environment and Communications Legislation Committee— Appointed— Substitute member:...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation (Abolition) Bill 2013 [No. 2]; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Clean Energy Finance Corporation (Abolition) Bill 2013 [No. 2]; 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— This Bill, repealing...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network - Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I failed yesterday to seek leave to continue my remarks on the NBN committee report, which means it has been discharged from the Notice Paper. I ask that it be restored to the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I did not have the chance to say as much as I would have liked when this report was tabled yesterday. It is an extremely important report. I made the point yesterday that in many ways the...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Government response to Report (1 speech)
    I rise to continue my remarks on the government response to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report into aviation accident investigations. I would like to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate at its rising adjourn until Tuesday, 13 May 2014 at 12:30pm or such other time as may be fixed by the President or, in the event of the President being unavailable,by the...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to every member of the Senate from the end of the sitting today to the day on which the Senate next meets. Question agreed to.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Harmony Day (1 speech)
    It is my honour to rise to provide a summary to the Senate on Harmony Day 2014, which we celebrated around the nation last week on 21 March. The theme for Harmony Day is: 'Everyone belongs'....
  • Regional Development Australia Fund (1 speech)
    This evening I rise to speak on the state of regional funding from this government. As I have informed the Senate on previous occasions, I do regularly travel across regional Queensland, and I...
  • Industrial Relations (1 speech)
    Over the past month Boral Chief Executive Mike Kane has brought to public attention the orchestrated and costly secondary boycott campaign waged against it by the Victorian branch of the...
  • Queensland: Rural Debt (1 speech)
    This speech will be the first in a series of speeches I intend to make over the next medium term regarding the grim forecast facing the people in the rural parts of my state. Generations of...