Senate debates
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
- Privilege (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I am making a statement in respect of matters of privilege raised by the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Senator Bernardi, and Senator the Hon. John...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax Rates Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Family Trust Distribution Tax (Primary Liability) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (Bearer Debentures) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (First Home Saver Accounts Misuse Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (ESS)) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Departing Australia Superannuation Payments Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Excess Non-concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Excess Untaxed Roll-over Amounts Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 1) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 2) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Tax Laws Amendment (Interest on Non-Resident Trust Distributions) (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Tax Laws Amendment (Untainting Tax) (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Trust Recoupment Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014; In Committee (21 speeches)
As I indicated in my speech on the second reading, I want to make some inquiries of the minister in relation to this legislation. I will not repeat all of the things that I said in my speech,...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax Rates Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Family Trust Distribution Tax (Primary Liability) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (Bearer Debentures) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (First Home Saver Accounts Misuse Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (ESS)) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Departing Australia Superannuation Payments Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Excess Non-concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Superannuation (Excess Untaxed Roll-over Amounts Tax) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 1) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 2) Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Tax Laws Amendment (Interest on Non-Resident Trust Distributions) (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Tax Laws Amendment (Untainting Tax) (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014, Trust Recoupment Tax Amendment (Temporary Budget Repair Levy) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
- Social Security Legislation Amendment (Green Army Programme) Bill 2014; Second Reading (6 speeches)
This afternoon I rise to speak on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Green Army Programme) Bill 2014. From the outset, I would like to say that the legislation that we have before us this...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Paid Parental Leave (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Is the minister aware of comments made last week by Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss that the government is...
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. In your government's brutal budget, you have made cuts to health, welfare and education, you have saddled students with decades of...
- Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
My question is to Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the number of illegal maritime arrivals who have entered Australia...
- Budget (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Representing the Minister for Education. I refer to the Abbott government's decision to break its pre-election promise and rip at least $1.2 billion out of New...
- Aged Care (6 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. There are important changes to help older Australians coming into effect on 1 July. Could the minister outline to...
- Budget (50 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. During budget estimates, the Department of Social Services were unable to clearly explain some of...
- Fair and Lawful Building Sites Code (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister update the Senate on the effect of the government's proposed Fair and Lawful Building Sites Code and how it will...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Paid Parental Leave, Budget (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to the 2014-15 Budget. Once again, today, we see in...
- Budget (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Assistant Minister for Social Services (Senator Fifield) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Forced Adoption (3 speeches)
by leave—I table this document which has been presented as a petition in a non-conforming way. This document is from the group Independent Regional Mothers in Victoria and is about a demand...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present report No. 6 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 read as...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Sterle for today, 17 June 2014. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend General Business Notice of Motion No. 252 before seeking to have the motion taken as a formal motion. Leave granted. I amend the motion by omitting, in paragraph (a) '15...
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Fawcett, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with...
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Boyce, I move: That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 19 June 2014, from...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be authorised to hold public meetings...
- Migration Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Dastyari, on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Migration be authorised to hold public meetings during the...
- National Capital and External Territories Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Brown, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance...
- Environment and Communications References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Thorp, I move: That the Environment and Communications References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 18 June...
- Constitutional Recognition of ATSIP; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Peris, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples be authorised to hold a private meeting...
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Boyce, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the 2014-15 Budget estimates be extended to 26 June...
- Education and Employment References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Lines, I move: That the time for the presentation of reports of the Education and Employment References Committee be extended, as follows: (a) delivery of quality and...
- Economics References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bishop, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Economics References Committee on affordable housing be extended to 27 November 2014. Question...
- Economics Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Bushby, I move: That the time for the presentation of reports of the Economics Legislation Committee be extended, as follows: (a) Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Sudan: Freedom of Religion (1 speech)
I, and on behalf of Senators Fawcett, O'Sullivan, Xenophon, Madigan and Seselja, move: That the Senate— (a) supports freedom of religion as a universal human right; (b) does not support the...
- East West Link project (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) evidence given during estimates That the budget provides for payment to the Victorian Government of $0.5 billion by 30 June 2014 for Stage 1 of the...
- Consideration of Legislation (5 speeches)
I move:
- Seemanpillai, Mr Leo (7 speeches)
by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Di Natale, move: That the Senate— (a) extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mr Leo Seemanpillai, a Tamil refugee who died...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Shipbuilding Industry (13 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received a letter from Senator Moore proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: "The...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictories (19 speeches)
Parliamentary service is a privilege. I will have served 31 years and 118 days when my term expires on 30 June. Hansard notes that I have made over 1,100 contributions. Now is the time to...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Bolaffi, Mr Allen (3 speeches)
I rise this evening to pay tribute to a fine South Australian who, sadly, is no longer with us. Mr Allen Bolaffi would be known to you, Mr Acting Deputy President Bernardi, as he would be to...
- Cystic Fibrosis (1 speech)
During the last Senate estimates I was privilege to host two events in this place for Cystic Fibrosis Australia. CF Australia is a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with cystic...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about how the Abbott government's budget will hurt the Northern Territory. This budget will hurt all Australians but I believe it will hurt people in the Northern Territory...
- School Chaplaincy Program (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise this evening to share my concerns in this place about the coalition School Chaplaincy Program. There is in our country a mounting and substantial evidence base that young people,...
- Inclusive Education (1 speech)
My themes are similar to those of Senator Pratt in terms of the fact that I will be talking about schools, discrimination and bullying, but for a different cohort of people. Students with...
- Workplace Safety (1 speech)
My contribution tonight is about workplace safety, particularly in the Australian Public Service. It goes to the understanding that, while the consequences of being injured at work can be...
- Racial Discrimination Act (1 speech)
Australia is a tolerant, multicultural nation. We value free speech and democracy and we celebrate the fact that we have built a society where people can live without fear of being verbally or...
- Cowan, Hon. Dr Hendy John, AO, Meaton, Mr Murray, AM, Heatley, Mr Arthur Macedon, OAM, Watling, Mr Edward Joseph, OAM (1 speech)
I am delighted this evening to rise to honour four friends and colleagues, all of whom were honoured in the Queen's Birthday honours list last weekend. The first of them—on a night when we...
- Gary John Gilmour (1 speech)
Tonight I want to remember the life and career of Gary Gilmour, a cricketer who played not for records or recognition but for the joy of the game—a cricketer for whom the record book just...
- Chemicals Re-registration, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on two issues where the Abbott government wants to wind back progress. I know—you are shocked! The repeal of reforms of the last parliament is extremely...
- Telecommunications (1 speech)
I rise tonight to make a very short contribution as a result of a visit to the great Goulburn Valley—the centre of Victorian's fruit growing and fruit processing area—at the request...
- World War I (1 speech)
This is my sixth and final speech relating to the centenary of the First World War and the letters that my grandfather, Sergeant Edward John Farrell, wrote to Miss Emily Jane McConnachy, who...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
For too long in this country, the debate about refugees and the seeking of asylum has been used and abused for political purposes. Like many Australians, I find the media 'frames' and 'messaging'...
- Queensland Floods: Jordan Rice (1 speech)
In January 2011, devastating floods moved right across my state of Queensland. In my home town of Toowoomba we saw devastation which is unsurpassed in our recent history—although Toowoomba...
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (1 speech)
Today in Doha, the World Heritage Committee is meeting to discuss the preservation of the world's greatest areas of natural beauty and civilisation, and its deliberations this week will include...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise to pose a conundrum that has been troubling me for some time, and it is this: What is it with the cigar-chomping Liberal ideologues from Sydney's North Shore and their desire to ruin life...
- Shipbuilding (1 speech)
Yesterday during Senate question time I was horrified to hear the Abbott government's Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston, say in response to a question about the replacement of Australia's...
- headspace (3 speeches)
I welcome the opportunity to rise tonight to talk about a program that I have had the good fortune to have something to do with. It is a program that was first commenced by the former Howard...
- Queensland Sugar (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on a matter of quite significant importance relating to the sugar industry, predominantly in my state of Queensland. I do so in support of federal colleagues, the members...
- Broadband (3 speeches)
At the release of the coalition broadband policy in April 2013, when asked about the independent review and cost-benefit analysis he was planning for the NBN, Prime Minister Abbott said: Look, it...
- Coal Industry (1 speech)
There is something strange happening in New South Wales. Every day we are hearing stories about the decline in the coal industry. We are hearing about job losses, the falling price of coal, the...
- Trad, Mr Keysar (1 speech)
A couple of weeks ago it came to my attention that a man by the name of Keysar Trad was entertaining the notion of becoming a federal MP. He said he had had discussions with a friend in the...
