Senate debates
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That government business orders of the day Nos 1 and 2 relating to the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2014-15 and related bills may be taken...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2013-2014; Second Reading (11 speeches)
I rise to speak on the appropriation bills. In a legal sense the annual appropriation bills are at the core of any budget. They make appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the CRF,...
- Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2013-2014, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2013-2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
As no amendments to the bills have been circulated, I shall now call on the minister to move the third reading.
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Removing Re-approval and Re-registration) Bill 2014; Second Reading (9 speeches)
The opposition will be supporting the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Removing Re-approval and Re-registration) Bill 2014. However, we do have one amendment that we...
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Removing Re-approval and Re-registration) Bill 2014; In Committee (12 speeches)
I will be seeking leave to move the Australian Greens' amendment, but, Senator Xenophon, are you going to ask some questions?
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- Paid Parental Leave (1 speech)
I want to take one of my last opportunities to speak in this place, in my last few days here, to talk about paid parental leave. I had been anticipating that I would have the chance to do this...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about a number of issues that arise out of the Abbott government's harsh and cruel budget. It is quite interesting that the government does not seem to think that we are...
- Euthanasia, Medicinal Marijuana (1 speech)
Recently, I have been reflecting on some of the valedictory speeches that we have heard in this place. It is not going to be long before I have to stand up and give mine. I do not want to look...
- 700th Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn (1 speech)
Seven hundred years ago, on this very day, the armies of Robert the Bruce, then King of Scotland, and Edward II, Kind of England, were respectively celebrating and lamenting what was to be the...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise in the matter of public interest debate to speak to the tens of thousands of Australians who are finding their voice and who are coming together from across the country to speak out...
- Australian Public Service (3 speeches)
If ever a cure was needed for insomnia, Senator Urquhart is it, as is testified by the people sleeping in the gallery after her impassioned attack on the budget. I rise today to speak about...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Australian Political Exchange Council, 18th Delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On behalf of all...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Veterans' Affairs (33 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Ronaldson. Can the minister confirm that the Abbott government is scrapping the seniors supplement for 29,000 war veterans, and that...
- National Security (10 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate what steps the Australian government is taking to keep Australia safe from the threat of...
- General Practice (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Given the minister's failure to answer my question in this chamber last week, I ask again: can the minister...
- Taxation (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. This week I was made aware by Micah Challenge of the fact that developing countries lose $160 billion of revenue...
- Health (6 speeches)
My question is the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Can the minister advise the Senate of what the government is doing to address the problems of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
- Tobacco (13 speeches)
My question this afternoon is also to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I would like to ask: how many Australians died from smoking related illnesses last year?
- Budget (28 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's efforts to repair the budget and...
- Future of Financial Advice (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. On 17 June, an ABC 7.30 report covered the government's proposed wind-back of the FoFA laws and how that risks a repeat...
- Budget (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the government's decision to cut bulk-billing incentives for medical imaging services and impose a...
- Indigenous Affairs (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Is the minister able to assure the Senate that the government is committed to making a real difference to the lives of...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (10 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Perhaps the answers given by Senator Ronaldson would be better...
- Taxation (2 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 Whish-Wilson today relating to tax avoidance....
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Sharks (1 speech)
by leave—I table a petition containing unique stories on sharks, from 649 citizens, which is not in conformity with the standing orders as it is not in the correct form. Petition received.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
I give notice, at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting, to withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in my name for six sitting days after today for the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave, I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Heffernan for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4 standing in my name for today proposing a reference to the Community Affairs References Committee relating to violence...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Whish-Wilson and Senator Madigan, move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 October 2014:...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Day (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Boyce and Senator McLucas, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) at any point in time, about 1.8 per cent of the general population experiences...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Meeting (4 speeches)
I move : That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee be required to convene a supplementary estimates meeting on Thursday, 26 June 2014 from 10 am for a period of no less...
- Health Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Health, be established to inquire into and report on health policy, administration and expenditure, with particular...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) applauds the World Heritage Committee's decision in Doha on 23 June 2014 to uphold the current boundaries of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; (b)...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Abbott Government's Budget Cuts; Appointment (1 speech)
I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into the Abbott Government's Budget Cuts be established to inquire into the effect of cuts or changes in the Commonwealth...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Estimates Committees (3 speeches)
I ask that general business notices of motion Nos. 298-305 standing in my name for today relating to estimates hearings and accountability matters be taken together as formal motions.
- Suspension of Standing Orders (10 speeches)
Pursuant to contingent notice, at the request of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion relating...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (2 speeches)
I move: That general business notices of motion 298 to 305 be considered together, called on immediately and have precedence over all other business until determined.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Estimates Committees (3 speeches)
I move general business notices of motion Nos 298 to 305, standing in the name of Senator Wong, relating to estimates hearings and accountability matters: (298) That the Senate— (a) notes...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Middle East (8 speeches)
The President has received the following letter from Senator Xenophon: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (16 speeches, 1 comment)
In my inimitable way, I have actually put off putting pen to paper until the eleventh hour for this speech, as in my mind the process was akin to drafting my own obituary. I have received so many...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Middle East (1 speech)
(—) (): I seek leave to have the remainder of my speech on the matter of public importance incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— Given the written...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Capital (1 speech)
About three months ago, on 12 March, our nation's capital turned 101 years old. While members of the parliament can be forgiven for overlooking this lesser milestone, as a proud senator for the...
- Role Models and Leaders Australia (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to commend the work being done by Role Models and Leaders Australia through their educational programs in Australia, and also to inform the chamber of my recent visits to their...
- Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
I rise to place on the public record some alarming new information regarding the assessment and approvals of two large coal seam gas projects in my home state of Queensland and the events which...
- Queensland: Sugar Industry (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to continue to speak on a matter that is, on the one hand, of great interest and, on the other, of great concern in my state of Queensland. To reference the subject of my speech,...
