Senate debates

Thursday, 10 July 2014

• Privilege (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    By letter dated 26 June 2014, Senator Xenophon raised a matter of privilege under standing order 81. The matter of privilege concerns the possible imposition of a penalty by the taking of...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Australian Greens (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a brief statement.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], True-up Shortfall Levy (General) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], True-up Shortfall Levy (Excise) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2]; Declaration of Urgency (33 speeches)
    I declare that the following bills are urgent bills and I move: That these bills be considered urgent bills: Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [N0. 2] True-up Shortfall Levy...
  • Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], True-up Shortfall Levy (General) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], True-up Shortfall Levy (Excise) (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2], Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 [No. 2]; In Committee (48 speeches)
    The question is that the amendments on sheet 7506 be agreed to.
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Azerbaijan (1 speech)
    by leave—I present to the Senate the following petition relating to activities in Khojaly in Azerbaijan in February 1992 which is not in conformity with the standing orders as it is not in...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given at the last day of sitting on behalf of the Regulations and Ordinances Committee, I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, Australian Jobs...
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 3 September 2014, be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That: (a)   government business order of the day no. 4 (Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014) be considered from 12.45 pm today; and...
  • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 17 July 2014, under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators’ bills:...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • 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 private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1), followed by...
  • 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 the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on grass-fed cattle levies be...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to set carbon emissions standards for new passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles, and for related purposes. Question...
  • Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum and I seek leave to have...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion no. 332 standing in my name for today, relating to schools funding be postponed till 14 July 2014. Question agreed to.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Electoral Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, no later than 15 July 2014: (a) all correspondence and documents, whether written or in email form, from the Special...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Dastyari, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, no later than 1.50 pm on Thursday, 10 July 2014, the Corporations Amendment (Streamlining...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014 represents an important step in improving Australia's law and justice system and demonstrates a commitment by the government to simplify and...
  • Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) 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.
  • Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013 [No. 2]; Second Reading (34 speeches)
    Since coming to government, the coalition have tried to unpick every policy Labor put in place to ensure that Australia took meaningful action to combat climate change. While the events of this...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Tasmanian Economy (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Senator Ronaldson. Under the previous government, the Enterprise Connect program provided almost $1.4 million to 104...
  • Indigenous Health: Trachoma (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Will the minister inform the Senate what the government is doing to help eliminate blinding trachoma in Australia?
  • Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014 (18 speeches)
    My question is to the acting Assistant Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Minister, is it true that on 1 July 2014 the Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation...
  • Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Given the government has agreed to introduce and pass regulations and penalties developed by the Palmer United Party...
  • General Practice (10 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the government's decision to axe the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program,...
  • Migration (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. I note that the Queensland Nurses' Union estimate that this year only around 600 of the 2,500 nursing...
  • Aged Care (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Will the minister update the Senate on the significant changes affecting aged care that came into effect on 1 July?
  • Unemployment (14 speeches)
    I share Senator Siewert's concern for youth unemployment. All unemployment is a scourge. It is something that we all should be united in overcoming in this chamber, especially for the young...
  • Carbon Pricing (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to his statement following the Senate's rejection of the carbon price repeal bills today in which he...
  • Indigenous Employment (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Will the minister advise the Senate on the progress being made to provide real employment opportunities for Aboriginal and...
  • Aged Care (10 speeches)
    Congratulations, Mr President, on your elevation to your position. My question is for the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. I refer to the government's decision to axe the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Senator Ronaldson), the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) and the Assistant Minister for Social...
  • Employment (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to youth unemployment. I...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on National Capital and External Territories; 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 have the documents incorporated...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Air Warfare Destroyer project. I also table a document relating to the order for the production of...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Community Affairs Legislation Committee relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That: (a)   Senator Siewert replace Senator Waters on the Environment and Communications References Committee for the committee’s inquiry into the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Funding (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate condemns the Abbott Government’s vicious cuts to higher education and the devastating impact they will have on regional students, families and universities. Since...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (1 speech)
    The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority report for 2012-13 is a good indication of the work the authority does looking after one of Australia's and, indeed, the world's greatest natural...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the Australian Human Rights Commission audit report Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy, but before I do so I would like to make some...
  • Productivity Commission (1 speech)
    In relation to report No. 2, the Productivity Commission Safeguards inquiry into the import of processed tomato products: this is a vexed issue. Dumping is defined briefly under WTO rules as...
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (1 speech)
    I would like to take note of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service report for 2012-13. I do want to congratulate the Customs and Border Protection Service, not only on their report...
  • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the motion to take note of government document No. 20, the interim report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The two volumes of that...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 52 of 2013-14 (1 speech)
    I would like to take note of Auditor-General's report No. 52 of 2013-14. I would like to place on record my appreciation for an excellent report, yet again, from the Auditor-General and his...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Regional Western Australia (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to discuss a subject very close to my heart—namely, regional Western Australia, and the enormous opportunities that are now within the grasp of our regional communities....
  • Whitlam, the Hon. Edward Gough, AO, QC (1 speech)
    A fortnight ago, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Rupert Murdoch had once directed his editors to 'kill Whitlam'. Notwithstanding that, I am delighted to report that Edward Gough Whitlam...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (1 speech)
    It was nice being in the chamber for that, Senator Faulkner. Happy birthday, indeed. I rise to speak as a friend of the ABC and a friend of the SBS—the Special Broadcasting Service. I am...
  • Aviation (1 speech)
    I rise to make a few comments this evening on the state of aviation and its regulation in Australia. But first I wish to note the appointment of Jeff Boyd to the CASA board by the government,...