Senate debates

Thursday, 28 August 2014

• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That— (a) consideration of general business private senators' bills under temporary order 57(1)(d)(ia) shall not be proceeded with and that government business shall...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President Marshall, it is a pleasure to see you in the chair again. I would like to indicate my support for this bill. And I do share the concerns of the Leader of the Australian...
  • Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014; In Committee (35 speeches)
    by leave—I move Greens amendments (5) and (6) on sheet 7495 revised: (5) Subsection (4) does not limit the matters to which the Minister may have regard in determining whether to approve...
  • Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014; Third Reading (3 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    Labor stands for the protection of our oceans, we stand for the rights of recreational fishers and we stand for business certainty. Labor has a strong track record of respecting our oceans and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present Report No. 10 of 2014 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown in the list circulated in the chamber be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Ryan from 26 August to 28 August 2014 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Hepatitis (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy President, I note the presence in the gallery of representatives of Hepatitis Australia. I, and also on behalf of Senators Singh and Bushby, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i)...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Wright, I move: That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Macdonald, I move: That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 31 January 2014, the Minister for Communications announced an efficiency review of both national broadcasters, the Australian Broadcasting...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Appointment (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 356, relating to the establishment of a select committee on certain aspects of the Queensland government administration, be taken as a formal motion.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Hearing Awareness Week, Indigenous Health (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) it is Hearing Awareness Week from 24 August to 30 August 2014, (ii) the theme for this year is ‗How Loud is Too Loud', (iii) approximately...
  • World Congress of Families (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the World Congress of Families is responsible for spreading:   (a) homophobic and sexist prejudices around the world, including in...
  • Domestic Violence (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) specialist women-only services play a crucial role in providing specialist services for victims of domestic and family violence, (ii) services to...
  • Wear it Purple Day (1 speech)
    I move: (a) acknowledges that 29 August 2014 is Wear it Purple Day, when we show our support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) youth; (b) notes that Wear it Purple...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Senate Estimates Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
  • Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia; Membership (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the message. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate concurs with the resolution of the House of Representatives. Question agreed to.
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Senator McKenzie, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Family Assistance Legislation...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Social Security (Reasonable Excuse – Participation Payment Obligations) (Employment) Determination 2014 (No. 1); Disallowance (3 speeches)
    I am in continuation from yesterday evening. I finished yesterday evening by making the point that the contributions made by other senators were, in fact, extraneous to the particular regulation...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Simple Corporate Bonds and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    In speaking to the second reading of the Corporations Amendment (Simple Corporate Bonds and Other Measures) Bill 2014, I indicate that Labor will be supporting this bill and that Labor supports...
  • Corporations Amendment (Simple Corporate Bonds and Other Measures) 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.
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I will not take long with this second reading contribution on the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) Bill because we are...
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Classification Tools and Other Measures) 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.
  • Meteorology Amendment (Online Advertising) Bill 2014; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    Labor will support the Meteorology Amendment (Online Advertising) Bill, which gives effect to decisions taken under the previous Labor government. The Bureau of Meteorology is an Australian...
  • Meteorology Amendment (Online Advertising) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Stronger Penalties for Serious Failures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I rise to oppose the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Stronger Penalties for Serious Failures) Bill 2014. This is another example of how unfair this government is—how unfair it is to...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Australian Political Exchange Council's 22nd Delegation from the People’s Republic of China. On...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Revenue (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Minister for Defence's statement yesterday on the GST that: … 38c in the dollar for Western...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General explain why bipartisanship is so important on the question of national security?
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I draw the attention of honourable Senators to the presence in the gallery of one of our former colleagues, none other than the former president Alan Ferguson. We welcome him to the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Australian War Memorial (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Ronaldson. I refer to the minister's decision to cut $800,000 from the Australian War Memorial's Travelling Exhibitions program...
  • Iraq and Syria (8 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Now, more than a decade after the Australian government followed the United States and United Kingdom...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I quote from the Attorney-General's humiliating interview on Sky News on the proposed changes to metadata collection, in which he said:...
  • Dairy Industry (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Abetz. Australian farmers are doing it tough. In my home state of Queensland over 75 per cent of the state is...
  • Hearing Awareness Week (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Noting that this week—I will speak up for those opposite—is Hearing Awareness Week, can the minister inform the...
  • Higher Education (7 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Higher Education, Senator Payne. Considering that today your government released its higher education bill, which if passed would mean...
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. When was the Attorney-General first informed of the Prime Minister's decision to dump his signature 'rights to be bigots' reform to...
  • Dementia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's consultations with the aged-care sector following the decision to cease...
  • Hearing Awareness Week (15 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. I refer to the celebration of national Hearing Awareness Week. Is the minister aware of criticism to the...
  • Vocational Education and Training (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Senator Ronaldson, representing the Minister for Industry. In this National Skills Week, can the minister advise the Senate what action the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by Senators Collins and Singh today relating to data retention...
  • Higher Education (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Human Services (Senator Payne) to a question without notice asked by Senator Rhiannon today relating to proposed higher...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee, Intelligence and Security Committee, Public Works Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present three government responses to committee reports as listed at item 15 on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Liquid Fuel Refining (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— recognises that it is in Australia’s national interest to maintain liquid fuel refining capability. Three small words: liquid fuel security. They might be...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Anti-Money Laundering Amendment (Gaming Machine Venues) Bill 2012 [2013]; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    This relates to legislation I introduced back in 2012, which is still on the Notice Paper and which needs to be debated and dealt with. The aim of the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment (Gaming...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The progress report on the Implementation and Administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme was written by the Joint...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to take a few moments to talk about the Community Affairs References Committee's report into Out-of-pocket costs in Australian healthcare. I think it is important that I spend a few...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I rise to address the Senate Economics References Committee report, Future of Australia's naval shipbuilding industry. Although I was not a member of that committee, I have read through the...
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. Labor does not support the Education and Employment Legislation Committee's report tabled today on the provisions of the Family Assistance...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • HIV-AIDS (1 speech)
    In our first week of sittings following the winter recess, I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on a very significant international event that Australia had the privilege of hosting just...
  • Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (1 speech)
    It is a well-known fact of this place that I do not take adjournment very often, and, if I do, most people duck or get ready to sue me. But anyway, let's have a crack. I sat in your position...
  • Qantas (1 speech)
    Earlier today Qantas, one of the world's great airlines, announced a record $2.84 billion loss—a staggering loss; a loss that appears to be inexplicable, given the role that Qantas has in...
  • Richmond Electorate (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to talk about my visit to the Richmond electorate, in my role as Nationals' duty senator for that seat, during the winter break. Don't you love that phrase 'winter break'? It...