Senate debates

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 1) Bill 2014, Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 2) Bill 2014; Second Reading (35 speeches)
    I follow my colleague Senator Siewert, who has led for the Greens on these bills, setting out our clear opposition and why that opposition needs to be loud and very clear. These bills would bring...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Queensland: Health (1 speech)
    I am pleased to be able to give the very first of senators' statements in this place under the new arrangements and on a topic that I am certain will enjoy the support and encouragement of all...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about the impact of the government's budget on an iconic Australian institution of scientific research, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, known as...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    In New York last week representatives from over 125 countries came together to reinvigorate international effort to tackle climate change. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited these world...
  • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
    I would like to make a few more comments on submarines and Australia's future submarine capability. I reiterate, up front, the three points I continually make. First, the submarine must be fit...
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak once again on the Abbott government's cruel decision to axe the dementia and severe behaviours supplement. As I have said in this chamber on numerous occasions already, Team...
  • Tobacco Smoking (1 speech)
    I would like to address my comments to the roughly 18 per cent of the Australian population who engage in a despised activity. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for smoking. Australian smokers...
  • Senate Inquiries (1 speech)
    Last night during the adjournment debate I was reflecting on the outrageous decision by the Senate yesterday to inquire into the Queensland government and on what may be done now we have a...
  • Prostate Cancer (1 speech)
    Mr President, I rise today to update the Senate on prostate cancer. In Australia there are about 18,500 incidences of prostate cancer reported each year and about 3,400 Australians die from this...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Indigenous Affairs (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I refer to the minister's announcement in the Senate last week that he had reached an agreement with a number of state...
  • Employment (10 speeches)
    My question is the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Is the minister aware of an agreement secured by the Australian Greens and other parties to...
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I refer to the minister's claim in the Senate last week that 'staff morale at the Department of the Prime Minister and...
  • Taxation (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. In light of a report by the independent Inspector-General of Taxation, which warned the Abbott government that the...
  • Budget (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister explain to the Senate the government's progress in implementing the federal budget?
  • Ministerial Staff (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. I refer to the resignation of retired Major General Jim Molan from his office after three weeks, because the appointment was...
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. I refer the minister to the official rollout of Australia's first two F35A Joint Strike aircraft at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth...
  • Housing Affordability (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to my question last Wednesday about price gouging by state government land management authorities. I remind the minister that...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon. John Bercow MP. On behalf of all...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (31 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to his refusal to rule out buying Japanese submarines for Australia's future submarine project. Is the minister aware of evidence...
  • Workplace Relations (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister inform the Senate how the government's workplace relations legislation reform package will create jobs and provide...
  • Higher Education (28 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator Cash. I refer to NATSEM modelling of university fees and HECS debts, if the University of Western Australia's fees...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    I can offer the following additional information in response to questions from Senator Hanson-Young during question time yesterday. Senator Hanson-Young's letter was received by Minister...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (13 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Senator Scullion) to questions without notice asked by Senators Sterle and McLucas today relating to...
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    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 Milne today relating to taxation policy and the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Williams, pursuant to notice given on 30 September 2014, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, Farm Household Support Secretary's Rule 2014 for today.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend government business notice of motion No. 1. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: (c) if consideration of the motion listed in paragraph (2) is not concluded at 6.30...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McLucas, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) at any one point in time, between 1 and 4 per cent of the general population experiences Borderline...
  • International Development Assistance: Disability (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 80 per cent of people with a disability live in developing countries, (ii) over 20 per cent of the world's poorest people in developing...
  • Local Content Broadcasting (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Australia's community broadcasters are a vital part of Australia's increasingly concentrated media landscape, providing space for diverse voices...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, no later than 3 pm on Thursday, 2 October 2014, the following documents: (a) all incident...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Freedom of the Press (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business motion No. 464 standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) freedom of the press is an...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (71 speeches)
    The President has received the following letter from Senator Siewert: Pursuant to standing order 75 I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Responses to Senate Resolutions; Tabling (2 speeches)
    I present the following responses to resolutions of the Senate: 3 Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ms Bishop) to a resolution of the Senate of 1 September 2014 concerning the Global Fund to Fight...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 13 of 2014 of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances.
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, I present the 13th report of the committee and the Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 13 of 2014. Ordered that the...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on the proposed Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014; Disallowance (14 speeches)
    I move: That items 1 to 27 inclusive and item 30 of the Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Future of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014, as contained in Select Legislative Instrument 2014 No....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 13th report of the 44th Parliament of the committee on the examination of legislation in accordance with...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Malaysia Airlines: Missing Aircraft (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Bishop, I table a ministerial statement and related document on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs Committee, Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees in accordance with the document circulated in the chamber. Certain Aspects of Queensland Government...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Amendment Bill 2014, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy (Collection) Amendment 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.
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Amendment Bill 2014, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy (Collection) Amendment 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— AUSTRALIAN...
  • Fair Entitlements Guarantee Amendment Bill 2014; 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.
  • Fair Entitlements Guarantee Amendment Bill 2014; 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— FAIR ENTITLEMENTS...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of the government business order of the day relating to the Customs Amendment (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014, Customs Tariff Amendment (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bills have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bills be considered in Committee of the Whole.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • National Security (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to make a few comments about the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) that was recently passed in this place. I do so particularly in light of a number of emails I...
  • Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1 speech)
    Last week in this place I paid my respects to a 22-year-old woman who died in a police lockup in the Pilbara and I asked why it had happened. Tonight I wish to continue my remarks in relation to...
  • National Security (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on a matter I would much rather not, but it is a matter first-order importance. It concerns a scenario of absolute moral clarity and it is a challenge to the way in which we...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    I would like to congratulate the SBS Dateline team for the special investigation that aired last night, on allegations that some Tamils who sought asylum in Australia were returned to Sri Lanka...