Senate debates

Monday, 1 December 2014

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (18 speeches)
    I rise to contribute to the debate on the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill. Of all the misrepresentations the Labor Party have been guilty of through the course of this...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. Can the minister confirm that draft talking points, draft media releases or any other draft supporting documents have been prepared...
  • Budget (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister for Finance and Minister representing the Treasurer. Will the minister update the Senate of the most recent expert opinion on the need to repair...
  • Defence Personnel (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. I refer the minister to the government's unfair pay deal for our service men and women. Given that the Prime Minister has now bowed...
  • Australian Public Service (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Senator Abetz. Can the minister inform the Senate of the wage rises received by Commonwealth public servants...
  • Public Transport (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Johnston. In light of the Victorian election result—an election which Prime...
  • Higher Education (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Education. Can the minister advise the Senate how students will be disadvantaged without the...
  • Climate Change (10 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. With the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting beginning in Lima today, does...
  • Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate of the government's policy actions which have reduced the number...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from Kenya. On behalf of all senators, I wish you a warm welcome to Australia and in...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Automotive Industry: Armoured Car Tender (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Justice, Senator Brandis. I refer to the statement by the Minister for Industry on 11 December 2013 in relation to the $6.2 million...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on the latest quarterly results on the operation of the National Disability...
  • Prime Minister's Office (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Can the minister advise the Senate which of the Prime Minister's staff briefed members of the media last week that...
  • HIV-AIDS (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Given today is World AIDS Day, can the minister update the Senate about the government's current programs to help combat...
  • Health Care (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. The Prime Minister recently said that claims that his decision to abolish bulk-billing incentives will reduce...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement, Defence Personnel (28 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston, to questions without notice asked by Senators Conroy and Lines today relating to the...
  • Public Transport (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston, to a question without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to the East West Link....
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, advise that we wish to withdraw Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in our names. Question agreed to.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senators Fawcett and O'Sullivan be granted leave of absence for today for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Health; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Select Committee on Health, Senator O'Neill, I seek leave to move a motion to enable the committee to meet during the sitting of the Senate today. Leave...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (4 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Di Natale be granted leave of absence for today, 1 December, to 4 December on account of portfolio business. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (14 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2015: The Commonwealth’s treaty making...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I move: That business of the Senate motion No. 2 standing in my name, relating to a reference to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Legislation Committee be postponed until the next day of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Youth Connections Program (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Youth Connections program has assisted hundreds of disengaged young people to reconnect to education, training or employment, (ii) funding...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Income Management Proposals; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 December 2014, the report into income management in the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World AIDS Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Smith, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 1 December 2014 is World AIDS Day, (ii) the aim of World AIDS Day is to:   (A) encourage all...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Ipswich Motorway; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ludwig, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer (Senator Cormann), by 3.30 pm on Wednesday, 3 December 2014, any documents...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Super Trawlers (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the report of the expert panel on a declared commercial fishing activity, Final (Small Pelagic Fishery) Declaration 2012, has been released, (ii) the...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Corporate Tax Evasion (22 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 1 December, from Senator Siewert: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Consideration (1 speech)
    I shall now proceed to the consideration of documents. The documents for consideration are listed on page 5 of today's order of business.
  • Regional Development Australia Fund (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This report of the Australian National Audit Office on the Regional Development Australia Fund is damning to say the very least because it...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The report of the Australian Human Rights Commission, The social justice and native title report 2014,is very important. It is a very...
  • National Children's Commissioner (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The document I wish to take note of is document No.7: Attorney-General’s Department, Australian Human Rights Commission, National...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    by leave—I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move that the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to link pay for members of the Defence Force to for...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Job Seeker Compliance Framework) Bill 2014; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table a correction to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Job Seeker Compliance Framework) Bill 2014.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Mental Health Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table a document relating to the order for production of documents concerning the National Mental Health Commission.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Wind Turbines Select Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of a committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) 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.
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    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— Today I introduce a...
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014, Telecommunications (Industry Levy) 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.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014, Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Australian Citizenship and Other Legislation Amendment Bill...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Mental Health Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a statement of probably about two minutes.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    To think that we were disrupted by question time! Never worry, that is the agenda of the day and we will go along with that. I was talking about the amounts of money for investment in research,...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (17 speeches)
    I move: That the order of consideration of government business orders of the day for the remainder of today be as follows: No. 3 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Omnibus Repeal Day (Spring 2014) Bill 2014; Second Reading (47 speeches)
    I rise to make a contribution in this debate. I would like to start as I finished off in taking note. This minister ought to talk the plank. He ought to go off the plank—deep six...
  • Omnibus Repeal Day (Spring 2014) Bill 2014; In Committee (35 speeches)
    I move the amendment standing in the name of Senator Conroy: (1) Page 25 (after line 29), after Schedule 3, insert: Schedule 3A—Finance Public Governance, Performance and Accountability...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the topic of Australian Defence Force pay. I can assure you that I am not here tonight to fix the bayonets and charge; instead, I offer a different and very personal...
  • Sydney Walking Trails (2 speeches)
    Near the beginning of last century, Henry Lawson penned The Bonny Port of Sydney, which begins: The lovely Port of Sydney Lies laughing to the sky, The bonny Port of Sydney, Where the ships of...