Senate debates

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References 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)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2013; In Committee (70 speeches)
    The Senate is considering the Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2014 and amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 7618 moved by Senator Wang and amendment (1) on sheet 7650 moved by...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Ministry (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to comments by the foreign minister and deputy Liberal leader, Ms Bishop, in which she refused to back Joe...
  • Cost of Living (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Minister, could you please tell us how the cost of living is improving for Australian...
  • Defence Procurement (14 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister tell Senator Edwards on Sunday that the Future Submarines project would be subject to a full and open...
  • Health Care (20 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health. The Prime Minister announced yesterday that he would not pursue Medicare changes without the support of doctors. He said: It...
  • Former Member for Dobell (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Will the minister update the Senate on efforts to bring former HSU boss and Labor MP, Craig Thomson, to justice for misusing union...
  • Liberal Party Leadership (14 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I have heard claims by Senator Bernardi that Mr Turnbull was up to his ears in yesterday's spill and has been...
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder: Traineeships (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Can the minister inform the Senate how the government is helping people with autism spectrum disorder to find skilled employment?
  • Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. In the last sitting week of 2014, the government passed the asylum legacy caseload...
  • Budget (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister confirm that no minister has raised the unfairness of the budget with him?
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (27 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to questions without notice asked today. This is a government in absolute chaos. Not only is...
  • Health Care (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Assistant Minister for Health (Senator Nash) to a question without notice asked by Senator Di Natale today relating to proposed...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Day be granted leave of absence for 10, 11 and 12 February 2015 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion no. 1 be postponed until Monday, 2 March, 2015. Question agreed to.
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion No. 3 standing in my name for today, referring a matter to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, be...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (5 speeches)
    I move: (1) That estimates hearings by legislation committees for 2015 be scheduled as follows: 2014-15 additional estimates: Monday, 23 February and Tuesday, 24 February (Group A) Wednesday, 25...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Gardens of Stone (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Gardens of Stone in New South Wales and adjacent Ben Bullen, Newnes and Wolgan State Forests are spectacular landscapes that are habitats...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Intergenerational Report; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes That the latest Intergenerational Report was due to be publicly released on 1 February 2015 as required by section 20 of the Charter of Budget Honesty Act...
  • Report on Recent Allegations at Nauru (4 speeches)
    I move: That the be laid on the table, no later than 3pm on Wednesday, 11 February 2015, a copy of the completed review into recent allegations relating to conditions and circumstances that the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Conroy, I move: That the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014 and a related bill be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Affordable Housing and Homelessness Policy; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McLucas, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) That the Abbott Government's 2014 15 budget included cuts of $589.6 million from housing and homelessness...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Maules Creek Coalmine (20 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter from Senator Siewert: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move that, in the opinion of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 11th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 18th report of the 44th Parliament of the Committee on Human Rights. Ordered that the report be printed. I seek leave...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, National Capital and External Territories Committee, Northern Australia Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present four government responses to committee reports as listed at item 13 on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Question agreed to. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Intergenerational Report; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Intergenerational Report.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The inquiry by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Financial Services into the standards of financial planners was a very, very...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Bargaining Processes) 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 Work Amendment (Bargaining Processes) 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 WORK AMENDMENT...
  • Biosecurity Bill 2014, Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — Excise) 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.
  • Biosecurity Bill 2014, Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2014, Quarantine Charges (Imposition — Excise) 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— BIOSECURITY BILL...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Macdonald, I present the report of the committee on the Migration Amendment (Protecting Babies Born...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2013; In Committee (15 speeches)
    The Senate is considering amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 7618 moved by Senator Wang and amendment (1) on sheet 7650 moved by Senator Carr to Senator Wang's amendment (2).
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2013; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. The Senate divided. [18:14] (The President—Senator Parry) Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014. There are a number of measures that I want to speak to, each of them separately. They are all important and make some...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) Bill 2014; In Committee (4 speeches)
    The Greens oppose schedule 1 in the following terms: Schedule 1, page 3 (lines 1 to 17), to be opposed. I listened very closely to Senator Seselja, who was trying to convince us that the...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Repeal Day) 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.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Ferguson, Ms Adele (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about a particular journalist who, in my opinion, is very fearless. I know on this side of the chamber some of my colleagues have copped some flak from her. Probably some...
  • Sydney: Martin Place Siege (1 speech)
    I would like to take the opportunity at the commencement of my speech to endorse Senator Williams' words. I have the privilege of now knowing two female Walkley Award winners: Joanne McCarthy...
  • Speed Limits (1 speech)
    A family man drives across the wide plains of country Australia. There is not a cloud in the sky. The highway is a single lane each way, but the surface is smooth and the shoulders are wide. He...
  • Singapore: Distinguished Visitor Program (1 speech)
    Late last year, I had the pleasure and privilege of travelling to Singapore as a guest of the Singapore government under its Distinguished Visitor Program. I thank the new High Commissioner of...
  • Anwar Ibrahim (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about a matter which is a travesty and a tragedy of democracy in the region. Earlier today Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced to five years' jail on trumped...
  • Bristow, Sgt Carol (1 speech)
    It is with a sense of sadness, a sense of reflection, a sense of humility, a sense of honour that I rise tonight to speak about a very dear friend of mine who unfortunately passed away from...
  • Liberation of Auschwitz: 70th Anniversary (1 speech)
    Two weeks, people around the world paused to commemorate an event that, more powerfully than any other, symbolises humanity's darkest chapter. The 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi...
  • Horvath, Ms Corinna (1 speech)
    I welcome the news that Victoria's Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, IBAC, has initiated an own-motion review into the handling of Ms Corinna Horvath's complaints alleging...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I rise today to welcome the growing worldwide movement to divest fossil fuels. I am celebrating the fact that Global Divestment Day is this 13 and 14 February, and what a great day it is going to...
  • Queensland (1 speech)
    My contribution tonight relates to the third in a trilogy of speeches that I have made in this place concerning the fulfilment of a promise that I made when I was appointed as a senator for the...
  • Australia Day (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about a day when we celebrate our nation, and I am speaking of course about our national day, Australia Day. My local office is based in the suburb of Kingston, and this...
  • Islamic State (1 speech)
    I recommend to members of the Senate—indeed, to all Australians—a BBC Radio documentary which examines 'The brutality and bureaucracy of Islamic State.' The introduction to the...
  • The Nationals (1 speech)
    Mr Acting Deputy President Williams, I am sure you will appreciate my contribution tonight as I seek to outline the Nationals' Wodonga statement. I would just like to briefly mention some words...
  • Death Penalty (1 speech)
    On 2 December 2005, my friend Ruth Webber—a former senator in this place from Western Australia—and I joined a candlelit vigil outside the High Commission of Singapore in Canberra. We...