Senate debates

Thursday, 19 March 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications 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)
  • Defence Amendment (Fair Pay for Members of the ADF) Bill 2014; Second Reading (13 speeches)
    Today this Australian Senate is presented with an opportunity to debate and vote for the Defence Amendment (Fair Pay for Members of the ADF) Bill 2014. I know that many Australians, including up...
  • Defence Amendment (Fair Pay for Members of the ADF) 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.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Bushby, I present report No. 3 of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• 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...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day no. 29 (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2014) be considered on Thursday, 26 March 2015 under the temporary order...
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I ask leave to move a motion in relation to consideration of general business on Thursday, 26 March 2015. Leave granted. I move: That the order of general business for consideration on Thursday,...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Brown for today, 19 March 2015. Question agreed to.
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal Remote Communities (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a petition of 27,930 signatures calling on the government to reverse their decisions about Aboriginal remote communities which is not in conformity with the standing orders:
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McLucas, move: That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2015: The...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Stop the Trawler Campaign (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a petition of 75,000 signatures from the Stop the Super Trawler Alliance which is not in conformity with the standing orders: Petition received.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015, allowing it to be considered...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Bilyk, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Singh, I move: That the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1)...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Agriculture (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate notes Fortescue Metals Group chairman, Mr Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's self-described 'ten-year aspirational challenge' to develop 5 000 gigalitres of water from existing...
  • Donations to Political Parties (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the New South Wales Labor Party recently received a political donation from coal seam gas company Santos Ltd, (ii) the New South Wales Labor...
  • Perth Light Rail (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 663 standing in my name for today. It relates to Perth light rail—getting that project back on track. Leave granted. I move the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Queensland Government Administration Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    I move: That the resolution of the Senate of 30 September 2014 appointing the Select Committee on Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Disaster Relief (6 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 665 standing in my name for today relating to disaster relief. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a)...
  • World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Moore and Siewert, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 21 March 2015 is World Down Syndrome Day; (b) acknowledges That the theme for the 4th World Down...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    by leave—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 Telecommunications (Interception...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I thank my fellow senators for contributing to this important debate on the Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014. This bill, together with the Migration and Maritime...
  • Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014; In Committee (15 speeches)
    I table two supplementary explanatory memoranda relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill.
  • Australian River Co. Limited Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak today to the Australian River Co. Limited Bill 2015 on behalf of the opposition, and to add some personal comments of my own. The bill gives effect to the abolition of the...
  • Australian River Co. Limited Bill 2015; 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.
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015 and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment (Miscellaneous...
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015; 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.
  • Succession to the Crown Bill 2015; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    It will be no surprise for anyone to hear that the opposition will be supporting the Succession to the Crown Bill 2015. In fact, it was at the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in...
  • Succession to the Crown Bill 2015; 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.
  • Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014; In Committee (7 speeches)
    The Greens oppose schedule 1 in the following terms: (1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 5 (lines 3 to 12), to be opposed. (3) Schedule 1, items 4 to 10, page 5 (line 18) to page 6 (line 22), to be...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Abbott Government (37 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Abetz, representing the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the Prime Minister has recently met with the leadership group and raised the possibility of a double...
  • Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to the report in today's Financial Review about Tuesday's Federal Court decision against the CFMEU and officials, including...
  • Prime Minister (34 speeches)
    My question is the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's repeated comments before the election that Australia was facing 'a budget emergency'...
  • Indigenous Advancement Strategy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. The Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding contracts have now been offered to organisations around Australia. Despite the...
  • Defence Procurement (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Brandis. I refer the minister to a letter from the Swedish government to the Defence Materiel Organisation that...
  • Telecommunications Data Retention (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General. Why won't the government allow, in the context of seeking journalist information warrants, the right for potentially affected media organisations and...
  • Great Barrier Reef (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for the Environment. It relates to that wonderful natural asset we have in Australia that has been so well managed and protected by...
  • Road Infrastructure (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Cash. Given the $3 billion of federal contribution currently committed to the East...
  • Indigenous Affairs (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Is Ms Wendy Morton, CEO of the Northern Territory Council of Social Service, correct when she says that the minister's...
  • Veterans (7 speeches)
    Mr President, on indulgence—I welcome to the Senate the fine young men from the Toowoomba Grammar School in Queensland, including my grandson. My question is to the Minister for Veterans'...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Economy (12 speeches)
    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 Dastyari today relating to government debt. The...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Select Committee; Report (11 speeches)
    I present the second interim report of the Select Committee on the National Broadband Network. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. First, I...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I present the interim report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on violence against women. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That the Senate take note of the...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Dastyari, I present the report of the Economics References Committee on incentives to privatise state or territory assets for new infrastructure, together with the minutes of...
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the report on the review of the declaration of al-Raqqa province in Syria, together with the minutes of...
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 20th human rights scrutiny report of the 44th parliament, together with the minutes of proceedings of the committee...
  • Joint Standing Committee on National Capital and External Territories; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government’s response to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories on its inquiry into the future of Norfolk Island. I seek...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    I move: That Senator Siewert replace Senator Rice on the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for the committee’s inquiry into the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, and...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Amendment Bill 2015; 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.
  • Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Amendment Bill 2015; 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— LIMITATION OF LIABILITY...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Coal Seam Gas (23 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Siewert, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the negative impacts of coal and coal seam gas mining on Australia's environment, including prime agricultural...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (2 speeches)
    I think it is really critical and important to note when the parliamentary committee system is doing extremely good work. I would direct senators' attention to the message from the minister where...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    In the government response to the report on the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, we have quite a different story. There are a...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to go back to document No. 3, the Senate Economics References Committee report Need for a national approach to retail leasing arrangements.
  • Abbott Government's Budget Cuts Select Committee; Report (6 speeches)
    I would like to make some comments in relation to the first interim report of the Senate Select Committee into the Abbott government's budget cuts. We all know, as does the Australian community,...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Education and Employment References Committee report Principles of the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014, and related matters. The report was tabled earlier...
  • Abbott Government's Budget Cuts Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Thanks, Mr President. I appreciate your consideration on this. I had been waiting patiently, but that is how the call went. I do want to talk about the Abbott government's budget cuts and the...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I wish to speak to the Education and Employment References Committee report, Principles of the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014, and related matters. I would like to respond to some...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Cyclone Olwyn (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to reflect on tropical cyclone Olwyn, which struck in Western Australia's Pilbara and Gascoyne regions last Friday, and has inflicted major damage on many local communities...
  • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
    Tonight I wish to speak about housing affordability and the issue of negative gearing. Negative gearing is a divisive issue. Many people love it and many people hate it. Neither side it seems is...
  • Community Services (1 speech)
    It is no secret that I am a firm believer in the fundamental liberal principles of small government, of free markets and of individual liberty and personal responsibility, but people of my ilk...
  • National Close the Gap Day (1 speech)
    Today on National Close the Gap day, just when we thought the Prime Minister had reached rock bottom with his insulting comments about 'lifestyle choices' in relation to homeland communities, he...
  • Western Australian Agriculture (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about Western Australia's agriculture sector. Several weeks ago I was invited to participate in the WA Farmers Federation annual conference as part of the pollie panel....
  • Victoria: Cattle Grazing in National Parks (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to speak about the thoughtless and blatantly political actions of the Victorian Labor Party, led by Premier Daniel Andrews, who, along with the Victorian minister for the...
  • Special Broadcasting Service (1 speech)
    I just want to make a few brief remarks following what happened today in the Senate estimates hearing of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee. Today, we held a continuation of...
  • World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
    March 21 is the annual World Down Syndrome Day. Today in the Senate we passed a motion which was celebrated in the Senate that acknowledged that fact and also talked about the fact that we are in...
  • Tasmania: Granville Harbour Wind Farm (1 speech)
    I would like to talk today about a part of Tasmania that is very close to my heart: the West Coast. It is a region of great beauty, but it is also a region which has suffered some very serious...