Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Meeting (3 speeches)
    Does any senator wish to—Senator Bushby?
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Labor 2013-14 Budget Savings (Measures No. 1) Bill 2014; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I would like to say a few words about this Orwellian titled bill. The Labor 2013-14 Budget Savings (Measures No. 1) Bill 2014 is part of a growing tradition within this parliament to see...
  • Labor 2013-14 Budget Savings (Measures No. 1) Bill 2014; Third Reading (4 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call on the minister to move the third reading, unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) 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.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Bill 2015; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill, and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Bill 2015; In Committee (14 speeches)
    I seek leave to move amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 7714 together. Presumably I will need to move amendment (3) separately.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015. Before I detail the reasons why I think every senator should support this legislation, it is useful, for future...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Dementia (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak once again about the Abbott government's blatant disregard for older Australians and the fact that there is no apparent plan to deal with dementia, which is now the second...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Country Hour (1 speech)
    It is with pleasure that I rise today to make this contribution and in so doing note an anniversary that I think all sides of politics, and indeed all Australians, can join together to celebrate...
  • Trade (1 speech)
    In the US as I speak now and over recent weeks there has been an extraordinary political debate occurring around trade deals or what are called 'modern partnership agreements'. I intend to use my...
  • Clarke, Mr Ronald William (Ron), AO, MBE, Taxation (1 speech)
    Today I wish to argue the case for urgent and widespread tax reform, but, to begin with, I want to pay tribute to one of Australia's greatest athletes, Ron Clarke, AO, MBE, who, sadly, passed...
  • Nauru (1 speech)
    I am very pleased to be given this short amount of time to make a contribution here. I am going to refer to the Public Works Committee Act 1969: (8) A public work the estimated cost of which...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    Australia's 2015-16 federal budget presents a stark contrast to last year's budget, when the threat of looming economic straits was not dismissible. This time, the tone was different; but it was...
  • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
    I would like to raise for consideration in the Senate today the future of Australia's naval shipbuilding industry and dispel some of the myths that colour perception around this issue. We are at...
  • Kirner, Ms Joan Elizabeth, AC (2 speeches)
    I rise to remember the late Joan Kirner. I mourn her passing at the age of 76 on Monday, 1 June 2015. I celebrate her life and the contribution she made to Victoria, to Australia and to the...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Scullion, the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, will be absent from question time today as he is attending the National Native Title Conference in...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • National Security: Citizenship (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Can the minister confirm that just three out of 19 cabinet ministers have been shown advice from the...
  • Trade (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the minister inform the Senate of the successful conclusion of the...
  • Asylum Seekers (52 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to photos published today showing bundles of cash that Indonesian police say were paid to people smugglers...
  • Student Visas (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government will improve and simplify the immigration...
  • Higher Education (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Minister Birmingham. There is an increasing perception of deliberate stonewalling and a preference for blaming the Senate....
  • Housing Affordability (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance. The 2015-16 budget shows an eight per cent increase in childcare spending, or a 40 per cent increase over four years, or, in dollar terms, from $6.5...
  • National Security: Citizenship (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement yesterday that the government's decision to give ministers the sole discretion to revoke...
  • Illicit Drugs (6 speeches)
    My question is to the very effective Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Will the minister update the Senate on the progress towards the National Ice Action Strategy since the Prime...
  • Defence Procurement (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Brandis. I refer the minister to reports that BAE Systems will not tender for the government's $600 million Pacific...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a response to the order for the production of documents.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • National Security: Citizenship, Asylum Seekers (34 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong) and...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Di Natale today relating to recent media reports...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Thank you, Clerk. Does any senator wish to have that question put? There being none, we will now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators Carr and Lazarus, I move: That the following matters be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 3 November 2015: (a)...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Marine Reserves; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Lazarus I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, no later than 3.30 pm on 24 June 2015, all documents...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Toyne, Mr Phillip (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Siewert, Birmingham and Singh, move: That the Senate— (a) expresses its deep gratitude for the great contribution to the protection of Australia's...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Broadband; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) and the Minister representing the Minister for Communications (Senator Fifield), by 3.30 pm on Thursday, 18...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Environmental Conservation (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate welcomes: (a) the recognition by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of the important work undertaken by this Government which recommended against the Great Barrier Reef...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 February 2016: The influence of the Australian fossil fuel...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Housing Affordability (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the median Sydney house price has increased from $73 000 in 1985 to over $914 000 in 2015, (ii) the ratio of housing price to income in Sydney...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Rural Industries Development Corporation: Report; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, by 18 June 2015, the Rural Industries Development Corporation's market research report...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Budget (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Day and Wang, move: That the Senate accepts the desirability and merit as a general budgetary principle of lowering taxes irrespective of whether the budget is...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Conroy on 18 June 2015 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I present the 6th report and alert digest No. 6 of 2015 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    I present delegated legislation monitor No. 6 for 2015 of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances. Ordered that the document be printed.
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Senator Ruston, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiries into the Australian...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present two reports of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties as listed at item 15 on today's Order of Business, and I seek leave to have the tabling statement incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Government Response to Report (29 speeches)
    I present a government response to the report of the inquiry of the Community Affairs References Committee into involuntary or coerced sterilisation of people with disabilities in Australia and...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Robb, I table a ministerial statement and related agreement on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. I will take this opportunity to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Airports Amendment Bill 2015, Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I indicate to the Senate that these bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I will be moving a motion to have the bills listed...
  • Airports Amendment Bill 2015, Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015; 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— AIRPORTS...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    I now call Senator Gallagher to make her first speech, and I ask that honourable senators extend the usual courtesies to Senator Gallagher.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015, Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015; 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.
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015, Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    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....
  • Export Charges (Imposition — General) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015; 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.
  • Export Charges (Imposition — General) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2015, Export Charges (Collection) Bill 2015; 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— EXPORT CHARGES...
  • Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bill 2015, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015; 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 Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bill 2015, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015; 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 SMALL...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation as listed at item 19 on today's Order of Business together with the documents...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I will backtrack just a little from where I was in my speech where I pointed out that the inclusion of woody biomass into the renewable energy target is not a new suggestion. I pointed out that...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (2 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 115(2), I move: That the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, together with the circulated amendments to the bill, be referred to the Environment and...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; Reference to Committee (2 speeches)
    I thank the chamber for its indulgence; I believe now is the correct time to move under standing order 115(2) for a brief but necessary inquiry into this bill, the Renewable Energy (Electricity)...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (17 speeches)
    by leave—I move items (1) to (4) on sheet 7712, together: (1) Title, page 1 (lines 2 and 3), omit "and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations2001". (2) Clause 3, page 2 (line 11),...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Food Labelling (1 speech)
    Tonight I would like to talk about something that I think is extremely important and that a lot of Australians think is extremely important, and that is the labels on our food products. For...
  • Ravenshoe: Cafe Explosion (2 speeches)
    On Friday, 9 June at midday, a shocking and terrible accident happened in my home town of Ravenshoe. Ravenshoe is a small community—less than a thousand people—just west of Cairns. It...
  • Housing Affordability, New South Wales Government (1 speech)
    It is a week since Treasurer Joe Hockey said: 'If housing was unaffordable in Sydney nobody would be buying it.' This disastrous bit of ad libbing from the Treasurer gives us a useful insight...
  • Higher Education (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about higher education and some of the ways it can be made more sustainable for the future. Australian universities have a great reputation and have, for a long time, been...