Senate debates

Thursday, 18 June 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Constitutional Recognition of ATSIP, Economics Legislation Committee, Select Committee on the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Freedom of Information Amendment (Requests and Reasons) Bill 2015; Second Reading (19 speeches)
    The Freedom of Information Amendment (Requests and Reasons) Bill 2015, presented by Senator Ludwig, I understand, on behalf of the opposition, proposes to amend the Freedom of Information Act to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (11 speeches)
    I present the seventh report of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Thank you, Clerk. I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—on behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Macdonald, I move: That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee be...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 8 April 2016: The threat of marine plastic pollution in...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senator Rice, move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee report on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Bill 2015 by 22 June 2015.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Greste, Mr Peter (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senators Back and Xenophon and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong), move: That the Senate— (a) notes with deep concern: (i) That the Australian...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Headspace; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health, no later than 3.30 pm on Thursday, 25 June 2015, the report on the governance arrangements of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Motorcycle Safety (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Wang and Senator Day, move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that: (i) the growing popularity of motorcycling is helping to ease congestion in our cities,...
  • Free range Hens (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator O'Sullivan and Senator Canavan, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) 408 million dozen eggs are produced by Australian growers annually, (ii) at current...
  • Higher Education (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Day and Senator Leyonhjelm, move: That the Senate notes that: (a) public universities currently do not sufficiently compete with one another to lower fees for...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That: (1) the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal Legal Service: New South Wales (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) That the 24-hour phone hotline staffed by lawyers provided by the New South Wales Aboriginal Legal Service has had its funding cut by the Federal...
  • Aboriginal Legal Service: Tasmania (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the decision of the Government to reject the application for funding made by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service; and (b) calls on the Government to...
  • Liquefied Natural Gas Exports (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) welcomes the commencement of gas exports from QCLNG's Curtis Island Queensland Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, the first in the world to produce LNG from...
  • Aboriginal Legal Service: Tasmania (3 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, in regard to Senator Whish-Wilson's motion, we are confused as to the call you made. Could we ask that you recommit that.
  • Greece: Economy (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Rhiannon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the perilous state of the Greek economy and the misery being endured by many in the Greek community as a...
  • Perth Freight Link (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the planning for the Perth Freight Link is in absolute chaos, (ii) the project is counter to current state planning priorities set out in 'Perth...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015. Labor fully supports this bill which implements quality assurance standards for traders subject to...
  • Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) 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.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise on behalf of the opposition to speak in support of the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2015. Labor welcomes the government's...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2015; In Committee (11 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator required that the bill be considered in the Committee of the Whole.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) 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.
  • Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I am pleased to make a contribution to the debate on the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2015 and advise the Senate that Labor will be supporting this legislation. This...
  • Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment 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.
  • Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2015 is about the national joint replacement register. I rise to indicate the Labor Party will be supporting...
  • Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment 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.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Penalty Unit) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The measures in the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Penalty Units) Bill are not controversial and modernise existing legislation. Labor are committed to cracking down on serious crime and deterring...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Penalty Unit) 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.
  • Personal Property Securities Amendment (Deregulatory Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I intend to be very brief on this matter. This bill makes a small amendment to the Personal Property Securities Act passed by the Labor government in 2009 and, as a consequence, the Labor Party...
  • Personal Property Securities Amendment (Deregulatory Measures) Bill 2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Defence Legislation (Enhancement of Military Justice) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I intend to be brief. The Defence Legislation (Enhancement of Military Justice) Bill continues the bipartisan approach to reforming the military justice system that has been pursued by successive...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Australia Council (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for the Arts, Senator Brandis. I remind the minister of his decision to cut over $100 million from the Australia Council to fund his own personal arts slush fund....
  • Economy (6 speeches, 1 comment)
    I have a serious question for Senator Cormann. It is a question that has not been asked previously at estimates like the previous question had been. My question to Senator Cormann is in his role...
  • National Security: Citizenship (27 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the cabinet revolt over the Prime Minister's plan to strip Australian citizens of their citizenship and...
  • Trade (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Payne. One of the biggest and most controversial issues in US politics at the moment is providing...
  • Asylum Seekers (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the minister confirm reports this week that an asylum-seeker vessel was intercepted by Australian officials in international waters?
  • Automotive Transformation Scheme (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ronaldson representing the industry minister, Mr Macfarlane. Yesterday I met with senior representatives of the Federation of Automotive Products Manufacturers. Of the...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I acknowledge the presence in the President's Gallery today of a member from the German Family Party of the European Parliament, Mr Arne Gericke. Welcome to the Senate. Honourable senators: Hear,...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Infrastructure (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash, representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister tell the...
  • Renewable Energy (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. Noting the government's deal with Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target, will the government...
  • National Security (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's decision to wait three days to advise parliament that the Monis letter had not been provided to the...
  • Centenary of Anzac (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the wonderful Centenary of ANZAC program, Senator Ronaldson. I refer the minister to the...
  • Renewable Energy (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis, I refer to the Prime Minister's statement on the Alan Jones show that the government has reduced the future number...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Renewable Energy (8 speeches)
    I rise to give additional information to an answer in question time.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • National Security (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by senators today. I want to try and encapsulate the essence of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Whish-Wilson replace Senator Wright on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for the committee's inquiry into the Australian Small...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Rural Industries Development Corporation: Report, National Broadband Network; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    In relation to ministerial statements, I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning kangaroo management. I further table a document relating to the order...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Wind Turbines Select Committee; Report (7 speeches, 1 comment)
    I present the interim report of the Select Committee on Wind Turbines, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. Ordered that the reports be...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 3) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper. I...
  • Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 3) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second...
  • Imported Food Charges (Imposition — General) Bill 2015, Imported Food Charges (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2015, Imported Food Charges (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2015, Imported Food 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.
  • Imported Food Charges (Imposition — General) Bill 2015, Imported Food Charges (Imposition — Customs) Bill 2015, Imported Food Charges (Imposition — Excise) Bill 2015, Imported Food 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— IMPORTED FOOD...
• 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 provisions of the Law Enforcement Legislation...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Marriage Equality (20 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Siewert, I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a) general business notice of motion no. 742 standing in the name of Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    As a Liberal senator for Western Australia, one of my primary roles has been to support a regulatory structure that best guarantees strong competitive markets for WA's wheat growers, which is why...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Economics References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the report. As the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, I am very pleased to speak to the tabling of the...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I want to speak briefly on report No. 21 on affordable housing. It is good that Senator McLucas is in the chamber. She was involved heavily in this inquiry. I will speak about that later. This is...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 37 of 2014-15 (1 speech)
    This is an audit report, No. 37, Performance audit:Management of Smart Centres' Centrelink telephone services, under the Department of Human Services. Before I go to the detail of the report, I...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Bartels, Mr Greg (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about a great Australian, Mr Greg Bartels. Greg was born on 28 June way back in 1926. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve at the age of 17 in 1943. He tried...