Senate debates

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Edwards, I present the report on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015. Ordered that the report...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015. This bill seeks to amend the National Health Act 1953 to implement measures in the PBS Access and...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015; In Committee (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) on sheet 7734: (1) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 31), after item 4, insert: 4A Subsection 90(3B)   Repeal the subsection. 4B Subsection...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formality, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I move: That these bills now be read a second time, and I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— APPROPRIATION...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Hospitals (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is the New South Wales government correct when it says that the Abbott government's changes to health funding will...
  • National Security: Citizenship (10 speeches)
    My question is also to the Acting Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Will the Attorney-General update the Senate on further measures the Australian...
  • Education Funding (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Will the Abbott government's green paper on Federation contain a proposal to cut federal kindergarten and preschool funding altogether?
  • Climate Change (13 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. In The Lancet today, one of the world's premier medical journals, there was a study that was released into the...
  • Australian Customs Service (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate of the importance of securing and managing Australia's borders?
  • Budget (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Does the minister agree with Michael O'Neill, Chief Executive of National Seniors Australia, who says the...
  • Family Law (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Attorney, in 2012 the Gillard government amended the Family Law Act in a number of ways, including expanding the definition of 'family...
  • Industrial Relations (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Can the minister confirm that despite her department sending its revised enterprise bargaining offer to the Australian Public...
  • Indigenous Business (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Will the minister advise the Senate how the government is supporting the economic development of Indigenous businesses?
  • Economy (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Leaving to one side quarterly figures and extrapolations therefrom, can the minister confirm that the annual...
  • Illicit Drugs (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Will the minister advise the Senate how the government is deterring and disrupting the importation...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (18 speeches)
    I move: This question time has been an example of the chaos that lies below the very, very thin veneer that this government represents. Everything you look at with this government is about chaos,...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I move: Contrary to Senator Brandis's view that there are divergent views amongst the medical profession, he is quite wrong. There is an overwhelming consensus among scientists, particularly in...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a) Senator Reynolds from 23 June to 25 June 2015; and (b) Senator Smith for today....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee on the 2015-16 Budget estimates be extended to 26 June 2015. Question...
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Madigan and Lambie, move: That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 12 October 2015: (a) the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That, on Tuesday, 23 June 2015: (a) the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 7 pm, and 7.30 pm to adjournment; (b) the routine of business from not later than 7.30 pm shall be the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Voice for Animals (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to establish a Commonwealth statutory authority with responsibility for protecting animal welfare in Commonwealth regulated...
  • Voice for Animals (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to this bill. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1), during the sittings of the Senate,...
  • Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1), during the sittings of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Women in Sport: Matildas (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate— (a) congratulates the Matildas on their historic win against Brazil in the 2015 FIFA World Cup; (b) notes that: (i) this is...
  • Queensland Firebirds (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senators Lindgren and Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) congratulates the Queensland Firebirds on their success in the tight, exciting final against the New South Wales...
  • Horticultural Exports (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator O'Sullivan, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the valuable boost to Australia's horticultural exports generated by increased free trade agreements with Asia which...
  • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) expresses concern at the disturbing reports aired on the Four Corners television program on 22 June 2015; (b) notes: (i) that only 412 Rohingyans have been...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Health Funding (18 speeches, 1 comment)
    A letter has been received from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The Abbott...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    As Deputy Chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, I present a correction to the non-government senators' dissenting report of the committee on the provisions of the...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I present the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee on Australia's environment, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
  • Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the Procedure Committee's second report of 2015. Ordered that the report be printed. Ordered that consideration of the report be made an order of the day for the next day of sitting. I...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade I present the committee's second report for the 44th Parliament entitled Partnering for the greater good. I move:...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports from the Community Affairs Legislation Committee; the Economics Legislation Committee; the...
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate adopts the recommendation in the report of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee relating to cross-portfolio estimates hearings on Indigenous...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 23rd report of the 44th Parliament: Human rights scrutiny report. Ordered that the reports be printed. I...
  • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
    (by leave)—On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present report No. 5 of 2015, 17th construction squadron relocation infrastructure project. I move: That the...
  • Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Review of the...
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Government Response to Report (3 speeches)
    I present the government's response to the 446th report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, the Review of the operations of the Parliamentary Budget Office. In accordance with...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Health (1 speech)
    by leave—I present to the Senate a non-conforming petition calling on the establishment of a mammography unit within the Kimberley district of Western Australia. Petition received.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Report (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to return to item 12 that the Senate has just agreed to.
  • Abbott Government's Budget Cuts Select Committee, Constitutional Recognition of ATSIP; Membership (1 speech)
    I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Abbott Government’s Budget Cuts—Select Committee— Appointed—Participating member: Senator...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Defined Benefit Income Streams) 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. by leave—I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Defined Benefit Income Streams) 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— SOCIAL SERVICES...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in the name of Senator Wright for today, relating to the disallowance of the Federal Courts Legislation Amendment (Fee...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    Prior to question time, I commenced my contribution in this debate on the appropriation bills. I was discussing the context in which any set of appropriation bills is presented to this...
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; In Committee (5 speeches)
    I move amendment (1) on sheet 7732 standing in my name: (1) Clause 13, page 8 (line 18), omit "$25,000,000,000", substitute "$11,000,000,000". The bill sets a debit limit for national partnership...
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time. Sitting suspended from 18:57 to 19:30
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (126 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, and amendment (1) on sheet 7707 moved by Senator Waters. The question is that part 4 of schedule 1 stand as...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate shall continue to sit until it has finally considered the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, or a motion for the adjournment is moved by a minister,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (21 speeches)
    I move Palmer United Party amendment (1) on sheet 7719 revised: (1) Schedule 1, page 15 (after line 2), at the end of the Schedule, add: Part 5—Self -generation Renewable Energy...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.