Senate debates

Wednesday, 12 August 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Committee, Select Committee on the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru, Select Committee into the Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the motion put on any of those matters? There being none, we will proceed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Food Standards Amendment (Fish Labelling) Bill 2015; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    Pursuant to an order of the Senate on 14 May last, I shall put the question that this bill be now read a second time.
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Senate Attire (1 speech)
    Perhaps I could just address a matter that occurred at the commencement of the Senate this morning. I noticed that a number of senators were wearing sporting scarves, obviously celebrating a...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Marriage Equality (12 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to discrimination in the Marriage Act. Leave not granted. Then, pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015, Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015; In Committee (32 speeches)
    Without going to specific amendments, I want to speak in generalities to start with. At the outset, I want to restate Labor's strong and absolute support for health and medical research in our...
  • Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015, Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015, which has previously been circulated in the chamber.
  • Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015, Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2015; In Committee (6 speeches)
    While I support the bill, I am putting forward an amendment to improve the management and scrutiny of board appointments to the advisory board. As the bill stands, the health minister will have...
  • Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015, Medical Research Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) 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.
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Irvine, Mr Frank William (Bill) (1 speech)
    Today I want to make a contribution to speak about the life and time of a man named Bill Irvine. My home state of Queensland lost Bill recently, aged 74 years, on 17 June. For Queenslanders who...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I stand today in support of the wharfies at Hutchison Ports Australia. I stand in support of the wives, the husbands and the children who have got an uncertain future because of the actions of...
  • Steel Industry (1 speech)
    The call 'Save our steelworks' is resonating around the Illawarra and today 'Save our steelworks' resonates in this parliament. Members of the South Coast Labour Council, the Illawarra branch of...
  • Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (1 speech)
    The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union have again shown their hypocrisy and the depths to which they are willing to sink for their own financial gain. This week we have seen reports...
  • Local Government (1 speech)
    I rise on this occasion to speak on an issue that is causing much concern in my state of Queensland and across the country. Local government provide many essential services that people rely on in...
  • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    It has been over four years since Neil Batten told me the story of what happened to him as a 15-year-old boy at HMAS Leeuwin in 1971—44 years ago. His parents, now in their 80s, told me...
  • Sim, Sir Peter, CBE (1 speech)
    I rise this afternoon to acknowledge and pay tribute to the life and work of a great Western Australian and a true stalwart of the WA Liberal Party, Peter Sim CBE. Even though it is a very long...
  • Employment (1 speech)
    Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President Sterle, for relieving me from the chair so I can give my senator statement. Today, I want to focus on the extraordinary statement we heard from Mr Hockey...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Nash, will be absent from question time today. Senator Nash is attending a funeral. During Senator Nash’s absence, Senator Payne will answer...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (19 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ronaldson, the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science. I refer to the tragic announcement this morning that BAE will let go a further 125 workers,...
  • Medical Research Future Fund (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Will the minister update the Senate on what the government is doing to support the...
  • Marriage Equality (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Can the minister confirm that the government's approach to marriage equality was not considered by the cabinet...
  • Marriage (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Abetz. A 62-year-old caller to ABC radio, Gerard from Drouin in Victoria, called in this morning, distressed that he might...
  • Higher Education (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister please inform the Senate— Senator Conroy interjecting— Senator Kim Carr...
  • National ICT Australia (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Ronaldson. We learned this week that up to 200 jobs are at risk while the apparent merger of National...
  • Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Will the minister update the Senate— Senator Cameron interjecting— You are a disgrace. You bring...
  • Wind Farms (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for the Education and Training, Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for the Environment. On 3 August, the Senate Select Committee on Wind...
  • Climate Change (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Can the minister confirm that the Abbott government's emissions reduction target is not consistent with its own...
  • Netball World Cup 2015 (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's involvement with the Netball World Cup competition,...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. BAE in Williamstown this morning announced that they were...
  • Marriage Equality (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Wong today relating to marriage...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Bilyk today relating to climate...
  • Marriage Equality (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the answer given by Senator Abetz this afternoon to Senator Wong on marriage equality. The talk of the nation today, again, is about marriage equality, the unfinished...
  • Marriage (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to marriage...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Sadly, I withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos 1 and 3 standing in my name for today.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Peris for today, 12 August 2015. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Opportunities for the Agricultural Sector (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 793 before seeking to have the motion taken as formal. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate: (a) notes that:...
  • Beef Industry (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Canavan, O'Sullivan, McKenzie and Day move: That the Senate notes: (a) the beef industry is worth $8.5 billion to Australia; (b) a report released by the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Brown, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1)...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (3 speeches)
    Mr President, if I may, could I seek leave to give notice of a motion as I missed the jump earlier.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Netball World Cup (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Cash, Wong, Fierravanti-Wells and Hanson-Young, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) netball is the largest female community-based sport in the world,...
  • Deaths in Custody (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) with sadness that 4 August 2015 marked one year since the death of Miss Dhu in police custody in Western Australia, and (ii) that the inquest into Ms...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training, no later than 11 am on Wednesday, 19 August 2015, all documents held by the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Leadbeater's Possum (4 speeches, 3 comments)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that in April 2015, the Minister for the Environment up-listed Victoria’s animal emblem, the Leadbeater’s Possum, to critically...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pollution Reduction Targets (3 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8:30 this morning Senators Moore and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75, proposing a matter of public importance. The question of...
  • Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
    I know the Abbott government have been dealing with their own internal chaos with the marriage equality question over the last few days—they spent six hours yesterday trying to come up with...
  • Renewable Energy (14 speeches)
    I rise to speak on a matter of public importance, the weak and dangerous climate targets we saw yesterday from this weak and dangerous Prime Minister. First of all, science has been completely...
  • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
    What we have seen this week is a government that have proven once and for all that it is stuck so far in the past it cannot even see what is going on in the world around them. In so many areas,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present the 161st report of the Committee of Privileges entitled 'Possible imposition of a penalty on a witness...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Alert Digest (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 7 dated 2015 and the 7th report. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Williams, I present Delegated legislation monitor No.8 of 2015 of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances. Ordered that the document be printed.
  • Human Rights Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 25th report of the 44th Parliament, Human rights scrutiny report. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That...
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Smith and on behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present report No. 449, Regional Development Australia Fund, military equipment disposal and tariff...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Perth Freight Link; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for production of documents concerning the Roe 8 extension and the Perth Freight Link.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Select Committee on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers, Offences and Other Measures) 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.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers, Offences and Other Measures) 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— The Crimes Legislation...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Amendment to Lists of CITES Species, Declaration of a stricter domestic measure; Disallowance (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Amendment to Lists of CITES Species, Declaration of a stricter domestic measure, made under subsection 303CB(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report on the 2015-16 budget estimates together with the Hansard record of proceedings...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Strengthening Biometrics Integrity) Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    For the benefit of the Hansard record, I will continue from where I was cut off when debate on this bill was last interrupted. This is in regards to the privacy impact assessment I tabled during...
  • Migration Amendment (Strengthening Biometrics Integrity) Bill 2015; In Committee (8 speeches)
    by leave—I move opposition amendments (1), (2), (3) and (4): (1) Schedule 1, item 34, page 7 (after line 27), after subsection 257A(7), insert: Personal identifiers for minors or incapable...
  • Migration Amendment (Strengthening Biometrics Integrity) 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.
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; Second Reading (20 speeches)
    I am pleased to be able to continue to make my contribution on the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013. I will, in effect, pick up where I left off in arguing...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Sense-T Program (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about cutting-edge research in my home state of Tasmania being conducted by Sense-T. My colleague Senator Bilyk and I were fortunate enough recently to receive a briefing from...
  • Asylum Seekers, Malawi (1 speech)
    'After two years, Australia's experiment in offshore detention has been a disaster. Even the few people provided refugee status have been denied freedom of movement and the right to work. All...
  • Workplace Gender Equality Agency (1 speech)
    I want to make some comments this evening on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, which as all of us know was created by the Australian government with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012....