Senate debates
Thursday, 20 August 2015
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (3 speeches)
I present the 10th 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...
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a) general business notice of motion no.826 standing in the name of Senator Moore relating to National Science...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Carr, I ask that general business notice of motion No. 822 standing in his name be withdrawn.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
by leave—I present a nonconforming petition with more than 100,000 signatories calling for the GST on pads and tampons to be removed. Petition received.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Fit for the Future (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Federal Government will give over $2.6 billion in grants to local governments in 2015 16, and this amount is frozen until at least 2017 18,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Women in Afghanistan (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend motion 823 standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the amended motion: That the Senate: (a) notes that: (i) the costs of political unrest fall disproportionately on the...
- World Cup Netball (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf Senators McAllister, Fierravanti-Wells, Cash and Siewert, move: That the Senate— (a) congratulates the Australian Netball Diamonds on their achievement in claiming a...
- Lyme Disease (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the hard work of the Lyme Disease Association of Australia in its ongoing work to raise awareness and funds to provide ongoing advocacy for people living...
- Galilee Basin (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate notes: (a) the importance of the Galilee Basin and Abbot Point to the future development of northern Australia; (b) the ongoing support of the Queensland and the...
- Montara Oil Spill (10 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 829, relating to the Montara oil spill, be taken as a formal motion.
- China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (2 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the importance of trade with China to the Australian economy, (ii) that on 17 June 2015, Australia's...
- Type 1 Diabetes (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is an autoimmune (not lifestyle) condition which affects over 120 000 Australians, (ii) people diagnosed with Type 1...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015, Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) 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...
- Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015, Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) 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— GENE TECHNOLOGY...
- Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (2015 Budget 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.
- Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (2015 Budget 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— I am pleased to present...
- Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
I rise to speak on behalf of the opposition on this bill. The Gene Technology Amendment Bill 2015 makes some technical changes to the Gene Technology Act 2000. The act is the Commonwealth...
- Gene Technology Amendment 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.
- Australian Defence Force Superannuation Bill 2015, Australian Defence Force Cover Bill 2015, Defence Legislation Amendment (Superannuation and ADF Cover) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I rise to express Labor's strong support for these Australian Defence Force bills. These bills will ensure a fair, appropriate and viable superannuation scheme for our Defence forces. It is...
- Australian Defence Force Superannuation Bill 2015, Australian Defence Force Cover Bill 2015, Defence Legislation Amendment (Superannuation and ADF Cover) 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.
- Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
I rise to speak on behalf of the opposition on the Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) Bill 2015. I am pleased to indicate that Labor will be supporting this legislation. In a world where...
- Passports Legislation Amendment (Integrity) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
There being no amendments, I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
It is a good opportunity now to continue my remarks, which I started last night, on the Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015. This bill...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Australian Constitution (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's attendance at this weekend's WA Liberal state conference, which will consider the...
- Employment (6 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister inform the Senate how the government's changes to the Environment...
- Liberal Party (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Minister's denial yesterday that he described his cabinet colleagues as 'gutless'. Given that the...
- Coalmining (12 speeches)
My question is the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. This morning the government introduced its bill to stop Australians holding the Minister for the Environment to account when he has broken...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (12 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. I refer to the minister's interview on Sky News yesterday, where he refused three times to confirm that the NDIS...
- Trade (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Payne, the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Minister, within 12 months of taking office the Abbott government concluded free trade agreements...
- Trade with China (10 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. I ask: can the minister inform the Senate of any false and misleading claims about labour market...
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business, Senator Cormann. Minister, the recently completed Harper review into competition policy found that Australian laws are...
- Indigenous Affairs (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I refer to the minister's comments that vegemite is a precursor to misery in many remote Indigenous communities, where the...
- Australian Skills Quality Authority (6 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister advise the Senate about the findings of the Australian Skills Quality Authority strategic...
- Defence Procurement (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Prime Minister's conflicting statements about building Australia's offshore patrol vessels....
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (24 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Today was an opportunity for the government to back in...
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to competition...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 16th Report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Export Market Development Grants Scheme (1 speech)
At the request of the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Robb, I table a ministerial statement and document on the 2015 review of the Export Market Development Grants Scheme. The statement was...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- National Science Week (16 speeches)
At the request of Senator Moore, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that National Science Week 2015 runs from 15 August to 23 August 2015, (ii) the importance of inspiring and...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Tasmania (1 speech)
I table the original certificate received through His Excellency the Governor-General from the Governor of Tasmania of the choice by the parliament of Tasmania of Senator McKim to fill the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
I want to make some comments on the report that was presented yesterday in this place on out-of-home care. We had a number of speakers in the chamber yesterday who spoke about the extraordinary...
- Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
I wish to comment on the interim report handed down just yesterday by the Senate Economics References Committee on the future of Australia's automotive industry. This is a very important report...
- Wind Turbines Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
I rise to speak as the former Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines. It is nearly 30 years since Australia's first wind farm was built—that was in Esperance in Western...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
I participated in the Senate inquiry into illicit firearms and made a significant contribution to the majority report. I am also one of Australia's 800,000 licensed firearm owners. I lead the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Liberal Party (2 speeches)
I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Employment (1 speech)
'Get a good job that pays good money.' Not you, Mr President; you and I are paid well. This remark was made by the Treasurer to the people of Australia who are finding it difficult to buy their...
- Environment (1 speech)
In a more unenlightened time than the one we live in today people used to think there was a white man's burden. That was a phrase coined by Rudyard Kipling. There was a burden placed on countries...
