Senate debates
Wednesday, 9 September 2015
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
Today I wish to talk about a recent trip to the Middle East, but more importantly I wish to revisit the issue of an Australian Defence Force covenant. The memory of the Gallipoli landings 100...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I am proud to have been elected secretary of Labor's Fair Work Taskforce. This is a group of Labor senators and members of the federal parliament who are very concerned about the government's...
- Threatened Species Day, National Bilby Day (1 speech)
I rise to mark Threatened Species Day, which fell on Monday this week, 7 September. I also rise to mark National Bilby Day, which is this forthcoming Sunday, 13 September. Threatened Species Day...
- Cummings, Mr James Bartholomew 'Bart', OAM (1 speech)
On a day when we honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as the longest reigning monarch on the British throne, I want to honour a king—that is, the 'Cups King', James Bartholomew Cummings,...
- Syria, Arts Funding (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the attack by Minister Brandis on arts funding in this country. Before turning to arts funding issues, I do need to comment briefly on the fast-moving humanitarian crisis...
- Parliamentary Behaviour (4 speeches)
Today I rise to talk about the toxic nature of party politics in the parliament. Madam Acting Deputy President O'Neill, I have the utmost respect for you and your colleagues, so I suggest you...
- Employment: Tasmania (1 speech)
I would like to address the very important issue of jobs in my home state of Tasmania and the lack of action by state and federal governments. Mr Abbott was in Hobart over the weekend, belatedly...
- Australian Capital Territory (3 speeches)
Madam Acting Deputy President, can I say that I was in a committee meeting and that is why I was coming a little bit later, although I was told that I was to be on at quarter to two, so I...
- Students Against Racism Group (1 speech)
With the few minutes that I have left before question time I would like to talk to the Senate about two students who came up to Parliament House in August. The Students Against Racism group from...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (2 speeches)
by leave—When the Australian Constitution was established on 1 January 1901 it described the parliament as comprising three parts: the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives....
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Cormann will be absent from question time today and tomorrow as he is attending the APEC finance ministers' meeting in the Philippines. In his...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Ndis (8 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. I refer to advertisements that confirm that the government wants to replace NDIS board members who have experience...
- Asylum Seekers: Europe (6 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister inform the Senate of the government's response to the European migration...
- Competition Policy (19 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Small Business, Senator Abetz. Does the Abbott government support the inclusion of an effects test in Australian competition law?
- Syria (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Over the past 25 years, we have invaded Iraq twice, we have been in Afghanistan for over a decade, we have gone back...
- Trade with China (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the minister outline how the landmark China-Australia Free Trade...
- Renewable Energy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. The Renewable Energy Act currently exempts 'self-generators' of electricity from liability under...
- Trade with China (7 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. In light of ongoing misinformation about labour market access under the China-Australia...
- Taxation (6 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Finance. A short while ago I wrote to the government about income splitting, which is something, I know, Senator Canavan on my left...
- Trade with China (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement in the House yesterday that, under the China FTA: … there is...
- University Fees (9 speeches)
My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's repeated promises prior to the election two years ago that there...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Australian Defence Force (19 speeches)
Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter—namely, a...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Competition Policy (10 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator O'Neill today...
- Syria (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 Di Natale today relating to...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Cormann for 9 September and 10 September 2015, on account of ministerial business; and (b) Senator...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reporting Date (1 speech)
Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those motions? There being no-one, I now proceed to the next item of business.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Dementia (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senators Fifield and Polley, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) September is Dementia Awareness Month, (ii) the theme for 2015 is 'Creating a Dementia...
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senators Smith, McKenzie, Day, Bullock, Lindgren, Reynolds, Fawcett, Back, Edwards, Sinodinos, Ruston, Madigan, Fifield, Bushby, Macdonald, Cash, Cormann, Ronaldson,...
- Brock, Mr Peter, AM (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 8 September 2015 marked the 8th anniversary of the death of Mr Peter Brock AM, and (ii) Peter Brock AM: (A) was made a Member of the...
- Electricity Costs (6 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the rising cost of electricity for consumers across Australia, and the resultant financial pressures being placed on Australian households and businesses;...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Centrepay; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Human Services, no later than noon on 14 September 2015, all documents produced by the office of the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Custodial Notification Service (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate notes: (a) the success of the New South Wales Custodial Notifications Service (CNS) in dramatically reducing Aboriginal deaths in custody in that state; (b) the delay of...
- Australian Defence Force (4 speeches)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 839 by amending paragraph (c). Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate notes: (a) the important role that...
- Newcastle City Council Investment Policies (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Newcastle City Council recently passed an update to its investment policies that notes the Council's preference for environmentally and socially...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Senator Polley, I present ninth report and Alert Digest No. 9 of 2015. Ordered that the report be printed.
- Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 27th report of the 44th Parliament, Human Rights Scrutiny Report. Ordered that the document be printed. I move: That...
- Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Fawcett, I present the 151st report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Treaty tabled on 28 October 2014, and I seek leave to incorporate the tabling statement in...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee's report No. 450, Annual report 2014-15, as well as executive minutes on various reports, and I...
- Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received a letter requesting changes to the membership of a committee.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I remind senators that the first speech is about to be given by Senator McKim, and I ask that the usual practice and courtesies be extended to him.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Water Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (28 speeches)
I begin by indicating that the opposition recognises the government's desire to provide certainty to Murray-Darling Basin communities by placing a cap of 1,500 gigalitres on water purchases. On...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Queen Elizabeth's Reign (1 speech)
One of the characteristics of history is that we do not realise we are living through it until after the fact. As senior US presidential advisor, cabinet member and author John Gardener put it,...
- Canning Electorate (1 speech)
I feel I have to say that I am a republican, but I am sure that would not surprise those opposite. I want to talk tonight about the seat of Canning and start by saying that whatever by-election...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
I rise today to advocate for sharpening public awareness and visibility of, and action on, Australia's early learning, primary and secondary education policy and practice. I continue to spend a...
- Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's Rural Women's Award (1 speech)
Tonight it gives me great pleasure to speak on the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's Rural Women's Award. While we are in the chamber tonight the annual award dinner is...
