Senate debates

Monday, 14 September 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any Senator wish to have the motion put on any of those questions? There are none.
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Media (1 speech)
    I seek leave to make a short, two-minute personal statement. Leave granted. Today I referred journalist Stephen Drill to the Press Council of Australia for investigation after he interviewed and...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Water Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (2 speeches)
    This bill is proposing some sensible amendments to the Water Act to cut buybacks from farmers to 1500 gigalitres, and I support that. However, I have moved two amendments which I think I should...
  • Water Amendment Bill 2015; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    (): I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Edwards, I present the report of the Economics Legislation Committee on the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015, together with...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I would like to speak on the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015. The opposition will be supporting this bill and I must say, while the Senate...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015; In Committee (33 speeches)
    I want to begin by focusing on the issue of the definition of a small business. We have heard today that there are numerous definitions for small businesses. It is obviously something that...
  • Treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) 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.
  • Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak in favour of the Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) Bill 2015. As the title would indicate, this is an omnibus bill containing a large number of largely minor, technical...
  • Civil Law and Justice (Omnibus Amendments) 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.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That government business order of the day No. 4, the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014, be postponed until a later hour of the day. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014; Second Reading (14 speeches, 1 comment)
    It gives me great pleasure to continue my remarks on this particular piece of legislation, which I began remarking on just over a year ago. I make it very, very clear that we are not sacrificing...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I advise the Senate that Senator Ronaldson will be absent from question time today as he is in Papua New Guinea to attend commemorations regarding the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific....
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Abbott Government (14 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Does the Prime Minister retain the full confidence of his cabinet?
  • Trade with China (6 speeches)
    My question is directed to economic development and job creation, and it is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister update the Senate on the activities of certain...
  • Fair Work Commission (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to a formal complaint against Fair Work Commission vice-president Michael Lawler, received by the minister. Can the minister...
  • Trade with China (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister outline to the Senate how the government's free trade...
  • Climate Change (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Foreign Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the comments caught on microphone last Friday between Minister Dutton and the Prime Minister,...
  • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister further inform the Senate of the importance of protecting Australia and our region...
  • Mantach, Mr Damien (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz. Senator, can you confirm that, under the constitution of the Tasmanian division of the Liberal Party of Australia, you...
  • Trade with China (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Will the minister inform the Senate of the benefits of the China-Australia free trade agreement for Australia's health sector?
  • Climate Change (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Was the President of Kiribati, Mr Tong, correct when he said that the immigration minister's joke about rising water...
  • Trade with China (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for Education and Training. Will the minister inform the Senate of the benefits...
  • Telecommunications (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. I refer to reports that the person overseeing the rollout of Mr Turnbull's NBN, Bill Morrow, was...
  • Trade with China (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for Agriculture. Can the minister inform the Senate how the Australian wine industry—particularly in...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Abbott Government (1 speech)
    I have some further information for Senator Sterle in relation to the question he asked. I can indicate that I am advised that, as far as can be ascertained, no contact has been made by an...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (29 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. I just cannot help but make comment about Minister Abetz's answer to me when I asked...
  • Abbott Government (7 speeches)
    I am just recovering from what was a shemozzle of a performance from those opposite. I have to say that this idea, this notion, this suggestion from question time that somehow there is a small,...
  • Mantach, Mr Damien (3 speeches)
    I rise to take note of responses given by Senator Abetz to questions that I asked him today. The simple facts of this matter, as far as we know them, are abundantly clear. We know that under the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs five to eight of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a)    Senator Heffernan for 14 September 2015, for personal reasons; (b)   ...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senator Moore and Senator Brown, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 2 September 2015 marks a year since the Community Affairs References Committee tabled its...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Prime Minister (28 speeches)
    The President has received the following letter from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Centrepay; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Centrepay policy and terms.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standing) 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.
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standing) 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— ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 4) 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.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 4) 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— TAX AND SUPERANNUATION...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I thank all senators for their contribution to the debate on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill. This bill demonstrates...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 3) Bill 2015; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No.3) Bill 2015. This bill contains two measures that Labor opposed when they were included in a previous tax laws...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Member for Wentworth (1 speech)
    Just a few months ago, Mr Turnbull, who this afternoon mounted a challenge to the PM, was backing in the PM. On the 7.30 Report in March he described the PM as having 'many strengths' and of...
  • Economy (3 speeches)
    I am not from Western Australia, but I think those Western Australians that may be listening to or reading about the events of tonight will have just witnessed a completely policy-free zone from...
  • Sugar Industry (3 speeches)
    This evening, I would like to respond to the comments made by Senator Williams last week in relation to myself and the Australian cane growing industry in Australia. Australia is the third...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    Climate change is the greatest obstacle to reducing poverty and inequality and to promoting prosperity and stability in our world today. Developing countries and poor communities are already...