Senate debates

Thursday, 15 October 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Meeting (30 speeches)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on that motion?
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Racial Discrimination Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I hate racism and bigotry. I cannot understand how someone can look at the colour of someone's skin, their gender or their ethnic background and make broad, sweeping assumptions about their moral...
  • Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment (GST Distribution) Bill 2015; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    I am one of many fortunate Australians who have worked in the mining industry, which has been a critical social and economic foundation of this country's prosperity throughout history. I was...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish the question to be put on this matter? There being none, we will move on.
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present report No. 13 of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as...
• 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...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memorandum and I move: That the bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I move: That Business of the Senate order of the day no. 2, relating to the Migration Amendment (Regaining Control Over Australia’s Protection Obligations) Bill 2013 be discharged from the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Food Day (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) World Food Day 2015, held on 16 October, will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agriculture...
  • WestConnex (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Federal Government is contributing substantial funding to the WestConnex Motorway despite no business case being released, (ii) the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Nous Group; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Lambie, Lazarus and Siewert, move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Education and Training, no later than 3.30 pm on Thursday, 15 October...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Madigan and Senator Rhiannon, move: That the following matter be referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for inquiry and report by the last...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • West Gate Bridge (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Marshall, move: That the Senate— (a) respectfully commemorates the 45th anniversary of the collapse of the West Gate Bridge which occurred at 11.50 am on 15...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Disability Support Program; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Education and Training, by no later than 4.30 pm on Thursday, 15 October 2015, any reports resulting from the review of the Disability...
  • Food Standards Australia New Zealand; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health (Senator Nash) by 22 October 2015, a copy of the following in relation to Food Standards Australia New...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • ReefBlitz (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that ReefBlitz is an important initiative providing an opportunity to discover, identify and record the plants and animals living in and around the Great...
  • Coal Seam Gas (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the people of Queensland have no legal right to stop mining companies from entering their land to mine coal seam gas (CSG); (b) further notes that...
  • Oil Exploration (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the intention of British Petroleum (BP) to perform high-risk exploratory drilling in the Great Australian...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Depot Licensing Charges Amendment Bill 2015, Customs Amendment (Fees and Charges) Bill 2015, Import Processing Charges Amendment Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Australian Immunisation Register Bill 2015, Australian Immunisation Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Australian Immunisation Register Bill 2015 and the Australian Immunisation Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015. In doing so, I want to indicate...
  • Australian Immunisation Register Bill 2015, Australian Immunisation Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    There being no committee stage, I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cost of Living Concession) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The new cost-of-living concession being provided by the South Australian Labor government is welcome support for pensioners, concession cardholders and other low-income Australians. It consists...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Cost of Living Concession) Bill 2015; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Amending Acts 1980 to 1989 Repeal Bill 2015, Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Labor support the Amending Acts 1980 to 1989 Repeal Bill 2015 and related bill, but we really do not see that this legislation has any substance to it at all. The Liberal Party have changed their...
  • Amending Acts 1980 to 1989 Repeal Bill 2015, Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 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.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Better Targeting the Income Tax Transparency Laws) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I rise in continuation of the remarks I made earlier about the tax transparency issues. What I was saying was that it is important that in this nation we commence a conversation about what it is...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Better Targeting the Income Tax Transparency Laws) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Low Income Supplement) Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    This is national Anti-Poverty Week, and I am sure people are aware that it is in fact also National Carers Week. This is a week where we strengthen our understanding of the causes and...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Low Income Supplement) 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.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Broadband (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister confirm that on 28 April 2015 the former Minister for Communications and the Minister the Finance wrote to nbn...
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, representing the Minister for Trade. Will the minister inform the Senate about the benefits to regional Australia of the recent Trans-Pacific Partnership...
  • Broadband (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to paragraph 2.5 of the Commonwealth Government Business Enterprise Governance and Oversight Guidelines, which requires GBEs...
  • Pensions and Benefits (9 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. I refer to reports that the Minister for Social Services, Mr Porter, is looking for more savings...
  • Water (12 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Colbeck, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Which minister is responsible for water buybacks—Mr Joyce, Senator Ruston or,...
  • Indo-Pacific Region (7 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the acting Minister for Defence. I refer the acting minister to the strategic situation to our north. Since 2009, we have seen a North Korean submarine sink a...
  • Industrial Relations (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Will the minister inform the Senate about the need for greater transparency in dealings between registered industrial organisations...
  • Trade (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister For Trade and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Senator, when you were chief of staff to the Prime Minister back in 2004, John Howard...
  • Australian Public Service: Workplace Relations (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister confirm that there has been more industrial action in the Australian Public Service during 2015 than for almost 30...
  • National Broadband Network (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Will the minister inform the Senate of the progress on the rollout of the National Broadband Network?
  • Prime Minister (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos. Yesterday the Cabinet Secretary undertook to check his recollection in relation to the declaration of interests by Mr Turnbull during...
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question Nos 2467, 2475 to 2477, 2483, 2484, 2487, 2492, 2549 to 2551 and 2564 to 2569 (10 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Acting Minister for Defence for an explanation as to why answers have not been provided to questions on notice Nos 2467, 2475 to 2477, 2483, 2484,...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. What a complete disaster the mismanagement of the nbn by this...
  • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications (Senator Fifield) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to carer and...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Nous Group; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to ask the Leader of the Government a question concerning the return to order motion that was carried this morning. Leave granted. This morning, the Senate carried motion No. 907,...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Better Targeting the Income Tax Transparency Laws) Bill 2015 (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Better Targeting the Income Tax Transparency Laws) Bill. Leave granted. In the last parliament,...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 18th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth inquiry into business utilisation of Australia's free-trade agreements together with the minutes of proceedings...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (7 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Lines, I present the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on private vocational education and training providers, together with the Hansard record of...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Senator Heffernan, I present the report on the Voice for Animals (Independent Office of Animal...
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) 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.
  • Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) 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...
  • Food Standards Australia New Zealand Amendment (Forum on Food Regulation 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.
  • Food Standards Australia New Zealand Amendment (Forum on Food Regulation 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 Council of...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I indicate to the Senate that 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...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda and 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...
  • Shipping Legislation Amendment 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.
  • Shipping Legislation Amendment 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— SHIPPING LEGISLATION...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Infrastructure (19 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Moore, I move: That the Senate notes the 20 per cent fall in public sector infrastructure spending under the Coalition Federal Government, and the Turnbull Government's...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru; Report (4 speeches)
    This report on recent allegations relating to conditions and circumstances at the regional processing centre in Nauru was by a select committee. It was specifically set up in this chamber with...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak to the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee on the regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania. I note Greens Senator Whish-Wilson's...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Innovation: Regional Australia (3 speeches)
    I am incredibly pleased with our government's enlightened approach to innovation and look forward to contributing to facilitate a variety of policy directions for technology and regional...
  • National Security (2 speeches)
    I rise tonight to make a few comments about the topic of terror, how it affects our societies and how it is reported in the media. Recently Australia has had its attention focused on Parramatta...