Senate debates

Monday, 9 November 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those three motions? There being no such request, we will proceed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; Second Reading (52 speeches)
    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— CUSTOMS AMENDMENT...
  • Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; In Committee (1 speech)
    We are just waiting for a grey to be distributed on the amendments. I will start by talking to them. We heard in the second reading debate today much about Labor and the government coming...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Nash, the Minister for Rural Health, will be absent from question time today due to illness. During Senator Nash’s absence, Senator Scullion...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (12 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Can the minister confirm modelling by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, which shows that an...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence on the floor of the chamber today of a delegation from ASEAN countries visiting our parliament. I welcome them to the Senate....
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Economy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Will the minister please advise the Senate what the government is doing to build a strong economic and fiscal foundation for our...
  • Goods and Services Tax (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Can the minister confirm that Treasury has modelled at least four options to increase the GST to 15 per cent and that...
  • Free Trade Agreements (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the Cabinet Secretary inform the Senate how free trade agreements are driving innovation in the...
  • Goods and Services Tax (6 speeches)
    My question is to the finance minister. For years members of this government went to supermarkets, pie factories and trucking companies demonstrating that the price on pollution was a great big...
  • Registered Organisations (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Will the minister inform the Senate of whether she is aware of any activity that highlights the necessity of improved accountability...
  • Christmas Island (6 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Sadly, there has been another death of a person who was under the care and detention of the Australian immigration...
  • National Broadband Network (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on the continued progress of the NBN rollout and the timesaving benefits of the coalition's...
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. I refer to the election promise made by the government's first Defence Minister, Senator Johnston. He said: The coalition today is...
  • Vocational Education and Training (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister update the Senate on the progress of the government's significant reform of the vocational...
  • Broadband (45 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. The minister said, in this place on 14 October, that under Labor's plan: … the NBN was not going to be completed until...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (22 speeches, 1 comment)
    I move: That the Senate take note of all responses to questions without notice asked by opposition senators today. I think what we have seen today in question time is an example of a government...
  • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
    I too rise to make a contribution to Take Note of Answers. Before I go to the answer to Senator Conroy's question by Minister Payne, it is very clear that, if there are a number of children up...
  • Christmas Island (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating...
• Privilege (0 speeches)
  • (3 speeches)
    I have received letters from the Leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Di Natale, and Senator Gallacher, raising as matters of privilege several instances of possibly false or misleading...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I ask that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for tomorrow, 10 November 2015, relating to a nationwide portable workplace entitlement scheme, be withdrawn.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day no. 16 (Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013) be considered on Thursday, 12 November 2015 under consideration of private senators' bills. Question...
  • Leave of Absence (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Colbeck for 9 November and 10 November 2015, on account of ministerial business; (b) Senator Nash...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator require that the question be put separately on any of those proposals? None does. I shall proceed to discovery of formal business.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Marine Reserves (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that Australia has: (i) some of the world's greatest marine natural resources, with rich biodiversity and unique species, and (ii) the potential for a...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Lines and Senator Madigan, move: That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by the third...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Polio Day (1 speech, 1 comment)
    I move: That the Senate: (a) notes that: (i) Saturday, 24 October, is World Polio Day, (ii) That the world is now very close to eradicating polio completely, and (iii) in 1988 there were 350 000...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 876 standing in the name of Senator Dastyari for today.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tasmania: Budget (2 speeches)
    I move That the Senate: (a) condemns Tasmania's Liberal members and senators for failing to stand up for Tasmania in the face of savage cuts and broken promises by the Federal Liberal Government;...
  • Freedom of Speech (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate notes: (a) the important role freedom of speech plays in the exercise of public debate; (b) that informed public debate requires the expression of different views, even if...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Goods and Services Tax (10 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Consideration (1 speech)
    I shall now proceed to the consideration of documents. These documents are listed on pages 6 to 18 in today's Order of Business.
  • Environment (2 speeches)
    I would like to take note of the response by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Hunt, to a resolution of the Senate on 12 October concerning marine protection. I move: That the Senate take note...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015, Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015, Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) 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—...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) 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— This bill will...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Governance) 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.
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Governance) 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— This Bill amends the...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) 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 Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) 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— Mr President, this bill...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Consideration (5 speeches)
    Mr Acting Deputy President, I am seeking leave to go back to government documents on the basis that those that were not dealt with today disappear from the Notice Paper. I just want to reserve...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present the reports on legislation as listed at item 17 on today's order of business, together with the Hansard...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; In Committee (58 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015 and a related bill. The question is that the bills stand as printed.
  • Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That the se bills be now read a third time.
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015 and the Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015. Labor supports these bills, which are...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015; In Committee (24 speeches)
    I might take this opportunity to respond to some comments made in relation to this bill during the previous debate. I noted with great interest the comments of Senator McKenzie and the suggestion...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Overseas Debt Recovery) Bill 2015, Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Let me begin by just saying that multinational tax avoidance is not a victimless act. Every dollar that is avoided, every dollar that is minimised, is a dollar that is not going to our schools,...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Boothby Electorate (1 speech)
    I rise to make a contribution in this adjournment on some activities in the seat of Boothby. As senators may well be aware, the Hon. Dr Andrew Southcott has indicated he will not be contesting...
  • Sri Lanka: Political Prisoners (1 speech)
    Tamil political prisoners in Sri Lanka have resumed their hunger strike. This time they have stated that they will fast until death if they are not released. The international community, numerous...
  • Tasmania's Defence Industry (1 speech)
    As we know, Tasmania is not typically thought of as a place that could be home to a thriving defence industry, but what Tasmania has to offer to our defence industry may be of great surprise to...