Senate debates

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those motions? There being no such request, we shall proceed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (First Principles) Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to express Labor's support for the Defence Legislation Amendment (First Principles) Bill, which will enable implementation of certain recommendations from the First Principles Review and...
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (First Principles) Bill 2015; In Committee (4 speeches)
    My question relates to the very brief contribution I made in the second reading debate. I understand the basis for this piece of legislation, and I have said that I support it, but to what extent...
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (First Principles) 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.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015. While the Labor Party will be supporting this bill, we note that its revenue impact has no dollar...
• 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 and for the remainder of the sitting week for personal reasons. During...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Does the minister stand by his 2013 commitment that the: GST won't change if we're elected to govern on September 7.
  • Trade with China (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the Cabinet Secretary update the Senate on progress of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement...
  • Foreign Investment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Can the minister outline the importance of foreign investment in Australian agriculture?
  • Coalmining (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Currently, rich OECD nations provide about $4 billion a year of public money to build dirty coal fired power...
  • Economy (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Would the minister please advise the Senate of what the OECD Economic outlook, released yesterday, says about Australia's economy?
  • Northern Australia (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion, representing the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. Will the minister update the Senate on how this...
  • Procurement Policy (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Paper products, such as the one I am currently reading from, are made by Australian Paper, in the Latrobe Valley, which is subject to...
  • Defence Housing Australia (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. I refer to the shock departure of Mr Peter Howman as the managing director of Defence Housing Australia, or DHA, a fortnight ago. Mr...
  • Child Care (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Senator Cameron interjecting — Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting —
  • Broadband (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Since the election, the cost of the Turnbull government's second-rate NBN has blown out, first by $12 billion, then by $15...
  • Employment (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Will the minister please inform the Senate how jobactive is helping more Australians move from welfare into work?
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. However, my own remarks will focus on the question of foreign...
  • Defence Housing Australia (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the answer by the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne, to my question with respect to Defence Housing Australia. Through my involvement in the Public Works Committee, the...
  • Taxation (4 speeches)
    I rise to take note of answers on the GST. Exploring options on tax reform allows the government to support a national platform on economic growth and jobs that back Australians. It is important...
  • Coalmining (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Waters today relating to coal mining subsidies...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Nash for 11 November and 12 November 2015, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I move: That the following matters be referred to the Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report: (a) whether any false or misleading evidence was given to the former Select Committee on the...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That estimates hearings by legislation committees for 2016 be scheduled as follows: 2015-16 additional estimates:   Monday, 8 February and Tuesday, 9 February (Group A)...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That on Wednesday, 11 November 2015: (a) the sitting of the Senate shall be suspended at 10.15 am till 11.45 am to enable senators to attend Remembrance Day services; and (b) any proposal...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Automotive Transformation Scheme Amendment (Securing the Automotive Component Industry) Bill 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Simms, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to A Bill for an Act to amend the Automotive Transformation Scheme Act 2009 and the...
  • Automotive Transformation Scheme Amendment (Securing the Automotive Component Industry) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memorandum and 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...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Women's House (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 2015 marks 40 years since the foundation of Women's House in Brisbane by members of the community, and...
  • Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week is being held in Australia from 8 November to 15 November 2015, (ii) the week is an initiative of the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (14 speeches)
    I move: That the days of meeting of the Senate for 2016 be as follows: Autumn sittings: Tuesday, 2 February to Thursday, 4 February Monday, 22 February to Thursday, 25 February Monday, 29...
  • Coalmining (2 speeches)
    I move:
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (9 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that I have received the following letter, dated 10 November 2015, from Senator Siewert: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the Procedure Committee's third report of 2015. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That consideration of the report be made a Business of the Senate order of the day for the...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Fawcett I present two reports of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, as listed at item 14 on today's order of business, and seek leave to incorporate the tabling speech...
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government responses to committee reports as listed on today’s order of business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard....
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) 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 (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) 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...
  • Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Criminology Research) 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.
  • Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Criminology Research) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memoranda and I move: That this bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches...
  • Australian Government Boards (Gender Balanced Representation) Bill 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the Australian Government Boards (Gender...
  • Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the Migration Amendment (Charging for a...
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; In Committee (35 speeches)
    I would like to speak to the two Greens amendments before the Senate tonight. The second amendment is schedule 1 before item 5; the third amendment is at the end of the bill in clause 2 and that...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Adoption (1 speech)
    Yesterday, I had the great privilege of attending, with Deborra-lee Furness and the team at Adopt Change, led by Jane Hunt, the launch of National Adoption Awareness Week 2015. National Adoption...
  • Remembrance Day (1 speech)
    I rise tonight, on the eve of Remembrance Day, to pay tribute to our service men and women, past and present. After four years of conflict, at 11 am on 11 November 1918, guns fell silent after...
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    I rise to bring to the attention of the Senate a letter requesting tax reform that I have sent to the Prime Minister on behalf of Australia's craft distillery industry. In Tasmania alone, there...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Those on the other side in this chamber seem to love to demonise unions. They attack unions almost on a weekly basis, and they are not beyond attacking the CPSU, the public sector union. We also...
  • Education Funding (1 speech)
    Tonight I attended the Australian Primary Principals Association launch of the Charter on Primary Schooling, which is a great lead-in to what I to relay here in the Senate about the conversation...
  • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (1 speech)
    I have spoken in this chamber before regarding the government's politically motivated trade union royal commission. I have outlined, in detail, the prejudicial processes enshrined in Mr Dyson...
  • Australia's Largest Doorknock (1 speech)
    This weekend I am very proud to be taking part in the Australian Greens' contribution to Australia's Largest Doorknock. Greens members will be joining other members of the community to get the...
  • Beer Sheva Dialogue (1 speech)
    Last week, I had the great privilege of joining the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Tel Aviv as a participant in the inaugural Beer Sheva Dialogue between ASPI and the Begin-Sadat Center...
  • Broadband: Rural Queensland (1 speech)
    I wish to speak tonight on a matter that is a manifestation of the continuing litany of broken promises of the Abbott-Turnbull government and its complete disregard for the needs of our rural...
  • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (1 speech)
    This evening I rise to put on the record my wholehearted support for the ambitious and worthy Sustainable Development Goals, officially referred to as 'Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for...
  • Australia India Leadership Dialogue, Asia Pacific TB Caucus (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to share my recent visit to India where, with my colleagues Chris Bowen, Penny Wong and Gai Brodtmann, I attended the inaugural Australia India Leadership Dialogue in New Delhi as...
  • Trade (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to speak about the latest free trade deal done by the government and ask the question: why are we, as a nation, not asking the tough questions about these deals? In the past...
  • Broadband (1 speech)
    Just a stone's throw from my office in Kingston, in the municipality of Kingborough, is the coastal suburb of Howden. It is important to remember through this speech that Howden is about 15...
  • Political Fundraising (1 speech)
    For those who did not see Lateline a few weeks back, you have probably seen the footage since. In one of the more excruciating interviews of recent years, former rock star-cum-minister Peter...
  • Mazzola, Mr Italo (1 speech)
    This evening I want to pay tribute to the late Italo Mazzola. On 6 November the Italian-Australian community in Wollongong gathered to say goodbye to our friend Italo Mazzola. After some very...
  • Waters, Mr David (1 speech)
    David Waters is among Australia's top sporting shooters. He does not shoot in Olympic or Commonwealth Games disciplines, but if he did I have no doubt he would be a medal contender. In the...
  • Coll, Sister Pauline Marcella (1 speech)
    Sister Pauline Marcella Coll, my friend, died peacefully on 9 October this year at the age of 76, though, for many of us, she was truly ageless. Pauline was a strong advocate for social justice...
  • Federal Election: Funding, Kaye, Mr John G, Mining: Liverpool Plains (1 speech, 1 comment)
    High Court decisions are usually met with great fanfare and commentary from the major political parties. However, government and opposition MPs were very quiet when the court ruled recently that...
  • Central Coast: Infrastructure, Education, Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
    I would like to speak to a couple of matters this evening. In my first remarks I would like to address the reality on the Central Coast that there is a building under consideration for...