Senate debates

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; In Committee (66 speeches)
    As a point of clarification, I just want to confirm that we are discussing the second amendment that was put up by the Australian Greens yesterday evening. Is that the amendment we are discussing...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • El-Mouelhy, Mr Mohamed (1 speech)
    I rise today to raise a matter involving a man claiming to be an international business leader but who has demonstrated through his words and actions that he is a person who clearly has...
  • Arts Funding (1 speech)
    'The king is dead; long live the king.' That is what Senator Abetz told this place a few weeks ago upon the removal of Mr Abbott from the position of Prime Minister. Along with the removal of the...
  • Western Australia: Criminal Code Amendment (Prevention of Lawful Activity) Bill 2015 (1 speech)
    I rise this afternoon to talk about a threat to our democracy and our community that is happening in Western Australia. I talk about the new anti-protest laws that the Barnett government has...
  • Health Policy (1 speech)
    This afternoon, here in the parliament, there will be a briefing to senators, members and staff on antibiotic resistance ahead of the global Antibiotic Awareness Week next week. I want to bring...
  • Alcohol and Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
    I rise today to make some remarks around the area of drug and alcohol addiction. It has been an area of some interest to me over many years. As a teacher teaching year 11 and 12 students I had to...
  • Remembrance Day (1 speech)
    Today is Remembrance Day, and I would like to pay tribute to all Australians who have served and sacrificed to ensure that we live in a beautiful and free democratic country. In relation to...
  • Drought: Queensland (1 speech)
    Today I would like to speak about the continuing severe drought in many parts of Queensland, particularly Western Queensland. Many senators would know that around 80 per cent of Queensland...
  • National Recycling Week (1 speech)
    I rise during this national recycling week to inform the Senate about the great Pacific garbage patch, which is not an island of solid waste but rather a concentration of tiny and microscopic...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Cormann will be absent from question time today and tomorrow on ministerial business overseas. In Senator Cormann's absence, I will represent the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Goods and Services Tax (16 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Brandis. I refer to comments by Senator Bernardi, who has said that any increase of the GST to 15 per cent cannot be 'a revenue...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I advise honourable senators that in the President's gallery we have a distinguished group of visitors from the People's Republic of China, from the Australian Political Exchange Council’s...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    On this being Remembrance Day, the day that we pause to remember the 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in service of this nation, my question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator...
  • Workplace Relations (25 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Senator McGrath, right to say: Every weekend in Queensland a mini-cyclone called...
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. George Kahale is chairman of the world's leading arbitration law firm defending...
  • Northern Australia Investment Forum (30 speeches)
    My question is also to Senator Sinodinos, the cabinet secretary, in his role representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Andrew Robb. It relates to the Northern Australia Investment...
  • Water (17 speeches)
    We will stay on the Northern Australia theme. My question, which I am reading on behalf of fellow Queenslander Jake Farrell of Townsville, is to Senator Colbeck, representing the Minister for...
  • Overseas Students (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Tourism and International Education, Senator Colbeck. Will the minister advise the senate of the importance of international education to Australia?
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Some South Australians, especially their elected representatives, claim our submarines should be built in that state. But the Air...
  • Research and Development (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Today's Australian Financial Review quotes the President of the Business Council, Catherine Livingstone, warning...
  • Indigenous Employment (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Will the minister update the Senate on what the government is doing to get more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (20 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. I will confine my remarks, primarily, to the contribution from...
  • Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Cabinet Secretary (Senator Sinodinos) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to the Trans Pacific...
  • Defence Procurement (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence (Senator Payne) to a question without notice asked by Senator Leyonhjelm today relating to defence manufacturing...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice of my intention, at the giving of notices on the next sitting day, to withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in my name for 1 December 2015 for the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    I move: That Senator Cormann be granted leave of absence for 11 November and 12 November 2015, on account of parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have that question put? There being none, we will move on.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Veterans' Entitlements Amendment (Expanded Gold Card Access) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table an explanatory memorandum and 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Treaties Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Fawcett, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate from 11 am to 1 pm, as follows:...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Cash and Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) welcomes the release of Change the Story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against...
  • Dismissal (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that Wednesday, 11 November 2015, marks 40 years since the dismissal of the Whitlam Government by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr; (b) recognises the...
  • Government Departments: Recycled Paper (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Muir, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) in July 2015, the Government withdrew from a longstanding commitment to supply 100 per cent Australian...
  • Vocational Education and Training (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) Crows Nest TAFE is to be closed down and the Cammeraygal High School is to be expanded onto the site, (ii) the New South Wales Government is...
  • Legal System (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the importance of a robust and clear legal system that allows for timely judicial review and certainty for investors and the community alike, (ii)...
  • Free-to-air Television (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 919 standing in my name relating to free-to-air TV in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended:...
  • Marriage Equality (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee has found that: (i) the Parliament has the authority to amend the Marriage Act 1961 without...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Gender Pay Equity (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a non-conforming petition, relating to transparency around pay equity. It is by Cosmopolitan, who have launched a petition calling for the closure of the gender pay gap....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair, Senator Polley, I present the 12th report and alert digest no. 12 of 2015 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair, Senator Williams, I present delegated legislation monitor no. 14 of 2015 of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the 30th report of the 44th Parliament, Human rights scrutiny report. Ordered that the report be printed. I...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two government responses to reports of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: Report No. 149—Treaty tabled on 10 February 2015, and Report No. 151—Treaty tabled on 28...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of the Education and Employment References Committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015, Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    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 separately on the Notice Paper. I...
  • Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015, Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 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; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Seselja, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (No...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Deputy President, I move: That the Senate adopt the recommendations of the 3rd report of 2015 of the Procedure Committee. [HSU please take in correct motion when available]...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; In Committee (23 speeches)
    Minister, I think you are the fourth or fifth minister who has been asked questions about this. Perhaps we will be able to get some answers from you that we have been unable so far to get from...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015, Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Bill 2015, Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Bill 2015; Second Reading (35 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the government's package of bills dealing with Australia's foreign investment framework. This is a package of three bills: the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation...
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Bill 2015, Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The question is that the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Bill 2015 and the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Bill 2015 be now read a second time. Question...
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Bill 2015, Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Bill 2015; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bills have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bills be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015 introduces a 2015 budget measure to provide more generous support for families with dependent...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Fitzroy Basin (5 speeches)
    I do find the rules here quite restrictive when we are interrupted mid-sentence. It should be like being on a plane where you can finish the sentence you are typing on your laptop before you have...
  • Superannuation (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to express my deep concern with this government's jaundiced approach to the treatment of industry superannuation funds. At the outset, I put on the record that I have been a...
  • Small Business (1 speech)
    Tonight I wish to talk about small business and how the Greens have led the way on small business policy during this parliament. I am proud to have been part of the Greens team that took a...
  • Tasmania: Golf (2 speeches)
    I rise today to proudly report to the parliament that my home state of Tasmania has been named the 'undiscovered golf destination of the year' in 2015 by the International Association of Golf...