Senate debates

Thursday, 12 November 2015

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    The Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013 aims to end discrimination under the Marriage Act by finally legislating for marriage equality in this country. It has been a long road to equality for...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given on 11 November 2015, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in my name for 1 December 2015 for the disallowance of the Taxation Administration...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present the 14th report of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business order of the day no. 6 (Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) Bill 2015) be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator seek to have any of these questions debated separately. There being none, we will move on.
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (5 speeches)
    I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to counter-terrorism, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That...
  • Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill 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....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: Criminal Justice System (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes, with grave concern, the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission report entitled Report on Operation Aviemore: Major Crime Squad investigation...
  • National Adoption Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Lindgren, Abetz, Edwards, Bernardi, McKenzie, Bushby, Heffernan, Johnston, Reynolds, Fawcett, Macdonald, Canavan, Williams, Back, Day, Lambie , Lazarus,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Bilyk I move: That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25 February 2016: (a) the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: Criminal Justice System (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to motion 938.
  • Marriage (12 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 930, relating to the Don't Mess with Marriagebooklet, standing in my name and in the names of Senators Day, Leyonhjelm, Madigan and Wang be taken...
  • Unconventional Gas Mining (17 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 937 standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee...
  • National Adoption Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I seek leave to revisit motion No. 932, which is about National Adoption Awareness Week, on the basis that I think Senator Collins's name should be included; it was overlooked in the summary....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Wang, Leyonhjelm, Day, McKenzie, Lazarus, Muir, Lambie and Xenophon, move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Indigenous Eye Health (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) 85 per cent of all eye and vision conditions are preventable with regular eye checks, and (ii) the Medicare rebate for optometry consultations was...
  • Port of Melbourne Rail Shuttle Project (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the Federal Government committed $38 million of Commonwealth funds to the Port Rail Shuttle project in Victoria, (ii) the Port Rail Shuttle project...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Perth Freight Link Project; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Sterle, move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, no later than 5 pm on Monday,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • OECD Coal Subsidies (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 935 in the terms circulated in the chamber, at the request of the opposition. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Medecins Sans Frontieres: Kunduz Hospital Bombing (14 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 898, standing in my name and in the name of Senator Singh, for today, which relates to Medecins Sans Frontieres and the bombing of the hospital in...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) Bill 2015. The Labor Party strongly supports e-health and, in this instance, electronic health records. We recognise the many...
  • Health Legislation Amendment (eHealth) 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.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015 extends the retrospective application of part of division 115 of the Criminal Code—offences that were introduced, with...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to make a contribution on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015. The bill contains measures that, from 1 January next year,...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    This particular bill has caused great discussion across the community. Many in this chamber have met with people from the constituencies and from different organisations putting both sides of the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Goods and Services Tax (10 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement last month that 'changes to the GST should be on the table'. I also...
  • Employment (12 speeches)
    My question is also to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Brandis, representing the Prime Minister. Will the Attorney-General please update the Senate on the labour force data...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Before I call on the next questioner, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of former Senator Santoro. It is good to have you here with us. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Broadband (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. In April 2013, the now Prime Minister promised his second-rate NBN would cost $29.5 billion and said his plan was 'very...
  • Superannuation (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, representing the Treasurer. Today there are reports that the government is looking to adopt the Greens' policy for a more progressive...
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. I refer to the foreign minister who said earlier today that she was aware that her chief of staff...
  • Trade with China (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health— Senator Conroy interjecting—
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • (4 speeches)
    I move: That Senator Conroy be suspended from the Senate for the remainder of the day.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Trade with China (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Minister Scullion. As you well know, Minister, Australia recently entered into a free trade agreement with China. Given the...
  • Science and Innovation (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos, representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister tell the Senate what the government has done in the...
  • Citizenship (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, the Labor Party has fallen into its standard zombie shuffle by falling in behind the government on the continued erosion of civil and human...
  • Sex Discrimination Commissioner (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General confirm that the position of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner still remains vacant despite his promise three...
  • Innovation (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister advise the Senate how the Australian government's research and innovation agenda provides a strong...
  • Defence: Water Supplies (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. I refer the minister to a Newcastle Herald article on 26 October titled 'Toxic truth: Water warning repeated', which details how Defence...
  • Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (7 speeches)
    My question is to Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate of yesterday's scathing decision by the Federal Court to once again impose penalties on the...
• Questions to the President (0 speeches)
  • Standing Orders 72(2) and 203 (6 speeches)
    by leave—Mr President, I have a question of you pursuant to standing order 72(2) in relation to the discussion in question time in relation to standing order 203. In question time today, Mr...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (33 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Firstly I will go to the response from Senator Brandis in...
  • Citizenship (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 McKim today relating to proposed amendments to...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Seafood Labelling (1 speech)
    by leave—In this document are approximately 46,000 signatures from across the country—from Australians who love seafood but want to know where their seafood is from, how it was caught...
• 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)
    At the request of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 19th report of the Publications Committee and move that the report be adopted. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Seselja, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the progress report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the implementation and administration of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,...
  • Intelligence and Security Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government's response to the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on its inquiry into the Review of administration and expenditure: No. 11 and...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • A New Regulatory Reform Agenda (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Assistant Minister for Productivity, Dr Hendy, I table a ministerial statement on a new regulatory reform agenda. The statement read as follows— STATEMENT BY THE ASSISTANT...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table a correction to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015.
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015. The addendum takes account of recommendations made by the Senate Legal...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of the various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) 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.
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    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— Today I introduce the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Employment (10 speeches)
    I thank Senator Sterle for stepping in at very short notice to take the chair while I speak to this motion. This motion on employment and job losses goes to the very heart of what we did not see...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Select Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Health—Select Committee— Appointed— Substitute member: Senator Ketter to replace...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Report (1 speech)
    As the Deputy Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, I wish to report to the Senate that we held a legislative hearing in Canberra on 7 September, a Monday...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to add some comments on the Community Affairs References Committee's report from its inquiry into the availability of new, innovative and specialist cancer drugs in Australia. As a...
  • Community Affairs References Committee (3 speeches)
    I want to make some remarks following the tabling of the Community Affairs References Committee's report on its inquiry into out-of-home care. The reason I want to make a contribution tonight is...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to take note of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee's report, Blind agreement: reforming Australia’s treaty-making process. I want to put a couple of...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Myanmar: Election (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to reflect on something that is very dear to the heart of everyone in this place and to all Australians. Without it none of us would be here in this chamber this evening. Of course...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
    I want to talk tonight about the issue of domestic violence in Australia. In Australia, almost two women every week die at the hands of a current or former partner. One woman in three has...
  • Workplace Relations (10 speeches)
    Before I commence my adjournment speech tonight, I seek leave to table three documents.