Senate debates

Monday, 23 November 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those proposals? There being none, we will proceed to business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    Labor will be supporting this bill, the Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015. I reviewed the comments I made when we were talking in the last process and I saw that,...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015; In Committee (30 speeches)
    I rise to speak to amendments circulated on sheet 7797. The genesis of this amendment is the information that was presented at the Senate inquiry, where the Department of Human Services wrote:...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) 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.
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    I would like to say a few words about the Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015. Labor supports this bill which amends two pieces of legislation passed last year that came...
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; In Committee (32 speeches)
    We have not been given a grey sheet for these amendments, so I will just have to step through piece by piece. I wish to move the first set of amendments that relate to children in detention. The...
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I am proposing that the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 is part of a package of three bills, two of which—
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • France: Terrorist Attacks (6 speeches)
    by leave—In recent days, the world has been shocked and appalled by a wave of attacks by Islamist terrorists on innocent people in the Middle East, most particularly in Egypt, Lebanon and...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Cash will be absent from question time for the duration of this week for personal reasons. In Senator Cash's absence, Senator Birmingham will...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Defence: Water Supplies (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. In response to questions regarding the poisonous chemical contamination emanating from RAAF Base Williamtown at Senate estimates on 21...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. What is the government doing to keep Australians safe from the threat of terrorism?
  • Child Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education, Senator Birmingham. I refer to the government's plan to force childcare centres to bill by the hour. Will the minister guarantee that no centres will...
  • G20 Finance Ministers Meeting (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister update the Senate on the economic policy outcomes of the G20 summit in Turkey?
  • Climate Change (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. In the lead-up to the Paris Climate Change Conference, which the Prime Minister has said 'must establish a durable...
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Would the minister update the Senate on the progress of Project SEA 1000, the future submarine?
  • Asylum Seekers (10 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Yesterday, during a meeting with our Prime Minister in Malaysia, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban...
  • Trade with Indonesia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the cabinet secretary update the Senate on the trade and investment minister's...
  • Minister for Trade and Investment (6 speeches)
    My question is also to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Can the minister confirm that Mr Alastair Furnival was a member of the delegation that...
  • Child Care (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. What is the government doing to deliver flexible, affordable and accessible child care and early learning for families?
  • Vocational Education and Training (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. I refer the minister to the report in The Australian on 20 November 2015 concerning legal proceedings against...
  • Broadband (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on why it is important to undertake detailed planning prior to embarking on large...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today We heard an extraordinary answer today from the Minister for...
  • Climate Change (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 climate change. I rise to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 26 November 2015 under consideration of private senators’ bills: No. 63 Freedom of Information...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a) Senator Cash from 23 November to 26 November 2015; and (b) Senator Abetz for 23 November 2015....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on National Capital and External Territories; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate today, from 4 pm,...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted for personal reasons to Senator Alex Gallacher for tomorrow, 24 November 2015. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator require the question to be put separately on any of those proposals? There being no such request, I shall proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Government Advertising: Regional and Community Media (1 speech)
    Prior to moving general business notice of motion No. 915 standing in my name, I seek leave to add the names of Senators Ludlam and Muir to the motion. Leave granted. I, and also on behalf of...
  • Climate Change (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that; (i) in December 2015, leaders from across the globe will meet in Paris to determine the way forward to address climate change, and (ii) People's...
  • United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (6 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Moore move: That the Senate— (a) celebrates the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR...
  • Employment: Older Australians' Workforce Participation (6 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Lazarus, Leyonhjelm and Wang, move: That the Senate— (a) recognises the untapped potential of Australians over the age of 65; (b) notes that Australia...
  • Health and Wellbeing (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate notes that: (a) it is not the role of government to tell people what to eat and that individuals have a responsibility for their own health and wellbeing; (b) a key to...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Arts Funding (15 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 attack on...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Perth Freight Link Project; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Perth Freight Link project.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee— Appointed— Substitute member:...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015, together...
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; In Committee (131 speeches)
    We had the interesting spectacle today of Senator Cormann, who I notice is not handling this legislation, tabling a copy of a letter from Mr Morrison and Mr Joyce, co-signed by the Leader of the...
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Legislation Amendment 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.
  • Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015. Labor supports this bill, which implements the recommendations of the independent review of the 457 visa...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Bourke, Dr James Raymond, MG, AM (1 speech)
    Last week, Dr James Raymond Bourke MG, AM, Doctor of Philosophy and a retired Lieutenant Colonel, would have turned 73. I know not many of my Senate colleagues would be familiar with his name,...
  • Western Sydney Airport: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (1 speech)
    I rise in support of my local Blue Mountains community, who are angry and concerned about the potential noise and environmental impacts of the proposed Western Sydney airport. I want to...
  • Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown (1 speech)
    Water is truly the stuff of life. But if that water is coming out of Williamtown air base, then it might be making you very sick. That might be occurring because of the toxic contamination in the...
  • Drought: Queensland (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak again about the drought in Queensland, primarily. I believe it was the last topic I spoke about in an adjournment speech in this place. In my short time in this place so...