Senate debates

Thursday, 3 December 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Unconventional Gas Mining; Meeting (1 speech)
    (): Does any senator wish to have that question put? There being none, we will continue with business.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (108 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business for today. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice standing in the name of the Leader of the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; Consideration of House of Representatives Message (38 speeches)
    I move: That the committee does not insist on its amendments to which the House of Representatives has disagreed.
  • Export Control Amendment (Quotas) Bill 2015; Second Reading (13 speeches)
    The Export Control Amendment (Quotas) Bill 2015 is an uncontroversial bill. But even though it is an uncontroversial bill it does go to many of the issues that are important for Australia to...
  • Export Control Amendment (Quotas) 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.
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I acknowledge the presence in the President's Gallery of a former President of the Senate, Senator Paul Calvert. Honourable senators: Hear, hear! It being 2 pm, we now proceed to questions...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Special Minister of State (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to Senator Bernardi's assessment: 'In the end the appointment of ministers is always a captain's call.'...
  • Environment (6 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for the Environment. Can the minister inform the Senate how innovation and technology will...
  • Special Minister of State (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, Senator Cormann. I refer to Mr Brough's statement on 60 Minutes in 2014 when asked, 'Did you ask James Ashby to procure...
  • Road Infrastructure (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure—
  • Broadband (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. On 12 December 2013 Mr Turnbull said that his strategic review of the NBN was a 'thorough and objective analysis'. I refer to...
  • Noncompliant Building Products (6 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Minister, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union wrote to all state and territory building...
  • Foreign Investment (6 speeches)
    Mr President, I take this opportunity to wish you and your family, and all senators and their spouses and families, all the best for Christmas. I hope that 2016 is a very, very successful year...
  • Shipping (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Colbeck. Senator Colbeck, will the government revoke Alcoa's temporary shipping...
  • Mental Health (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the coalition government's response to the Mental Health Commission's review of mental health...
  • Housing Affordability (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Will the minister inform the Senate of the impact of the National Rental...
  • Special Minister of State (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I note the minister's previous refusal to answer my questions about what the Prime Minister knew before he...
  • Northern Australia (26 speeches)
    The last question for the year is a policy question on the government's good work in Northern Australia. I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia,...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Special Minister of State (1 speech)
    On Tuesday, 1 December, I was asked a question by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate concerning the execution of a search warrant on the home of Mr Brough, and I undertook to get back to...
  • Automotive Industry (1 speech)
    On Tuesday I was asked a series of questions by Senator Muir in relation to matters that had been raised with him by the Australian Automotive After Market Association. I can advise the Senate...
  • Noncompliant Building Products (1 speech)
    I want to add to an answer I gave at question time in response to a question from Senator Madigan. The Lacrosse Building fire in Victoria resulted from the use of a product that was not fit for...
  • Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
    Senator Rhiannon asked me for some information regarding WestConnex in New South Wales. I can advise that the updated business case confirms that WestConnex is financially viable and brings...
  • Special Minister of State (2 speeches)
    After discussion with the Leader of the Government in the Senate, I seek leave to make a short statement in response to the additional information that Senator Brandis provided. Leave granted. I...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Special Minister of State (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers to questions asked by Senators Cameron and myself in question time today. In relation to answers provided by Senator Brandis, he maintains that we...
  • Broadband (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications to a question without notice asked by Senator Bilyk today relating to the National Broadband Network. It...
  • Shipping (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development (Senator Colbeck) to a question without notice asked...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Veterans' Affairs (1 speech)
    by leave—I present the following petition of SAS Trooper Evan Donaldson, containing about 5500 signatures. I have placed on my social media an interview I carried out with Trooper Donaldson...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Official Visit by the President of the Senate to New Zealand (1 speech)
    I present the report on the official visit by the President of the Senate to New Zealand, which took place from 21 September to 24 September 2015.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (VET FEE-HELP Reform) 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.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to the following estimates: Budget estimates 2015-16—Environment and Communications Legislation...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 20th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the 157th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Report 157: treaties tabled on 13 October 2015, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. Question agreed to. I...
  • Senators' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Bilyk, I present the Register of Senators' Interests, incorporating statements of registerable interests and notifications of alterations lodged between 25 June and 1...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade I present the report Empowering women and girls: the human rights issues confronting women and girls...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Ketter, I present the report of the Senate Economics References Committee on Australia's innovation system together with the Hansard record and proceedings and documents...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015; In Committee (170 speeches)
    The committee is considering message No. 494 from the House of Representatives relating to the Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015. The question is that the...
  • Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015; In Committee (78 speeches)
    Senator Brandis, when you cancel someone's citizenship and deport them back to wherever they have come from, have you done any modelling on the likelihood of them picking up a weapon and putting...