Senate debates

Tuesday, 23 February 2016

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have a motion put on any of those questions? There being none, we will now proceed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    The opposition will be supporting the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2015. Digital Radio has been a part of the communication landscape in Australia since the Labor...
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) 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 indicates that they would like the bill to be considered in Committee of...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Proceeds of Crime and Other Measures) Bill 2015; In Committee (16 speeches)
    The question is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Proceeds of Crime and Other Measures) 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 (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2015; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    The Common Reporting Standard is a multilateral policy initiative led by the G20 and OECD. The Tax Laws Amendment (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill embeds the provisions of...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that 'increasing capital gains tax is no part of our thinking...
  • Middle East: Maritime Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Will the minister inform the Senate of Australia's contribution to maritime security in the Middle East and how it is helping promote...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Before I call the next questioner, could I inform senators that in the gallery we have the presence of a parliamentary delegation from Malaysia. On behalf of all senators, I particularly give you...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (27 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Is increasing capital gains tax part of the Treasurer's thinking?
  • Building and Construction Industry (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the minister aware of any incidents of workplace harassment and bullying within the building and construction industry?
  • Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's previous answer in the Senate yesterday that: … what occurred on the MV Portland, that...
  • Drought: Queensland (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Will the minister please—
  • Vehicle Service and Repair Information (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Cormann. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover announced that all new vehicles sold by the company would no longer come with a...
  • Australian Defence Force (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. The minister has repeatedly claimed that: 'Australian vessels and aircraft will continue to exercise rights under international law to...
  • Child Care (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister please update the Senate on what the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit found in...
  • Vocational Education and Training (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Senator Ryan. I refer to the Turnbull government's secret plan for a federal takeover of the vocational education system. Can...
  • Petrol Sniffing (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement; Order for the Production of Documents (6 speeches)
    In accordance with standing order 164(3)(a), I rise to seek an explanation from the Minister for Defence as to why she has not complied with an order for production of documents made on 17...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (29 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) and the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 25 February 2016 under consideration of private senators' bills: No. 36 Migration Amendment (Protecting...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 1024 standing in my name for tomorrow relating to the introduction of a bill.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Peris for the remainder of the week, 23 to 25 February 2016. Question agreed to.
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Dairy Produce Amendment...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Meeting (7 speeches)
    I, and on behalf of Senator McEwen, move: That the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee meet to consider additional estimates 2015 16 prior to 10 March 2016 to further examine...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tasmania: Bushfires (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Bilyk, I move; That the Senate— (a)   notes: (i)   the devastating and destructive impact of bushfires in Tasmania which are...
  • Poker Machines (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that Parliamentary Library Research indicates that: (i)   states and territories are responsible for regulating and...
  • Queensland: Meat Industry (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   acknowledges that rural and regional Queensland is suffering from drought and ongoing job losses across many sectors, including the meat...
  • Safe Schools Coalition Australia (8 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Bernardi, move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that: (i)   bullying and harassment should never be tolerated in any forum,...
  • Digital Encryption (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that: (i)   strong digital encryption protects the personal and financial information of millions of people,...
  • North Korea and Iran (10 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1004 standing in my name for today, relating to Uniting Nations oversight of matters concerning North Korea and Iran, be taken as a formal motion.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Election of Senators (42 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Day, Leyonhjelm and Moore each submitted letters in accordance with standing order 75, proposing a matter of public importance. The question...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Consideration (1 speech)
    We now proceed to the consideration of documents. The documents are listed on page 5 of today's Order of Business.
  • Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to speak on the Australian government's response to the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee report, Regional...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present two reports of the committee as listed at item 14 on today's Order of Business. I seek leave to incorporate a tabling...
  • Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works, I present two reports of the committee as listed at item 14 on today's order of business. I seek leave to incorporate tabling statement...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 158th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: treaty tabled on 10 November 2015. I seek leave to have the tabling statement incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The...
  • Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia; Report (17 speeches)
    I present the report of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia on the inquiry into opportunities for expanding aquaculture in Northern Australia. I also present the minutes of the...
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Law Enforcement Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two 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. Leave...
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Law Enforcement Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters from requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2016, Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business Restructure Roll-over) Bill 2016; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2016, Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business Restructure Roll-over) Bill 2016; 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— STATEMENT OF...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Determination 2015; Disallowance (5 speeches, 1 comment)
    I move: That Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area – Ceduna and Surrounding Region) Determination 2015 be disallowed. The determination I am seeking to disallow is the Social...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2015; Second Reading (13 speeches)
    I am speaking in continuation on the Tax Laws Amendment (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2015. I did digress a little before the start of question time. We were discussing...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Implementation of the Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2015; In Committee (6 speeches)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Joan Nicoll Tennis Centre (1 speech)
    Last Sunday week, 14 February, I was honoured to be asked to represent the government at the opening of the Joan Nicoll Tennis Centre at Terranora, adjacent to Tweed Heads. Tennis Terranora...
  • Workplace Relations: MV Portland (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about the sacking of Australian seafarers—those hardworking seafarers of the MV Portland. On 13 January, in the dead of the night and with the full knowledge of the...
  • Leukaemia Foundation, World's Greatest Shave (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to speak about what haircuts and blood cancer have in common—not a lot, you might imagine at the outset. Last week I met a woman by the name of Serina Marie Doesn. In 2002,...
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    Supporting the aspirational in our society is a public good. It is vital that public policy settings recognise this fact by encouraging this valuable human endeavour. The aspirational in our...
  • Jones, Mr Steve (1 speech)
    I speak today in memory of a great Queenslander, a hardworking colleague and a true friend. It was with great sadness that I heard this week of the passing of the Lockyer mayor, Steve Jones....
  • Tasmania Bushfires (1 speech)
    It is fair to say that things are pretty tough in Tasmania right now. We have 60 bushfires still burning, including 12 still burning inside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. We have...
  • Financial Investment (1 speech)
    10 years ago I wrote a book for children and their parents to help teach them good money habits. Entitled The Money Tree: Securing your child's financial future, it has been provided free of...
  • Schools: Safe Schools Coalition Australia (1 speech)
    Tonight I would like to talk about the Safe Schools Coalition. I have to say at the outset that I am no longer surprised about comments that Senator Bernardi and Senator Abetz may make in this...
  • Executive Remuneration (1 speech)
    Today I was absolutely appalled to learn about the bumper pay cheque secured by Caltex CEO Julian Segal, on the back of the company's terrible behaviour and shameful treatment of Australian...
  • Environment (1 speech)
    For the past few months environmental groups have joined the farmers' lobby and other stakeholders in negotiating the shape of New South Wales's conservation laws. At the end of last week,...
  • Ovarian Cancer, Tasmania: Kingston Service Centre (1 speech)
    I rise to speak in support of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Ovarian Cancer Australia is urging all Australians to recognise the signs and symptoms...
  • Centrelink (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak once again on Centrelink and how the system is failing people in Australia who are most in need. I spoke on this matter last time the Senate met, and I will continue to...
  • Kingston Service Centre (1 speech)
    Before I begin my speech tonight I would like to add my support to the comments made by Senator Polley in regard to ovarian cancer, which obviously is a very serious issue. Recently I delivered...
  • Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, which is currently underway in my home state of South Australia. It is of great concern to me and many South Australians that...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I rise to draw attention to the government's short-sighted attack on climate science at the CSIRO. In Paris just a few months ago, Malcolm Turnbull and Greg Hunt committed Australia to greater...
  • Extradition Law (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak of the hijacking—and I use that word deliberately—of Australian citizens by selected foreign governments. I am talking about Australia's extradition laws and...
  • Brigid Awards (1 speech)
    I rise tonight, in the season approaching all things Irish and green, to put on the record the celebration that happened in honour of St Brigid in the inaugural Brigid Awards, which happened in...
  • Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, International Development Assistance: Disability Inclusion, Work Health and Safety (1 speech)
    I speak in support of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies—or CPACS, as it is sometimes known—at the University of Sydney. The centre has a distinguished record of teaching and...
  • Wendys (1 speech)
    In years gone by, you would have been hard-pressed to find anyone in Australia who did not know and love Wendys ice cream. The iconic franchise made its mark in Australia in 1979 when...