Senate debates
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (6 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion to vary the conduct of business, namely a motion to vary the order of business. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing my name I move:...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Voluntourism (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on an important issue that came to my attention during a recent visit to Cambodia with Save the Children—that is, the issue of voluntourism. Voluntourism is where...
- Turnbull Government (3 speeches)
I want to speak today in relation to the obvious lack of economic leadership by the current government and, in particular, the Prime Minister. Last week ended in chaos and dysfunction; this week,...
- Takayna/Tarkine region (1 speech)
The Takayna/Tarkine region in north-western Tasmania is a rugged, beautiful, windswept coastline and hinterland. It has outstanding natural values, spectacular scenic and ecological values and it...
- Live Animal Exports (3 speeches)
Last night at the National Gallery here in Canberra a book written by a senior officer of the RSPCA was launched by the ABC journalist Sarah Ferguson. The book,Backlash, has an uncanny...
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation: Employment (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the job cuts to the CSIRO and the impact they will have not only on my home state of Tasmania but also the wider scientific community. At the outset, I want to emphasise...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
I rise to make some comments regarding an issue that impacts on the daily lives of five million Australians, and yet it is one you will rarely hear about in this parliament. Much of the...
- World Science Festival, Senator Bullock (1 speech)
In my contribution today, I seek to touch on a number of different points. I want to talk about the World Science Festival, which will occur from 9 to 15 March and be showcased in my home state...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
In the short time that is available to me before we begin question time, I thought I would share with the Senate an article which appeared in The Spectator Australia Magazine, dated 29...
- Economy (2 speeches)
I note that the coalition in their party room are still in absolute chaos and that they are at each other's throats. The former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is on the march against the current...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister's interview on Sky yesterday—the most excruciating since Senator Brandis compared metadata to an...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of the Hon. Don Harwin MLC, the President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. On behalf of all senators I...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (6 speeches, 2 comments)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and minister representing the Treasurer. How is the government supporting the transition of the Australian economy from the mining boom to more...
- Revenue (46 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the former Prime Minister, Mr Abbott's statement yesterday saying, 'We don’t have a revenue...
- Budget (10 speeches)
My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister for Finance, representing the Treasurer. Minister, projections in last year's MYEFO show the budget returning to surplus in 2020 and 2021 and...
- Media Ownership (6 speeches)
Can I just take this opportunity to wish Senator Bullock all the best, following his announcement of leaving this place. He has been a very good man to work with on the committees. I wish him all...
- Goods and Services Tax (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance representing the Treasurer. For years now the call for a fairer distribution of GST has gone unanswered. The Western Australian Treasurer has warned his...
- Employment (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Will the minister update the Senate on the government's record on job creation?
- Election of Senators (6 speeches)
My question is to the Special Minister of State, Senator Cormann, regarding Senate voting changes. I refer to public comments made by the minister on 15 February regarding Senate voting changes,...
- Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Minister, former defence minister Mr Andrews repeatedly justified the government's sham competitive evaluation process by saying it was...
- Northern Australia (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Recognising that with less than five per cent of the population of Australia, northern Australia produces something like 50...
- Research and Development (6 speeches)
My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Can the minister confirm that, since the government's released its...
- Tourism (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Tourism, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister update the Senate on the performance of Australian's tourism industry?
- Questions to the President (0 speeches)
- President's Overseas Travel (2 speeches)
by leave—Mr President, at the recent additional estimates hearing of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee you advised that there was a change to the longstanding...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 2903 (16 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield, for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to question on...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Taxation, Revenue (6 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) and the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by Senators...
- Taxation (1 speech)
I too rise to take note of answers given to questions by Senator Cormann and Senator Brandis today. Before I do so, one of the issues that that Turnbull government has is the references it uses....
- Budget (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to defence spending....
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: (1) That the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be...
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Bilyk for today, 2 March 2016. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion no. 3 standing in her name for today, proposing a reference to the Environment and Communications References Committee, be...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Legislation Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That the following additional matters be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee as part of its inquiry into the implications of financial advice reforms: (a) the need for further...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- International Women's Day (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Gallagher and Senator Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that International Women’s Day will be observed on 8 March 2016; (b) recognises that...
- Australian Electoral Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Collins, I move: That that there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance and the Special Minister of State, no later than 9.30 am on Thursday, 3 March 2016: (a)...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Protection of Shark Species (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that: (i) sharks play an important role as apex predators in marine ecosystems, and (ii) world shark populations are falling by between 63 to 273...
- Howard Government (5 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Wong, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 2 March 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the election of the Howard Government in 1996; (b) recalls the record of the...
- Israel (13 speeches, 1 comment)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1061, standing in my name and in the name of Senator Rhiannon for today concerning Israel and the visit of the Chief of General Staff of the...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Donations to Political Parties (60 speeches, 1 comment)
I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today two senators each submitted letters in accordance with standing order 75. Senator Moore proposed a matter of urgency and Senator Day proposed a matter of...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration (1 speech)
I shall now proceed to the consideration of documents. The documents for consideration are listed on page 5 of today's Order of Business.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 24 of 2016 (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This audit report on early intervention services for children with disability was conducted for two larger programs and some smaller programs,...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Department of Immigration and Border Protection (1 speech)
I want to start by talking about the real issue that staff are having in that department with their enterprise bargaining agreement. These are staff who are in the front line of Australia's...
- Encroachment of Commonwealth Laws on Traditional Rights and Freedoms (2 speeches)
I rise to talk about the Australian Law Reform Commission report Traditional rights and freedoms—encroachments by Commonwealth laws. I commend the report as an exceptional document that...
- Airservices Australia (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek to speak to document No. 5, the Airservices Australia Report on the movement cap for Sydney Airport. Can The document before us clearly...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legislation Committees; Report (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2015. Ordered that the reports be printed.
- Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2016. Ordered that the report be printed.
- Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Senator Bernardi, I present the report of the committee on the Social Security Legislation Amendment...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the third report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert DigestNo. 3 of 2016. Ordered that the report be printed. I...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Howard Government (1 speech)
In this building this evening a great many people are gathering to mark a historic occasion in the life of our nation. It was on this day 20 years ago, almost to the minute in fact, that it...
- Road Safety: Trucking Industry (3 speeches)
I only have 10 minutes, but I could go on all night about this incident. I saw on Twitter, probably three or four weeks ago, a picture of a truck jackknifed on a major highway in Sydney. The...
- Recreational Vehicles (1 speech)
I rise to make a short statement in relation to the use of vehicles for recreational and sporting purposes. The restrictions around recreational vehicle use is an issue constantly brought to my...
- Jones, Mr Steve, AM, Retirement of Senator Joe Bullock (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on two completely separate issues. The first is that I want to pay tribute and homage to the late Steve Jones AM, who was the Mayor of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council....
