Senate debates
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (29 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Fifield, I move: That— (1) The Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016 have precedence over all government business until determined. (2) On Tuesday, 15 March 2016:...
- Rearrangement (28 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion, regarding the resolution regarding the hours of meeting and routine of business considered earlier in the day: "(1) That the following bills have...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I advise the Senate that Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells will be absent from the chamber today, and in her absence I will take questions on the portfolio of International Development and the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Hospitals (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to Professor Owler, President of the Australian Medical Association, who says that, as a result of the...
- Defence Procurement (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Will the minister inform the Senate why it is oh so necessary to replace the Royal Australian Navy's supply ships as quickly as possible?
- Hospitals (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to Professor Owler, President of the Australian Medical Association, who says that the Abbott-Turnbull...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the President's gallery of former Senator Nettle. I wish her a warm welcome to the Senate. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Australia has been globally condemned, including recently by the editorial of The...
- Building and Construction Industry, Employment (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Will the minister advise the Senate of the importance of a productive building and construction sector for Australian jobs?
- Marriage (6 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement: We will be going to the election promising a plebiscite before the end of the year. Does the...
- Innovation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Can the minister please update the Senate on how the coalition government is supporting innovation in rural, regional and...
- Road Safety (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Nash. Probationary licence holders are tragically overrepresented in our road trauma statistics....
- Turnbull Government (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to former Liberal Premier Mr Kennett, who says that this government does not have a plan for the future of...
- Research and Development (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government's National Innovation and Science Agenda and university research policy will...
- Australia Council (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Does the Prime Minister agree with one of Australia's most respected arts administrators, Mr Michael Lynch, who...
- Innovation Agenda (12 speeches)
My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos, representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Can the Cabinet Secretary update the Senate on Landing Pad, the...
- Education Funding (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. I refer to a statement made last year by the incoming secretary of the education department, Dr Michele Bruniges: To...
- Northern Australia (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Will the minister please update the Senate on progress with delivery of the Northern Australia package?
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Fair Work Commission (3 speeches)
I seek leave to make a short statement in relation to the tabling of the report from the Hon. Peter Heerey. Leave granted. On 19 October 2015, I appointed former Federal Judge, the Hon. Peter...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question Nos 2876 and 2820 (29 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis, as to why question No. 2876, which I placed on notice on 16 December...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Hospitals (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Regional Development (Senator Nash) to questions without notice asked by Senators Lines and Ketter today relating to...
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation: Employment (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Cabinet Secretary (Senator Sinodinos) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to the Commonwealth...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in her name for today, proposing a reference to the Environment and Communications References Committee, be...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (23 speeches)
I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 17 March 2016 under consideration of private senators' bills: No. 84 Social Security Amendment (Diabetes...
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: Senator Fierravanti-Wells from 15 March to 17 March 2016, and Senator Heffernan from 15...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reporting Date (1 speech)
Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those motions? There being none, we shall now move on.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Australian Workers) Bill 2016; First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Fair Work Act 2009, and for related purposes. Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Australian Workers) Bill 2016. Question...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- World Kidney Day (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that World Kidney Day, held on 10 March 2016, is an opportunity to raise awareness of kidney disease; (b) acknowledges...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Procedure Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
At the request of Senator McKenzie, I move: That the Senate adopt the recommendation contained in the report of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee on the additional estimates...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- (22 speeches)
I inform the Senate that at 8:30 am this morning Senators Day, Moore and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The question...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration (1 speech)
I shall now proceed to the consideration of documents. These documents are listed on page 5 of today's Order of Business.
- Affordable Housing (1 speech)
I would like to take note of document No. 1, a response by Minister for Social Services Mr Porter to a resolution of the Senate of 2 February 2016 concerning affordable housing. The response from...
- International Day of People with Disability (1 speech)
This document is from the Western Australian Minister for Disability Services, Mrs Morton. It is a resolution of the Senate from 2 February 2016. I thank Minister Morton for her response to a...
- Western Australia: Bushfires (1 speech)
I would like to thank Senator Back for this motion. I think it was put by Senator Back but maybe by Senator Smith as well. Certainly, we put up a motion over Christmas or early in the new year....
- Third Review of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Dental Benefits Act provided the framework for the former Labor government's dental scheme for kids, or the Child Dental Benefits Schedule....
- Western Australia: Bushfires (2 speeches)
I seek leave to return to a document listed under 'Responses to Senate resolutions' on page 5 of today's Order of Business relating to the correspondence from the Premier of Western Australia, Mr...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
by leave—I move: The Acting Deputy President (Senator Williams) informed the Senate that the President had received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees. The...
- Report (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation as listed at item 18 on today's Order of Business together with the Hansard...
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's 79th annual report. I seek leave to have the tabling statement incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
- Economics References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I present the report of the Economics References Committee on forestry managed investment schemes together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. Ordered...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Medicare (1 speech)
I want to talk about the government's proposed changes to pathology and radiography imaging in this country. Like all senators in this place, I have received many emails but, unlike most senators...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I rise tonight to make some remarks about the ongoing saga that is the Turnbull government's second-rate version of the National Broadband Network. It is a damning indictment on this government...
- Wendys (1 speech)
During the adjournment debate on Tuesday, 23 February this year, I discussed Supatreats Australia; its Singapore based owner, Mr Stanley Tan; and the concerns raised with me about its Wendys...
- Anniversary of Battle of Pozieres (1 speech)
This July marks 100 years since the widely known Battle of the Somme, one of World War I's largest battles, in which British and French troops fought against the German Empire. In what became one...
- Indigenous Suicide (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about the absolute tragedy that is unfolding in Western Australia, my home state. That relates to the alarming, increasing number of suicides that is occurring in the...
