Senate debates
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (48 speeches)
If there was any doubt about the link between wages and safety, there was a report from the National Transport Commission: There is solid survey evidence linking payment levels and systems to...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Government Advertising (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the scripts of taxpayer funded budget advertisements leaked to Paul Murray at Sky News. Can the...
- Transport Industry (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can that super minister update the Senate on the strong and decisive action that the government has taken to stand up for the...
- Higher Education (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. I refer to a recent Parliamentary Budget Office report which found that 'announced policies to reduce government...
- National Anti-Corruption Commission (6 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. The government and the opposition both claim that no national independent anti-corruption commission is required because there is no...
- Economy (6 speeches)
Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann, representing the Treasurer. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's plans for more investment, more jobs...
- Taxation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Prime Minister's plan for double taxation and to the response of the Tasmanian Treasurer, Mr...
- Defence Procurement (17 speeches)
Thank you, Mr President. My—
- Education Funding (29 speeches)
Mr President, my question without notice is to the education minister. I refer the minister to the public comments of the Tasmanian Liberal education minister, Jeremy Rockliff, on Friday, 8...
- Donations to Political Parties (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to evidence to the New South Wales independent investigation against corruption that showed Senator...
- Media Ownership (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Can the minister advise the Senate why media reform is an important part of the government's economic plan?
- Women's Workforce Participation (10 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Women, Senator Cash. I refer to the alarming rates of discrimination and sexual harassment that still occurs for women in the workplace, as well as the ongoing...
- Education (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister update the Senate on the majority report of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (39 speeches, 1 comment)
Mr President, under standing order 74(5), I seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos, as to why the following 24...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Higher Education, Taxation (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Education and Training (Senator Birmingham) and the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (69 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice, I move— That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Moore, I move: (1) That the estimates hearings by legislation committees for 2016-17 Budget estimates be scheduled as follows: Thursday, 5 May (Group A), and...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for today proposing a reference to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (Road Safety...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That, pursuant to standing order 136(1)(a), the Criminal Code Amendment (Animal Protection) Bill 2015 be restored to the Notice Paper and that consideration of the bill be resumed at the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Tobacco Taxation (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate notes: (a) tobacco taxes fall disproportionately on the poor; (b) Australia's taxation of tobacco is already high by international standards; and (c) higher tobacco...
- Anti-Corruption Commission (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) corruption in any sector of society is unacceptable and threatens the fabric of our democracy, and (ii) the Government's attempt to legislate...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (4 speeches)
I move: That: (a) pursuant to standing order 136(1)(a), the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2016 be restored to the Notice Paper and that...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That, pursuant to standing order 136(1)(b), a message be sent to the House of Representatives requesting the House to resume consideration of 'A Bill for an Act to amend the Social...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Incarceration and Deaths in Custody (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 15 April 2016 marked 25 years since the release of the report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991; (b) recognises that...
- Financial Services (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the confidence and trust in the financial services industry has been shaken by ongoing revelations of scandals, which have resulted in tens of...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Wong, I move: That, for the first 30 days of the second session of the 44th Parliament, the provisions of standing order 74(5) apply to questions on notice lodged in the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 1129 standing in the names of Senators Polley and Lambie.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Myanmar (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that on 8 November 2015, Myanmar held its first openly contested election in 25 years; (b) congratulates the people of Myanmar on the peaceful and...
- Public Transport (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Turnbull Government is yet to commit funding to any major public transport projects in our urban centres, (ii) the recent audit of East West...
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is a Commonwealth statutory authority established in 1993 to centralise the...
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (6 speeches)
General business notice of motion No. 1133 stands in my name and also in the name of Senator Sterle; I wish to add Senator Siewert to the motion—
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Australian Steel Industry (10 speeches)
As to general business notice of motion No. 1138, standing in my name and in the names of Senators Lazarus, Xenophon and Madigan, I seek leave to make a short statement.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (7 speeches)
I move— That— (a) so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect; (b) the Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 be...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: (a) pursuant to standing order 136(1)(a) the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Sports Betting Reform) Bill 2015 be restored to the Notice Paper and that consideration be resumed at the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Steel Industry (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes with concern that one of Australia's major steel manufacturers, Arrium OneSteel, has recently been placed into administration, highlighting the risk to...
- World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
At the request of Senators Fifield, Moore and Siewert, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) World Down Syndrome Day was celebrated internationally on 21 March 2016, and the theme...
- Steel Industry (10 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senators Hanson-Young and Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges that: (i) the Australian steelworks manufacturing industry has been an important part of...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, no later than 9.30 am on Thursday, 21 April 2016: (a) any, and all, documents in the Australian...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the unprecedented coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef which the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority describes as the worst ever mass...
- Financial Services (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the recommendations of the 2014 Economics References Committee inquiry into the performance of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission,...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw notice of motion 1149.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (4 speeches)
I move: That, pursuant to standing order 136(1)(a), the Veterans' Entitlements Amendment (Expanded Gold Card Access) Bill 2015 be restored to the Notice Paper and that consideration of the bill...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
I seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. Mr President, earlier this afternoon, Senator Wong and other non-government party leaders and independent senators signed a letter to you...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- United Kingdom (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about the critical choice facing the people of Britain on 23 June. They will decide whether to stay in or leave the European Union. From where I sit, the choice is clear:...
- Tasmania: Federal Election (1 speech)
As we head towards a crucial election for Australia's future and in Australia's history, I rise this evening to explain Labor's vision, which is my vision, for my home state of Tasmania. I was...
- Queen Elizabeth II: 90th Birthday (1 speech)
I rise this evening to highlight an important occasion which will occur two days from now on Thursday, 21 April 2016. On that day, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, will mark...
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Program (1 speech)
Today, Labor senators have called on the Turnbull government to act on the increasing prevalence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide in Western Australia's Kimberley region. Our...
- Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
Proportionally, Australia uses more methamphetamine that almost every country in the world. Today, evidence suggests that there are well over 200,000 ice users in Australia. It is an issue that I...
- Lazarus, Senator Glenn (1 speech)
Tonight, I rise to speak on something that I had not witnessed in this chamber before. Early this evening, I witnessed a senator support a motion in this place that had a direct capacity to...
- Financial Services (1 speech)
I am very pleased to say tonight that the Greens motion calling for a royal commission into financial misconduct was passed by the Senate, this proud chamber, this evening. The Greens moved...
- Queensland: Agriculture (1 speech)
Two of the most significant agricultural industries that we have in Australia are, I am proud to say, mainly based in northern Australia. But I, like Senator O'Sullivan, was absolutely...
- Lazarus, Senator Glenn, Queensland: Agriculture (1 speech)
I just want to add some brief remarks on the issues that Senator Macdonald and Senator O'Sullivan have raised. The sugar industry is, of course, a very important industry for northern Australia...
- Higher Education: Australian History (1 speech)
It appears that in recent times I have spoken about universities on topics such as an alternative national anthem being used instead of the official anthem and rooms designed for the use of...
- Broadband (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise to speak about the ongoing farce which is this government's rollout of the National Broadband Network. As you know, Labor had plans to deliver an NBN rollout through which most...
- Welfare Reform (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about the cashless welfare card—yes, again—and I will continue to talk about it again and again while the government continues with this flawed policy. This is...
- Native Forests (1 speech)
Two weeks ago, Senator Di Natale and I made the short trip to Victoria's Central Highlands—on Melbourne's doorstep—and met with local community members about the beautiful forests...
- Garland, Canon David John, OBE (1 speech)
This Friday, at Kangaroo Point Cliff Park in Brisbane, there will be a ceremony to honour the work of Canon David John Garland, an energetic Dublin-born Orangeman who became known as the...
- Department of Veterans' Affairs (1 speech)
Since 1999 there have been more than 250 veteran suicides that we know about. This alone is evidence of the Department of Veterans' Affairs' maladministration. The Australian Peacekeeper and...
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority (1 speech)
On 17 March, the Senate's Select Committee on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan handed down the report of its inquiry into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. I was pleased to be a part of this...
- Climate Change, Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, Multinational Tax Avoidance, Donations to Political Parties (1 speech)
Tonight I spoke to members of Fossil Free UNSW. They answered my phone call from the UNSW council chambers in the university's chancellery. They are occupying that section of the university. I...
