Senate debates
Tuesday, 13 September 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.
- Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters; Membership (1 speech)
Yesterday, I informed the Senate that I had received letters from Senator Leyonhjelm and Senator Rhiannon seeking appointment to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. There are two...
- Statement by the President (0 speeches)
- First Speeches (1 speech)
Senators, I take this opportunity to remind you about the conventions for first speeches in the Senate. The time limit is 20 minutes, and the clock is usually set for 20 minutes. While some...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Deputy Prime Minister (1 speech)
I seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. An opposition senator: How short? I promise this will be shorter than last night! In an attempt at alliteration, I described the member for...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of government business notice of motion No. 1. Question agreed to.
- Consideration of Legislation (11 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator McGrath, move: That the provisions of paragraph (6) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of...
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (5 speeches)
A few weeks ago a trove of hacked documents was published detailing the intricate international web of organisations nurtured by billionaire George Soros. Dubbed 'the man who broke the Bank of...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I advise the Senate that Senator Canavan will be absent from question time today and tomorrow on ministerial business. In Senator Canavan's absence, Senator Nash will represent the Deputy Prime...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Marriage (8 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to his statement reported yesterday: We want to keep the cost of the plebiscite as low as it can be kept … Is the cabinet's...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the gallery today of the Australian Political Exchange Council's 20th Delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On behalf...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Can the minister provide an update on the government's plan to repair the budget and strengthen our economy?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I acknowledge the presence in the President's gallery of former senator Mary Jo Fisher. Welcome to the Senate. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Turnbull Government (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to last night's reports of leaks from cabinet indicating that the Prime Minister had instructed cabinet...
- Asylum Seekers (32 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, representing the Prime Minister. Attorney, today Save the Children and UNICEF revealed that the cost since 2013 of Australia's failed and inhumane asylum...
- Workplace Relations (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on any recent developments that highlight the need for action to protect volunteer firefighters in...
- Defence Procurement (24 speeches)
My question is to Senator Payne, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Industry. I refer the minister to the ABC reports this week revealing that the new Defence dress uniforms to be...
- Australian Defence Force (10 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Could the minister advise the Senate of how the Australian Defence Force is increasing its support to United Nations peacekeeping...
- Marriage (11 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General guarantee that taxpayer funded proponents of hate campaigns will be held responsible for the harm and possible...
- Attorney-General (40 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. In relation to the Attorney-General's appointment of Mr Tavoularis to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, we now know that the...
- Trade (8 speeches)
My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos, representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Can the Cabinet Secretary update the Senate on the government's long-term...
- Turnbull Government (26 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the chief of staff of the former Prime Minister, Peta Credlin, who, when asked to name the Turnbull...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Defence Procurement (1 speech)
For the benefit of Hansard, I just wanted to correct one word in my response to Senator Carr. When I talked about the Commonwealth procurement rules and the exemption, I referred to the 'standard...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Marriage (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator McAllister today relating to the proposed marriage...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator McKim today relating to the asylum seeker policy....
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Bernardi from 14 September to the end of the 2016 spring sittings, on account of parliamentary...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Griff, move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2016: Changes to the Aged...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics References Committee; Reports (1 speech)
I move: That the following interim reports of the Economics References Committee, tabled in the last Parliament, be listed on the Notice Paper for consideration during the item of business...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Our Ocean 2016 Conference (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate notes: (a) that the United States Department of State is hosting the Our Ocean 2016 conference in Washington DC on 15 and 16 September 2016; (b) that the Minister for...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Donations to Political Parties (15 speeches)
I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong, and Senator Siewert each submitted a letter, in accordance with standing order 75, proposing a matter...
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches, 2 comments)
Prior to calling Senator Roberts to make his first speech, could I remind honourable senators that the senator should be heard in silence during his first speech.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Donations to Political Parties (3 speeches)
I rise to speak on this matter of public importance on the need for the Turnbull government to commit to comprehensive and immediate political donations reform. I want to say at the outset that...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Australian National Audit Office; Consideration (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In speaking about audit report No. 16 of 2016-17, Offshore processing centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea: procurement of garrison support and...
- International Air Services Commission; Consideration (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is the annual report of the International Air Services Commission, delivered under section 53 of the International Air Services Commission...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Palliative Care (1 speech)
by leave—I present to the Senate a nonconforming petition with 369 signatures. This is the second part of a petition that was tabled earlier today. Unfortunately we could not get some of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Report (1 speech)
At the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports of the Community Affairs References Committee, the Environment and Communications References Committee and the Foreign...
- Senators' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
As chair of the Committee of Senators' Interests, I present the Register of Senators' Interests, incorporating statements of registrable interests and notifications of alterations lodged between...
- Senators' Interests Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
- Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network; Appointment (2 speeches)
A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House relating to the appointment of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Samoa: Coffee Industry (3 speeches)
I rise tonight to speak about what I have been trying to do in Samoa. In 2011, I took my wife, Nancy, there for Christmas. Being in rural Australia all my life, thankfully, I looked to see what...
- Road Transport Industry (3 speeches)
I want to talk about some fine work that is being conducted on the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee. Before I do, there is something that Australians really have to understand...
- Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
I want to talk about one of Australia's largest employers of young people, our sporting clubs and working with children permits. I want to ask the question: how could a convicted paedophile get...
- South Australia (3 speeches)
As this is my first speech that I will make in this place since being re-elected, I would like to take a moment to thank a few people. In my farewell speech in this place a couple of years ago, I...
- National Child Protection Week (1 speech)
This evening I rise to acknowledge that last week was National Child Protection Week. It was terrific to see so many community groups, early childhood organisations and education centres work to...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
Yesterday, I had the opportunity in the debate on the address-in-reply to touch upon the federal election and pay tribute to the members and volunteers of the Liberal National Party, the Liberal...
- Turnbull Government (6 speeches)
It is very timely actually to come after the contribution by that senator because there is something to be said for the anniversary that his side of politics is going to celebrate tomorrow. He...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about a critical issue for all Australians, and that is mental health. It was with great pleasure that I added the mental health portfolio to my other portfolios, but I...
- Palliative Care Tasmania (1 speech)
Last week I spoke in the Senate about the importance of having conversations with friends and families about how we wished to be cared for towards the end of our life. I explained that, by taking...
- Veterans (1 speech)
By now you may be aware that approximately 280 Australian veterans have killed themselves since 1999. In the same time frame the Australian War Memorial records 46 Australian soldiers died in war...
- Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
In this place in August 2004, our Senate said to people who had been in institutions that they would no longer be forgotten, that the term 'forgotten Australians' would move into history and that...
- Australian Football League: Women's All-Stars (1 speech)
I am not sure how many other senators saw it, but the AFL women's All-Stars game on 3 September was a fantastic showcase of Australian Rules Football. More than 6,000 people showed up to the...
- Donations to Political Parties (1 speech)
I take the opportunity this evening to continue my remarks earlier today in the MPI debate about the need for electoral donation reform. I think it is important to go through some of the details...
- Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
This is not my first speech. However, tonight I need to speak out on a matter of great importance. I have the utmost respect and admiration for the men and women that serve, and have served, in...
- Turnbull Government (13 speeches)
Back in April, Prime Minister Turnbull told us that the nation was facing an issue so important, so serious and so dire that he had to throw normal electoral timetables out of the window. He...
- Williams, Dr Bill (1 speech)
I rise tonight in shock and sadness to farewell Dr Bill Williams, who passed away the night before last. It is hard to put words into the space he leaves behind. We have lost a great one. Dear...
- Bondi Pavilion (1 speech)
Bondi Pavilion is one of the nation's jewels. Recognised in 2008 by the Australian government as having 'exceptional' cultural significance, the National Estate listing identified Bondi as 'one...
