Senate debates

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Does any senator require any of those motions to be put? There being none, we will proceed to business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016, Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016; Second Reading (20 speeches)
    Last night I was mid-flight, talking about the history of tobacco excise in Australia. Given that I was cut off midstream, I think it is a good opportunity for me to recap some of the statistics...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Investment (1 speech)
    In five weeks time, on 23 October, a group of us will meet at Denham, near Shark Bay, in Western Australia to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first known European landing on Australian...
  • Dementia (4 speeches)
    I rise to speak about the Turnbull government's continued failure to put dementia at the forefront of the government's thinking and to treat it as a national health priority. Our calls over the...
  • Oil Exploration (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about a very special and precious place in my home state of South Australia. Last week, I was lucky enough to spend two days on the west coast in my home state, from Ceduna...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    I am grateful for the opportunity today to make a contribution on a subject that is important to me but I think also important to the friends of freedom and democracy in this Senate chamber, in...
  • Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
    Recently, I had the privilege of visiting two of the 11 community partners in a program called the National Empowerment Project. I visited the Queensland communities of Cherbourg and Kuranda. I...
  • Aged Care Funding Instrument (1 speech)
    Firstly, I would like to state that this is absolutely not my first speech. However, I am certain that what I rise to speak on today will very much feature in that first speech in the coming...
  • Curtain, Sir Michael, KBE, Jones, Mr Ewen (1 speech)
    There is not often, in this place, a lot of opportunity available to senators to place on record, in a timely fashion, the tributes that I want to make to two men who, apart from both being from...
  • Government Procurement (2 speeches)
    Earlier this year the New South Wales Liberal government faced a choice. It needed to purchase new trains, a contract that would be worth billions of dollars and hundreds of jobs. The Baird...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I advise the Senate that Senator Fierravanti-Wells will be absent from question time today and tomorrow due to ministerial business overseas. In Senator Fierravanti-Wells's absence, I will...
• Shadow Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I advise that Senator O'Neill has been appointed to serve as shadow assistant minister for innovation and shadow assistant minister for mental health, and I congratulate her on...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Turnbull Government (18 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister, who, on deposing former Prime Minister Tony Abbott 12 months ago, said,...
  • Higher Education (8 speeches)
    My question is to the
  • Superannuation (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. On 10 September the Prime Minister listed superannuation reform as an area of achievement during his first year of...
  • Marriage (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Yesterday a group of 'rainbow families' came to parliament from around the country to talk to the parliament about the impact the...
  • Telecommunications (8 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government is delivering on its plans for communications in Australia?
  • Child Sexual Abuse (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. On 24 June 2016 at a hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual...
  • Regional Australia (12 speeches)
    It is my great honour to ask a question of the Minister for Regional Development, Regional Communications, Local Government and Territories also representing the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator...
  • Superannuation (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Cormann, as the Minister representing the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. When introducing the budget on 12 May 2015, the former Treasurer Mr Hockey said,...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I acknowledge in the public gallery former senator Chris Ellison. Welcome. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Turnbull Government (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement when deposing the former Prime Minister, that Australia needed 'a style...
  • Indigenous Affairs (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Can the minister advise the Senate how the Turnbull government is delivering jobs and prosperity for Australia's...
  • Economy (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to last week's release of the national accounts figures for the June quarter, which showed private gross...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. It is quite clear, following...
  • Marriage (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 Rice today relating to the proposed plebiscite into...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Marshall for 14 September 2016, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 28 standing in the name of Senator Rhiannon.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Day for 14 September and 15 September 2016, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 34 standing in the name of Senator Hinch for 12 September 2016, relating to restricting photography in the Senate chamber,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matters be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services for inquiry and report by 30 June 2017: (a) the need for further reform...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Working Holiday Maker Program (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 46 standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that the fruit, berry, cherry and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Fawcett, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1), followed by...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Stroke Week (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Moore and Senator Bilyk, I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) National Stroke Week: (A) will take place from 12 September to 18 September...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 3 standing in my name and also to add Senator Xenophon's name. Leave granted. I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Defence Facilities: Chemical Contamination (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Xenophon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that on 14 June 2016, the Turnbull Government announced a $55 million package paid for from the existing...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Automotive Industry; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Xenophon, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that:   (i) the President's report to the Senate on government responses outstanding to parliamentary...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2017: The current and future impacts of climate change...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Child Sexual Abuse (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released its report on Redress and civil litigation on...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    by leave—I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Liquor Licensing (11 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 this morning the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Wong, and Senator Leyonhjelm each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (4 speeches, 1 comment)
    It being just past 5 pm, and pursuant to order, I will call Senator Hanson to make her first speech, and ask that honourable senators extend the usual courtesies to Senator Hanson. I call Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I present the sixth report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 6 of 2016. Ordered...
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 6 of 2016. Ordered that the document be printed.
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government's response to the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on its inquiry into long service standards. I seek leave to incorporate the document in...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Census; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the 2016 Census.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    In respect of the document just presented, the government's response to the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on long service standards, I move: That the Senate take...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Economics Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area — East Kimberley) Determination 2016; Disallowance (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate disallow the Social Security (Administration) (Trial Area—East Kimberley) Determination 2016. The reason I am doing this—and if the government attempts to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016, Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I thank all senators who have contributed to this debate. The Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016 is an important bill that increases the rate of excise duty on tobacco by way of four...
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016, Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016; In Committee (13 speeches)
    I have some questions to ask which I raised in my speech in the second reading debate . I will be as quick as I can. These issues were raised in an Australian National Audit Office report in May...
  • Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016, Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2016; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of government business order of the day No. 3, consideration of message no. 17 relating to the Joint Standing Committee on...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network; Appointment (5 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives transmitting for concurrence resolutions relating to the formation of a joint committee. Copies of the message have been circulated...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I rise to speak in support of the Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016. Labor has reached agreement with the government on a package of fairer alternative savings measures relating to the omnibus...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Veterans (1 speech)
    In the 10 minutes that I have, I will try to be brief, but I am going to read the words of a very dear friend of mine, one John Leonard Davis—our mate JD, or the fat fella from...
  • Goodyear Dunlop Tyres (1 speech)
    In November 2014 I spoke about the case of David Waters and his dismissal by one of Australia's biggest companies, Goodyear Dunlop. David is one of Australia's top sporting shooters. He has won...
  • Australian National Audit Office, Department of Immigration and Border Protection (1 speech)
    At the outset, I just want to place on the record my appreciation of the extraordinary good work done by the Australian National Audit Office. It is an invaluable resource with tools for us to...
  • Australian Public Service (1 speech)
    Thank you, Senator Gallacher, for that contribution. Last century, when I was a member of the Australian Public Service, and very proud to be a member of the Australian Public Service, I was also...