Senate debates

Thursday, 10 November 2016

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee, Law Enforcement Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have that question put, or those questions put? There being none, we will proceed to business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Criminal Code Amendment (Misrepresentation of Age to a Minor) Bill 2016; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    It is with a deep sense of honour, sorrow and continuing frustration that I rise to speak on the Criminal Code Amendment (Misrepresentation of Age to a Minor) Bill 2016 today. This is a bill to...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to a notice given on 9 November 2016, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4 standing in my name for 9 February 2017, proposing a disallowance of the Commonwealth...
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That the Senate calls on the Turnbull government to abandon moves to implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement given that...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the eighth report of 2016 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows SELECTION OF BILLS...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (17 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown on today's order of business be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after consideration...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a)   general business order of the day no. 31 (National Integrity Commission Bill 2013); and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Environment (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that: (i)   the Queensland Labor Government has invoked special powers to declare the Adani mega-coal mine, railway and...
  • Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that: (i)   Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness Week runs from Sunday, 13 November to Saturday, 19 November 2016,...
  • Live Animal Exports (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes that: (i)   the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources report, Live-stock mortalities during exports by...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted for the following senators: (a) Senator McAllister for yesterday and today, for personal reasons; and (b) Senator Collins for today, for...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Narcotic Drugs Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Bill 2016; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Labor will not be opposing these bills, but the bills are only necessary because of problems and issues with the government's handling of the legislation surrounding the national scheme. In...
  • Narcotic Drugs Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    The opposition supports the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016. The bill contains proposals for two changes to the Higher Education Act and related...
  • Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016, Customs Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labor supports the Customs Tariff Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016 and Customs Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016, which amend the Customs Act to implement...
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016, Customs Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016; Third Reading (3 speeches)
    I assume, Mr President, I may be at liberty to move that the bill be read a third time.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Day, Mr Bob, AO (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. I refer to the government's grant of $1.84 million to the North East Vocational College for former Senator Day's pet...
  • National Security (10 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister outline the challenges Australia faces in maintaining a strong but...
  • Culleton, Senator Rodney (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement in the Senate on Monday that: On 7 September this year Mr Ian Bruce Bell commenced proceedings...
  • United States Election (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Yesterday the United States elected Donald Trump, a man who ran a disgusting campaign based on racism, anti-Semitism, misogyny,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (13 speeches)
    I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the Australia-US alliance. During this election...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Solicitor-General (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to today's Legal Services Amendment (Repeal of Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016, through which the Attorney-General has...
  • High Court of Australia (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer the Attorney-General to my question without notice on 12 September 2016 regarding section 33 of the High Court Act and the High...
  • Indigenous Suicide (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. How is the minister working to address the tragic rate of suicide in Indigenous communities, noting that it is twice that...
  • Paid Parental Leave (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ryan, the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services. Can the minister provide the underlying assumptions for the current Paid Parental Leave scheme compared...
  • Day, Mr Bob, AO (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister's answer in question time yesterday in which he said he had not discussed matters relating to former Senator...
  • Registered Organisations (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the minister aware of support for strengthening accountability and improving governance of registered organisations?
  • United States Election (30 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the public commentary of numerous coalition backbenchers on the US election. This morning the member...
  • North East Vocational College (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister confirm that under former Senator Day's student builder pilot so-called student builders will not...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Qualifications of Senators, Photography of Parliamentary Proceedings; Tabling (1 speech)
    I inform senators about two matters. One is the response from the High Court, and the second is media rules in the chamber. First, I table notices received today from the High Court setting 21...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (14 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Well, what a performance from Senator Birmingham. Senator...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Parliament House; Tabling (1 speech)
    I table a statement relating to the building condition of Parliament House and an attachment, Australian Parliament House Condition Summary.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) 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.
  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— Australia's recent...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to the following estimates:
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the second report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the eighth report of 2016: Human rights scrutiny report. Ordered that the report be printed. I seek leave to have the...
  • Public Accounts and Audit Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two government responses to committee reports as listed at item 15 on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to have the documents incorporated...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • North East Vocational College; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning a student builder pilot program.
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016; Disallowance (1 speech)
    I move: That the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016, made under the Judiciary Act 1903, be disallowed. Today the Attorney-General has registered the Legal...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Gallacher, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 May 2017: The...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Integrity Commission Bill 2013; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the National Integrity Commission Bill. The trappings of power are dangerous. The more successful and powerful a politician is, the bigger the trap. Without an equally powerful...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Library of Australia (2 speeches)
    I have received a letter from Senator Seselja, resigning his place as a member of the Council of the National Library of Australia, and a letter from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Education and Employment Legislation Committee— Appointed—   Substitute...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Estimates Committees; Consideration (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I would like to speak on item No. 1 'Estimates hearings—Unanswered questions on notice'. I think it is important that when we have the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    I rise to take note of the government response to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report entitled Capability of Defence’s physical science and engineering...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    This is generally known as the 'nanny state inquiry'. During that 'nanny state inquiry'—which I chaired—in the last parliament, mandatory bicycle helmet laws were nominated by many...
  • Select Committee on Health; Report (1 speech)
    I seek to make some remarks this evening on the final report of the Senate Select Committee on Health from the 44th Parliament, Hospital funding cuts: the perfect storm: the demolition of...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (3 speeches)
    I will let the Senate know that I will not be using all the time allotted, so, No. 2, get down now if you are here. I wanted to make some brief remarks about the shenanigans and stunts pulled by...
  • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
    Tonight I would like to talk about one of the major social issues confronting our society, which is the ongoing problems of housing affordability and homelessness. In particular I am going to...
  • Qualifications of Senators (1 speech)
    Earlier this week the Senate got involved in the serious issue of whether two senators were able to claim their seats in this chamber after being elected at the 2 July poll. It was decided that...
  • Goodluck, Mr Bruce John (3 speeches)
    I rise today to pay tribute and acknowledge the life of an extraordinary man. Bruce Goodluck, a champion of the people, a colourful politician and a much loved family man, died on 24 October, at...