Senate debates

Tuesday, 22 November 2016

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the motion put on any of those committee meetings? There being none, we proceed to business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I rise to oppose the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 on behalf of the Labor Party. This is just another element of this government's antiworker agenda. It is...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Canavan. I refer to Minister Joyce, who says that delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Before I call the next questioner, could I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the President's gallery today of the Australian Political Exchanges Council's 11th...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Building and Construction Industry (14 speeches)
    My question is to the outstanding Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate of the need to reform the workplace culture in the building and construction industry?
  • Attorney-General (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. I refer to Senator Brandis, who said in relation to the Queensland Liberal-National Party that: They're not...
  • Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (29 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. The Prime Minister today described the immigration minister as 'thoughtful and compassionate'. Does the minister...
  • Economy (7 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 what the government is...
  • Attorney-General (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Brandis. On Sunday the Leader of the Government in the Senate was recorded telling Mr Michael Kroger that the Queensland...
  • Employment (8 speeches)
    I intend to give you a bit more of Senator Canavan, whether you like it or not! My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Can the minister outline to...
  • Australian Defence Force (16 speeches)
    My question is directed to the Attorney-General, who is representing the Minister for Defence today. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dubsky is in the public gallery today. He was used as a scapegoat...
  • Gun Control (9 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Canavan, the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister. Given the minister missed last night's boat, I ask you: will you confirm that you support the Prime...
  • Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Can the minister advise the Senate what the Turnbull government is doing to promote gender...
  • Imports (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer the minister to a report in this morning's Herald Sunrevealing widespread purchasing by federal government departments of...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Medicare (1 speech)
    Mr President, I wish to provide further information in response to the question asked of me yesterday by Senator Brown in relation to bulk billing rates in Tasmania. Senator Brown will recall...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Attorney-General, Gun Control (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia (Senator Canavan) and the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without...
  • Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (5 speeches)
    I rise to take note of a question that was asked during question time relating to Mr Peter Dutton. I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis)...
  • Australian Defence Force (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 Lambie today relating to an incident involving...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the name of Senator Xenophon for today proposing the disallowance of the Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (Part 101)...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day no. 35, Racial Discrimination Law Amendment (Free Speech) Bill 2016 be considered on Thursday 24 November 2016 under consideration of private...
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I move: That business of the Senate order of the day no. 2 relating to a reference to the Economics References Committee be postponed to the next sitting day. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senators Lambie, Griff and Xenophon, I move: That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 June 2017: (a) the increase in...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Australian Organ and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Skilled Migration Program (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) last year, the Fair Work Ombudsman found evidence of exploitation of 20 per cent of workers on the 457 visa,   (ii) the...
  • Public Transport (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the funding reallocated by the Turnbull Government last week from the now­ defunct East West Link was directed almost entirely...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 117 standing in my name for today relating to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (6 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 21 March 2017: Changes to the Aged Care...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • United States Alliance (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No115, relating to the United States alliance, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Suspension of Standing Orders (12 speeches)
    Pursuant to contingent notice 2, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Di Natale moving a motion relating to the conduct of the business of the Senate,...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • (15 speeches, 1 comment)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Gallagher and Siewert each submitted letters in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the National Boards; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, AHPRA, and the National Boards annual report 2015-16, reporting on the National...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission; Consideration (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The government welcomes the Australian Human Rights Commission's inquiry report Willing to work: national inquiry into employment discrimination...
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Consideration (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The annual report 2015-16 goes to the work of the office of the Executive Director of Township Leasing. The office is an independent statutory...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (6 speeches)
    I present the government's response to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on its inquiry into the review of the Defence annual report 2013-14. I seek...
  • Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate take note of the reports. One of the interesting things that has occurred post the election is that I am now a member of the Intelligence and Security...
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Expanded Information Technology Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2016, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Bill 2016, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016; First Reading (1 speech)
    These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper. I...
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Expanded Information Technology Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2016, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Bill 2016, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— CUSTOMS TARIFF...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Transition Mobility Allowance to the National Disability Insurance Scheme) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Transition Mobility Allowance to the National Disability Insurance Scheme) 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— This Bill introduces...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016; Disallowance (7 speeches)
    This disallowance before us today in this place is a matter of great gravity. In May this year the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, tabled the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Mulligan, Mr Ted, OAM (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about a fine elderly man called Ted Mulligan. Recently my wife, Nancy, and I were honoured to attend the 100th birthday celebrations of this Guyra legend. Ted Mulligan is a...
  • Intercultural Sports League Inc. (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about a new multicultural and sporting group in Tasmania, the Intercultural Sports League. The league is the brainchild of a group of people which happens to include three...
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance (1 speech)
    Like so many Australians, I have been appalled by the rise of Donald Trump and the fear and hatred that has accompanied him. The positions that he has taken, especially towards minorities, are...
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak yet again on a very important issue, and that is the state of the aged-care sector in this country. It is very sad that the government has shown no leadership on this very...
  • Transvaginal Mesh (1 speech)
    Back in the 1950s and 1960s there was a morning sickness pill that women around the world were innocently taking. And they started giving birth to babies with no arms or legs. After an Australian...
  • Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about a Darwin based organisation that is facing an uncertain future, an organisation that serves a vital cultural and service-delivery role to the wider community. This...
  • Migration (1 speech)
    Let me start with a statement of what I believe. I believe that all of the groups of people that have welcomed Australia and that we have welcomed, since the end of the White Australia policy,...
  • Malnutrition (1 speech)
    ( Last September our country, along with other nations of the world, joined together at the United Nations to commit to 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are focused on efforts to end...
  • Jammu and Kashmir, Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    The people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir are facing a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent international attention. The people who live in this region have a right to live in peace, with...
  • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    The questions I asked this morning of the government and the short five-minute speech I delivered taking note of the minister's answers relating to the New South Wales police investigation into...