Senate debates

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (15 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for today. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move: That so much...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; In Committee (20 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity Bill 2013 and a related bill and the amendment on sheet 8026 moved by Senator Hinch. The question is...
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time.
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016 (No. 2); 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.
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016 (No. 2); Second Reading (4 speeches)
    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 is the key...
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016 (No. 2); In Committee (1 speech)
    by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 8018: (1) Schedule 1, item 6, page 5 (line 15) omit "15%", substitute "10.5%". [tax rate for part of working holiday income not exceeding...
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016 (No. 2); Adoption of Report (3 speeches)
    I move: That the report from the committee be adopted. In doing so, I will explain to the chamber what just happened. Labor— Senator Cameron interjecting— Senator Cameron is getting...
  • Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill (No. 2) 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.
  • Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    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— The Passenger Movement...
  • Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2016; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no requests have been indicated and unless any senator wishes to have a committee stage, I shall call the minister to move the third reading.
  • VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    I spoke earlier about this bill and I was interrupted. I was explaining to those on the government benches who were previously opposed to a price cap on VET fees. Minister Ryan, Birmingham and...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Working Holiday Maker Program (20 speeches)
    Today is a hallmark day for me. I have spent my three years in this place endeavouring to expose the Labor Party and the Greens and a couple of others for their hatred of the bush and farmers....
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Isn't it great to hear from the National Party saying how much they care for the bush, when the bush in New South Wales understand that the National Party actually left any resemblance of support...
  • Environment (1 speech)
    As we head into summer, many people are sitting at work or at home, picturing what exciting things they might get up to in their holidays. If you are like me, you are going to want to spend as...
  • Disability Services (1 speech)
    As we all prepare in this place to return home to spend Christmas with our family and friends, I ask all in this chamber and, in fact, all Australians to consider the plight of over 6,200 younger...
  • International Day of People with Disability (8 speeches)
    This Saturday, 3 December marks International Day of People with Disability. Now in its 24th year, International Day of People with Disability has been celebrated on 3 December every year since...
  • Coal-Fired Power Stations (1 speech, 1 comment)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, I rise to speak in response to the tabling of the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee and its ludicrous...
  • South Korea: Transport Industry (2 speeches)
    I want to talk about the disgraceful behaviour of the South Korean government and the way they are screwing the absolute most out of South Korean truck drivers. They are beating them, they are...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Canavan. I refer to the Prime Minister, who yesterday wrote to the Premier of South Australia...
  • Working Holiday Maker Program (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Will the minister update the Senate on the importance of a fair and competitive tax rate...
  • Employment (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the instrument signed by the minister on 6 November 2014, in her former capacity as the Assistant Minister for Immigration...
  • Great Barrier Reef (14 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to reports released yesterday by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies which show that 67...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I acknowledge in the gallery the presence of former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Welcome to the Senate. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Education (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister advise the Senate what the international mathematics and science report says about the performance...
  • Health Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Nash, representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. The government will soon receive the second report from the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce,...
  • Dairy Industry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the
  • Regulation of Therapeutic Goods (14 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Nash, the Minister representing the Minister for Health. A friend of mine is trying to quit smoking, but after a while without a cigarette he gets terrible headaches....
  • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement to the Senate regarding the Bell Group matter in which he referenced the summary briefing and...
  • International Development Assistance (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government's overseas development assistance is...
  • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General who yesterday, in relation to the High Court hearing on 8 February this year, said: 'The...
  • Business (11 speeches)
    My question is to the cabinet secretary representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Can the cabinet secretary outline what the Turnbull government is doing to...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Disability Support Pension (1 speech)
    I have some further information in relation to a question I took on notice from Senator Siewert on Monday. Senator Siewert asked, in her primary question, if there had been an increase in the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Employment (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia (Senator Canavan) and the Minister for Employment (Senator Cash) to questions without...
  • Great Barrier Reef (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 Waters today relating to the Great Barrier Reef. I...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal for work in the Parliamentary Zone,...
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No.4 standing in the name of Senator Waters for today, relating to the reference of a matter to the Environment and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 21 March 2017: The...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Great Barrier Reef (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 141 in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the...
  • Dental Services (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) the cost of visiting a dentist has been consistently shown to create a significant barrier for Australians seeking dental care,...
  • Chemical Contamination: Firefighting Foams (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 144 standing in my name for today relating to contamination by firefighting foams, by omitting in subparagraph (a)(i) the words 'public...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill; Appointment (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Rice, Kakoschke-Moore and Hinch, move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Hinch, move: That the following matters be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services for inquiry and report by 30 June...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Parliament House: Catering (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators Moore and Fifield, I move: That the Senate— (a) records the sincere gratitude of senators for the dedicated service given by all staff in the Senators' and...
  • Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Moore, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) the important role of the Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls, which was introduced by Labor in...
  • Parliament House: Security (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) that Australian Parliament House is the most significant monument that represents our democracy, owned by its citizens, to be enjoyed by...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Attorney-General; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Watt, I move: That— (a) the following documents relating to the Bell Group liquidation and the Western Australian Bell Group Companies (Finalisation of Matters and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Appointment (16 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 14 June 2017: The tax and royalties collected from the extraction and sale of...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • (26 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Gallagher and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The question of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present the report on delegated legislation monitor No. 10 of 2016. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the 165th Report on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and move: That the Senate take note of the report....
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, I present the 10th report and Alert Digest No. 10 of 2016. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Marshall, the Chair of the Education and Employment References Committee, I present the report on the government's workplace bargaining policy together with the Hansard...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    I would just like to return briefly, if I may, to the 165th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. I seek leave to incorporate the tabling...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (7 speeches)
    I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on Lyme-like illness in Australia together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee....
  • Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present three government responses to committee reports. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to have the documents incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The documents read as...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I seek leave to speak to the Australian government's response to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee inquiry into Australia's relationship with Mexico. Leave granted. I...
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) 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.
  • Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) 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 amends the...
  • Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015,...
  • Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016; Report of Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, together with...
  • VET Student Loans Bill 2016, VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016; In Committee (41 speeches)
    In respect of the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, I move the Australian Greens amendment (1) on sheet 7971: (1) Schedule 1, page 8 (after line...
  • VET Student Loans Bill 2016, VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
    In respect of the VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 and the VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016—the bills other than the VET Student Loans...
  • VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016, VET Student Loans (Charges) Bill 2016 (1 speech)
    I am seeking leave from the Senate on behalf of Senators Moore and Watt to lodge a late general business notice of motion. I understand this has been discussed with the whips and I would...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • CASTRO, Mr Fidel Alejandro (1 speech)
    The ugly hypocrisy and gross duplicity of the left side of politics is exposed on a daily, if not hourly, basis. But rarely is this ugliness and grossness so brazenly and vividly displayed for us...
  • Timor-Leste (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about the relationship between Australia and our close neighbour and friend Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste is one of the world's youngest countries. It is also one of its least...
  • Roads: WestConnex, Animal Welfare (1 speech)
    Tonight I join with a wide range of community groups, transport activists and Greens New South Wales MPs to call on the New South Wales government to immediately halt the WestConnex toll road...