Senate debates

Monday, 20 March 2017

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any proposal? There being none, we will proceed.
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia (1 speech)
    This morning I tabled a copy of an order of the Court of Disputed Returns dated 10 March this year declaring Panagiotis Georgiou duly elected as a senator for the state of Western Australia in...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I would like to speak on this very important piece of legislation—the Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. It is probably widely known to, particularly, representatives in...
  • Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; In Committee (10 speeches)
    This bill will clearly contribute to the ongoing security measures we have as part of our transport system. I think, clearly, there are a number of measures in this bill which will enhance those...
  • Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Corporations Amendment (Crowd-sourced Funding) Bill 2016; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    Crowdsourced equity funding has been considered by parliament for quite some time, with both Labor and coalition governments progressing reform of the Corporations Act to allow for it to be...
  • Corporations Amendment (Crowd-sourced Funding) Bill 2016; In Committee (9 speeches)
    In my speech in the second reading debate I flagged a number of questions and indicated that I would be moving two amendments. I seek leave to move the amendments on page 8047 together. Leave...
  • Corporations Amendment (Crowd-sourced Funding) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Digital Readiness and Other Measures) Bill 2017; 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.
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Digital Readiness and Other Measures) Bill 2017; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction I am pleased to present this bill to the Senate. Before outlining...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
    ) ( ): My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Last week, Liberal-National party senator Ian Macdonald told the Townsville Bulletin that cuts to the...
  • United States of America (8 speeches)
    My question is also to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate what steps members of the Turnbull government have taken to engage with the new Trump administration?
  • Workplace Relations (33 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Last Friday, the Prime Minister said, in relation to the cuts to penalty rates: Well we do support it … Why...
  • Marriage (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Polling today has shown that more than half the people in 12 of the most conservative seats held by the coalition want marriage equality...
  • Western Australian State Election (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister, who, before the Western Australian state election, labelled the Western Australian Liberal Party's preference...
  • Climate Change (8 speeches)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, my question is for Senator Birmingham, who is representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy. On Monday, 13 February 2017,...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. I note that the minister recently travelled with me through regional Victoria to listen to local business...
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Racial Discrimination Act and the Attorney-General's confirmation in question time on 31 August last year that: … an...
  • Child Care (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister explain to the Senate how the government's childcare package will support parents in balancing...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. Minister, last week we had the Prime Minister describe himself as the 'nation-building...
  • Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. The latest ABS labour force data shows that the unemployment rate rose in February by 0.2 per cent to 5.9 per...
  • Defence (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on the current state of bilateral relations with Indonesia?
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question No. 308 (3 speeches)
    I rise to seek an explanation pursuant to standing order 74(5). I seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services as to why my question on notice No. 308 to...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by Senators Moore and Cameron today relating to penalty rates....
  • Energy (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Education and Training (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating to...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Mr President, pursuant to notice given on 16 February 2017, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for today proposing the disallowance of the Migration Act...
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move a motion in relation to hearing health and to National Close the Gap Day.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Lines today, Monday, 20 March 2017, for parliamentary reasons. Question agreed to.
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the general business order of the day relating to the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017 (subject to introduction) be considered on Thursday, 23 March 2017...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on Migration; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Migration be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate today from 6 pm. Question agreed to.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Ticket Scalping (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 223 standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) ticket scalping and...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Freedom of Religion (30 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 today, three senators each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75. Senator Gallagher proposed a matter of urgency and Senators Roberts and...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 41 of 2016-17; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document should send shivers up people's spines about the way government programs have been implemented. But I must admit it does not...
  • Report No. 39 of 2016-17; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of the Audit Officer report on the Australian Border Force’s use of statutory powers. There is a pattern emerging...
  • Department of the Environment and Energy; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I take note of document No. 26, the Australia State of the Environment 2016. In summary, the state of the environment report shows that we have...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Trade with Singapore (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, I table a ministerial statement and a related document on the tabling of the agreement to amend the Singapore-Australia Free Trade...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2017, National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016, Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    These bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I will be moving a motion to have the bills listed separately on the Notice Paper....
  • Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2017, National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account Bill 2016, Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; 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— FARM...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017; 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 (Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform) Bill 2017; 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— SOCIAL SERVICES...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Report (4 speeches)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation as listed at item 16 on today's Order of Business, together with the Hansard...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That business of the Senate order of the day No. 1 relating to the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the provision...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    I appreciate the opportunity to outline Labor's position on the government's Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016. While Labor recognises well-regulated gambling has a place in Australian...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I have been asked to do this by the clerk at the table to facilitate the tabling of a report, so I assume that the usual courtesies have been extended to the whips in this place. I move: That...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017; Report of Legislation Committee (5 speeches)
    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 Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use...
  • Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016; In Committee (79 speeches)
    I have a number of questions for the minister before amendments are dealt with. I make reference, perhaps as a reference point, to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Morris, Dr John, AO, MBE (3 speeches)
    I rise tonight to make a contribution about a remarkable Tasmanian who, sadly, passed away the weekend before last. The Tasmanian I am talking about is Dr John Morris AO, MBE, who also happens to...
  • Prostheses List Framework (11 speeches)
    I want to begin by thanking Senator Duniam for his very passionate speech bringing to the attention of the Senate the outstanding work of Dr John Morris, whom I will admit was someone I was not...
  • Film and Video Game Classification (1 speech)
    According to a recent survey, at least 68 per cent of Australians regularly enjoy video games. Their average age is 33, and nearly as many women as men enjoy the hobby. But, by an unfortunate...
  • Leak, Mr Desmond Robert 'Bill' (1 speech)
    I rise today to pay homage to a great Australian taken away from us too soon, a comic genius in the literal sense, a man who was not constrained by fear of political correctness, a truth-teller,...