Senate debates
Wednesday, 22 March 2017
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of the proposals? There being none, we will proceed.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (36 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for this week to provide for the consideration of two bills: the Social Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2017...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Senator Pratt, I move: The Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee be...
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Western Australian State Election (2 speeches)
I rise to make some comments on the outcome of the Western Australian state election of 11 March in which the Labor Party convincingly won that election. I want to go back to 2008, when I was a...
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (3 speeches)
Given the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday that his government intends to try to water down section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to make it easier to be a racist in Australia, I...
- Tasmania: Tourism (3 speeches)
It gives me great pleasure today to come in here to speak on a matter of great positivity for the state of Tasmania. Senator Smith interjecting— Yes, I thought so too, Senator Smith.
- Work Health and Safety (1 speech)
On 5 March I received correspondence from a New South Wales constituent, Mr Ian Macpherson, in relation to the tragic death of his son, Tim Macpherson. Tim was needlessly killed in a workplace...
- Druery, Mr Glenn (1 speech)
I was hardly surprised in the Western Australian election to cross paths with preference whisperer Glenn Druery, on the hustings as always at election time with his business plan for getting...
- Aurora Disability Services (1 speech)
One of the privileges of public life is the interaction that one has with the community. That was brought home to me one week ago when I was given the singular honour of being able to open the...
- Gold Coast Community Legal Centre (2 speeches)
I have previously advised the Senate of the fact that my Senate office will shortly be opening on the Gold Coast, which will be the first time in about 20 years that the Gold Coast, which is...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. In addition to at least 16 occasions on which the Prime Minister ruled out his government amending laws preventing...
- Child Care (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister update the Senate on the government's plans to reform child care in Australia?
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Yesterday the Coalition to Advance Multiculturalism, a collection of 20 organisations, including the Council of...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators, the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the Argentine Republic led by Ms Gabriela Michetti, Vice President of the Argentine...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Adani Group (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Minister Canavan, and it is a question relating to the climate destroying and job killing Adani coalmine.
- Defence Equipment (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Could the minister please update the Senate on the introduction into service of Australia's next generation combat aircraft?
- Radioactive Waste (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia. It relates to the announcement made on Monday that there would be a third round of consultation with the Kimba community in...
- Mining (8 speeches)
I intend to give the minister a hat-trick here this afternoon. My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Can the minister update the Senate on the...
- Medicinal Marijuana (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. The government has made a regulation that denies category A patients access to marijuana via the Special Access...
- Workplace Relations (14 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Six out of the 10 electorates most affected by recent penalty rates cuts are in Queensland. Given up to 30,122 workers...
- Global Security (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 Turnbull government is using Australia's...
- Negative Gearing (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer the minister to what he said last month: The government has absolutely no intention of reducing the capital gains tax discount...
- Business (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister outline the uneven playing field that exists between big business and small businesses in relation to Sunday rates?
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 341 (8 speeches)
Under standing order 74(5)(a), I seek an explanation from Senator Brandis representing the Prime Minister as to why my question No. 341, which I placed on notice on 12 January 2017, remains...
- Question Nos 346 to 350 (3 speeches)
Under standing order 74(5)(a), I seek an explanation from Senator Brandis, in his role representing the Prime Minister in this chamber, as to why questions 346, 347, 348, 349 and 350, which I...
- Question Nos 374 to 379 (14 speeches)
Under standing order 74(5)(a), I seek an explanation from Senator Fifield as to why questions on notice to the Communications portfolio Nos 374, 375, 376, 377, 378 and 379, which I placed on...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (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 Senators Dastyari and Kitching today relating to the Racial...
- Capital Gains Tax, Negative Gearing (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Gallagher today. In question time today much was...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I give notice of my intention at the giving of notices on the next sitting day to withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for 31 March 2017,...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
(—) (): I am happy to defer to my friend Senator Williams. I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the provisions of paragraphs 5 to 8 of standing order 111 not...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Science Meets Parliament Day (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Carr, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 22 March 2017 is Science Meets Parliament Day in Canberra, and (ii) this event provides a great opportunity for...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Beesley, Mr Nathaniel (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senators Brown, Singh, Polley and Bilyk, move: That the Senate expresses its sincere condolences to the family, friends and work colleagues of Mr Nathaniel Beesley, who...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- World Water Day (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges that 22 March is World Water Day, an annual day to reflect on the importance of water to the globe; (b) notes that: (i) access to clean water and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Syria (6 speeches)
First of all, I ask that the name of Senator Moore be added to the motion.
- Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the United Nations Human Rights Council recently received a report (A/HRC/34/51) from the Special Rapporteur on housing, and (ii) the report...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Energy (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Government has had no choice but to walk away from funding coal-fired power stations as they now look to invest in storage technologies to...
- Defence Expenditure (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the Government's recent announcement that it plans to spend $730 million on the Next Generation Technologies Fund, which has been touted as a "war...
- Child Sexual Abuse (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the statements made by the Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council to the Royal Commission into Institutional...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability (13 speeches)
I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, three proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75 from Senators Gallagher, Hinch and Siewert. The question of which proposal would be...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 43 of 2016-17; Consideration (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I would like to speak today on the Auditor-General's report No. 43 of 2016–17, Performance audit: proceeds of crime. The Proceeds of Crime...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legislation Committees; Report (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2016. Ordered that the reports be printed.
- Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the second report of 2017, Human rights scrutiny report. Ordered that the report be printed. I seek leave to have the...
- 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 the Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2017. Ordered that the report be printed.
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
I present Scrutiny Digest No. 3 of 2017 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, together with its annual report for 2016. Ordered that the reports be printed. I move: That the Senate...
- Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
I present two government responses to committee reports as listed at item 14 on today’s Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents...
- Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters; Report (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I rise to speak on the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Interim report on foreign donations. That report recommended prohibiting...
- Economics References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
In respect of the government response to the Senate Economics References Committee report entitled 2016 Census: issues of trust, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I am pleased to...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (17 speeches)
I present the interim report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on the Bell litigation, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
