Senate debates

Monday, 27 March 2017

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those proposals? There being none, we proceed.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Labor will be supporting the Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016. The bill contains five measures. Schedule 1 relates to Australia's terrorism insurance scheme. Australia's...
  • Treasury Laws 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to make a few comments on the Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017. The bill contains two schedules of changes, both of which are limited in their respective scope....
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    This bill amends the Farm Household Support Act 2014 to ensure that recipients of the farm household allowance are not required to serve an ordinary waiting period or liquid assets wait...
  • Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2017; 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.
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2016. Labor will support this bill but makes three minor technical changes to the administration of the...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) 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.
  • Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Labor supports this bill. We have been calling for a VET ombudsman for a long time now, and we took this policy to the last election. This is because Labor understands that students need someone...
  • Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017; 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Student Payments) Bill 2017; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Student Payments) Bill 2016. This bill seeks to amend means testing for youth allowance and Austudy recipients to make it...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Student Payments) Bill 2017; 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017, Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017; Second Reading (11 speeches, 1 comment)
    Labor will be supporting the Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017 and the Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017. The treasury laws amendment bill has three...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Last week the Turnbull government made a submission to the Fair Work Commission on its decision to cut penalty...
  • Economy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister outline what the government is doing to grow the Australian economy, encourage investment and create jobs?
  • Pauline Hanson's One Nation (10 speeches)
    I am making a habit of asking questions of the Leader of the Government in the Senate. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Last week the leader of the...
  • Global Security (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. The campaign to retake Mosul has now entered its sixth month. Given the recent reports of casualties in areas of west Mosul which are...
  • Mining (15 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Minister Canavan. I refer to reports on a major current affairs program on Sunday night that concluded that the Great Barrier...
  • Fair Work Commission (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Given the Prime Minister has indicated that his government supports a pay cut of up to $77 a week for up to...
  • Veterans (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Justice Mohr, a former Navy stoker who rose to become a major general and later a judge in the Supreme Court of South Australia, was...
  • Energy (13 speeches)
    I would like to take this opportunity to offer Senator MacDonald and all those in North Queensland facing Cyclone Debbie all the best as that proceeds. My question is to the Minister for...
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On Friday, the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, FECCA, gave evidence to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs...
  • Child Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the very able Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government's childcare package will support low-and middle...
  • Iraq (8 speeches)
    Over the weekend, the United States government took responsibility for air strikes in western Mosul that may have killed more than 200 civilians, most of them women, children and the elderly....
  • Turnbull Government (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. On Friday, Prime Minister Turnbull recommitted to his government's $50 billion company tax cuts after Treasurer...
  • International Development Assistance (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Can the minister please inform the Senate how the Turnbull government is using its...
• 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 Cameron and Urquhart today relating to penalty...
  • Global Security, Iraq (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence (Senator Payne) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to air strikes in Iraq. There...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Robinson, Hon. Ian Louis (4 speeches)
    It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 23 March 2017, of the Honourable Ian Louis Robinson, a former minister and member of the House of Representatives for the divisions...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Banking and Financial Services Commission of Inquiry Bill 2017 (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a short personal statement.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senators Macdonald and O'Sullivan be granted leave of absence for today for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 270, standing in my name.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Nuclear Weapons (4 speeches, 1 comment)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Ludlam, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) there are close to 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world today, posing a grave threat to all...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Live Animal Exports; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, by 29 March 2017, all documents by or held by the Export Finance and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Tuberculosis Day 2017 (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Moore and Fierravanti-Wells, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day and the theme in 2017 is "Unite to End TB", (ii)...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Bell Group Liquidation; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Attorney ­-General be required to provide to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, by no later than noon on 7 April 2017, the following documents...
  • Energy (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Australia is a country with significant gas resources (conventional natural gas and unconventional gas, including coal seam gas,...
  • Multiculturalism (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) on 21 March 2017, Harmony Day, the Senate passed a motion that acknowledged "the success of Australia's laws in protecting Australians...
  • Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Fair Work Act 2009 passed the Parliament with the support of the Honourable Bill Shorten, MP, and that the Fair Work Bill 2008 was circulated...
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) cannot turn, cannot climb, cannot run and cannot fight according to multiple reports from...
  • MJD Foundation (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Machado-Joseph Disease is a particularly cruel neurodegenerative condition, which has its...
  • Community Legal Centres (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion no. 276, standing in my name and the names of Senators McKim, Lambie and Hinch for today, by adding Senator Kakoschke-Moore as one of the...
  • Rule of Law (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate supports the rule of law and, in particular, that the people and the government should be ruled by the law, and obey it. Question agreed to.
  • World Tuberculosis Day 2017 (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 268. Leave granted. I ask that general business notice of motion No. 268, standing in my name and the names of Senators...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Mining, Great Barrier Reef (45 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 today nine proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75 from Senators Cameron, Dastyari, Gallagher, Hanson, Hinch, McAllister, Siewert, Urquhart...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • 25th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forums (7 speeches)
    by leave—I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to the 25th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in Natadola, Fiji from 15 January to 19...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Park-Fing, Mr Josh; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the death of a work-for-the-dole participant.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Environment and Communications Legislation Committee— Discharged— Senator Hume Participating member:...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016, Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) 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...
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016, Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) 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— THERAPEUTIC GOODS...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    At the request of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on the ADF's resistance-to-interrogation training together with documents presented to the committee. Ordered...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017, Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Prior to question time, I was speaking about Apple and how, through Apple Sales International and a tax haven in Ireland, it can get away with an average tax rate of just four per cent. The huge...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017, Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017; In Committee (4 speeches)
    We do have one amendment to the schedule, which I foreshadowed in my speech on the second reading. I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 8098 to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017, Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Labor supports the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, which makes a number of changes to the Customs Act and related legislation. The most significant changes concern tariff...
  • Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I 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 Bill 2016; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Labor supports the Customs Tariff Amendment Bill, which sets a closure date for the concessional tariff scheme, defines certain food items and repeals parts of the Customs Tariff Act that are no...
  • Customs Tariff Amendment 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.
  • Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    Labor is not opposing this bill, of course, but when I began this contribution last week I was very critical in my summing-up of the perception of the security levels. One does not argue that we...
  • Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016; In Committee (15 speeches)
    By leave—as has been circulated on the grey, I move opposition amendments (1) to (6) and (8) to (11) on sheet 8060: (1) Clause 1, page 1 (lines 5 and 6), omit "Serious or Organised",...
  • Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) 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; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Digital Readiness and Other Measures) Bill 2017, specifically to support the amendments to schedule 1 and 2 of the bill. This bill...
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Digital Readiness and Other Measures) Bill 2017; In Committee (14 speeches)
    Because there has been quite a lot of ongoing argy-bargy for two weeks and we are all quite tired of it, I am withdrawing my amendments on sheet 8081 and 8082. That has now been taken care of and...
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Digital Readiness and Other Measures) Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Health Insurance Amendment (National Rural Health Commissioner) Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    The Health Insurance Amendment (National Rural Health Commissioner) Bill 2017 amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to provide for the appointment of the National Rural Health Commissioner as a...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Northern Territory: Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
    I wanted to spend some time this evening raising an issue that has stunned the people of the Northern Territory. I have been reading through the Commonwealth Grants Commission: report on GST...
  • Western Australian State Election, Roe Highway Extension (1 speech)
    I rise to speak tonight on the astonishing events of just a week or two ago in the Western Australian election: the end of the Roe Highway, the end of the Perth Freight Link and the end of the...