Senate debates

Monday, 14 August 2017

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security Amendment (Caring for People on Newstart) Bill 2017; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    ( On Thursday afternoon at 4.30 pm—sorry, Senator Di Natale?
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (10 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion to provide that the Defence Legislation Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2015 be called on immediately and have precedence over all...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    Australia faces evolving national security threats to our critical infrastructure in an increasingly uncertain international environment. This includes the risk of espionage, sabotage and foreign...
  • Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; In Committee (31 speeches)
    by leave—I move all government amendments together: (1) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (line 1), omit "Note", substitute "Note 1". (2) Schedule 1, item 8, page 6 (after line 4), at the end of...
  • Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment 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.
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017, which is before us today, seeks to implement the so-called effects test, and it certainly will have an effect—an...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Today, the Deputy Prime Minister told the House of Representatives that he has asked that the question of his...
  • Taxation (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Can the minister please explain why high taxes are bad for growth, for jobs and for wages?
  • Broadband (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. The chief operating officer of TPG recently said, 'With fibre to the node, we're not even allowed to lodge a fault with NBN...
  • Registered Organisations (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the minister aware of any recent reports about conflicts of interest relating to donations from registered organisations to...
  • Marriage (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance regarding the government's planned postal plebiscite on marriage equality. The Australian Bureau of Statistics have announced that people have to be 18...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement to the House of Representatives regarding the referral of his...
  • Marriage (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Marriage is not defined in the Australian Constitution, as it is in the Irish constitution. A constitutional definition of marriage would...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Can the minister outline how the coalition government is working to improve energy security, reliability and affordability...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General and the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. It follows on from his response to Senator Cameron. I ask the minister: can the minister...
  • Solomon Islands (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. Minister, could you update the Senate on the concluding phase of the Regional Assistance...
  • Australia-United States Relationship (12 speeches)
    My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. We are currently on the precipice of a major nuclear conflict involving two dangerous and paranoid...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. It is now over two months since Dr Finkel handed down his report which stated: There is an urgent need for a clear...
  • North Korea (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate how Australia is working with like-minded nations to de-escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula?
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question No. 477 (7 speeches)
    Under standing order 74(5)(a), I seek an explanation from the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion, as to why question No. 477, which I placed on notice on 13 June 2017, remains...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Broadband (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications (Senator Fifield) to a question without notice asked by Senator O'Neill today. It's a long time now since...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Marriage (1 speech)
    I seek leave to correct an answer I provided in Senate question time today. Leave granted. I thank the chamber. This is in response to a question from Senator Rice earlier today, in relation to...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Marriage (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Minister Cormann) to questions without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to marriage. I seek to take...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • 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 9 for 2017. Ordered that the report be printed.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    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 15 August 2017, proposing the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Collins for 14 and 15 August 2017, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any proposal? There being none, I shall now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Taxation Administration Amendment (Corporate Tax Entity Information) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Taxation Administration Act 1953, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That...
  • Taxation Administration Amendment (Corporate Tax Entity Information) Bill 2017; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum, and I seek leave to have...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the issues raised about retirement villages in the Four Corners report 'Bleed Them Dry Until They Die' on 26 June 2017; (b) expresses concern about the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (7 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 29 November 2017: The use of discretionary trusts in Australia, with particular...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Rice, move: That arrangements relating to the collection of statistical information on the views of all Australians on the electoral roll on whether or not the...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Australia (13 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8:30 am today, six proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the interim report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on the impact of Defence training activities and facilities on rural and regional communities. Ordered...
  • Strengthening Multiculturalism; Report (1 speech)
    I present an interim report of the Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism. Ordered that the report be printed. by leave—I move: That the Senate adopt the recommendation...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Regional Investment Corporation Bill...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017 ushers in a landmark reform to competition law in Australia. It's a bill that lowers the burden of proof so the ACCC can...
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017; In Committee (25 speeches)
    The question is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Misuse of Market Power) Bill 2017; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    The Labor Party will support the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Amendment Bill 2017. It's a bill which will allow for the crucially important public funding of a research...
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation 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.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That government business order of the day no. 4, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Support for Commonwealth Entities) Bill 2017, be postponed till the next day of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    Is it any wonder that this bill proposed by Minister Cash is so deficient? Her former colleague, Bruce Billson, was trousering money from the Franchise Council of Australia while he was still a...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I rise to make a contribution in adjournment about a very important issue to many South Australians and, indeed, many Australians. On 23 February 2017, the Fair Work Commission handed down a...
  • Indigenous Employment (1 speech)
    Towards the end of July, I was invited up to the Warburton community in Western Australia. For those that don't know, it's near the Western Desert, in the tri-state area near the border with...
  • White, Mr Terry (1 speech)
    It is a pleasure to rise tonight to speak on and pay tribute to the hard work of a significant contributor to the agricultural sector in Tasmania, and that is Terry White, who is a passionate...