Senate debates

Thursday, 17 August 2017

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at request of any senator.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Guidelines on Information and Advertising Campaigns by Non-corporate Commonwealth Entities (1 speech)
    (—) (): I table a ministerial statement by the Minister for Finance and Acting Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann, on approval of exemption to Guidelines on...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Truth in Labelling — Palm Oil) Bill 2017; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    When you are shopping for your weekly groceries at the supermarket and you turn over the packet to read the ingredients on a bag of chips, a block of chocolate or a box of biscuits, you would...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I introduced the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Restoring Shortwave Radio) Bill 2017 a number of weeks ago. This bill is in direct response to the decision of the ABC's board and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (11 speeches)
    I present the ninth report of 2017 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows SELECTION OF BILLS...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a)   the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 pm today: No. 5 Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 4) Bill 2017 No. 6...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Payne for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Macdonald, I move: That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee be...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Economics References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have the question put on any proposal? There being none, we will move on.
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 29 November 2017: The waste and recycling industry in Australia,...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 December 2017: The availability and accessibility of diagnostic imaging...
  • Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations; Appointment (8 speeches)
    by leave—I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations, be established to inquire into and report, on 15 November 2017,...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of senators Xenophon, Hinch, Lambie and Hanson, move: (1) That the Senate notes that the Prime Minister has written to the Opposition Leader to express concerns that there...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Secret Intelligence Service (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Foreign Minister has denied Witness K, a former public servant and Australian citizen, an Australian passport, (ii) the denial was made on...
  • Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) concerning reports that over two dozen members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will take part in the annual Ulchi-Freedom Guardian war games...
  • Australia Day (25 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the move by the City of Yarra Council to change the way it marks Australia Day; (b) endorses the remarks by the Prime Minister that this attack on...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 4) Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Labor will be supporting this Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 4) Bill 2017. Schedule 1 amends the A New Tax System (Wine Equalisation Tax) Act 1999 to improve the integrity of the wine...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 4) 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.
  • Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labor will be supporting the Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017, which makes technical amendments to 13 acts. This will harmonise those acts with the Public...
  • Public Governance and Resources 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 the Committee of the Whole.
  • Education and Training Legislation Repeal 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.
  • Education and Training Legislation Repeal Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 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 Education and...
  • Education and Training Legislation Repeal 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 the Committee of the Whole.
  • Statute Update (Winter 2017) 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.
  • Statute Update (Winter 2017) Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 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 Statute Update...
  • Statute Update (Winter 2017) 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.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister; Order for the Production of Documents (28 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion to take note of the government response to an order for the production of documents. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017; In Committee (10 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017, as amended, and opposition amendments (40) and (41) on sheet 8144, moved by Senator Cameron. The...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I advise the Senate of changes to ministerial arrangements for today. Senator Payne will be absent from question time today, due to ministerial duties. In Senator Payne's absence, I will...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Energy (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Scullion. I refer to the Treasurer, who says: … let's not think that there's cheap new...
  • Trade Unions (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash, and I note the minister's answers given yesterday. I ask: is the minister aware of recent reports about payments from registered...
  • Pauline Hanson's One Nation (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing—
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Minister Fifield. The government has confirmed that it has agreed to a deal with One Nation to establish a competitive neutrality review. Could...
  • Foxtel: Grants (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications and Minister representing the Minister for Sport, Senator Fifield. In May, the minister said the government would give $30 million to Foxtel 'to...
  • National Security (28 speeches)
    I'm quite happy to remove this, because this is not what should belong in this parliament. My question is to—
  • Immunisation (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister please update the Senate on how the Turnbull government's No Jab, No Pay immunisation policy has...
  • Parliamentary Behaviour (11 speeches)
    Mr President, today in this chamber we have seen the most disgraceful, disrespectful and shameful behaviour, with a senator of this parliament mocking a community of decent, hardworking,...
  • Broadband (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator Fifield. In 2013, Prime Minister Turnbull promised every small business would have access to minimum download speeds of 25...
  • Battle of Guadalcanal: 75th Anniversary, HMAS Canberra, Solomon Islands (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 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal...
  • Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. May I first congratulate you and thank you for the leadership you provided to the chamber today. Yesterday, the...
  • Space Exploration (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Can the minister update the Senate on what the Turnbull government is doing to support a growing space...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Energy, Pauline Hanson's One Nation (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Senator Scullion) and the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by...
  • Parliamentary Behaviour (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 Di Natale today relating to multiculturalism. I rise...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Gibson, Hon. Brian Francis, AM (10 speeches)
    Senators, it is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 15 August of this year of the Hon. Brian Francis Gibson AM, a senator for the state of Tasmania from 1993 until 2002,...
  • Lester, Mr Kunmanara, OAM, Yunupingu, Dr G (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the deaths of two remarkable Australians, Mr Yami Lester OAM and Dr G Yunupingu. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate records its sincere condolences...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Parliament House; Tabling (1 speech)
    I table a statement relating to the building condition of Parliament House, Australian Parliament House Condition Summary.
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Australian Parliamentary Delegation to China (2 speeches)
    by leave—I present the report of the Australian parliamentary delegation to China, which took place on 26 June to 1 July 2017. I seek leave to move a motion to take note of the document....
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Communications Legislation Amendment (Executive Remuneration) Bill 2017; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Today I rise to continue my remarks on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Executive Remuneration) Bill 2017. The purpose of this bill is to put downward pressure on excessive salaries paid...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) violent extremism in Australia is perpetrated or inspired by terrorist groups that claim to act in the name of Islam, (ii) the Islamic State of...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • President's Official Travel to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile (1 speech)
    I present a report on official travel undertaken by me to Argentina, Uruguay and Chile which took place on 31 May to 10 June 2017.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to put on the record that this is an extremely complex area of public policy. The chair of the committee, the Hon. Kevin Andrews; other members of the committee; and I ,as deputy...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee The constant battle: suicide by veterans. Australian veterans have been waging a silent and very...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters; Report (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the third interim report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. As the chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I was very proud of this...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the Economics References Committee's report Australia's general insurance industry: sapping consumers of the will to compare. I will start by talking about consumers: everyday...
  • Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism, I present the report on strengthening multiculturalism in Australia together with the Hansard record of...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the respective chairs, I present additional information received by committees relating to the following estimates: Additional estimates 2015-16—Legal and Constitutional...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the eighth report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia (1 speech)
    I table the original certificate received through His Excellency the Governor-General from the Governor of Western Australia of the choice by the houses of the Parliament of Western Australia of...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Western Force, Australian Rugby Union (1 speech)
    Woe betide anyone who tries to mess with Western Australia. Tonight I rise to address an outrage perpetrated on Western Australia's large and vibrant sporting community—one we are all...
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to speak on the issue of corporate tax avoidance. As Chair of the Senate Economics References Committee, I have been leading recent work in the corporate tax avoidance...
  • Tasmania (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to speak on the incredible transformation that my home state of Tasmania—and your home state, Mr President—has seen in the last 3½ years, since the election...
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (1 speech)
    On Monday, following the Deputy Prime Minister's statement regarding his citizenship, I sought advice of the UK Home Office on my citizenship status. By Monday evening, I was advised that a...