Senate debates

Monday, 4 September 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 will proceed.
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Parliament House: Security, Parliament House: Dress Standards (1 speech)
    On Thursday, 17 August, I indicated that I would reflect on matters that arose during question time that day. These reflections were prompted by Senator Hanson's decision to wear a burqa into the...
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Qualifications of Senators (28 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That pursuant to section 376 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Senate refers to the Court of Disputed Returns the following questions—...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017; In Committee (56 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017, as amended, and amendments (1) to (15) on sheet JH138, moved by Senator Cash. The question is that...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • North Korea (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. Yesterday the North Korean regime undertook its sixth nuclear test, which it claims was an advanced...
  • National Security (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate how Australia is increasing its Defence engagement with its partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I know this is a little unusual, but I've now been provided with a script for the ministerial arrangements. I apologise to the Senate that I didn't have it to hand when we commenced at 2 pm. I...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. When did the minister first become aware of the possibility that she may be entitled to British citizenship by descent?
  • Energy (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister update the Senate on the actions the...
  • North Korea (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Yesterday we learnt that North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test, involving what it claims is a hydrogen bomb meant for an...
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. Why has the minister decided not to step aside from her portfolio responsibilities?
  • Indigenous Affairs (8 speeches)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, including all Cape York communities, my question is to Senator Scullion. I have just come back from a nine-day road visit to the cape,...
  • Workplace Relations (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the minister aware of any recent reports of deals between registered organisations and large companies that actually lower penalty...
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. I refer to the minister's statement to the Senate on 17 August, last sitting week, in which she advised the Senate: …...
  • National Innovation and Science Agenda (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Can the minister apprise the Senate of how the Turnbull government is helping to position Australia at the...
  • Australian Constitution (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. The Referendum Council delivered its first final report to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on...
  • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
    My question is also to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. In an article in today's The Daily Telegraph entitled 'Sex pest law view isolates Brandis', it is reported that three ministers have...
  • Education (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Will the minister update the Senate on the Turnbull government's trial of an innovative learning app to help boost...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • National Security (1 speech)
    I have a very minor correction to make following an answer I gave earlier today. I believe that in the answer to my second supplementary question from Senator Fawcett I indicated I was travelling...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Regional Development (Senator Nash) to questions without notice asked by Senators Polley, McAllister and Moore today...
  • North Korea (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 Di Natale today relating to North Korea. It is...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Everingham, Hon. Dr Douglas Nixon (3 speeches)
    It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 24 August this year of the Hon. Dr Douglas Nixon Everingham, a former minister and member of the House of Representatives for the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That, subject to introduction, the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 7 September 2017 at the time for private senators' bills: A New Tax System...
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Fierravanti-Wells from 4 September to 7 September 2017, on account of ministerial business; (b)...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • High Speed Rail Planning Authority Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to establish the High Speed Rail Planning Authority, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move:...
  • High Speed Rail Planning Authority 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 the explanatory memorandum and I seek leave to have...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • ASC Pty Ltd; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 432 standing in my name for today concerning an order for the production of documents relating to ASC Pty Ltd before asking that it be...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that, on 14 August, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse released a report on criminal justice, and made 85...
  • International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) September is International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,   (ii) childhood cancers are mostly rare cancers with poor...
  • Dementia Awareness Month (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) September is Dementia Awareness Month,   (ii) the theme for 2017 is 'You are not alone', which aims to raise awareness of the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Cashless Debit Card; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, by no later than 3.30 pm on 5 September 2017, the Wave 2 Final Evaluation Report of the...
  • Asylum Seekers; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 430 standing in my name by changing the date in the final paragraph from 4 September to 11 September. For the clarity of those in the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Schools (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges that:   (i) in 2013, the Commonwealth Government recognised that our schools desperately needed to be resourced properly, and signed...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Family Court (9 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 Senate was determined by lot. As a...
• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • Proposal for Works (1 speech)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Act 1974, I present proposals for works within the Parliamentary Zone relating to the installation of two new signs at Questacon, the extension...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the government's response to the report of the Economics References Committee on the future of Australia's...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Regional Forest Agreements; Consideration (5 speeches)
    I ask the leave of the Senate to return to consideration of documents. Just by explanation, Deputy President, the reason for this is that I did wish to make a short speech, as did my colleague,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee, Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! I have received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Regional Investment Corporation 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.
  • Regional Investment Corporation Bill 2017; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Liquid Fuel Emergency Amendment 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.
  • Liquid Fuel Emergency Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (1 speech)
    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— LIQUID FUEL EMERGENCY...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    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 Migration Amendment (Validation of Decisions)...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 3 (Migration Amendment (Validation of Decisions) Bill 2017). Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Validation of Decisions) Bill 2017; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    I wish to place on the record Labor's remarks regarding the Migration Amendment (Validation of Decisions) Bill 2017. Labor support the principle of cancelling the visas of noncitizens on...
  • Migration Amendment (Validation of Decisions) 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 the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017; In Committee (6 speeches)
    The question is that amendments (1) to (20), (22), (23) and (36) to (38) on sheet 8144 be agreed to.
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) 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.
  • Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2017; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I rise to indicate that Labor will support the Fair Work Amendment (Repeal of 4 Yearly Reviews and Other Measures) Bill 2017, subject to an amendment which protects the penalty rates of 700,000...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Tasmanian Headstone Project (1 speech)
    The Tasmanian Headstone Project is one of those genuinely motivated, community initiated organisations for which my home state of Tasmania is well-known. Established by Mrs Andrea Gerrard and a...
  • International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (2 speeches)
    September is International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and it is a time when cancer organisations around the world put the spotlight on children's cancer and the need to improve diagnosis,...
  • Migration (1 speech)
    In 2016, Deng Adut was named NSW Australian of the Year. He delivered an address at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music about freedom from fear. He said: To appreciate the value of freedom one...