Senate debates

Thursday, 7 September 2017

• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • Approval of Works (1 speech)
    For the information of senators, I present an addendum to the tabling statement relating to the Parliament House security upgrade works concerning perimeter security enhancements, which was...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Amendment (Make Electricity GST Free) Bill 2017; Second Reading (16 speeches)
    Australian households are hurting. Politicians are to blame, and politicians can relieve this pain right here, right now. Household electricity bills across the country have risen by around eight...
  • Aged Care Amendment (Ratio of Skilled Staff to Care Recipients) Bill 2017; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    For decades in my past life as a radio and television commentator, I used the same comment over and over when talking about the latest scandal involving nursing homes or retirement villages, and,...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    Pursuant to notice given on 6 September 2017, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in my name for 14 November 2017, proposing the disallowance of the Competition and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    I present the 10th report of 2017 of the Selection of Bills Committee. 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) government business orders of the day as shown on today's Order of business be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after consideration...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Marshall from Monday, 16 October to Thursday, 7 December, on account of parliamentary reasons. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Regional Forest Agreements Legislation (Repeal) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002, and for related purposes. Regional Forest Agreements Legislation (Repeal) Bill...
  • Regional Forest Agreements Legislation (Repeal) 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 29 November 2017: The adequacy of existing offences in the...
• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • Approval of Works (1 speech)
    I move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the following proposals by the National Capital Authority for capital works within the Parliamentary...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (5 speeches)
    I move government business motion No. 2: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations; Appointment (1 speech)
    I move: That the resolution of 17 August 2017 establishing the Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations, be amended as follows: omit paragraph (1), substitute: "That a select...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Child Care (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges:   (i) the important work early childhood educators and childcare staff around the country do in helping care for our young children,...
  • Rohingya People (14 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 468 standing in my name for today, relating to the persecution of the Rohingya people. Leave granted. I amend the motion in the terms...
  • National Threatened Species Day (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 470 standing in my name for today, relating to National Threatened Species Day. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • World Suicide Prevention Day (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day,   (ii) the theme for 2017 is 'Take a Minute, Change a Life' and aims to...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Drug and Alcohol Services; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: (1) That the Senate notes that: (a) during the Senate inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017, Professor Alison Ritter,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (6 speeches)
    I ask that Senators Hinch, Rice, Siewert, Hanson-Young, Rhiannon and Lambie be added as sponsors of the motion.
  • Rohingya People (11 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 475 standing in my name and the name of Senator Watt for today, relating tot the Rohingya Muslims and Myanmar's Rakine State, be taken as a formal...
  • Polio (1 speech)
    I, and on behalf of Senator Polley, move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) the invaluable contribution Rotary International has made since 1978 to tackle global Poliomyelitis...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2017, Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2017, Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    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— EDUCATION...
  • Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2017, Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2017; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bills have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bills be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Defence Force) Bill 2017; In Committee (34 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Defence Force) Bill 2017 and amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 8100 revised, moved by Senator Lambie.
  • Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Defence Force) Bill 2017; Third Reading (37 speeches)
    I move: That the bill be now read a third time.
  • Liquid Fuel Emergency Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    The Liquid Fuel Emergency Amendment Bill 2017 forms part of the government's plan to comply with International Energy Agency fuel emergency reserve requirements. This is a requirement to have...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals (11 speeches)
    My question is to the On Tuesday, the minister took three opposition questions on notice in relation to the variation of her decision-making processes as a consequence of her referral to the High...
  • Trade Unions (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Is the minister aware of recent reports relating to the distribution of funds from worker entitlement funds to registered organisations?
  • New England Electorate: Roads (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Nash. How many road-funding projects have been announced in the New England electorate since...
  • Climate Change (20 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. The US has just seen the most costly natural disaster in their history with Hurricane...
  • New England Electorate: Roads (12 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Nash, the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer to the Deputy Prime Minister's joint release with the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, which...
  • Temporary Work Visas (12 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Michaelia Cash, the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon. Peter Dutton. Let me congratulate the minister on scrapping 457...
  • Marriage (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate of the outcome of the High Court proceedings concerning the Australian marriage law postal survey?
  • Health Care (12 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Nash, Minister representing the Minister for Health. I refer the minister to the recent surgical variance reports released jointly by the Royal Australasian College of...
  • Community Development Grants Program (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Senator Nash. I refer to the coalition government's $2.7 million grant through the Community Development Grants Program to Central Coast...
  • Marriage (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance and Acting Special Minister of State, Senator Cormann. Can the minister provide the Senate with an update on the conduct of the Australian marriage law...
  • O'Sullivan, Senator Barry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Justice, Senator Brandis. On Tuesday the minister declined to assure the Senate that all dealings with Newlands Civil Construction...
  • Broadband (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister outline the coalition's plan to deliver better broadband for all Australians by 2020?
  • Building and Construction Industry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Evidence presented to the current Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products has revealed the...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Birmingham, the Minister for Education and Training, representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Can the minister update the Senate of the importance of a...
  • Marriage (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, representing the Prime Minister. I refer to his earlier answer in respect of the postal survey on marriage equality. Is this postal...
  • Education (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. What is the government doing to ensure that rural and regional education is being promoted and expanded by the...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Community Development Grants Program (1 speech)
    I rise to table an answer to a question taken on notice yesterday. I seek leave to have that incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as follows— Toowoomba Second Range...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Leader of the Nationals, New England Electorate: Roads, Community Development Grants Program (19 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 Opposition senators today. Well, what another...
  • Climate Change (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Education and Training (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the first report on crystal methamphetamine (ice) of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement. Ordered that the report be printed. I move: That the Senate take note of the...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 173rd report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: Consular functions in Macau—China; Montreal Protocol Ozone LayerAmendment. I seek leave to incorporate the tabling...
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Payment Integrity)...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (4 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Gallagher, I present the progress report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
  • Select Committee into the Political Influence of Donations; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Future Frigate Program, Cashless Debit Card; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the orders for the production of documents concerning the Future Frigate tender and the Cashless Debit Card.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Clean Energy Target (16 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes Government policy inaction is driving up electricity prices, and a Clean Energy Target is the solution to crippling...
• Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a very short personal explanation. Leave granted. During the debate on taking note of answers today, Senator Bernardi called a point of order, saying that I had said 'Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the government response to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme report Provision of services under the NDIS for people with psychosocial...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Electoral and Other Legislation 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.
  • Electoral and Other Legislation Amendment 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...
  • Product Emissions Standards Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Excise) Charges Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Customs) Charges Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Product Emissions Standards Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Excise) Charges Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Customs) Charges Bill 2017, Product Emissions Standards (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2017; 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— PRODUCT EMISSIONS...