Senate debates

Monday, 13 November 2017

• Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
  • President (16 speeches)
    Mr Clerk, as it is now necessary for the Senate to choose one of its members to be President, I propose that the Senate choose Senator Ryan, and I move: That Senator Ryan take the chair of the...
  • Presentation to Governor-General (1 speech)
    I inform honourable senators that the Governor-General will be pleased to receive the President and such honourable senators as desire to accompany him in the President's suite immediately....
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Commission to Administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance (1 speech)
    I report that, accompanied by honourable senators earlier today, I presented myself to the Governor-General as the choice of the Senate as President. The Governor-General congratulated me on my...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Qualifications of Senators (13 speeches)
    Senator Bernardi, do you wish to raise a point of order?
  • South Australia (1 speech)
    I inform the Senate that the former President of the Senate, Stephen Parry, received a letter from Senator Xenophon on 31 October 2017 resigning his place as a senator for the state of South...
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Steele-John, Senator Jordon (1 speech)
    Senators, to enable Senator Steele-John to fully participate in Senate proceedings, I propose, with the concurrence of the Senate, that he be permitted to speak while seated and to vote in...
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Qualifications of Senators (20 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— (a) whether, by...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    For the information of honourable senators, I table the current list of ministers, dated 13 November 2017, including representation of House of Representatives ministers in the Senate.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Parry, Hon. Stephen (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Fifield, the Minister for Communications. Following Senator Parry's resignation from this place, the minister revealed: Former Senator Parry mentioned to me a few weeks...
  • Qualifications of Members and Senators (8 speeches)
    Mr President, may I take this opportunity to formally congratulate you on your election to President. My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General outline the steps the...
  • Parry, Hon. Stephen (8 speeches)
    Mr President, congratulations on your new role. My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Brandis. On Tuesday, 31 October, the minister said that the first time he...
  • Queensland: Mining (8 speeches)
    Mr President, congratulations on your appointment. My question is to the , Senator Canavan. As difficult as it may be, can the minister please outline what excuses the Queensland government has...
  • Immigration Detention (62 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Brandis, representing the Prime Minister. Minister, I refer you to the humanitarian calamity that your government has created...
  • Parry, Hon. Stephen (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Following Senator Parry's resignation from this place, the Prime Minister said to the media: I learned about it...
  • Goods and Services Tax (9 speeches)
    Before I start, Mr President, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment. My question without notice is to Senator Cormann. Minister, the Productivity Commission released a draft report...
  • National Security (26 speeches)
    Thank you very much, Mr President. I add my congratulations to you on your election today. My question is to Senator Cash, the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Border...
  • Registered Organisations (35 speeches)
    Mr President, as one Victorian senator to another, may I offer my congratulations to you. I too have a question for Senator Cash, but in her ill-held portfolio of employment. On 25 October the...
  • Energy (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Parry, Hon. Stephen (26 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by Senators Fifield and Brandis to questions without notice asked by Senators Wong, O'Neill and Farrell today. I rise to take note of the...
  • Immigration Detention (4 speeches)
    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 McKim today relating to Manus Island. What is...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Stephen, The Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Martin, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC (5 speeches)
    I inform the Senate of the death, on 29 October this year, of former Governor-General the Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Martin Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the following general business orders of the day be considered on Thursday, 16 November 2017 at the time for private senators’ bills: No. 57 Taxation Administration Amendment...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Lines for today, 13 November, for personal reasons; (b) Senator Bilyk for 13 November to 16 November...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Energy (15 speeches, 1 comment)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, five proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Community Development Program; Consideration (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I wish to speak on Auditor-General report No. 14, Performance audit—Design and implementation of the Community Development Programme:...
  • Australian Renewable Energy Agency; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I would again note that this is still not my first speech. This annual report of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for 2016-17...
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; Consideration (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority annual report, along with a number of other reports that have been tabled today, focuses in...
  • Removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children; Consideration (1 speech)
    In relation to the response by the South Australian Minister for Education and Child Development to the Senate resolution of 10 May 2017 on the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...
  • Department of Immigration and Border Protection; Consideration (4 speeches)
    In respect of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection annual report for 2016-17, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In the last fortnight I've been twice to Manus...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Mr Tehan, I table a ministerial statement in response to the Foreign Affairs and Trade References Committee report on the inquiry into suicide by...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Lending to Primary Production Customers; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: Select Committee on Lending to Primary Production Customers — Appointed— Senator Hanson Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Income Tax Rates Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Superannuation (Excess Non-concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Superannuation (Excess Untaxed Roll-over Amounts Tax) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (ESS)) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Family Trust Distribution Tax (Primary Liability) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 1) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 2) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Treasury Laws Amendment (Untainting Tax) (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Nation-building Funds Repeal (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) 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.
  • Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Income Tax Rates Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Superannuation (Excess Non-concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Superannuation (Excess Untaxed Roll-over Amounts Tax) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (ESS)) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Family Trust Distribution Tax (Primary Liability) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 1) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 2) Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Treasury Laws Amendment (Untainting Tax) (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017, Nation-building Funds Repeal (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) 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— Medicare Levy...
  • Fair Work Laws Amendment (Proper Use of Worker Benefits) Bill 2017, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Better Targeting Student Payments) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I indicate to the Senate that 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...
  • Fair Work Laws Amendment (Proper Use of Worker Benefits) Bill 2017, Social Services Legislation Amendment (Better Targeting Student Payments) 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— The speeches...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures No. 2) Bill 2017, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2017; First Reading (1 speech)
    I indicate to the Senate that 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...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures No. 2) Bill 2017, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2017; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2017 and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Citizenship (Authorisation) Revocation and Authorisation Instrument 2017, Citizenship (Authorisation) Revocation and Authorisation Amendment Instrument 2017; Disallowance (15 speeches)
    I won't hold up the Senate up for long. The government opposes the disallowance motion. The Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code provides: Citizenship ceremonies are non-commercial, apolitical,...
• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Qualifications of Senators (2 speeches)
    The Senate is now considering the motion moved by Senator Brandis proposing a citizenship register and the amendment moved by Senator Di Natale. If there are no further speakers to the amendment,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Tax Integrity) Bill 2017, Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment (Vacancy Fees) Bill 2017; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    Thank you, Mr President, and can I also extend my congratulations on your new appointment today. Labor will not oppose the passage through the parliament of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing...
• 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 provision to the Criminal Code Amendment (Impersonating a...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Life Insurance Industry: Genetic Testing (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to put some remarks on the record with regard to genetic testing. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, of which I am deputy chair, is...
  • Tasmania: Tourism Industry (1 speech)
    Mr President, congratulations on your first adjournment. It's a very short one tonight. While you are not a Tasmanian, given Melbourne was planned out from the Tasmanian city of Launceston, you...
  • Federal Government (1 speech)
    It's always wonderful to hear about the hopes and dreams of other senators. I'd like to share with you a couple of my own. I'm prompted to make this contribution because, in 11 days, it will be...