Senate debates

Thursday, 15 February 2018

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Banking Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to continue my remarks on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Banking Measures No. 1) Bill. When I was concluding my remarks previously I was speaking about the legislative undertakings of the...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Banking Measures No. 1) 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.
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017, Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2017; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I commend the bills to the Senate. Question agreed to. Bills read a second time.
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017, Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2017; In Committee (15 speeches)
    I'd like to table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendment to be moved to the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017.
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017, Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
  • Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018, Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise to speak on behalf of Labor on the Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018 and the Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Bill 2017. The bills amend the Migration...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Special Purpose Flights (1 speech)
    I present a schedule of special purpose flights from 1 June 2017 to 30 June 2017.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the second report for 2018 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— 1. The...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of general business for consideration today be as follows: (a) general business order of the day no. 3 (Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator McCarthy for today for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Allocation of Departments and Agencies (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of the Senate agreed to on 31 August 2016, as amended on 12 February 2018, relating to the allocation of departments and agencies to legislative and general purpose...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the Senate requests that Ms Glenys Beauchamp, PSM and Dr Chris Pigram appear before the Economics Legislation Committee to answer questions at the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission Repeal (Duplication Removal) Bill 2018; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, and for related purposes. Australian Human Rights Commission Repeal...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission Repeal (Duplication Removal) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to present an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) on 13 February 2018, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released an update on UNHCR observations from their...
  • Newstart Allowance (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the Budget Priorities Statement 2018-19 of the Australian Council of Social Service launched this week in Canberra; (b) recognises that research, from...
  • Climate Change (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) welcomes the visit by a delegation of leaders from the Kiribati Climate Action Network and the Kiribati Ministry of Education; (b) notes the strong bonds that...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 728 standing in the name of Senator Kitching for today relating to an order for the production of documents.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Iraq and Syria (10 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 727 relating to wars in Syria and Iraq be taken as a formal motion.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) 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— The Treasury Laws...
  • Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018, Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Bill 2017; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    We are absolutely committed to making sure that Australians get a fair go when it comes to getting access to the type of education they need to participate fully in the economy. The Migration...
  • Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2018, Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Bill 2017; In Committee (146 speeches)
    As I indicated in my speech in the second reading debate, there are some issues with these bills. One of the key issues is the lack of defined parameters on labour market testing, simply leaving...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Payday Lending (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. When asked about reports he had been enlisted by a group of government backbenchers known as the 'Parliamentary Friends...
  • Employment (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate about the recent ABS labour force figures that were announced today?
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I thank Senator Wong for this opportunity. I inform the Senate that the Prime Minister has asked me to act as Prime Minister on his behalf when he's overseas next week.
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from Bangladesh, led by Dr Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir. On behalf of all senators, I wish you a...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Scullion. On Saturday The Australian reported that Mr Greg Maguire, described as a multimillionaire businessman who...
  • Defence Industry (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Steven Bradbury of the Liberal Party, the soon to be Prime Minister, Senator Cormann, acting on behalf of the Minister for Defence. Minister, your government has just...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Earlier this week, the minister advised the Senate that his appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. Last year, One Nation senators, including myself, travelled all four states right to...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from Turkey, led by His Excellency Mr Orhan Tavli, Governor of Canakkale. On behalf of all...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin (8 speeches)
    My question is also to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. I'm speaking as a senator from South Australia, the state that stands to benefit...
  • Transurban Group (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Scullion. I note reports this week about private toll operator Transurban, who run 13 of the 16...
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Canavan. There continue to be reports of fruit fly sightings outside the Tasmanian exclusion...
  • Indigenous Affairs (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullin. Can the minister update the Senate on new initiatives this government is implementing as part of its commitment to closing...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. In an article entitled 'It's a bit fishy' in this morning's Daily Telegraph, it is reported that Deputy Prime...
  • Mining (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Could the minister please inform the Senate of the status of the coal sector in Australia and how the sector...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator Cash. Given the minister has since 20 September 2017 been responsible for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science,...
  • Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Sport, Senator McKenzie. We are one week into the Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang. Can minister update the Senate as to how the Australian team has been performing?
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (48 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the breaching of the standards required of ministers by the Deputy Prime Minister. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing orders be...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Payday Lending (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Marshall today relating to payday lenders. I know...
  • Transurban Group (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Senator Scullion) to a question without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to toll roads. It...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Naval Group Australia, Murray-Darling Basin, Indigenous Housing; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the orders for the production of documents concerning the Future Submarine Project, the Northern Basin Review and the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Housing.
• 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 Delegated Legislation Monitor 2 of 2018. Ordered that the document be printed.
  • Human Rights Committee, Senate Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present the second report of 2018, Human rights scrutiny report,from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the respective chairs, I present additional information received by the following committees in relation to estimates: Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Foreign...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees as listed at item 15 of today's Order of Business: Community Affairs Legislation Committee—Report—Therapeutic Goods Amendment...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    I present Scrutiny Digest No. 2 of 2018 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills.
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme on Transitional arrangements for the NDIS, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
  • Select Committee on Red Tape; Report (1 speech)
    I present an interim report of the Senate Select Committee on Red Tape, Effect of red tape on pharmacy rules, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Advisory Council on Australian Archives (3 speeches)
    I've received a letter from a party leader nominating a senator to be a member of the Advisory Council on Australian Archives.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015 and, of course, this is one of those very, very difficult issues of conscience. Can I say at the outset,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Schools: Funding (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges that the $210 million funding cut to South Australian schools and $68 million in Tasmanian schools, in 2018 and 2019, means that schools will face...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) 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.
  • Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) Bill 2017; Second Reading (2 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 Proceeds of Crime...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document is the report from the Human Rights Commission from May last year to the former Attorney-General, then Senator George Brandis...
  • Director of National Parks; Consideration (1 speech)
    This document is the annual report of the Director of National Parks. I draw the Senate's attention to the report because it does contain a lot of important data on the current expenditure and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to take note of item 8, the Finance and Public Administration References Committee report Appropriateness and effectiveness of the objectives, design, implementation and evaluation...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—In respect of the report of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Transitional arrangements for the NDIS, which was tabled earlier today, I...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Science Meets Parliament, Molan, Senator Jim, Burch, Ms Candice, MLA (1 speech)
    As many of you know, over the last two days we've seen hundreds of scientists descend upon this building to talk with parliamentarians and each other about their projects, ideas and...
  • Gold Coast (5 speeches)
    I'm very pleased to again talk to the Senate chamber about Australia's sixth biggest city, and Queensland's second biggest city, the Gold Coast. As I think I've previously advised the Senate, I...
  • Prisons (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to speak on the Human Rights Watch report 'I needed help, instead I was punished': abuse and neglect of prisoners with disabilities in Australia. The report was released last week...
  • East Perth Jewish Cemetery (1 speech)
    From the moment we're born to the last breath we take, we should always endeavour to celebrate as much of one's life as possible. We start writing our life stories as soon as we live them, and,...
  • Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (1 speech)
    I congratulate all of the LNP members on the Gold Coast in my home state of Queensland on the wonderful work they have done in getting the Commonwealth Games to that city. As someone who has paid...