Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Religious Freedom Review Expert Panel; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
    In relation to the Senate order for the production of documents in general business notice of motion No. 1121, moved by Senator Rice and agreed by the Senate yesterday, I confirm for the Senate...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Fifield, I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Lower Taxes for Small and Medium...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation) Bill 2018, Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation) Bill 2018; In Committee (124 speeches)
    I want to go back to a question that I would have liked to ask last night but ran out of time. Could the minister confirm that there are 22 suspended provisions in the TPP that relate to previous...
  • Customs Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation) Bill 2018, Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation) Bill 2018; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time.
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Australian Embassy: Israel (3 speeches)
    The announcement by the Prime Minister to investigate the possibility of relocating the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv is to be applauded. Every sovereign nation has the...
  • Transport Industry, Tasmania: Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
    Trucking is the lifeblood of our nation. Our drivers and our freight vehicles keep the Australian economy flowing, transporting millions of tonnes of freight around our nation each year. Every...
  • Morrison Government (1 speech)
    The Morrison government has decided that it wants us to focus on foreign policy in the lead-up to the Wentworth by-election. But yesterday's rash and dangerous announcement regarding Jerusalem...
  • Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (1 speech)
    My contribution, with this opportunity, is to speak briefly in relation to matters around the banking royal commission or, more importantly, about some of the issues that the royal commission has...
  • Wentworth By-Election (1 speech)
    This weekend the citizens of Wentworth have a very clear choice to make. If they vote for the Liberal candidate, Dave Sharma, it is business as usual—more chaos, more division, more...
  • Liberal Democrats (1 speech)
    Lately other senators have started talking about their achievements. They don't have much to talk about. That's not the case with the Liberal Democrats. We have clear principles, so we know what...
  • Glyphosate (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak on a topic close to my heart and close to my origins in farming. The topic is the use of glyphosate, one of the most effective, safe and useful chemicals that, I think it's...
  • Immigration Detention (1 speech)
    The situation for refugee children on Nauru and Manus Island is now critical. Reports this morning that the chief medical officer on Nauru is being deported demonstrates just how dire things have...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Australian Embassy: Israel (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. In a story in this morning's The Australian entitled 'Morrison risks Jakarta's ire on Israel', it's revealed that the government...
  • Small Business (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's answer yesterday about the government's commitment to small...
  • Defence Procurement (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Yesterday the ASC informed its workforce that a further 56 blue-collar jobs will be lost to the shipyard at...
  • Asylum Seekers (26 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, I refer you to the ongoing humanitarian calamity your government has created and overseen on Nauru by running...
  • Taxation (8 speeches)
    When Senator McKim has finished, I will continue. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator McKenzie. Can the...
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Industry, Senator Payne, and relates to ASC's role in the naval shipbuilding program. The government has offshored two supply...
  • Film Industry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on the implementation of the new location incentive program?
  • Goods and Services Tax (14 speeches)
    My question is to the and the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. The government has announced that it will provide more taxpayers' funds to the states via the GST fund. The...
  • Minister for the Environment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to reports just published online by Fairfax Media headlined '"For the Pacific it's always about cash": Environment Minister in...
  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Scullion. Can the minister advise how the Liberal-National government is ensuring that Australians have access to...
  • Religious Freedom Review (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. On Monday, the minister told the Senate that the report of the Religious Freedom Review Expert Panel was 'received...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That: (a) today, the matter of public importance proposed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong) not be proceeded with and instead, at that time, the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: (a) notes that:   (i) Anti-Poverty Week is from 14 to 20 October 2018,   (ii) in Australia, which is ranked as...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, I shall now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Privilege (0 speeches)
  • (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Standing Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report: Having regard to the matters raised by Senator Burston in correspondence tabled by...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 February 2019: Credit and financial services targeted at Australians at risk of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Osteoporosis Day (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Polley, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) 20 October is World Osteoporosis Day and aims to increase awareness of the prevention, diagnosis...
  • International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Moore, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) that the United Nations declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Appointment of Directors) Bill 2018; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Appointment of Directors) Bill 2018; 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...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate requires the attendance of the Chairman of NBNCo, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, at the Communications and the Arts Portfolio 2018-19 supplementary Budget estimates hearing of the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • National Carers Week (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators Brown, Siewert and Reynolds, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 14 October 2018 marked the beginning of National Carers Week; (b) recognises that there are...
  • International Day of the Girl Child (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Wong, Moore, Payne, Gichuhi, Waters, Rice, Reynolds and Hanson-Young, and I also add Senator Lines, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i)...
  • Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016 (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) 16 October 2018 represents one year since the Senate debated the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016,...
  • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Governors-General Pension Scheme (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and the ongoing impact past abuse has had on the lives of survivors; (b)...
  • Nuclear Energy (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that a recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on limiting global temperature increase by 1 degrees by 2050:   (i) stated that...
  • Fuel (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) ordinary Australians are struggling financially – the cost of living is too high,   (ii) the price of petrol is...
  • Defence (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) on 11 July 2018, United States President, Mr Donald Trump, told NATO leaders they should increase their defence spending to 4 per...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) since the last Senate sitting period, there have been 8 women killed by violence in Australia, bringing the total of women killed by...
  • Warragamba Dam Wall (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the New South Wales (NSW) Government is proposing to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by fourteen metres, which could inundate up to 4...
  • Schools (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the Liberal-National Federal Government has announced it will give an additional $4 billion to the Catholic and Independent school...
  • Climate Change (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Government is deploying a strategy of avoiding accountability, interrogation and scrutiny in relation to Australia's rising pollution levels, and...
  • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Governors-General Pension Scheme (3 speeches)
    We now move back to general business notice of motion No. 1124, which was deferred earlier and is in the name of Senator Siewert. A request has been communicated to me to have a vote on clauses...
  • Anti-Poverty Week (0 speeches)
  • Anti-Poverty Week; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: (1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, by not later than 5 calendar months after each: (a) 31 March; (b) 30 June; (c) 30...
  • Immigration Detention (10 speeches)
    I add the names of senators Storer, Griff and Senator Hinch as co-sponsors of this motion.
  • China (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1132 standing in my name for today, relating to China, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Confucius Institutes (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1133 standing in my name for today, relating to the Confucius Institutes, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Australian Embassy: Israel (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1141 standing in my name for today, relating to the Australian Embassy in Israel, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Suspension of Standing Orders (4 speeches)
    Pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion that general business notice of motion no. 1141 may be moved...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice of intention given yesterday, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 standing in my name for 13 November 2018 proposing the disallowance of the Social...
  • Presentation (2 speeches)
    I give notice of my intention that, at the giving of notices on the next sitting day, I shall withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 standing in my name for 29...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Discrimination Free Schools Bill 2018; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Discrimination Free Schools Bill 2018. Many Australians were horrified to learn that schools across Australia had the power to discriminate, expel and fire students and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (9 speeches)
    I present the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on industrial deaths in Australia, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee on the regulatory framework governing water use, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents...
  • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Report (1 speech)
    ( I present report No. 472 of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, on Commonwealth procurement, second report, and I move:   That the Senate take note of the report....
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    ( I present scrutiny digest 12 of 2018 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Report (1 speech)
    ( I present delegated legislation monitor 12 of 2018 of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances.
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    ( On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights I present the 11th report of 2018, Human rights scrutiny report,and I seek leave to have the tabling statement incorporated in...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    ( by leave—on behalf of Senator Williams I table a non-conforming petition. This petition has been circulated amongst the whips.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    ( I present the government's response to the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Collecting Tobacco Duties at the Border) Bill 2018, Customs Amendment (Product Specific Rule Modernisation) Bill 2018, Treasury Laws Amendment (Gift Cards) Bill 2018, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2018; 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 will be moving a motion to have the bills listed...
  • Customs Amendment (Collecting Tobacco Duties at the Border) Bill 2018, Customs Amendment (Product Specific Rule Modernisation) Bill 2018, Treasury Laws Amendment (Gift Cards) Bill 2018, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2018; 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 speech es read as follows— CUSTOMS AMENDMENT...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Lower Taxes for Small and Medium Businesses) Bill 2018; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Lower Taxes for Small and Medium Businesses) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be 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 Amendment...
  • Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together, and may be read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill 2018, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018; Second Reading (2 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— AGED CARE QUALITY...
  • Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    Labor will support this bill. On its own, this bill would be relatively non-controversial. It implements a more accessible judicial review process to allow suppliers to challenge procurement...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Glyphosate (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to continue my remarks on a topic which I spoke about earlier in the day, which is the attack on the use of the chemical glyphosate in the farming industries of Australia. I wanted...
  • Health Care (1 speech)
    When I'm out talking to people in the great state of New South Wales there is one thing that comes through loud and clear, and that is that people know that you cannot trust a Liberal government...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
    ( Threats to the independence of the ABC are nothing new. By my estimation, since the mid-seventies, no fewer than four of the 11 ABC board chairs have had their terms cut short by failing to...
  • National Carers Week (1 speech)
    ( I rise to address the chamber during this week, National Carers Week. I was lucky enough to attend a breakfast this morning to celebrate this special week and to hear firsthand from carers,...