Senate debates

Thursday, 27 February 2020

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Mgmt and Execution of the Murray Darling Basin Plan; Meeting (1 speech)
    ( I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020; In Committee (12 speeches)
    The Greens won't be moving amendment (3) on sheet 8882, but I will just clarify some of the issues around the period of employment. I will just remind people about some of the issues that we had...
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Income Reporting and Other Measures) Bill 2020; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
  • Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    The Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019 authorises the government to invest $100 million in a Corporations Act company that will become the Australian Business Growth Fund. The fund itself...
  • Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019; In Committee (59 speeches)
    Minister, you heard me asking about consultation in my second reading debate contribution. There was a roundtable held by Treasury in 2018. They invited the big banks along. They invited the big...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given yesterday on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the third report for 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee and seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• 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...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, following a request from the government to insert the words 'or other' in paragraph (c) after the word 'Government'. Leave...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (11 speeches)
    I move: That— (1) The Senate notes that: (a) since the last sitting of the Senate, two more women have been killed by violence in Australia taking the national toll since the start of 2020...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 506.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Research Council Grant Recommendations; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Pratt, I move: (1) There be laid on the table, by the Minister responsible for the Australian Research Council, or when that minister is in the House of Representatives,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Chisholm, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants be extended to 24 June 2020. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Banking Amendment (Deposits) Bill 2020; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Banking Act 1959, and for related purposes. Banking Amendment (Deposits) Bill 2020. Question agreed to. I present the...
  • Banking Amendment (Deposits) Bill 2020; 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...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Veterans: Suicide (10 speeches)
    I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Hanson, Senator Siewert, Senator Steele-John, Senator Patrick and Senator Marielle Smith will also sponsor this motion. I move: That the Senate—...
  • Animal Welfare (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) 3 baboons made a bid for freedom in Sydney this week,   (ii) the baboons were from a colony bred for use in research,...
  • Assistance Animals (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) support and assistance dogs can help guide those living with trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) back to a sense of...
  • King of Bhutan (1 speech)
    Before moving general business notice of motion No. 514, I ask that Senator Antic's name be added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Antic, move: That the Senate— (a)...
  • Emperor of Japan (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges the strong and trusted strategic, economic and cultural relationship between Australia and Japan, underpinned by our Special Strategic Partnership;...
  • 2019-20 Additional Estimates (1 speech)
    At the request of Senators McAllister and Hanson-Young, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) any questions going to the operations or financial positions of the...
  • e-Cigarette Products (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) recent media reports that teenagers are taking up vaping under the misapprehension it is safe, and that concerned parents support a ban...
  • Industrial Manslaughter Laws (7 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator O'Neill I move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) since the publication of the Education and Employment References Committee report, They never came...
  • Public Servants and Estimates (5 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Keneally I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Australian public servants work extremely hard to prepare for estimates hearings, with an overriding...
  • Child Care (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) it is women who remain disproportionately more likely to arrange childcare and are assessed under the Government's 'activity test'...
  • Great Barrier Reef (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the Great Barrier Reef supports approximately 64,000 jobs and generates $6 billion for the Australian economy annually,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019; In Committee (24 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019. The question is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Student Identifiers Amendment (Higher Education) Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labor will support this bill. This bill seeks to enable the extension of the Unique Student Identifier, USI, from vocational education and training to higher education students. A USI is a secure...
  • Student Identifiers Amendment (Higher Education) Bill 2019; 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 Committee of the Whole.
  • Export Control Bill 2019, Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labor supports the passage of the Export Control Bill 2019 and related bills. Whilst these bills are being passed through the Senate as non-controversial, Labor puts on the record that the...
  • Export Control Bill 2019, Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2019, Export Charges (Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading. Minister.
  • Statute Update (Regulations References) Bill 2020; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labor will be supporting the Statute Update (Regulations References) Bill 2020. This bill makes a series of minor technical changes to 10 principal acts to update references to regulations. It...
  • Statute Update (Regulations References) Bill 2020; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading. Minister.
  • Australian Business Growth Fund Bill 2019; In Committee (80 speeches)
    by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 8890 together: (1) Clause 21, page 9 (lines 21 and 22), omit subclause (2), substitute: (2) The review must include: (a) the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (11 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. The Prime Minister has claimed his only involvement in the Community Sport Infrastructure Program was passing...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! Before I come to the next question, I would like to draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber and the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from the European...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Coronavirus (8 speeches)
    My question is to Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister advise the Senate of the Morrison government's plan to prepare for the global challenge of the...
  • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (16 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Sport Australia has given evidence to the Senate that it received the backdated brief from the government...
  • Pensions and Benefits (17 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ruston, the Minister for Families and Social Services. On 18 February 2020 The Guardian reported that the government is arguing in documents filed in the Federal Court...
  • Aged Care (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. Yesterday, the minister denied in the Senate that the government was seeking to privatise ACAT services. On...
  • Defence Facilities: Chemical Contamination (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Birmingham. No remediation is being carried out on the PFAS contamination plumes, now spreading outside of...
  • Infrastructure (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government is...
  • Great Barrier Reef (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Cormann. Minister, Australians love their oceans,...
  • Aged Care (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. The Australian newspaper this morning revealed that in the days after the Nationals leadership spill, Deputy...
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister update the Senate on the coalition government's investment in Defence facilities and infrastructure in Northern...
  • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister's earlier answers. Given that former Minister McKenzie consulted the Prime Minister and...
  • Child Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Ruston. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government's plan is supporting Australian families...
  • Australian Maritime Safety Authority (15 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Cash. Damien Mills died tragically at age 35 when he fell overboard while...
• Questions to the President (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Behaviour (2 speeches)
    Mr President, I have a procedural question to raise, and I apologise for not raising it earlier. I was not in my correct seat and was not in a position to raise this issue at the time that it...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program, Aged Care (16 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by Senators Cormann and Colbeck to the questions asked by Senators Green, Chisholm, Kitching and Bilyk. As was very clear from the evidence...
  • Great Barrier Reef (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to my question. While I was sitting here I was thinking to myself how good it would be to get...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on the impacts of changes to service delivery models on the administration and running of government...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the report of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on Australia's declarations made under certain international laws, together with the Hansard record of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2019; Report from Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report on the committee on the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Senators' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee of Senators' Interests, I present the 2019 annual report.
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the interim report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services on the regulation of auditing in Australia, together with the Hansard record of...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I take note of item 9 of page 13 of the Notice Paper, relating to climate change reports. Over the past decade there has been much said and written about man's contribution to the warming of our...
  • Australian Building and Construction Commission; Consideration (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the consideration of the first quarterly report of the Australian Building and Construction Commission for 2019-20. The ABCC is supposed—and I stress 'supposed'—to...
  • Independent National Security Legislation Monitor; Consideration (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In his report Dr Rennick outlines the key aspects of our national security and counter-terrorism landscape. In identifying the various threats,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    To say that I am disappointed with the government response is an understatement. But do you know what? I care about this, but what really matters is what our first responders think—those...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Special Purpose Flights; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table correspondence on the schedule of special purpose flights and related correspondence.
  • South Coast Track Huts Walk; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the South Coast Track Huts Walk
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Economy (9 speeches)
    At the request of senator Gallagher, I move general business notice of motion No. 512: That the Senate notes that— (a) after six years in office, the economy is floundering on the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board; Tabling (1 speech)
    I table correspondence relating to an order concerning the appearance of witnesses from the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board at Estimates. I also table a response to a continuing order relating...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Holden (1 speech)
    To Holden or not to Holden? That is no longer the question, nor is Holden the answer and that is sad. General Motors is pulling out of Australia after treating us to an 88-year one-night stand....
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to highlight the issue of the continued exploitation of workers in this country and the wage theft accompanying this practice. George Calombaris may well be the poster boy for...
  • Cashless Debit Card (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on a study on income management published by the University of Queensland this week. Here we have a report from academics with research expertise and experience telling us what is...
  • Montauban, Mr Anthony Henrikus (1 speech)
    It is with sadness that I rise tonight to pay tribute to Launceston businessman Anthony Henrikus Montauban, better known as Tony, who died at his riverside home earlier this month. Tony will be...
  • Urban Congestion Fund (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to talk about the Urban Congestion Fund. This is a topic of particular concern to me, because a large number of my Tasmanian constituents live or work in Hobart, a city which has a...
  • Aviation (1 speech)
    The federal coalition government have introduced regulations into the parliament that will require security screening at regional airports. They've offered to pay for the equipment but not for...
  • Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board (1 speech)
    I rise in this adjournment debate and, in doing so, table a letter from the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Linda Reynolds, to the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,...