Senate debates
Thursday, 8 February 2007
- Temporary Chairs of Committees (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing order 12, I lay on the table a warrant nominating Senator Sandy Macdonald as an additional Temporary Chair of Committees when the Deputy President and Chair of Committees is...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given at the last day of sitting on behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I now withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion numbers 1 and 8...
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, any briefing packages...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That government business orders of the day nos 4 to 8 be considered from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm today. Question agreed to. I move: That the order of general business for...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the names of Senator Siewert and Senator Milne for today, proposing the reference of...
- Australian Territories Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to confirm the right of a terminally ill person to request assistance from a medically qualified person to voluntarily terminate...
- 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— This is a Bill for an...
- Government Accountability and Transparency (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move the motion as amended:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that the Canadian Government has delivered on its commitment to make government more accountable through the Federal...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
I move:That—(1)The order of the Senate of 7 December 2006 relating to committee groupings for estimates hearings be modified as follows:Group ACommunity AffairsEnvironment, Communications,...
- Water (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetlands, the Macquarie Marshes in New South Wales are dying because of a lack of water,(ii)water for...
- Same-Sex Relationships (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate notes the right of the Australia Capital Territory Government to legislate for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Question put.
- Mobile Phones (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes with concern new research from Europe indicating that:(i)the long-term use of mobile phones results in a 40 per cent likelihood of developing a type of...
- MR David Hicks (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 699 standing in my name for today be taken as a formal motion. Leave granted.
- Climate Change (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate: (a)notes the statements by Clean-Up Australia Day founder, Mr Ian Kiernan, regarding the ‘absolutely frightening’ contribution of Australia’s coal...
- Oil Depletion Protocol (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that the Marrickville Council in Sydney has adopted the Oil Depletion Protocol which seeks to address the impact of peak oil by steadily reducing oil...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Troeth, I move:That the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 8...
- Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Eggleston, I move:That the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in...
- Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present the Delegated Legislation Monitor for 2006.
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Senator Payne, I present the report of the committee on the Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation...
- Customs Legislation Amendment (Augmenting Offshore Powers and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the Community Affairs Committee on funding and operation of the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Bill 2006; Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Statements of Principles and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- 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— CLASSIFICATION...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- 2006/07 SBT Australian National Catch Allocation Determination (0 speeches)
- TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2006 MEASURES; No. 6) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 6 February, on motion by Senator Colbeck: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Marking of Plastic Explosives) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 7 December 2006, on motion by Senator Ellison: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (0 speeches)
Debate resumed from 6 February, on motion by Senator Colbeck: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission Amendment (Audit Inspection) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (0 speeches)
Debate resumed from 30 November 2006, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (0 speeches)
Debate resumed from 6 February, on motion by Senator Ellison: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate. Sitting suspended from 1.25 pm to 2.00 pm
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Managed Investment Schemes (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to changes announced by the Assistant Treasurer to the tax...
- Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
I direct my question to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Minister, what has been the effect of the government’s industrial...
- Child Care (15 speeches)
My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Does the minister agree with the analysis by Treasury that...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin, representing the Prime Minister. What is the government doing to address climate change in a way that does not...
- Child Care (7 speeches)
My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Is it true that the Treasury’s analysis of child care...
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, Minister representing the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government is improving the retirement income...
- Qantas (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, I refer to the Qantas takeover. How does the government explain to Australian families and to workers fearful...
- Welfare and Identity Fraud (11 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister for Human Services. Will the minister inform the Senate what action the government is taking to protect the Australia taxpayer by cracking...
- Interest Rates (5 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Is the minister aware of new mortgage repossession figures from the Supreme Court of New South Wales for 2006 which...
- Water (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Environment and Water Resources. I refer to the report by Laura Tingle in today’s Australian Financial Review which details an...
- Internet Pornography (13 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Is the minister aware of a recently released book, Sex Lives of Australian Teenagers, that...
- Indigenous Affairs (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. I take this opportunity to say how delighted I am that Senator...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. In rising to take note of answers given today I am going to concentrate on the answers...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 25 of 2006-07 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 25 of 2006-07: Performance audit: management of airport lease:...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the second report for 2007 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report...
- Former Committees; Additional Information (1 speech)
I seek leave to table documents received by two former committees. Leave granted. I present additional information received by the committees as listed at item 16(c) on today’s Order of...
- Climate Change (0 speeches)
- (26 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)the continued scepticism of the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) over the link between human activity and climate change,(ii)that the Howard Government has...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.00 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Consideration (0 speeches)
Tourism Australia—Report for 2005-06. Motion to take note of document moved, by leave, by Senator Ian Macdonald. Debate adjourned till Thursday at general business, Senator Ian Macdonald in...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party leaders seeking variations to the membership of committees.
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of Senator Troeth, the Chair of the Employment Workplace Relations and Education Committee, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Employment,...
- Community Affairs Committee; Report (5 speeches)
Earlier today it was agreed that the report of the Community Affairs Committee on the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement be called on as the first report for consideration.
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to committee reports and government responses were considered: Community Affairs—Standing Committee—Report—Funding and operation of the...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 15 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is an Auditor-General’s report entitled Audits of the financial statements of Australian government entities for the period ended 30...
- Report No. 7 of 2005-06 (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 30 November 2006, on motion by Senator Carol Brown: That the Senate take note of the document.
- Report No. 18 of 2006-07 (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I wish to speak briefly on the Auditor-General’s report on ASIC’s processes for receiving and referring for investigation statutory...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to reports of the Auditor-General were considered: Auditor-General—Audit report no. 7 of 2006-07—Performance audit—Visa...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! The time allowed by the Senate for consideration of government documents, government responses and Auditor-General reports has expired. I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Australian Labor Party (1 speech)
Australians can be fairly indifferent to politics at times. Indeed, we have a fairly healthy culture of scepticism about authority and our political leaders. But Australians certainly do...
- Mr David Hicks (1 speech)
This week has seen considerable attention given to the ongoing incarceration of an Australian citizen, David Hicks, in the United States detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. A rally was held on...
- Tasmanian Bushfires (1 speech)
Tonight I wish to pay tribute to the many fine Australians who helped to fight Tasmania’s east coast bushfires in early December last year and indeed to all those involved in the recovery...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: [Legislative instruments are identified by a Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) number] Customs Act— Tariff Concession...
