Senate debates

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That government business order of the day no.2, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012, be postponed till a later hour of the day. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
    • Western Sydney (1 speech)
      The great heartland of Sydney is Western Sydney. Acres of newsprint have recently been devoted to Western Sydney, there have been hours of television and radio commentary about Western Sydney and...
    • Australian Labor Party (1 speech)
      I also rise to discuss a matter of public interest. I noted with interest a few weeks ago a number of media reports in which the Vice President and National Secretary of the Transport Workers...
    • Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Last week saw the demise of yet another private toll road consortium when receivers were appointed to BrisConnections, the operator of Brisbane's new $4.8 billion airport link toll road. This...
    • Unemployment Benefits (1 speech)
      The Gillard Labor government's effective financial management over recent years has meant that we have got through the worst of the global financial headwinds with strong fundamentals. Life is...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on a matter of grave national importance—the destruction of industries and jobs by a Labor government that simply does not understand how business operates. Australian...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Prime Minister: Visit to Western Sydney (31 speeches)
      My question without notice is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. Given the Prime Minister's desperate announcement of a one-week Rooty Hill based visit to Western...
    • Visas (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. Can the minister update the Senate on the steps being taken by the government to help...
    • Health Funding (29 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Conroy. I remind the minister of the government's $403 million in retrospective cuts to public hospital funding this...
    • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (30 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator Ludwig. I ask: given that the evidence shows the government has made a complete mess of the treatment of...
    • Reserve Bank of Australia (22 speeches)
      ) ( ): My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Why did the Treasurer think ripping a $500 million dividend from the Reserve Bank to improve the look of the...
    • Fiji (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister update the Senate on developments regarding Fiji's efforts to return to democracy?
    • Accommodation for Indigenous Students (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Senator Kim Carr. On 24 July 2008 in a media release the Hon. Julia Gillard, the then...
    • Waubra Wind Farm (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. In light of the recent communication to my office by Mr Paul Jarman, Assistant...
  • Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
    • Question No. 2006 (2 speeches)
      by leave—Yesterday Senator Abetz asked me a question pursuant to standing order 74(5) in relation to two outstanding questions to me in my capacity as Minister representing the Treasurer. I...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Prime Minister: Visit to Western Sydney (17 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Payne...
    • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (3 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Morris, The Hon. John Joseph (4 speeches)
      It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 8 February 2013 of John Joseph Morris, a senator for the state of New South Wales from 1985 to 1990. I call the Leader of the...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (4 speeches)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Kroger for 26 February 2013, for personal reasons. So yesterday.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Amendment Bill 2013, allowing it to be...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (4 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) February 2013 is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, (ii) Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is run each year by Ovarian Cancer Australia with its...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Lake Eyre Basin (10 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that South Australia's iconic Lake Eyre is dependent on water flows from the Cooper, Diamantina and Georgina...
    • Proposed Pulp Mill (2 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the comments by the Tasmanian Premier Ms Lara Giddings at the Press Club in the week beginning 17 February 2013 calling for the Tamar Valley pulp...
    • Gunns Ltd (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Minister for Environment and Water Resources under the Howard Government approved the construction and operation of the Gunns proposed pulp...
    • National Security Inquiry (4 speeches)
      ) ( ): I seek leave to make a brief statement.
    • Climate Change and National Security (2 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 25 February 2013, 38 retired generals and admirals from the United States of America (US), and prominent national security experts, presented...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Health (13 speeches)
      I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, Senators Birmingham, Fierravanti-Wells, Ronaldson, Siewert and Williams each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair, Senator Macdonald, I present the report of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table the Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest. Ordered...
    • Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present a report on the Economics References Committee on the review of changes to car fringe benefits arrangements, together with submissions received by the committee. Ordered that the report...
    • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I present the report of the committee on the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Amendment (Protecting Revenue) Bill 2012,...
    • Electoral Matters Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I present an advisory report of the committee on the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 25 of 2012-13 (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 2012-13: Performance audit––Defence’s...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of a committee.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Foreign Investment Review Board (1 speech)
      I rise to take note of the Foreign Investment Review Board annual report 20011-12. Going through the report I have been particularly struck by the increase in foreign proposals and approvals from...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Fiji (1 speech)
      Earlier today, in question time, Senator Bob Carr in his capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs answered some questions relating to democracy in Fiji. His answers were welcome. They were...
    • Western Australia (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to talk about changes that have occurred over the last five years in my duty electorate of Swan in Western Australia. In the past, the Swan electorate was very much defined by its...
    • James Price Point (1 speech)
      It is fitting that I am able to rise tonight to speak on a matter that is very close to my heart after the parliament has spent a large amount of time today debating the Aboriginal and Torres...
  • Questions on Notice (0 speeches)