Senate debates

Thursday, 4 September 2014

• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Democratic Labour Party (3 speeches, 2 comments)
    by leave—Since I was elected in 2010, I have been acutely aware of the historic significance of my position. I was the first DLP member in the federal parliament for almost 40 years. At the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2014; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    I rise today to speak in the strongest possible terms in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2014, which inserts a new section into the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Democratic Labour Party; Tabling (1 speech)
    by leave—I table documents alluded to earlier today.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (14 speeches)
    I present the 11th report for 2014 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows SELECTION OF BILLS...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a)   government business orders of the day as shown in the list circulated in the chamber be considered from 12.45 pm today; and...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion No. 426 standing in my name for today, relating to the renewable energy industry in Tasmania, be postponed till the next day of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day in July 2015: Implications of financial advice reforms, with...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Stop Dumping on the Great Barrier Reef Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to the Great Barrier Reef, and for related purposes. Stop Dumping on the Great Barrier Reef Bill 2014....
  • Stop Dumping on the Great Barrier Reef Bill 2014; 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 seek leave to have the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Workforce (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that 40 per cent of the Australian workforce is employed in insecure work, (ii) there is an increase in jobs that have irregular work hours and pay,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Select Committee on the Australia Fund Establishment; Appointment (7 speeches)
    Mr Deputy President, before I ask for the motion to be taken as formal, I wish to inform the chamber that Senator O'Sullivan's name has been added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) climate change has been on the G20 agenda at the most recent leaders' meetings in France, Mexico and Russia, and (ii) former Australians of the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth; Appointment (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That a joint select committee, to be known as the Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth, be established to inquire into and report on any measures to further boost...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Williams, move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 27 November...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers (4 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 416, standing in my name today and relating to Iraqi and Syrian refugees, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Sport (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senators Smith and Lundy, move: That the Senate— (a) congratulates our team of more than 400 athletes who represented Australia in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Madigan, move: That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 November 2014: To consider...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Industry Code Penalties) Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Labour supports the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Industry Code Penalties) Bill 2014. This bill amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to implement a number of changes that have been...
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Industry Code Penalties) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Labor Party supports the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill. It is something that the Labor Party instigated when in government. In 2009 Labor initiated and completed the...
  • Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2014; 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.
  • International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 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— INTERNATIONAL TAX...
  • Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the parliamentary secretary to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Energy Efficiency Opportunities (Repeal) Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    This Energy Efficiency Opportunities (Repeal) Bill 2014 before us is another example of this government's repealing of a once bipartisan effective piece of legislation introduced by the Howard...
  • Energy Efficiency Opportunities (Repeal) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to the minister's joint statement with the Treasurer on 2 September 2014 that freezing the superannuation guarantee would have...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General update the Senate on the current threat of terrorism to Australia?
  • Higher Education (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Nash, the Minister representing the Minister for Health. Is the minister aware that the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation yesterday called on MPs and senators...
  • Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment. National Electricity Market data has just shown that electricity emissions have leapt in the two...
  • Health (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the minister's answer yesterday that National Party policy goes on to form coalition policy. I also...
  • University Fees (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Payne. Can you give an assurance to future university students that, under your proposed reforms, university will...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on how the government's counter-terrorism measures will help our...
  • India: Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's delegation to India to sign a uranium trade deal, among other things, and I ask the...
  • Budget (15 speeches)
    My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. This weekend is the one-year anniversary of the Prime Minister's pre-election promise of 'no cuts to education'. Why...
  • Water Infrastructure (6 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion, representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the Senate...
  • Goods and Services Tax (11 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to Senator Johnston's statement last week reaffirming his call to the Western Australian Liberal Party...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Education (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of questions asked by opposition senators today. I asked Senator Nash some questions today about the impact of the interrelationship between the proposals to...
  • India: Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of an answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, (Senator Abetz), to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present a response from the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Mr Morrison, to a resolution of the Senate of 14 July 2014 concerning asylum seekers.
  • Register of Senate Senior Executive Officers' Interests; Tabling (1 speech)
    I present the Register of Senate Senior Executive Officers’ Interests incorporating statements of interests and notifications of alteration of interests lodged between 1 July 2014 and 31...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Wong be granted leave of absence for today, 4 September 2014, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Security; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    With reference to Senator Ludlam's return to order motion of 27 August 2014, I table a document concerning data retention.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia; Report (6 speeches)
    I present the final report of the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia, Pivot North: an inquiry into the development of Northern Australia, together with the minutes of the committee and...
  • Senators' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the Register of Senators' Interests, incorporating statements of registrable interests and notifications of alterations lodged between 1 July and 31 August 2014.
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Additional Information (2 speeches)
    I present additional information received by the Education And Employment References Committee on its inquiries into the Australian Building and Construction Commission and in the provisions of...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Asylum Seekers; Tabling (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a letter from more than 7,000 Australians to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and to the Australian Senate opposing the government's inhumane refugee...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Senate Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the eighth report of the Publications Committee, and I move: That the report be adopted. Question agreed to.
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by committees relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation from the Community Affairs Legislation Committee and the Economics Legislation...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the 142nd report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, tabled on 13 May 2014, and I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the report. Leave granted. I move: That the Senate...
  • Treaties Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of committees.
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Reynolds replace Senator O’Sullivan on the Education and Employment Legislation Committee from 8 to 19 September 2014, and Senator O’Sullivan be...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Bank Levies (13 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Milne, I move: That the Senate is of the opinion that, rather than punishing the unemployed, sick, elderly, students and families, revenue should be raised through...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014; 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.
  • Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014; 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— Introduction Today I...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network - Select Committee; Consideration (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak tonight on the Australian government response to the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network. The committee in its report pointed out that the government's...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received a letter from a party leader requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Agriculture (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about an issue that is going on in my home state of South Australia. South Australia is presently suffering from one of the worst outbreaks of beet western yellow virus...
  • Rwanda (1 speech)
    In one of the darkest periods in recent history, for 100 days from April to July in 1994, almost one million people, or one in 10 Rwandans, were murdered in a brutal act of genocide. This year...
  • Qantas (1 speech)
    This evening, I would like to use this opportunity to discuss the issue of Qantas. Last week, we had the shocking result of a record $2.8 billion loss for Qantas, including some $2.2 billion in...
  • Royal Adelaide Show (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on something that, I think, is tremendously important—that is, our field days, our show societies and our shows. I would just like to put on the record that tomorrow...