Senate debates

Monday, 15 September 2008

  • Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (8 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 4 September, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Wong will be the Minister representing the Attorney-General and the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs; Senator Ludwig will be the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Renewable Energy (12 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Would the minister explain why the government chose to introduce a means test on the solar panel rebate earlier this...
    • Economy (7 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Can the minister update the Senate on the importance of responsible economic management and any recent warnings about...
    • Indigenous Communities (7 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Why has the government moved to reintroduce the permit...
    • Economy (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry. Can the minister update the Senate on the global economic challenges Australia is currently facing? Is the...
    • Abalone Disease (11 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Sherry, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Has the Australian government received any request from Tasmania for assistance...
    • Murray-Darling River System (4 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Faulkner, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Water. Has the minister commissioned a risk assessment of the devastating ecological consequences...
    • Budget (18 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Why did the government propose an increase in the luxury car tax in advance of the finalisation of the Bracks review of...
    • Innovation (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Can the minister inform the Senate how innovation can contribute to making Australia stronger?
    • Education (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Carr. Why is it that all applications for funding from Tasmania under round 1 of the Trade Training Centres in...
    • Welfare Reform (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ludwig. I note that the community’s confidence in the welfare payment system is based on the community’s belief that the...
    • Broadband (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Why has the minister failed to keep his election commitment to complete a tender process for a national...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Higher Education (1 speech)
      I have additional information to give to a question asked by former Senator Watson with regard to the University of Tasmania. I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard. Leave granted. The...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Budget (15 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy...
    • Murray-Darling River System (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Special Minister of State (Senator Faulkner) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating to the...
  • Climate Change (0 speeches)
    • Return to Order (7 speeches)
      by leave—I would like to make a statement on the Senate order for the production of documents agreed to on 3 September 2008. The order, agreed to on the motion by Senator Milne, relates to...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Senator Ellison to move on 16 October 2008:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)in 2008, Deepavali will be celebrated on 28 October,(ii)Deepavali is of great significance to the Hindu, Sikh,...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      A notice of motion has been given today to refer the question of my proposed disallowance motion to a committee. In accordance with discussions that have taken place with whips and other...
  • 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 name of the Chair of the Community Affairs Committee (Senator Moore) for today,...
  • Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Wong from 15 to 18 September 2008, on account of parliamentary business overseas. Question agreed to.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Community Affairs Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
      At the request of Senator Scullion, I move:That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 4 December 2008: The levels of Federal and Northern...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (1 speech)
      Pursuant to standing order 166, I present documents which were presented to the President and Temporary Chairmen of Committees since the Senate last sat. In accordance with the terms of the...
  • Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008; International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 (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— SOCIAL SECURITY...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That business of the Senate order of the day no. 1 relating to the presentation of the report of the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee on the Great Barrier...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
  • First Speech (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      Before I call Senator Williams, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech. I therefore ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business orders of the day no. 8, (Governor-General’s opening speech) and no. 3 (Trade Practices...
  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 20 March, on motion by Senator Wortley: That the following address-in-reply be agreed to: To His Excellency the Governor–General MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY—We,...
  • Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (30 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 2 September, on motion by Senator Carr: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 9.50 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Maternity Services (1 speech)
      I rise to welcome the ‘Improving maternity services in Australia’ discussion paper launched by the Rudd government last week. The paper raises an issue of vital importance to the...
    • Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
      Tonight I would like to speak about my experience as a participant in the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program attached to the Army regional force surveillance unit NORFORCE. NORFORCE,...
    • Ms Vivian Wilson (1 speech)
      Vivian Wilson died of a brain tumour on Sunday 31 August. She was well known to senators and members, having worked for the parliament for over 29 years. Having previously worked at the ANU,...
  • 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] Civil Aviation Act— Civil Aviation...
    • Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
      The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 30 May 1996, as amended: Indexed lists of departmental and agency files for the period 1 January to 30 June...