Senate debates

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from Kenya, led by Senator Kiraitu Murungi MP from the Standing Committee on Legal...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Automotive Industry (19 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to General Motors Holden's submission to the Productivity Commission, which says: Without public assistance, Holden's local...
    • East Timor (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. Is the minister aware that East Timor's natural resources minister, Mr Alfredo Perez, has said that...
    • Trade Unions (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister advise the Senate whether the government is concerned about recent reports of alleged unlawful activities relating...
    • Automotive Industry (24 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry Senator Ronaldson. I note the Holden submission to the Productivity Commission states: From 2001-2012, Holden generated $32.7...
    • Economy (20 speeches)
      My question is to the finance minister, Senator Cormann. Would the minister outline the savings task ahead of the government and what are the obstacles to this savings task?
    • Trade (14 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Cormann. As the senator would be aware, in the 2010 blue book prepared for the potential...
    • International Development Assistance (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Brandis. AusAID's guiding principles for Australia's aid program state: … that access to family...
    • Mining (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos. Can the Assistant Treasurer advise the Senate about the costs imposed on jobs, business and the economy by the mining tax? What is...
    • DonateLife Program (26 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Are DonateLife grants subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann? Can the minister advise the Senate...
    • Health (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Will the minister inform the Senate about the impact Labor's carbon tax is having on the operational costs of hospitals and...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Automotive Industry (30 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs (Senator Ronaldson) to questions without notice...
    • Trade (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to free trade...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Clean Energy (1 speech)
      by leave—I present a petition which is not in conformity with the standing orders from young Jared Jenkins, with 300 signatures, relating to clean energy.
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      On behalf of Senator Lundy I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 55, standing in her name for today, authorising the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network to meet...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to give parents of newborn babies detained in immigration detention unrestricted access to their children.
    • Renal Services (7 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges: (i) the need for flexible dialysis services in the Central Desert that allow patients to receive treatment in their home community rather than...
    • Wet Tropics Rainforest (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that Queensland's Wet Tropics rainforest, which includes the iconic Daintree Rainforest, was first added to the World Heritage List 25 years ago,...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Human Rights Day (1 speech)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Rhiannon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 10 December is Human Rights Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950, (ii) on 15...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: (1) That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the following bills be restored to the Notice Paper and that consideration of...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the Abbott Government for actively considering modifying the boundaries of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to exclude high conservation...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move: That— (a) the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 24 March 2014:      An...
    • Select Committee on Electronic Surveillance; Appointment (3 speeches)
      I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Electronic Surveillance be established to inquire into and report on the adequacy of the institutional, technical and...
    • University Funding (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) That the Coalition Government's plan to rip $900 million out of Australian universities and increase student debt by $1.2 billion will not be...
  • Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
    • (27 speeches)
      I inform the Senate that Senator Moore has withdrawn the matter of public importance which she had proposed for today. The President subsequently received the following letter, from Senator...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
      I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning border protection.
    • Tabling (1 speech)
      I present volume 2 of the 2004-2013 consolidated register of Senate committee reports. Ordered that the document be printed.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the following two reports of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights: First report of 44th Parliament: bills introduced 12 November–5 December 2013; legislative...
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      Order! The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
    • Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Amendment Bill 2013 (1 speech)
      The President has received a message from the House of Representatives informing the Senate that the House has agreed to the further amendments made by the Senate to the Commonwealth Inscribed...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Department of Agriculture (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is the statutory funding agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia, represented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan: Cricket (1 speech)
      On 3 October this year, Afghanistan recorded a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Kenya at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium to finish second in the World Cricket League, paving the way for...
    • Mandela, Mr Rolihlahla (Nelson) Dalibhunga, AC (1 speech)
      Tonight I participate in the adjournment debate in support of the condolence motion for Nelson Mandela, the first president of the new South Africa. I acknowledge that at the core of his lifelong...
    • Automotive Industry (1 speech)
      Earlier today there was an urgency motion moved by the opposition which, unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to speak to, so I would like to take this opportunity tonight during the...
    • Mandela, Mr Rolihlahla (Nelson) Dalibhunga, AC (1 speech)
      I rise to support the condolence motion for Nelson Mandela. I express my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends and to the people of South Africa. You have lost a friend, a leader and a...
    • Community Leadership (3 speeches)
      I rise tonight to speak briefly of positive things. It has been quite a dark couple of weeks in this parliament. It probably depends on your point of view and on which side of the chamber you are...
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Women (1 speech)
      Today I had the privilege of attending the graduation of cadets at the Royal Military College at Duntroon. Much has been said about the supreme sacrifice and magnificent contribution of the...
    • Kangaroo Island (1 speech)
      This evening I rise to speak for a small community in my electorate of South Australia who have a huge battle on their hands. It is a battle which not only threatens one of the most pristine...
    • Australian Charities (1 speech)
      Tonight I rise to speak on the revisionist efforts of this government in their determination to wind back the not-for-profit reform agenda that has been developed in the past decade through the...
    • Asbestos (1 speech)
      Last month the theatre production Dust was presented at the Brisbane Powerhouse. This inspirational musical performance involved local communities gathering together to talk about the horror of...
    • Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
      I am very proud and honoured to be able to rise this evening to acknowledge the marriage of my close friends the Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC and his husband, Dennis Liddelow. They are Western...
    • Juvenile Detention (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about the appalling juvenile detention rates in Western Australia and how the coalition government has failed on a commitment to closing the gap, taking essential funding...
    • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak about 7 September 2013. The date, of course, marks the election of the Abbott coalition government, but for me it gave cause for a double celebration. Had the now...
    • Mining: Employment (1 speech)
      The mining industry has created the myth that it is the backbone of the economy, creating jobs and providing a foundation of prosperity—particularly for rural and regional Australia. The...
    • Wind Farms (1 speech, 1 comment)
      In 2002, well before Professor Simon Chapman's nocebo effect and five or more years before the Waubra Foundation was set up, people in the once quiet seaside town of Toora in South Gippsland...
    • Human Rights Day (1 speech)
      It was in 1950 that the UN General Assembly declared 10 December as Human Rights Day. This day—today—was established to bring into focus the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as...