Senate debates

Monday, 2 March 2015

• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Language (1 speech)
    ( ):Over the past few years there has been a marked departure from established standards of parliamentary debate and a tolerance shown towards certain expressions and imputations that were...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Attorney-General; Censure (120 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate censures the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) for: (1) failing to defend the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (21 speeches)
    This is the third instalment of my speech on this matter. This bill is a real reminder as to why this bill clearly should not be passed. This bill is designed to be the latest instalment in the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General explain to the Senate why the law of the Commonwealth prevents the giving or receiving of a corrupting benefit by...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General update the Senate on further measures the government is taking to keep Australians safe from the threats of terrorism?
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Before I call upon the next question, could I inform honourable senators of the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from Fiji led by the Speaker, the Hon. Dr Jiko Luveni MP. On...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (27 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General confirm that he asked the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department to convey the offer of a specific role...
  • Asylum Seekers (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. I ask: will the minister advise the Senate of the importance of strong and consistent policies on...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, regarding the President of the Human Rights Commission. I note the testimony of the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, Mr...
  • Dementia and Severe Behaviours Supplement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Can the minister advise the Senate what alternative program has been developed to replace the Dementia and Severe...
  • Iraq and Syria (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Will the minister confirm that Prime Minister Abbott has the power to deploy 3½ thousand Australian troops to...
  • Cyclone Marcia and Cyclone Lam (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the Australian government is helping Australians in the Northern Territory and...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the specific role offered to the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission at the request of the Attorney-General on...
  • Foreign Investment (6 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Abetz, Leader of the Government in the Senate, and Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture. Can the minister outline the changes to the rules for foreign...
  • Defence Procurement (19 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Brandis, Minister representing the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to reports on the ABC's Insiders program yesterday that documents exist confirming that the...
  • Drowning Deaths (10 speeches)
    This is a significant question and I would appreciate it if you would take the time to listen.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Australian Human Rights Commission (27 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. If there was ever a confirmation...
  • Iraq and Syria (1 speech)
    1 move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating to the deployment of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day No. 29 (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2014) be considered on Thursday, 5 March 2015, under the temporary order...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move that leave of absence for personal reasons be granted to Senator Ludwig for today, 2 March 2015, and to Senator Brown for 2 March to 5 March 2015. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Hanson-Young, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 615 standing in her name for today.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Senator Muir, First Speech (1 speech)
    I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Thursday, 5 March 2015, be interrupted at approximately 4 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator Muir...
  • Abbot Point Coal Terminal (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes recent media reporting which shows that Adani's ownership arrangements in relation to the Abbot Point coal terminal and proposed Carmichael coal mine lack...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McKenzie, move: That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 14 May 2015: (a) the role, importance, and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Natural Resource Sector (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate acknowledges the significant importance of the continued development within the natural resource sector to both the national and regional economies, and the positive...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Food Labelling (14 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, two senators each submitted letters in accordance with standing order 75. Senator Siewert proposed a matter of urgency and Senator Moore proposed a...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Environment (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the minister's response to the Senate motion on Western Australia's government sharks policy. I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I am disappointed that the...
  • Corporate Tax Evasion, Corporate Tax Avoidance (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the documents. I rise to respond to the Treasurer's letters in response to two Senate motions, the first of 2 October 2014 and the other of 9 February 2015,...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Capability through Diversity (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Assistant Minister for Defence, Mr Robert, I table a ministerial statement on capability through diversity.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Public Works Committee (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014, Enhancing Online Safety for Children (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014, Enhancing Online Safety for Children (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014; 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 speech read as follows— ENHANCING ONLINE...
  • Higher Education and Research Reform 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 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— HIGHER EDUCATION AND...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Bill 2014, Excess Exploration Credit Tax Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 7) Bill 2014, Excess Exploration Credit Tax Bill 2014; 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 speech read as follows— TAX AND...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015; 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.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015; 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— ABORIGINAL AND TORRES...
  • Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2015; 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.
  • Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2015; 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— BROADCASTING AND OTHER...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the interim report of the Education and Employment References Committee on private vocational education and training providers. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee. I present the report on the Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2014 together with documents presented to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    Clearly, we have the strongest system we have ever had and it is working well. Those opposite try to pretend that this bill is about bringing registered organisations into line with requirements...
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    On behalf of the Labor Party, I make a contribution to the Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014. This bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 and the...
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Deregulatory and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That government business order of the day No. 3, National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill 2014, be postponed till the next day of sitting. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 5) Bill 2014; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 5) Bill 2014. There are some schedules here which the Labor Party support and some schedules here which we will...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 5) Bill 2014; In Committee (9 speeches)
    I move the Australian Greens amendment (3) on sheet 7665: That schedule 1, page 3 (lines 1 to 20), be opposed. We are moving this amendment in order to oppose the removal of the mature age worker...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 5) 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.
  • Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2015; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Broadcasting and Other Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2015. Labor supports this bill. This bill is part of the government's so-called regulation repeal day. This...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Bandler, Ms Faith, AC, Tilmouth, Kwementyaye (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to pay tribute to two very different but great pioneers in Indigenous history, Faith Bandler and Kwementyaye Tilmouth. Last Tuesday, as Minister for Indigenous Affairs, I...
  • Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
    As many in this place would be aware, February was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian Cancer Australia organises the awareness month, and one of the key features is Teal Ribbon Day, which...
  • Tasmanian Fish Farm Industry (1 speech)
    I seek leave to table a report. Leave granted. I table this report with the best interests not just of the Tasmanian environment at heart but also of the salmon industry. I rise tonight to talk...
  • Deregulation (1 speech)
    Tonight I wish to talk about freedom and red tape. But before I talk about freedom I wish to pay tribute to the good and hardy souls of Central Queensland, not to mention those in the Northern...