Senate debates

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Deployment of Australian Troops (14 speeches)
      Mr President, I seek leave to move a motion relating to the deployment of Australian troops. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That so much of the standing...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Meeting (1 speech)
      I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senators.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That government business order of the day No. 2, Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2014, be postponed till the next day of sitting. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Health Care (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Does the Prime Minister stand by his claim that his unfair GP tax is 'good policy'?
    • Iraq (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz. Will the minister advise the Senate how the Australian government is fulfilling its commitment to supporting stability...
    • Workplace Relations (21 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to the government's decision to tear up the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guideline and the Prime Minister's statement: I...
    • Medicare (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health. While it might not come as a sudden shock, on1 July, freezing Medicare rebates will have a bigger financial impact on the cost...
    • National Security (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General update the Senate on the government's response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security...
    • Australian Human Rights Commission (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to confirmation by the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department that the Attorney-General asked him to, 'Formally put on the...
    • Budget (6 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Cormann, the Minister for Finance and the Minister representing the Treasurer. What is the government's response to calls by the Business Council of Australia for a...
    • National Security (6 speeches)
      Mr President, I refer the Attorney-General to the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 which states that if any Australian engages in conduct that assists by any means whatever, with intent to...
    • Foreign Investment (8 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture. I refer to his answer in question time yesterday in relation to the revised thresholds for foreign...
    • Higher Education (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for Education and Training. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the...
    • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Do documents exist that confirm an understanding, agreement or commitment for Japan to build Australia's new...
    • Department of Human Services: ICT System (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Can the minister explain to the Senate how the age and complexity of her department's main ICT system makes it difficult to...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Health Care (7 speeches)
      I 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 Wong today relating to co-payments for medical...
    • National Security (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Lambie today relating to the provision of assistance...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) and (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Reporting Date (1 speech)
      Thank you, Clerk. I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • International Women's Day (1 speech)
      In relation to general business notice of motion No. 621, I indicate that I will be adding the names of Senators Moore and Waters. I, and also on behalf of Senators Moore and Waters, move: That...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Liverpool Plains (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Liverpool Plains is one of the most important agricultural regions in Australia with rare and highly productive black soils, excellent water...
    • Australian Human Rights Commission (2 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senators Collins, Lazarus, Wang and Lambie, move: That the Senate— (a) commends the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its President on delivering The...
    • Genetically Modified Crops (1 speech)
      I move general business notice of motion No. 620: That the Senate— (a) notes the intention of the Western Australian State government to review its Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      I move general business notice of motion No. 623: That the Senate— (a) notes the study by Melbourne‘s Monash University which shows fewer people in rural, remote and disadvantaged...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Racial Discrimination Act (19 speeches)
      A letter has been received from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The Abbott...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Report (1 speech)
      Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on legislation, as listed on today's Order of Business, together with documents presented to the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Rural Financial Counselling Service (1 speech)
      After delivering another record level of harvest, 13.52 million tonnes, Western Australian farmers are busy preparing for the upcoming season. And, despite producing another record level of grain...
    • Severe Behaviour Response Teams (1 speech)
      Tonight I want to address concerns about the Severe Behaviour Response Teams announced by Assistant Minister Fifield and his failure to provide a satisfactory response to my line of questioning...
    • Bandler, Ms Faith, AC (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to pay tribute to an incredible woman, a civil rights activist, a writer and an incredible person: Faith Bandler. Faith was a true representation of modern Australia, a woman of...
    • Gender Equality, Domestic Violence (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about Australian women on the day we celebrated the United Nations International Women's Day in this parliament. I want to talk about two areas which significantly hold...
    • Queensland Government (15 speeches)
      I am going to be controversial tonight because I want to defend Campbell Newman and the Liberal National Party government of 2012-2015 in Queensland. Right from its election in March 2012 the...
    • Northern Territory Government (3 speeches)
      You think it might be hard to find a more incompetent, divided, dishonest government than the Abbott government. But tonight I give you: the Northern Territory government. The Abbott government's...
    • Short, Mr Peter (1 speech)
      I rise today to pay tribute to Peter Short, who died peacefully on 29 December 2014, while holding the hand of his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth is in the public gallery tonight and I want to...
    • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
      Tonight I rise to speak about the great Australian fair go and how that manifests itself in our industrial relations system. Before I do so, I would like to say that I was very pleased that I was...
    • Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
      In the short time I have been working for the people of Queensland as a senator for the sunshine state, I have come across many issues. One of the most distressing issues involves the plight of...
    • Tropical Cyclone Marcia (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to talk briefly about the impact of Tropical Cyclone Marcia and particularly its impact on Central Queensland. Last month I moved to Rockhampton. I have never been through a...
    • Pharmacy Sector (1 speech)
      Tonight, I would like to speak on an issue of significant community importance and that is the position that community pharmacies around the country are now facing. I want to put this in context....
    • Animal Welfare (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak on the scourge of animal cruelty and its increase in this community, the efforts that I am making through a bill presented in this place on 11 February, and the...
    • Middle East (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the plight of the Assyrians in the Middle East but most especially in some of the recent atrocities that we have seen in the Mosul district. Soon we will be celebrating the...
    • Hadgkiss, Mr Nigel (4 speeches)
      Nigel Hadgkiss, director of the Fair Work Building and Construction inspectorate, has framed his career and, indeed, his life, as a crime fighter, exposing corruption, drug runners and criminals....