Senate debates

Thursday, 26 November 2015

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have that question put? There being none, we will proceed to business.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Freedom of Information Amendment (Requests and Reasons) Bill 2015; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I had to look very carefully to see the last time I had the honour of taking part in this discussion about freedom of information. When I checked the Hansard, I saw that I had made my first...
  • Mining Subsidies Legislation Amendment (Raising Revenue) Bill 2014; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise with great pride to speak to the Mining Subsidies Legislation Amendment (Raising Revenue) Bill 2014, which was a bill introduced by former Senator Christine Milne in this place. It is a...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given on 25 November 2015, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name, for two sitting days after today, for the disallowance of the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 15th report of 2015 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown on today's order of business be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after consideration...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Macdonald for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish the question to be put separately on either of those proposals? There being none, I shall now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Carr, and also on behalf of Senators Rhiannon, Xenophon, Madigan, Lazarus and Lambie, I move: That the following matters be referred to the Economics References...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (11 speeches)
    Before asking that the motion be taken as formal, I wish to inform the Senate that Senator Lazarus will no longer be sponsoring this motion but I wish to add Senator Bernardi to the motion. I,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Old Gosford Public School Site; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator O'Neill, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Cormann, no later...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Agriculture (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 965. Leave granted. I, and on behalf of Senators McKenzie and Williams, move the motion as amended: That the Senate—...
  • Pension Loan Scheme (2 speeches)
    I, and on behalf of Senator Lambie, move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the Pension Loan Scheme is currently available on a voluntary basis to retirees, and has been in existence since...
  • Genetically Modified Crops (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the intention of the Western Australian State Government to repeal its Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003, which will remove the...
  • Paris Climate Summit (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) That the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris [COP 21] begins on Monday, 30 November 2015, (ii) calls by the President...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee, Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Select Committee on Health, Select Committee on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Macdonald, I present the report of the committee on the Australian Crime Commission Amendment...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (1 speech)
    Yesterday Senator Abetz made an extraordinary contribution to this debate. He essentially tried to coerce me into voting for this legislation by using political standover tactics. As when Senator...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Gifts) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Tax Laws Amendment (Gifts) Bill 2015. This is a relatively minor piece of legislation which simply adds two new charities to the list of deductible gift recipients listed...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Gifts) Bill 2015; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak in relation to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 2015. I am pleased to speak in support of the amendments proposed in this bill. The Aboriginal Land...
  • Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 2015; 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.
  • Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Cargo) Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    It is a fact of life in 2015 that governments must be constantly vigilant about safety and security in transport systems, and this is especially the case with aviation. Travellers know only too...
  • Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Cargo) Bill 2015; Third Reading (4 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.
  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I thank Senator Fifield for drawing attention to my 'dulcet tones', even when I cannot read properly! The Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 seeks to amend Australian maritime legislation...
  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; 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.
  • Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    One of the great things about this job is that I get to learn of things that I had no idea about prior to taking my seat. Today's topic is Australian coastal shipping. It has been an interesting...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Special Minister of State (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. I refer to part 7.2 of the statement of ministerial standards which provides that 'ministers will be required to...
  • Vocational Education and Training (10 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. I should ask him whether he has bought me the lottery ticket he owes me over the Adelaide Crows, but...
  • Special Minister of State (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Brandis. Did the Prime Minister ask the Attorney-General for an account of his role in the James Ashby affair before he...
  • Mental Health (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Mental health touches us all in some way and it goes to the heart of our nation's wellbeing. Today's mental...
  • Arts Funding (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for the Arts, Senator Fifield. Can the minister confirm that Senator Brandis, in his final days as arts minister, approved a grant of $2.4 million to the Australian...
  • Defence Procurement (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. In June 2014 the government announced that the C1654 tender for two new supply ships would be restricted to an overseas build by either...
  • Broadband (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts, Senator Fifield. Will the minister update the Senate on the coalition's plan to use a mix of technologies, including...
  • Government Services (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne. Does the government acknowledge that there are major systemic problems with the myGov website? Does the...
  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science: ICT Sustainability Plan (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. I refer the minister to the report in The Australian on 23 November, which stated...
  • Northern Australia (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Can the minister update the Senate on how the government is supporting Indigenous Australians through the White paper on...
  • Behavioural Economics (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Sinodinos. Does the minister stand by his statement that behavioural economics is economic and social regulatory engineering? Is that why he...
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Does a Turnbull coalition government support watering down the 18C provision in the Racial Discrimination Act as proposed by Liberal...
  • Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Colbeck. Will the minister update the Senate on the first international cargo flight that...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science: ICT Sustainability Plan, Behavioural Economics (8 speeches)
    I would like to add to a couple of answers I gave during question time.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Special Minister of State (72 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to questions without notice asked by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong) and...
  • Government Services (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence (Senator Payne) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to the mygov website. I...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Community Affairs Legislation Committee relating to estimates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Senator Bernardi, I present the report of the committee on the Parliamentary Expenses Amendment...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Trade with China (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to a question without notice asked by Senator Madigan during question time on 12 November 2015 concerning medicine labelling.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Health; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of the Select Committee on Health.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Syria and Iraq (8 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Siewert I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the ongoing conflict in Syria, which has led to over 250 000 deaths, and the fleeing of 4 million refugees, over...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    The Community Affairs References Committee report, Availability of new, innovative and specialist cancer drugs in Australia, was a very, very important report. I will leave it to others to talk...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    This report provides an overview of the government's Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015, which has been rejected by the Senate. One of the things that I wanted to highlight in the report...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to spend a few moments today talking about the Education and Employment References Committee report into funding of VET providers in Australia. As a former member of this committee,...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to make some comments on the report from the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on domestic violence in Australia that came down in August this year, which I know...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to make some remarks on the committee's report on gun-related violence in the community. The Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, has taken a courageous stance on firearms issues of late....
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Fishing Industry (3 speeches)
    Mr President, I have remembered my notes this evening!
  • United Nations Human Rights Council (1 speech)
    Earlier this month I attended the presentation of Australia's Universal Periodic Review to the working group of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. I attended in my capacity as Deputy...
  • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
    I have recently taken over the defence portfolio for the Australian Greens, and at the most recent estimates I was surprised to find I was the only senator asking Defence for updates on the...
  • Western Australia: Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to talk about the issue that, far and away, remains the biggest economic one facing my home state of Western Australia. We are hearing a great deal of talk about the GST at...