Senate debates

Monday, 11 September 2006

  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I wish to inform the Senate that Senator Stephen Parry has been elected as Deputy Government Whip in the Senate in succession to Senator Alan Eggleston. Senator Ferris remains as...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan Opium Trade (1 speech)
      by leave—On 7 September in question time Senator Ray asked me a question which said in part: Why are young Australian service men and women risking their lives in Afghanistan to protect a...
  • Petroleum Retail Legislation Repeal Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 August, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Is the minister aware that the latest information from his department indicates that Queensland has 86 operational aged care beds for...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! Before I call Senator Ferguson, I would like to draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s Gallery of Lord Falconer of Thoroton, PC, Lord Chancellor...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Terrorism (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. On this, the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States of America, will the minister update the...
    • Aged Care (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Ageing. Can the minister confirm that in 1996 there were 95 residential beds for every 1,000 people aged over 70 in Queensland? Is he aware that if that ratio...
    • Renewable Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell. Will the minister inform the Senate of action the government is taking to encourage renewable energy in...
    • Managed Investment Schemes: Tree Farms (4 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation. Does the minister recall defending the current arrangements for managed investment schemes on the basis...
    • Communications: Television Sports Broadcasting (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Will the minister please inform the Senate of the measures the government is taking to...
    • Environment: Macquarie Marshes (4 speeches)
      My question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I visited the Macquarie Marshes yesterday and found that the globally important ecosystem is under extraordinary...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of the Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP, Deputy Speaker of the British House of Commons. On...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is directed to Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Howard government promoting and supporting flexibility and choice in...
    • Australian Federal Police (9 speeches)
      My question is directed to Senator Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs. Is the minister aware that the budgeted average staffing level of the Australian Federal Police this year is 95...
    • Child Protection (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kemp. I remind the minister and the Senate that the Senate agreed to a resolution last...
    • Indigenous Communities (6 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ellison, the Minister for Justice and Customs. Can the minister confirm that an application to fund a community safety initiative sponsored by the women of the Wadeye...
    • Private Health Insurance (2 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Minchin, the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister representing the Prime Minister. Will the minister inform the Senate what the government is doing to...
    • Skilled Migration (16 speeches)
      My question is directed to Senator Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. I refer the minister to her contribution in the Senate on Thursday, where she identified...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (14 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. In particular, I want to focus my remarks this afternoon on responses from Senator...
    • Macquarie Marshes (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Senator Ian Campbell) to a question without notice asked by Senator Bob Brown today...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV (1 speech)
      I draw the Senate’s attention to the death on 10 September 2006 of His Majesty Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, King of Tonga. With the concurrence of senators, I intend to convey the...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Senator Bartlett to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)9 September to 15 September 2006 is Australian Foster Care Week,(ii)foster carers need specialised...
  • Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Sherry for the period 7 September to 15 September 2006, on account of parliamentary business overseas. Question agreed to.
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (0 speeches)
      Senator Bob Brown to move on Wednesday, 13 September 2006:That the Senate calls on the Government to review the threats to the Macquarie Marshes, New South Wales, as a matter of urgency and to...
    • Postponement (0 speeches)
      The following item of business was postponed: General business notice of motion no. 508 standing in the name of the Leader of the Australian Democrats (Senator Allison) for today, relating to...
  • Voluntary Student Unionism (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the introduction of voluntary student unionism on 1 July 2006 has resulted in the loss of numerous jobs and the closure of vital student...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the annual report of the committee’s activities for 2005-06. I seek leave to move a motion in relation...
    • Migration Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration I present the report of the committee Negotiating the maze: review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition, upgrading and licensing...
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of committees.
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      Bill received from the House of Representatives.
    • 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— AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR...
  • Migration Amendment (Visa Integrity) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (1 speech)
      On behalf of the chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Senator Payne, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Visa Integrity) Bill...
  • Petroleum Retail Legislation Repeal Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Acting Deputy President: Order! It being 9.50 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Soccer World Cup (1 speech)
      This year we have witnessed much excitement in Australian soccer. We have had the recent success of the national side in the FIFA World Cup finals, where the Socceroos advanced to the knock-out...
    • Afghanistan Opium Trade (1 speech)
      Today, on September 11, many members of the Senate will again have their thoughts turned to the causes and effects of terrorism. A key to terrorism being able to flourish has been nation state...
    • September 11 (3 speeches)
      Today is the fifth anniversary of the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, and it means a lot of things to different people. There have been many other events in many parts of the...
    • Drugs in Sport (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to talk about drugs, specifically the use of illicit drugs by our sporting professionals. I want to talk about the code of silence that protects illicit drug users and often...
  • 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] Australian Capital Territory (Planning...
    • 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...
    • Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
      The following document was tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 20 June 2001, as amended: Departmental and agency contracts for 2005-06—Letter of advice—Defence portfolio.