Senate debates

Wednesday, 6 December 2006

  • BANKRUPTCY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTIONS) BILL 2006; Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 2) 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That the following bills be introduced:A Bill for an Act to amend the Bankruptcy Act 1966, and for other purposes; andA Bill for an Act to make various amendments of the statute law of...
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I table the explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (4 speeches)
      I move: That:(a)the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Wheat Marketing Act 1989, and for related purposes; and(b)the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing...
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 4) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (15 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 October, on motion by Senator Santoro: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • In Committee (29 speeches)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      Order! It now being slightly past 1.15 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
    • Biofuels (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about the issue of biofuels in this nation. I think it is an issue that we need to keep focusing on. It is vitally important that we get biofuels and the future of biofuels...
    • Mining Industry (1 speech)
      Australia has been doing very well in recent years due to good governance from the current federal government and fuelled by huge demand from India and China. That demand is nowhere more evident...
    • World AIDS Day (1 speech)
      I rise this afternoon to have the Senate take note of the fact that 1 December was recognised internationally as World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is preceded by AIDS Awareness Week, which always...
    • National Space Policy (1 speech)
      Today I want to talk about space policy. As honourable members may be aware, I have brought this up over the years in this place. It is an issue that we tend not to discuss in federal parliament....
    • Mutitjulu (1 speech)
      Mutitjulu is a small Aboriginal community located adjacent to Uluru within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. About 400 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs, it has a population of...
    • Tasmanian Forests; Drugs Policy; Victorian State Election (3 speeches)
      The first matter I want to draw to the attention of the Senate is the nationally banned substance ammonium nitrate, which this parliament, at the behest of the Howard government, banned because...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mr David Hicks (7 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ellison, the Minister representing the Attorney-General. Is the minister aware that this weekend marks five years in custody without trial or conviction for Australian...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the public gallery of a former very distinguished senator for Tasmania, Senator the Hon. Jocelyn Newman. Welcome back to the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Climate Change (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell. Will the minister advise the Senate of any impediments to the Howard government’s efforts to reduce...
    • Immigration: Identity Fraud (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Vanstone. Will the minister advise the Senate whether she or her department has ever been accused of being...
    • Bald Hills Wind Farm (14 speeches)
      My question without notice is to Senator Ian Campbell, Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Can the minister confirm that the proponents of the Bald Hills wind farm have once again had to...
    • Australian Bomb Data Centre (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. I understand that earlier today the minister addressed the 15th annual Australian Bomb Data Centre conference. Will the...
    • Mr David Hicks (6 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Attorney-General and follows on from his comments supporting the military commission’s process in relation to David Hicks. Does the...
    • Broadband (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Will the minister inform the Senate how the government is supporting investment in...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Mr Saban Disli MP, accompanied by His...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Defence Submarine Capability (4 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. Can the minister confirm reports that a submarine rescue vessel operated by defence’s submarine...
    • Ramsar Wetlands (4 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ian Campbell, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Is the minister aware of the findings in the Australia state of the environment 2006 report, released today,...
    • Immigration (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Can the minister confirm that the Ombudsman highlighted in a report yesterday the case of a person who was wrongly...
    • Forestry (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Abetz. What threats does the mismanagement of Australia’s vast forest resource pose to life, property,...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      I wish to add to an answer that I provided to Senator Marshall yesterday in relation to Viewhills Manor home. Yesterday Senator Marshall made some assertions about Viewhills Manor home, claiming...
    • Indigenous Land Leases (1 speech)
      In question time yesterday I was asked a question by Senator Bartlett regarding 99-year leases on Indigenous land. I have raised this issue with Minister Brough and I now seek leave to...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Environment (15 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Senator Ian Campbell) to questions without notice asked today. It has been 10 very long...
    • Mr David Hicks (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Justice and Customs (Senator Ellison) to a question without notice asked by Senator Stott Despoja today relating to Mr...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate—(a)welcomes:(i)the Japanese resolution in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly First Committee, entitled...
  • Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators:(a)Senator Adams on 4 and 5 December 2006, for family matters; and(b)Senator Barnett from 4 to 6 December 2006,...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Postponement (0 speeches)
      The following item of business was postponed: General business notice of motion no. 634 standing in the names of Senators Johnston and Adams for today, proposing the introduction of the Wheat...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Community Affairs Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
      At the request of the Chair of the Community Affairs Committee, Senator Humphries, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Committee on the funding and...
  • Climate Change (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the tenth conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2004 declared that reflection on the ethical...
  • MR David Hicks (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that Mr David Hicks has spent nearly 5 years in detention in Guantanamo Bay; and(b)calls on the Government to take immediate action to ensure that Mr Hicks...
  • Euthanasia (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate supports a new debate in this Parliament on the right of terminally ill Australians to die with dignity according to their own wishes. Question put.
  • Beijing Olympics (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate calls on the Government to link the promotion of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with the promotion of democracy in China. Question put.
  • Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
    • Iraq (15 speeches)
      I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 6 December 2006, from Senator Allison: Dear Mr President, Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the 13th report of 2006 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 15 of 2006, dated 6 December 2006. Ordered...
    • Senators’ Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of Senator Webber, on behalf of the Standing Committee of Senators’ Interests and in accordance with the Senate resolution of 17 March 1994 on the declaration of senators’...
    • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee’s 19th report of 2006, Extension and accommodation upgrade to the existing chancery of the...
    • Treaties Committee; Report (3 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present report No. 81, Treaties tabled on 8 August 2006 (2). I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek the opportunity to...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Records) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      Bill received from the House of Representatives.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of government business notice of motion 4 (proposing the Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006). Question...
  • Non-Proliferation Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend laws about non-proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the...
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      The President has received letters from a party leader seeking variations to the membership of committees.
  • Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 7.20 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • International Accounting Standards (1 speech)
      Recently I was involved in a conference in the Canberra Convention Centre when in-depth consideration was given to international accounting standards and the GAAP/GFS harmonisation project, which...
    • Climate Change; Public Transport; ACT Biosphere Reserve (1 speech)
      I take this opportunity to inform the Senate of some of the initiatives in the Australian Capital Territory to combat climate change. I think the Howard government should take note of this in the...
    • Ramsar Wetlands (1 speech)
      The broad aim of the convention on wetlands, or, as it is better known, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve...
    • Australian Capital Territory (5 speeches)
      Like Senator Lundy, I want to talk about issues affecting the Australian Capital Territory which I feel will be very pertinent to the federal election that will be held in the next 12 months....
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (0 speeches)
      The following government documents were tabled: Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts—Report—Review of Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997...