Senate debates
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
- Customs Legislation Amendment (Border Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (31 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 6 February.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Australian Citizenship Bill 2006; Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (11 speeches)
Debate resumed from 30 November, on motion by Senator Ian Campbell: That these bills be now read a second time.
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Water (1 speech)
Many of us in this chamber have developed a relatively new policy focus and interest of late. I speak of water resource policy. I say ‘a relatively new interest’ not as a criticism of...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
I rise to make a few remarks on a matter of public importance, but before I do I cannot let Senator Fifield escape, given some of the untruths that spilled out of his mouth in the speech he just...
- Black Tuesday Bushfires (1 speech)
I rise today to remember the Black Tuesday bushfires in Hobart. Today is the 40th anniversary of those fires on 7 February 1967. For those who are unaware of the extent of the tragedy, 110...
- Western Australia: Tourism (1 speech)
The Premier of Western Australia, Alan Carpenter, reshuffled his cabinet at Christmas following a number of scandals engulfing his government—a government that has become cocky and...
- Civil Partnerships Bill; Googong Dam (1 speech)
Yesterday the Howard government yet again showed that it is prepared to have its extreme ideology override what is fair, equitable and democratic. I condemn the Howard government’s moves to...
- Water (1 speech)
In the brief time available before question time, I would like to speak once again on an issue of great importance to my state of Queensland, particularly the region I reside in—south-east...
- The Nationals (0 speeches)
- Leadership and Office Holders (1 speech)
by leave—At a meeting yesterday, Senator Nigel Scullion was elected Deputy Leader of the National Party in the Senate.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Is the minister aware of comments by the minister for industry, reported today, that it is worth...
- Telecommunications (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Will the minister please inform the Senate how the government is ensuring Australians have...
- Climate Change (6 speeches)
My question is addressed to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. Is the minister aware that the Prime Minister’s discussion paper...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Administration and Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Minchin. Will the minister inform the Senate of recent data indicating the state...
- Weed Management (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Senator Brandis. Is the minister aware of the argument his colleague Senator Abetz put to the Senate...
- Aged Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santoro. Would the minister outline to the Senate what measures the Howard government is putting in place to enhance the security of residents...
- Smartcard (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ian Campbell. Given that the government plans to issue 16.5 million access cards and that the card will be needed for any Australian to...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s Gallery of the Honourable Ahmad Shabery bin Cheek MP, the Malaysian Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Illicit Drugs (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison. Will the minister update the Senate on new regional initiatives being taken by the Australian government to address the...
- Australian Football League Television Broadcasts (6 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Has the minister seen reports of a new deal for the broadcast of AFL matches negotiated between...
- Corporations Law (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Coonan with respect to Corporations Law. Minister, are you aware that there is concern that business standards are slipping again and that last weekend the Financial...
- Aged Care (10 speeches)
My question is to Senator Santoro, the Minister for Ageing. Has the minister seen reports in the Adelaide Advertiser today that describe a four-year study of Adelaide nursing homes where...
- Bushfires (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator the Hon. Eric Abetz. I note that today is the 40th anniversary of the 1967 bushfires in Tasmania, which took a...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin) and the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation (Senator Abetz)...
- Smartcard (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Human Services (Senator Ian Campbell) to a question without notice asked by Senator Nettle today relating to a proposed...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Troeth to move on the next day of sitting:That the Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on...
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Following the receipt of satisfactory responses on behalf of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I now withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos 1 and 8...
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the names of Senators Siewert and Milne for today, proposing the reference of matters to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
I move: That the following operate as a temporary order until the conclusion of the 2007 sittings:If a member of a committee appointed under standing order 25 is unable to attend a meeting of the...
- Privileges Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That the following matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges:Having regard to the material presented to the Senate by the President on 6 February 2007, whether any false or...
- Finance and Public Administration Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Mason, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Finance and Public Administration Committee on the transparency and accountability of Commonwealth...
- World Wetlands Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate:(a)notes 2 February 2007 was World Wetlands Day;(b)understands that this date marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International...
- People with Disabilities (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate:(a)welcomes the adoption in December 2006 by the United Nations of the Convention on the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities; and(b)asks the Government to show...
- Black Tuesday Bushfires (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Parry and Senator Carol Brown, move: That the Senate:(a)recalls that:(i)7 February is the 40th anniversary of the Tasmanian 1967 Black Tuesday bushfires, one of...
- Commission on the Status of Women (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Stott Despoja, move: That the Senate:(a) welcomes the fifty-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women taking place from 26 February to 9...
- United States Military Commissions Act (2006) (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General (Senator Ellison), no later than the end of question time on 8 February 2007, any legal advice the...
- Wind Energy (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate:(a) notes that:(i)the World Wind Association has reported that the global installed capacity of wind energy at the end of December 2006 was...
- MR David Hicks (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate:(a) notes:(i)that Australian citizen, Mr David Hicks has been detained for 1 889 days,(ii)retrospective charges against Mr Hicks have been proposed...
- Climate Change (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate:(a)notes that on 2 February 2007 the world’s foremost authority on climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released a review of the state of...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (26 speeches)
I inform the Senate that I have received the following letter, dated 7 February 2007, from Senator Milne: Dear Mr President, Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 8 February 2007, from 9.30 am...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee, Senator Ray, I present the first report of 2007 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of...
- Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; (1 speech)
On behalf of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, I present additional information received by the committee in its inquiry into water policy initiatives. I also present an...
- Economics Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Economics Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Tax Laws Amendment (Simplified Superannuation) Bill 2006 and related bills, together with the...
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Report (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 Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers...
- Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; Report (6 speeches)
I present the final report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee on Australia’s future oil supply and alternative transport fuels, together with the Hansard record of...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 24 of 2006-07 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Audit report No. 24 of 2006-07—Performance audit: Customs’...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Membership (0 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives notifying the Senate of the appointment of Mr Barresi to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit in place of Mr Anthony Smith.
- Migration Amendment (Employer Sanctions) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 7) 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— TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2006...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Reference (6 speeches)
by leave—I move the motion as amended, in the terms circulated in the chamber:(1)That the Senate notes that Qantas:(a)plays a unique role in the Australian economy and in Australian...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.55 pm, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of government documents.
- Government Response to Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Report (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This document is a response from the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to the Ombudsman’s report to him under section 486O of the...
- Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Report (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I will continue where I left off because this document and the one earlier are related and it would probably make more sense in a way for them...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following order of the day relating to government documents was considered:Department of the Treasury—Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2006-07—Section 14 of the Charter of...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Acting Deputy President: Order! There being no further consideration of government documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Organ Donation (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the very sensitive and important issue of organ donation in Australia. Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week 2007, from Sunday, 18 February to Saturday, 24 February, provides...
- Blundstone (1 speech)
Before I speak on the matter that I am intending to speak on, I would like to place on record my heartfelt support for Senator Parry’s comments regarding organ donation and also the work of...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
This has been a big week, indeed a big six months, for greenhouse. Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, the Stern report and the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report by 2,500...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Australian Broadcasting Corporation—Equity and diversity—Report for 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006. Mid-year economic and...
