Senate debates
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move:That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 8 August 2007 and on Wednesday, 15 August 2007 be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a...
- Consideration of Legislation (18 speeches)
I move government business notice of motion No. 2: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this...
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2006 [2007] (0 speeches)
- Third Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 7 August, on motion by Senator Johnston: That this bill be now read a third time.
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (23 speeches)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— SOCIAL SECURITY...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta. I welcome you, Sir, and trust that your...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
- Local Government (1 speech)
I wish to raise today an important matter of public interest that is of concern to so many Queenslanders. The forced amalgamation of local councils in Queensland from 156 to 72 is causing great...
- NAIDOC Week: Geraldton Celebrations (1 speech)
We have recently returned from the winter recess, and a lot of us enjoyed the time back home in our electorates. One event I was particularly pleased to take part in was a ceremony in Geraldton...
- Military Justice (1 speech)
I thank Senator Webber for making that significant contribution concerning a most important event and I wholeheartedly support the comments she made. Today I will return to a topic on which I...
- Local Government (8 speeches)
Today I want to speak on a matter of very great public importance—that is, to lament the passing of democracy in Queensland. The actions of Premier Beattie and the state Labor government in...
- Housing Affordability (1 speech)
In July, I visited the east Kimberley and the Pilbara regions of Western Australia to speak with key organisations. Everyone is aware of the boom in the Pilbara as the mining industry tries to...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the minister recall the Liberal Party advertisement in the 2004 election campaign which said that the...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Abetz. Will the minister outline to the Senate the importance of the Cole royal commission...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I would like to draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of Mr John Beattie, a former distinguished Deputy Speaker in the Tasmanian...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Has the minister seen the report in today’s Daily Telegraph headed ‘Don’t promise what you...
- Housing Affordability (6 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Community Services, Senator Scullion. Will the minister provide an update on the coalition government’s contribution to the provision of housing...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Does the minister recall saying in question time on 11 May 2005: … there have been no further interest rate...
- Organised Crime (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Johnston. Will the minister outline to the Senate any action that the government is taking to crack down on outlaw motorcycle gangs?
- Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Minchin. Does the minister accept that there is a crisis in housing affordability in Australia? Does the government accept...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s gallery of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of South Africa, led by the Hon. Tsietsi...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Telecommunications (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. It is a decade since the Howard government spearheaded reforms to the telecommunications...
- Senator Heffernan (4 speeches)
I direct my question to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware of an article in the Sunday Age newspaper of 24 June 2007, under the heading...
- Lucas Heights Reactor (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Brandis, the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Can the minister outline to the Senate how many Australians have missed out on...
- Hospitals (10 speeches)
My question is to Senator Ellison, the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Is the minister aware that Senator Parry made a submission to the review of the Tasmanian hospital...
- Beijing Olympic Games (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Brandis. Will the minister inform the Senate of how the Howard government is helping bring home gold for Australia at the Beijing...
- Broadband (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Can the minister confirm her statement in parliament on 19 June that the electorate maps of...
- MS Anne Steele (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
For the information of the Senate, all Tasmanians would be aware, I hope, that Anne Steele swam the English Channel—the first Tasmanian to do it—in the time of 10 hours, 58 minutes...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today. Let us be clear about what has happened today to Australian families, because while...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Chris Evans to move on the next day of sitting:That the Senate:(a) condemns the actions of Senator Heffernan in gatecrashing the press conference of a delegation of Indigenous...
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
Pursuant to notice given on 7 August 2007, I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in my name for 10 September 2007.
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 2 standing in the name of Senator Faulkner for today, proposing the reference of a matter to the...
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Restoration of Rights and Procedural Fairness) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958 to restore rights and procedural fairness to persons affected by decisions taken under that Act,...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table the explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Burma (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a) notes that:(i) 8 August 2007 is the 19th anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising in Burma, an uprising brutally suppressed by the...
- Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a) notes that:(i) 2007 is the Year of the Lifesaver,(ii) that the Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club is currently celebrating its...
- India and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move the motion as amended: That the Senate—(a) notes that:(i) India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
- Nuclear Weapons (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a) notes that, on 6 December 2006, 125 nations voted in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/83, which, inter alia, called on all...
- Federal Election (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a) calls on the Prime Minister (Mr Howard) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rudd) to extend the same pre-election courtesy and access to all other...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—At the request of the Leader of The Nationals in the Senate, Senator Boswell, I move: That general business notice of motion no. 847 standing in the name of Senator Boswell for...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Nuclear Nonproliferation (12 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 8 August 2007, from the Leader of the Australian Democrats: Dear Mr President, Pursuant to standing order 75, I...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Robert Ray, I present the eighth report of 2007 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 8 of...
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
It being almost 5 pm, I believe we have a first speech. Before I call Senator Fisher, I remind honourable senators that this is her first speech and, therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 4 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 4 of 2007-08—Performance Audit - Container examination...
- Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment (Cosmetics) Bill 2007; International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— INDUSTRIAL...
- Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 (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— I have the honour to...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 6. Question agreed to.
- Principal Executive Office Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions (0 speeches)
- Motion for Disallowance (6 speeches)
I move: That Determination 2007/04: Principal Executive Office (PEO) Classification Structure and Terms and Conditions, made pursuant to subsections 5(2A), 7(3D) and 7(4) of the Remuneration...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Referral to Committee (4 speeches)
by leave—I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move:That the provisions of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007 be referred to the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The government document tabled earlier today was called on but no motion was moved. The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act—Notice under...
