Senate debates

Tuesday, 18 September 2007

  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (16 speeches)
      I move:That:(1)On Tuesday, 18 September 2007:(a)the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm to adjournment;(b)the routine of business from 7.30 pm shall be government business...
  • Australian Crime Commission Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (21 speeches)
      I move: That: (a)the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002, and for related purposes [Australian Crime Commission Amendment Bill...
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I table the 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....
  • Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 (0 speeches)
    • In Committee (23 speeches)
      Consideration resumed from 17 September.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. In doing so, I thank honourable senators for their contributions in the committee stage of the debate. I particularly thank Senator Murray and...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Interest Rates (6 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. I ask the minister whether he recalls stating yesterday: ......
    • Indigenous Communities (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Would the minister advise the Senate of the latest developments...
    • Nuclear Energy (4 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Coonan, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Can the minister confirm that, this week, the government signed Australia up to the US-led Global Nuclear Energy...
    • Broadband (22 speeches)
      I also direct my question to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Will the minister update the Senate on the government’s nation building, broadband...
    • Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister outline how the government has effectively balanced the role of...
    • United Nations Peacekeeping Missions (4 speeches)
      My question is addressed to Senator Coonan, the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Is the minister aware that 14 September this year was the 60th anniversary of the first...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Minister for Finance and Administration, Senator Minchin. Will the minister inform the Senate of the latest report on the...
    • Advertising Campaigns (11 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Can the minister confirm that since the last election the Howard government has spent more than $800 million on...
    • Climate Change (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Minchin. I ask: does the minister recall that, when scientists were warning this time last year of extreme drought and...
    • Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (7 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Does the minister recall Minister Brough’s comment on 25...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • United Nations Peacekeeping Missions (1 speech)
      I wish to add to an answer that I gave earlier to Senator Stott Despoja concerning the United Nations Association of Australia first annual report card on the Australian government’s...
    • Veterans Affairs (1 speech)
      Yesterday, Senator Allison asked me a question without notice in relation to a report of a United Kingdom study of the impact of the British nuclear tests carried out in Australia. That report is...
  • 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. I refer in particular to the answers given by Senator Minchin regarding government...
    • United Nations Peacekeeping Missions (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (Senator Coonan) to a question without notice asked by Senator Stott...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Mr Peter Robert Cleeland (1 speech)
      It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 16 September 2007 of Peter Robert Cleeland, a member of the House of Representatives for the division of McEwen, Victoria, from...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      Pursuant to notice given at the last day of sitting on behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my...
    • Presentation (0 speeches)
      Senator Allison to move on the next day of sitting: That the Senate— (a)notes that:(i)thirteen Melbourne men accused of terrorist-related crimes have been held for nearly 2 years in the...
    • Postponement (0 speeches)
      The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 897 standing in the name of Senator Bartlett for today, relating to National Child Protection Week, postponed...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: That the government business orders of the day relating to the Social Security Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007 and the Social Security Amendment (2007 Measures No. 2) Bill 2007...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Nuclear Safeguards Agreement with Russia (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the recommendations of Dr Donald R Rothwell, Professor of International Law at the Australian National University, on the minimum requirements the Government...
  • Public Transport (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate:(a)notes that the Metropolitan Transport Forum, comprising of 19 Melbourne municipal councils and 17 associated organisations and members, at a forum at the Melbourne Town...
  • National Close the Gap Day (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate:(a)notes that Tuesday, 18 September 2007 is National Close the Gap Day, a day on which Australians across the nation are coming together to show their support for closing...
  • Housing Afforability (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate calls on the Government to:(a)review all taxes, grants and concessions, including negative gearing, capital gains tax exemptions and first home owners grants, to assess...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Responses to Senate Resolutions (2 speeches)
      I present a response from the former Premier of Queensland Mr Beattie to a resolution of the Senate of 13 August 2007 concerning Queensland local government.
  • Quarantine Amendment (Commission of Inquiry) 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— As Senators would be...
  • National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Bill 2007 (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...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007; Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-Disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007; Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-Disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 2) 2007; Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 5) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (21 speeches)
      Debate on Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007, Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 and Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No....
    • In Committee (90 speeches)
      TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2007 MEASURES NO. 4) BILL 2007 Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That the Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 4) Bill 2007, the Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) Bill (No. 1) 2007 and the Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure...
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Amendment (Alcohol) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Assent (0 speeches)
      Message from His Excellency the Governor-General was reported, informing the Senate that he had assented to the bills.
  • Australian Crime Commission Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (7 speeches)
      Debate resumed.
    • In Committee (30 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.
  • Quarantine Amendment (Commission of Inquiry) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Acting Deputy President: Order! It being 10 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Water (9 speeches)
      I rise tonight to talk about an issue of vital importance to Australians at large and to people from my home state of South Australia in particular—water security. It is vital to city...
    • Persecution of Jews (1 speech)
      I intended to make a contribution later this week in relation to some historical events. Unfortunately, due to a number of circumstances, I am unable at this stage to do that, but I do intend to...
    • Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
      The motivation for my adjournment speech this evening is the release last week of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services report titled The winnable war on...
    • Kimberley Region (1 speech)
      Senators may have heard recently the news by the Bureau of Meteorology highlighting that an early break of a possible La Nina, or drought-breaking event, has not occurred. This again brings to...
    • Diabetes (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak on the issue of type 1 diabetes. As a member of the Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group, I met recently in Adelaide and again here in Parliament House with...
    • Italian Australian Film Festival (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak about an exciting initiative between Australia and Italy. Having had a longstanding and active involvement in the Australian-Italian community, I am very pleased to...
    • Proposed Pulp Mill (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to place on record my strong support for the pulp mill project in northern Tasmania, subject to strict environmental conditions. I wish to speak about this project and the process...
    • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
      Mr President, I seek leave to speak for more than 10 minutes. Leave granted. Today, at this late hour, I would like to speak about the importance to the Australian economy of a modern and...
  • 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] Aged Care Act—Investigation...