Senate debates
Thursday, 20 March 2008
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Mason to move on 14 May 2008:That Amendment 2 to the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines No. 1 made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, be disallowed. Fifteen...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the government business order of the day relating to the Tradex Scheme Amendment Bill 2008 be considered from 12.45 pm till not later than 2 pm today. Question agreed to. I move:...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (0 speeches)
The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 55 standing in the name of the Leader of the Australian Democrats (Senator Allison) for today, relating to...
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Referral to Committee (1 speech)
I move:That the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008 be referred to the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee for inquiry and report by 7...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Improved Access to Baby Bonus) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Stott Despoja, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 to give all adopting parents...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
And also at the request of Senator Stott Despoja, 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...
- Mercy Ministries (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate:(a)notes the reports in the Sydney Morning Herald regarding concerns about the Mercy Ministries residential programs for young women suffering from psychological illnesses,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- China (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 63 standing in my name for today, calling on the government to move for the abolition of the death penalty in China, be taken as a formal motion.
- Suspension of Standing Orders (5 speeches)
Pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Brown moving a motion relating to the conduct of the business of this Senate,...
- Mercy Ministries (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I seek leave to recommit to the Senate notice of motion No. 61, moved by the Australian Democrats. Leave granted. Question put: That the motion (Senator Allison’s) be agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the first report of the Senate Standing Committee on Publications. Ordered that the report be adopted.
- Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Documents (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present a volume of ministerial correspondence relating to the scrutiny of delegated legislation for February 2007 to March...
- Community Affairs Committee; Report (5 speeches)
I present the report of the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs entitled A decent quality of life: inquiry into the cost of living pressures on older Australians, together with the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Tradex Scheme Amendment Bill 2008 (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— This bill will decouple...
- Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Bill 2008; Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Communications Fund) Bill 2008 (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— COMMONWEALTH...
- Infrastructure Australia Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of House of Representatives Message (18 speeches)
Message received from the House of Representatives returning the Infrastructure Australia Bill 2008 informing the Senate that the House has disagreed to the amendments made by the Senate and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Standing Committees; Reports (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2008. Ordered that the reports be printed.
- Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (24 speeches)
Debate resumed from 19 March, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That these bills be now read a second time. upon which Senator Murray moved by way of amendment: At the end of the motion, add:...
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bills passed through their remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Advance to the Finance Minister (0 speeches)
- In Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the committee approves the statement of Issues from the Advance to the Finance Minister as a final charge for the year ended 30 June 2007. Question agreed to. Resolution reported;...
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 March, on motion by Senator Wortley: That the following address-in-reply be agreed to: To His Excellency the Governor–General MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY–We,...
- Tradex Scheme Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (0 speeches)
Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
by leave—I just want to make a short statement regarding ministerial representation. Senator Wong will be absent today as she is attending the funeral of former minister Clyde Cameron,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Carr. Will the minister guarantee that all of the additional revenue earned by the government...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. Can the minister outline to the Senate the recent changes...
- Fuel (31 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy. Is there a petrol supply shortage in Australia?
- Indigenous Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister inform the Senate what the government is doing to close the gap in life expectancy...
- Plastic Bag Levy (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, my old friend Senator Carr.
- Fuel Prices (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Senator Sherry. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been very vocal this week in warning the petrol...
- Education (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister Representing the Minister for Education, my new friend Senator Carr. Can the minister guarantee that no families will bear any of the extra and ongoing costs...
- Broadband (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister update the Senate on government policies to improve broadband services in...
- Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Does the minister stand by his statement made just prior to the ratification of the Australia-US Free...
- Climate Change (12 speeches)
My question is to Minister Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Does the minister agree that energy efficiency is one of the cheapest and...
- Environment: Burnett River (9 speeches)
My question is also to Senator Carr in his role representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. The minister will be aware that an audit of the EPBC Act approvals for the...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question Nos Question No. 92 (5 speeches)
Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to my...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Queensland Minister for Health (1 speech)
On Tuesday this week, Senator Boswell asked me a question about the Queensland Minister for Health. I undertook to provide Senator Boswell with any available information. There have been several...
- Welfare Reform (1 speech)
I make the following statement in response to Senator Siewert’s question and further to Senator Wong’s answer yesterday regarding the government’s consideration of the impact on...
- Dr Mohamed Haneef (1 speech)
In response to a question asked of me by Senator Brandis last Thursday, 13 March 2008, I table the transcript of the press conference given by the Attorney-General last week. This goes to the...
- Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
- Question No. 92 (1 speech)
I have been provided with an answer from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in response to a question asked by Senator Allison. I seek leave to incorporate that. Leave...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (32 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (Senator Carr) to questions without notice asked today. It all sounded so...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- (7 speeches)
My advice is that the proposed ministerial statement has not been made in the other place.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Appropriations and Staffing Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 45th report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing on the Department of the Senate’s budget; Ordinary annual services of the government; and the...
- Internet Filtering for Senators (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
On behalf of the President, I read a statement on internet filtering for senators: Following discussion in the Senate Appropriations and Staffing Committee, I have agreed that the internet...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters from party leaders seeking variations to the membership of committees.
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Complementary Protection Visas) Bill 2006 [2008] (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (8 speeches)
Debate resumed from 13 September 2006, on motion by Senator Bartlett: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- National Health and Medical Research Council (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I know people are keen to get home, so I will not speak to most of the documents, but I will speak to this one. There are a lot of documents...
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following orders of the day relating to government documents were considered: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority—Report for 2006-07. Motion of Senator Nash to take note of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following order of the day relating to committee reports and government responses was considered: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations—Standing...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The following order of the day relating to reports of the Auditor-General was considered: Auditor-General—Audit report no. 26 of 2007-08—Performance audit—Tasmanian forest...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! There being no further consideration of committee reports, government responses and Auditor-General’s reports, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Homelessness in the ACT (1 speech)
I seek leave to incorporate my adjournment speech into Hansard. Leave granted. The incorporated speech read as follows Introduction Tonight I want to talk about the very serious issue of...
- World Down Syndrome Day (1 speech)
I am as conscious as everybody else that it is nearly Easter, but I would like to make a few brief remarks on the fact that tomorrow marks the third World Down Syndrome Day. It will be celebrated...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
The following document was 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 July to 31 December...
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: [Legislative instruments are identified by a Federal Register of Legislative Instruments (FRLI) number] Financial Sector (Collection of Data)...
