Senate debates

Thursday, 28 August 2008

  • Privilege (0 speeches)
    • Statement by President (1 speech)
      Yesterday, during debate in the Senate on the motion for a reference to the Community Affairs Committee about the Exclusive Brethren, the Acting Deputy President Senator Carol Brown undertook to...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (0 speeches)
      Senator Feeney to move on the next day of sitting: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate, from 11 am to 2...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 p.m. till not later than 2 p.m. today: No. 5    Protection of the Sea Legislation...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Postponement (0 speeches)
      The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 123 standing in the name of the Leader of the Family First Party (Senator Fielding) for today, relating to an...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move:That the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2009:(a)whether the decision of the Australian Football...
    • Economics Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      At the request of Senator Johnston, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 2. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended:(1)That the following matters relating to the...
  • Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Workplace Rights) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      I move:That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement...
    • 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— The Building and...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Miss Yvonne Butler (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes with sadness the passing of Yvonne Butler, a Townsville elder and a tireless campaigner for social justice and Indigenous rights;(b)acknowledges the...
  • Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for emergency measures to ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin, and for...
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I present the explanatory memorandum and 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...
    • Referral to Committee (1 speech)
      I move: That the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008 be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 30 September 2008,...
  • Townsville General Hospital (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 163 standing in my name by, in paragraph (b) in the second line, removing the word ‘will’ and replacing it with the word...
  • Cairns Yacht Club (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Joyce, move:That the Senate—(a)notes that on 27 August 2008 a petition of 10 300 signatures was presented to the Queensland State Parliament to stop the...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Report of Economics Committee (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Economics, Senator Hurley, I present the report of the committee on the Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008, the A New Tax System...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Economics Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee on Economics, Senator Hurley, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of schedules 1 and 2 of the Tax Laws Amendment (2008...
  • Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008; Aviation Legislation Amendment (International Airline Licences and Carriers’ Liability Insurance) Bill 2008; National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment 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— AVIATION...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 (0 speeches)
    • In Committee (5 speeches)
      Consideration resumed from 27 August.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 3 (National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits—Cost...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits — Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (22 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 27 August, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time. (Quorum formed)
  • Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (2 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 26 June, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Third Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
  • Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Annual Charges) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (2 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 27 August, on motion by Senator McLucas: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Third Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
  • Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (1 speech)
      Bill received from the House of Representatives.
    • Second Reading (4 speeches)
      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—...
    • Third Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That government business order of that day No. 4 be called on and considered until not later than 2.00 pm. Question agreed to.
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 27 August, on motion by Senator McLucas: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Budget (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy, Senator Carr. I refer to Minister Ferguson’s spokesman’s comments on Woodside’s possible...
    • Small Business (11 speeches)
      As a former small business owner and operator, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy, Senator Carr. Will the...
    • Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Carr. How will the government’s agenda for school reform affect teacher quality?
    • Fuel Prices (45 speeches)
      My question about the urgency for releasing an interim report on Fuelwatch is directed to the chair of the economics committee. What was the urgency for releasing an interim report on Fuelwatch?
    • Indigenous Communities (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. I note that Minister Macklin announced the welfare...
    • Unemployment (33 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. What is the budget’s predicted increase in unemployment in the current financial year? Is this figure being...
    • Climate Change (2 speeches)
      Mr President, this is my first opportunity to congratulate you on your election. I thoroughly endorse your comments about that great trade union, the SDA. My question is to the Minister for...
    • Budget (16 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Does the government agree with the principle that cutting funding to the offices of the Commonwealth Ombudsman and...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Indigenous Communities (1 speech)
      I can provide some additional information to Senator Siewert in relation to the question she asked me earlier today about the Cannington welfare trial. Minister Macklin’s office has sent me...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      I would like to provide additional information to Senator Cormann as a result of a question he asked me yesterday in my capacity as Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy in...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Budget (11 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (Senator Carr) to a question without notice asked by Senator Cash today...
    • Indigenous Communities (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert today relating to...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (1 speech)
      I table documents providing details of travelling allowance payments made by the Department of the Senate to senators and members during the period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, and travel...
  • Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
    • Proposal for Works (1 speech)
      Mr Deputy President, I congratulate you on your creating history, as it was described yesterday. In accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Act 1974, I present a proposal for works...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (0 speeches)
    • (65 speeches, 3 comments)
      At the request of Senator Parry, I move:That the Senate notes:(a)that many Australians are worse off today than they were in 2007;(b)that many Australians are experiencing difficulties due to...
  • Question Time (0 speeches)
    • (33 speeches)
      Order! I will now proceed to make a statement, as I said I would, in respect of the question by Senator Abetz during question time. At question time, there was discussion on points of order about...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • 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. 2 of 2008-09—Performance audit—Tourism Australia....
  • 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.
    • Torres Strait Islands (1 speech)
      Despite not being a member of the class of 2004, may I add my support for Senator McEwen’s comments about your new position, Madam Acting Deputy President Fierravanti-Wells. I appreciate...
  • 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] A New Tax System (Commonwealth-State...
    • Departmental and Agency Contracts (0 speeches)
      The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 20 June 2001, as amended: Departmental and agency contracts for 2008—Letters of advice— Agriculture,...