Senate debates
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
- The Nationals (0 speeches)
- Leadership (1 speech)
by leave—I would like to inform the Senate that there has been a change in arrangements with the National Party. As of an election this morning I am now Leader of the National Party in the...
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (1 speech)
I move:That––(a)the address-in-reply be presented to Her Excellency the Governor-General by the President and such senators as may desire to accompany him; and(b)on Monday, 22...
- Archives Amendment Bill 2008; Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice and at the request of the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy, I move: That the following bills be introduced: A Bill for an Act to...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I table the explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (24 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 September, on motion by Senator Carr: That this bill 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.
- Homelessness (1 speech)
After 17 years of continuous economic growth, it is simply unacceptable that on any given night 100,000 Australians are homeless. This truly is a national disgrace. Half of these homeless...
- Mr Biaggio Signorelli (1 speech)
Mr Acting Deputy President Parry, I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Acting Deputy President. It is the first time that I have spoken while you have been in the...
- Education (1 speech)
Thank you, Mr Acting Deputy President Parry, and congratulations on your elevation to that role. I am sorry that Senator Bernardi is not here at the moment because I know that Senator Bernardi...
- Senator the Hon. Chris Ellison; Australian Greens (1 speech)
Firstly, I note the impending leaving of the Senate of Senator Chris Ellison. I just want to say that he has always been the most pleasant, decent and reasonable character to relate to and to...
- Age Pension; Rural and Regional Health Services; Tweed Skate Park (15 speeches)
I rise today to talk, very specifically, about Labor’s neglect of the regions. In particular, today I want to talk about the far North Coast of New South Wales and the Tweed region. I spend...
- Centenary of Holland Park Mosque (1 speech)
As Australians we pride ourselves on being a nation built on many cultures and religions to form our great multicultural society. One of the most enjoyable things about being a representative of...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President’s Gallery of a parliamentary delegation from the Senate Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Human...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. Minister, what would be the current rate of the single...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Can the minister update the Senate on how the government is responding to the increasingly serious crisis unfolding in...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Ludwig. Does the government stand by its oft repeated election promise that it will...
- Wool Industry (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. In relation to the CSIRO wool scour at Belmont in Victoria, can the minister confirm that he gave an...
- Economy (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Stephen Conroy. Will the government release the Treasury modelling on Dr Terry Cutler’s proposed redesign of the research...
- United States of America: Financial Crisis (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, Senator Sherry. Can the minister update the Senate on the challenges currently being faced by the US financial markets?
- National Security (4 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware of the comments of the Attorney-General on Monday, when he described the terrorism trial of Abdul Benbrika...
- Alcopops (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Last month a paper was published in the medical journal the Lancet by Australia’s National...
- National Security (4 speeches)
My question is directed to Senator Evans, representing the Prime Minister. Has the government sought legal advice on the Attorney-General’s remarks and, in particular, on the possibility...
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
I have a question for the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. I ask the minister to inform the Senate of what the government is doing to help small and...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Ludwig. Why has there been an 800 per cent increase in strikes in the first six months of...
- The Nationals and Liberal Party Leadership and Office Holders (0 speeches)
- (13 speeches)
by leave—I congratulate Senator Joyce on his appointment as Leader of the Nationals in the Senate. I was not in the chamber when I understand he made that announcement this morning, so on...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Age Pension; National Security (9 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Senator Evans) to questions without notice asked by Senators Fisher and Brandis today...
- Wool Industry (1 speech)
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 Milne today...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given at the last day of sitting, I now withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for today.
- Presentation (1 speech)
Senator Moore to move on the next day of sitting:That the Community Affairs Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate, from 3 pm, as follows:(a)on Monday,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Citizenship Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that Wednesday, 17 September 2008 is Citizenship Day,(ii)the Coalition established this day of commemoration of the diversity of the Australian community...
- Online Access to Parliamentary Documents for People with Disabilities (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bernardi, I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the difficulties experienced by people with a disability, particularly people with vision impairment, in accessing some...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of the Deputy Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Senator Barnett, I move:That the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee be authorised to hold a public...
- Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2008 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Defence Act 1903 to provide for parliamentary approval of overseas service by members of the Defence Force. Question...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Restoring Territory Rights (Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend certain territory legislation to restore legislative powers concerning euthanasia and to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act...
- 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— RESTORING TERRITORY...
- Food Colourings (0 speeches)
- (6 speeches)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)recent research published in The Lancet (vol. 370, 3 November 2007) that highlights possible negative behavioural impacts on children associated...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Murray-Darling River System (40 speeches)
The President has received a letter from Senator Fisher proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The failure of the Rudd Government...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Ellison, I present the 9th report of 2008 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 9 of 2008,...
- Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the first report of 2008 of the Procedure Committee. Ordered that the report be printed. by leave—I move: That consideration of the report be made a business of the Senate order...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- National Consumer Law (1 speech)
I table a ministerial statement titled Economics—A national consumer law, dated 17 September 2008
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- First Home Saver Accounts (Further Provisions) Amendment Bill 2008; First Home Saver Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition 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— FIRST HOME SAVER...
- TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2008 MEASURES; No. 4) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Standing Committees; Reports (2 speeches)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, except the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, I present reports on the examination of annual...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That intervening business be postponed till after consideration of government business notice of motion No. 4. Question agreed to.
- 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)
- Second Reading; Recommittal (15 speeches)
I move:That 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...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration (0 speeches)
The government documents tabled earlier today were called on but no motion was moved. An order of the day relating to government documents was called on but no motion was moved.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 6.52 pm, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Murray-Darling River System (1 speech)
Thank you for this opportunity to speak about the critical issues facing the Murray-Darling Basin with particular emphasis on providing examples of the government’s very disappointing and...
- Discrimination (1 speech)
This evening I want to discuss a matter which has recently been brought to my attention by my friends at Unions ACT, the peak trade union body here in the Australian Capital Territory. It is an...
- Economy (3 speeches)
This evening I wish to make a few comments in relation to Australia’s current economic situation and also to respond to some of the mantra that we have been submitted to, question time...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled: Australian Federal Police—Ministerial direction, 25 August 2008—Government’s expectations and priorities for the AFP. Australian Radiation...
- Indexed Lists of Files (0 speeches)
The following documents were 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 January to 30 June...
