Senate debates
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (3 speeches)
I move:That, on Tuesday, 14 October 2008:(a)the hours of meeting shall be 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm and 7 pm to 11.10 pm;(b)that from 7 pm, any question in respect of which a senator requires a...
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
I move: 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 period of sittings:Migration Amendment...
- Safe Work Australia Bill 2008; Safe Work Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- In Committee (48 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 13 October.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills 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 relating to the Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008. Question agreed to.
- Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 13 October, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (11 speeches)
My question is to Senator Evans, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier today that the government will finally adopt the...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Can the minister provide further details to the Senate on the government’s Economic Security Strategy?
- Age Pension (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Will the minister confirm that the government’s one-off payment to single pensioners of $1,400 to tide them...
- Economy (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Can the minister please outline to the Senate how the government will use the budget surplus to buffer the Australian...
- Automotive Industry (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. I refer to Ford Australia’s decision to shed a further 500 jobs. Why did the government’s...
- Kunoth Town Camp (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. My question concerns the recent police raid on Kunoth...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. In light of the global financial crisis, which the Prime Minister has said will cause the Australian economy to slow...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law. Can the minister inform the Senate about the Rudd government’s move to safeguard and bolster the Australian economy...
- Trade (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade, Senator Faulkner. Is the minister aware of reports that China’s biggest steelmaker,...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Conroy. Can the minister explain to the Senate how the government’s nation-building agenda will help shield Australia from...
- Murray-Darling River System (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ludwig. Minister, what consultation, if any, took place with Centrelink before the Prime Minister announced the extension of the drought...
- Indigenous Communities (3 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ludwig. I understand the Rudd Labor government has been rolling out an improved system of income management in the Northern...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Trade (1 speech)
I wish to add to an answer I gave to a question from Senator Coonan. I wish to confirm that the Prime Minister has had a conversation with Premier Wen and has been told that the Chinese economy...
- Environment (1 speech)
Senator Macdonald yesterday asked me in my role deputising for the Minister representing the Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts a question about an alleged breach of the EPBC Act...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (17 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 Bernardi and Ryan today...
- Kunoth Town Camp (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 a...
- MR Stephen Edward (Sam) Calder (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 30 September 2008, of Stephen Edward Calder, a member of the House of Representatives for the division of the Northern Territory...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Mr Deputy President, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 123 standing in my name for today.
- Presentation (0 speeches)
Senator Siewert to move on the next day of sitting: That the Community Affairs Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 16 October 2008, from...
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion no. 227 standing in his name for today, relating to termination payouts for executives, be postponed till the next day of sitting....
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Finance and Public Administration Committee; Reference (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hurley, I move:That—(a)the reference of residential and community aged care in Australia, referred to the Economics Committee on 25 September 2008, be transferred...
- Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
I move:That the time for the presentation of reports of the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee be extended as follows:(a)effectiveness of the Environment Protection and...
- Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
I move:That the Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 16 October 2008, from 4.30 pm, to take...
- Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Marshall, I move:That the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Thursday, 16...
- Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Marshall, I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee on academic freedom in school and higher...
- Economics Committee; Extension of Time (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hurley, I move:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Economics Committee on Australia’s mandatory Last Resort Home Warranty Insurance scheme be...
- MS Britt Lapthorne (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes with great sadness the death of young Melbourne backpacker Britt Lapthorne;(b)offers its sincere condolences to her parents Elke and Dale, brother Darren,...
- Executive Salaries (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate calls on the Government to:(a)ensure that, as a minimum, no financial institution executives’ pay will increase as a consequence of the Government purchasing...
- Anti-Poverty Week (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)the week beginning 12 October 2008 is Anti-Poverty Week,(ii)Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are over represented amongst those living in...
- Impact of the Traveston Crossing Dam on the Australian Lungfish (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move—That the Senate—(a)notes the call by Griffith University Professor Angela Arthington, and by world fish expert Professor Gene Helfman of the Institute of Ecology at the...
- First Spacewalk by the People’S Republic of China (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move—That the Senate congratulates the People’s Republic of China for its first spacewalk and this great contribution to the global community’s future adventure into the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
by leave—I move:That general business notice of motion No. 234 standing in the name of Senator Xenophon for today, relating to the 1999 Montreal Convention, compensation for passengers...
- World Sight Day (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move—That the Senate—(a)notes:(i)that 9 October 2008 was World Sight Day, the theme for 2008 is vision and ageing, and(ii)the importance of preventive measures and early detection...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Deputy President, I present the Second Report of 2008 of the Procedure Committee. Ordered that the report be printed and that consideration of the report be an order of the day...
- Community Affairs Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
On behalf of the chair of the Community Affairs Committee, Senator Moore, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the draft National Health (Pharmaceutical...
- National Fuelwatch (Empowering Consumers) Bill 2008; National Fuelwatch (Empowering Consumers) (Consequential Amendments) 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 National Fuelwatch (Empowering Consumers) Bill 2008, the National...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports of the committee:Annual report of committee activities 2007-08, dated October...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Political Contributions and Gifts) Bill 2008; Financial Transaction Reports Amendment (Transitional Arrangements) 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— TAX LAWS AMENDMENT...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill (No. 2) 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— TAX LAWS AMENDMENT...
- Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 [No. 2] (0 speeches)
- Report of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (2 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Crossin, I present the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 [No. 2], together with the Hansard...
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — Superannuation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Bill read a third time.
- Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (16 speeches)
Debate resumed from 1 September, on motion by Senator Conroy: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — Superannuation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (21 speeches)
Debate resumed from 16 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate do now adjourn.
- Millenium Development Goals: Child Mortality (2 speeches)
I seek leave to incorporate an adjournment speech on behalf of Senator Collins. Leave granted.
- International Day of Older Persons (1 speech)
I rise to speak today in recognition of Australia’s International Day of Older Persons, which was celebrated on 1 October as part of the broader United Nations International Day of Older...
- Stem Cell Research (1 speech)
I rise tonight to address a matter that should be of concern to every member of this chamber, particularly those who were here during the last parliament, in the closing months of 2006. At that...
- Micah Challenge Australia (1 speech)
I rise at this extremely late hour to speak in regard to an organisation and cause that I am proud to support and which I believe should be brought to the parliament’s attention. Micah...
- Millenium Development Goals; Micah Challenge Australia (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to speak on the millennium development goals and Micah Challenge. This is especially relevant because it is Anti-Poverty Week. I noted the contribution of Senator Mark Arbib...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (0 speeches)
The following government documents were tabled: Attorney-General’s Department—Report for 2007-08. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)—Report for 2007-08,...
- Departmental and Agency Appointments (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 24 June 2008: Departmental and agency appointments—Supplementary budget estimates—Statements of...
- Departmental and Agency Grants (0 speeches)
The following documents were tabled pursuant to the order of the Senate of 24 June 2008: Departmental and agency grants—Supplementary budget estimates—Statements of compliance—...
