Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      I move: That the government business order of the day relating to the Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009 be discharged from...
  • Fair Work (State Referral and Consequential and Other Amendments) Bill 2009; Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • In Committee (127 speeches)
      Consideration resumed from 16 June. FAIR WORK (TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2009
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 12.45 pm, I call on matters of public interest.
    • Sports News and Digital Media (1 speech)
      I welcome the opportunity to speak on a matter of public interest. A report was recently tabled by the Senate Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications and the Arts called The...
    • Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the important matter of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities, I have become very...
    • Alice Springs Town Camp Leases; Northern Territory Intervention (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about two issues that I feel very passionate and concerned about: the Alice Springs town camp leases and the exemption of the Northern Territory intervention from the Racial...
    • Private Health Insurance (4 speeches)
      In July 2008, the Senate Standing Committee on Economics, of which I am a member, undertook an inquiry into the government’s proposal to increase the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds. On...
    • Men’s Health Week (1 speech)
      This week is Men’s Health Week, and I rise to talk about the important issue of men’s health. The focus of this week is preventative health measures for men and encouraging healthy...
    • Private Health Insurance (4 speeches)
      I rise to speak briefly in response to the matters raised by Senator Hurley in this chamber earlier today. I want to place on the record some facts that Senator Hurley did not place on the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Employment (23 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Arbib. As the minister was made aware yesterday that 47 per cent of job seekers will be changing their caseworkers and...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research representing the Minister for Education, Senator Carr. Can the minister explain to the Senate the economic and...
    • Employment (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Arbib. Can the minister explain what weighting was given to past performance in the government’s $4.9 billion tender for...
    • Water (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. I refer to the rapid push by the mining industry into prime agricultural land in New South Wales and Queensland for the...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (26 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. Further to the question taken by the minister yesterday from Senator Marshall, can the...
    • Climate Change (18 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Given the strong interest across the community in action on climate change, can the minister advise the Senate on which...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (18 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Conroy. What instructions has the minister given to the Department of Finance and Deregulation to...
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. I refer to a report in the Daily Telegraph on 11 June by Sue Dunlevy about how taxpayers’...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Environment: Dieback (1 speech)
      Yesterday in question time, Senator Siewert asked me a question as Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. I have some further information which I will seek...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Economy (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Minister for Employment Participation and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery (Senator Arbib) and...
    • Water (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Climate Change and Water (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked today. I particularly want to refer to...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (0 speeches)
      Senator Nash to move on the next day of sitting:That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the natural resource...
  • Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator McGauran for the period 17 June to 18 June 2009 on account of personal reasons. Question agreed to.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Mining (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      At the request of Senator Joyce, I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the decision by the New South Wales and Queensland governments to allow coal exploration near Caroona, in the centre of the...
  • Emissions Trading Scheme (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 451 standing in my name for today relating to the failure to provide information relating to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Forestry (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes the findings of Professor Brendan Mackey, Professor David Lindenmayer and Dr Heather Keith of the Australian National University that Victoria’s...
  • Coal Exploration (0 speeches)
    • (29 speeches)
      I ask that motion No. 452 standing in my name for today relating to coal exploration near the flood plain at Caroona, near Gunnedah in New South Wales, and calling on the government to halt...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Independent Youth Allowance (13 speeches)
      The President has received a letter from Senator Williams proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The Rudd government’s...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Australian Crime Commission Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission on the examination of the annual report of 2007-08 of the Australian Crime Commission, together with...
    • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of Senator Coonan, I present the sixth report of 2009 of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills. I also lay on the table Scrutiny of Bills Alert Digest No. 7 of 2009,...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 41 of 2008-09 (1 speech)
      In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 41 of 2008-09: Performance audit—The Super Seasprite:...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Economics Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
      The President has received letters from a party leader and an Independent senator seeking to vary the membership of a committee.
  • Family Assistance Amendment (Further 2008 Budget Measures) Bill 2009 (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 contains...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That Family Assistance Amendment (Further 2008 Budget Measures) Bill 2009 and the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment (2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill...
  • Defence Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2009 (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— The purpose of the...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Apprentices) Bill 2009 (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— The Social Security and...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform and Other 2009 Budget Measures) Bill 2009 (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 implements key...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical and Other Benefits — Cost Recovery) Bill 2008 [No. 2]; TRADE PRACTICES AMENDMENT (CARTEL CONDUCT AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2008 (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Community Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on compliance audits on Medicare benefits, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the...
  • Social Security Amendment (Training Incentives) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 June, on motion by Senator Wong: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 2) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (6 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 15 June, on motion by Senator Faulkner: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Third Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
  • International Monetary Agreements Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (2 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 June, on motion by Senator Wong: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Third Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill passed through its remaining stages without amendment or debate.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Consideration (0 speeches)
      The government documents tabled today and general business orders of the day Nos 1 to 4 relating to government documents were called on but no motion was moved.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! There being no further consideration of government documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • RAAF Base Edinburgh (1 speech)
      The Public Works Committee yesterday brought down its report recommending proposed works at the RAAF Base Edinburgh stage 2. The development of the Edinburgh base will enable the 7RAR mechanised...
    • Blackstone State School (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak on a little Queensland school with a very big heart. Blackstone State School is situated in the eastern suburbs of Ipswich, in South-East Queensland. It was...
    • Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to talk about the experience I had at RAAF Amberley on 18 May. I entered the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program at RAAF Amberley with no preconceived views, only...
    • Occupational Health and Safety; Community Television (1 speech)
      I intend to speak on two matters involving what I believe to be the manifest failure of Senators Conroy and Carr to perform their duties as ministers. The first matter is the tragic death of a...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (0 speeches)
      The following documents were tabled by the Clerk: Australian Bureau of Statistics Act—Proposals Nos—3 of 2009—Household Income and Expenditure Survey. 4 of 2009—Community...