Senate debates

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

  • Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (23 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 7 September, on motion by Senator Carr: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • In Committee (7 speeches)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question put.
  • 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 (Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Bill 2008). Question agreed to.
  • Uranium Royalty (Northern Territory) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 10 March, on motion by Senator Ludwig: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (38 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. Did the government or the department undertake its own analysis of the funding of...
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sherry. Can the Assistant Treasurer inform the Senate about the latest economic indicators and forecasts for the Australian economy? What do...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the United Kingdom led by the Rt Hon. Joan Ryan MP. On behalf of all senators,...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Infrastructure (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, Senator Arbib. Minister, why did Labor marginal seats in New South Wales receive three times as much...
    • Economy (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Can the minister advise the Senate on the recent performance of Australian industry, with particular...
    • Child Care (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth, Minister Arbib. Is the minister aware of recent independent modelling commissioned by...
    • Afghanistan (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Faulkner. The Prime Minister stated to the House on 20 August: Credible elections are critical to strengthening Afghanistan’s democratic...
    • Breast Cancer Screening (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ludwig. Will the government rule out limiting the availability of breast cancer screening to women?
    • Economy (30 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Conroy. Can the minister explain to the Senate why it would be reckless and irresponsible to wind...
    • Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Why has the government ceased funding the Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Disease?
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan (1 speech)
      During question time, Senator Bob Brown asked me a series of important questions but, because of the constraints of our sessional orders and the serious nature of the questions, I was only able...
    • Timor Sea Oil Spill (1 speech)
      Yesterday, Senator Siewert asked me a question in my capacity representing the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. I have some further information to add to the answer provided,...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Employment Participation (Senator Arbib) to questions without notice asked by Senators Ryan, Eggleston and Payne today....
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Clerk: A petition has been lodged for presentation as follows:
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      Following the receipt of correspondence and a briefing from a departmental official, on behalf of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I give notice that on the next day...
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Senator Cormann to move on the next day of sitting:That the Select Committee on Fuel and Energy be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1)...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Economics References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—On behalf of the chair of the Economics References Committee, Senator Eggleston, I move: That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Postponement (0 speeches)
      The following item of business was postponed: Business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1 standing in the name of Senator Milne for today, proposing the disallowance of the Energy Efficiency...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Threatened Species Day (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that Monday, 7 September 2009 is National Threatened Species Day;(b)acknowledges the significance of the date which is the anniversary of the death of the...
  • United Nations International Literacy Day (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)8 September is United Nations International Literacy Day,(ii)literacy is integral to individual empowerment, civic and social development and global...
  • Equal Pay for Women (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move:That the Senate—(a)notes that:(i)1 September 2009 marked Equal Pay Day, almost 40 years after women formally achieved the right to equal pay, and(ii)women have to work more than 2...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • New South Wales Labor Government (49 speeches)
      I have received a letter from Senator Fierravanti-Wells proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The need for the Federal...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • National Security (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, my colleague Mr Combet, I table a ministerial statement on the contribution of defence science to the security of the nation.
  • Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 3 of 2009-10 (8 speeches)
      In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 3 of 2009-10: Performance audit: administration of...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      I indicate my objection to the withdrawal by the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances of business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 for 10 September, and I ask...
  • Veterans’ Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I table a correction to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Veterans’ Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures; No.; 4) 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 amends various...
  • International Monetary Agreements Amendment 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 purpose of this bill...
  • Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Bill 2009; Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009; Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Assent (0 speeches)
      Message from the Governor-General reported informing the Senate of assent to the bills.
  • migration amendment regulations 2009 (No. 6) (0 speeches)
    • Motion for Disallowance (5 speeches)
      I move:That the Migration Amendment Regulations 2009 (No. 6), as contained in Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 143 and made under the Migration Act 1958, be disallowed. These migration...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Consideration (0 speeches)
      The following government documents tabled earlier today were considered: Airservices Australia—Corporate plan 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014. Motion to take note of document moved by Senator...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! There being no further documents, I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Battle of Fromelles (1 speech)
      I have spoken a number of times during the adjournment debate about those missing at Fromelles in northern France. As those listening will recall, it is at Fromelles that mass graves have been...
    • Colac District; Liberal Candidate for Corangamite (7 speeches)
      I rise tonight to raise an issue of such significance to the people of Colac, in Victoria, that 4,479 people signed a petition calling for action. The petition was presented to the Senate today...
    • Threatened Species Week (1 speech)
      Threatened Species Week provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of maintaining the full diversity of life on our planet; the opportunity to remember that connected landscapes...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
      Tonight I stand to speak on the issue of the waste and mismanagement of the schools stimulus debacle and to say that the coalition is supporting a Senate inquiry into this debacle, to investigate...
    • National Child Protection Week (2 speeches)
      ‘It’s all white to say no!’ is the 2009 theme for White Balloon Day, the annual awareness campaign about child sexual assault that has been organised for 13 years by the...
    • Executive Salaries (1 speech)
      I rise on an issue that I have been interested in and involved in for many years; and that is the excessive salaries that are paid to executives both in Australia and overseas. I was keen to rise...
    • Special Species Timber Industry (1 speech)
      I want to talk about an industry that does not receive much recognition anywhere in the country, certainly not enough in the state of Tasmania, where it is probably stronger than it is in any...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (0 speeches)
      The following document was tabled by the Clerk: Sydney Airport Curfew Act—Dispensation Report 07/09. The following government documents were tabled: Airservices Australia—Corporate...
    • (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 January to 30 June...