Senate debates

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

• Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
  • Commission to Administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance (1 speech)
    As Senator Carr was absent from the Senate on 4 July 2011, I will now administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance as required by section 42 of the Constitution. I remind honourable senators...
• Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
  • Temporary Chairmen of Committees (1 speech)
    Pursuant to standing order 12, I lay on the table a warrant nominating Senator Coonan as an additional Temporary Chairman of Committees when the Deputy President and Chairman of Committees is absent.
• Privilege (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I speak on a matter of privilege. The Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee, by letter dated 1 August 2011, has raised a matter of privilege under standing order 81. The...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    to move on the next day of sitting: That the following matters be referred to the Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report: Having regard to the material submitted to the President by the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    I move: That the government business order of the day relating to the Federal Financial Relations Amendment (National Health and Hospitals Network) Bill 2010 be discharged from the Notice Paper.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011, Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011, Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011; In Committee (49 speeches)
    Debate resumed.
• Shadow Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a revised shadow ministry list. Senators Abetz, Brandis and Johnston have been stripped of certain responsibilities and others have been provided with them.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Can the minister confirm that according to the latest International Energy Agency...
  • Economy (13 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Wong, the
  • Carbon Pricing (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. On this first anniversary of the Prime Minister's election promise that 'there...
  • Palestine (9 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Conroy, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Is the government aware of calls, including those from the Australian Jewish Democratic Society, for Australia to...
  • Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to evidence given to the Select Committee on the Scrutiny of...
  • Budget (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Small Business and the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sherry. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government's fully costed and...
  • Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Is the minister aware that according to the Housing Industry Association building approvals are...
  • Coal Seam Gas (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Can the minister inform the Senate whether coal seam gas extracted in Australia is...
  • Carbon Pricing (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Can the minister advise the Senate of any modelling the government has...
  • Hospitals (9 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister Ludwig. Can the minister please inform the Senate about recent developments in the Gillard...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question No. 437 (6 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Treasurer for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to question on notice No. 437 regarding how much of...
  • Question Nos 232 and 274 (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs for an explanation as to why answers have not been provided to question Nos 232 and 274, asked...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong) to questions without notice asked today relating to a proposed carbon tax. I...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Holding, Hon. Allan Clyde (4 speeches)
    It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 31 July 2011 of the Hon. Allan Clyde Holding, a former minister and member of the House of Representatives for the division of...
  • Wake, Mrs Nancy Grace Augusta, AC, GM (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate records its deep regret at the death, on 7 August 2011, of Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM, decorated Second World War servicewoman, and places on record...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (0 speeches)
    To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled: The petition of the undersigned shows: Australia is a nation of great abundance. Our progress is intertwined with...
  • Cluster Munitions (0 speeches)
    To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled: The petition of the undersigned shows that we are concerned that cluster munitions are a large cause of death and...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (14 speeches)
    To move: That the Senate— (a)   congratulates Mr Cadel Evans on winning the 2011 Tour de France bicycle race; and (b)   notes that: (i)   Mr...
  • Postponement (0 speeches)
    The following items of business were postponed: General business notice of motion no. 27 standing in the name of the Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Bob Brown) for 17 August 2011,...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
    I move: That the following list of general business orders of the day be considered under the temporary order relating to the consideration of private senators’ bills on Thursday, 18 August...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Crossin, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and...
  • Australia's Food Processing Sector Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Select Committee on Australia’s Food Processing Sector be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during...
  • Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Heffernan, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Rural Affairs and...
  • Australia's Immigration Detention Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Australia's Immigration Detention Network, I move: That the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration...
  • Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Public Accounts and Audit Committee, Senator Bishop, I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a public...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Department of Parliamentary Services (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a)   notes the outstanding service provided to the Parliament by the staff of the Department of Parliamentary Services, in particular, the services...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (4 speeches)
    Order! Before I call Senator Singh, I remind honourable senators that this is her first speech; therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (29 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from Senator Fifield proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely: The Gillard government's...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Afghanistan (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, I table a ministerial statement on Afghanistan.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • COMMITTEES, Economics References Committee; Reporting Date (62 speeches)
    .by leave—On behalf of the Chair of the Economics References Committee, I move: That the time for the final presentation of the report of the Economics References Committee on the...
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Report on Livestock Mortalities During Exports by Sea (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Agreements with Marshall Islands and with Mauritius (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I am referring to the agreement between the government of Australia and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the exchange...
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service Report 2009-10 (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. In so doing, could I just refer the Senate to sections A and B, which perhaps should be called through at a later date. I did want to note the...
  • Defence Portfolio: Estimates of Proposed Expenditure for 2011-12 (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Productivity Commission Report No. 53: Caring for Older Australians (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
  • Productivity Commission Report No. 54: Disability Care and Support; Consideration (0 speeches)
    The following orders of the day relat­ing to government documents were considered: Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997—Live-stock mortalities during exports by...
  • Tabling (1 speech)
    Pursuant to standing orders 38 and 166, I present documents listed on today’s Order of Business at item 17 which were presented to the President, the Deputy President and temporary chairs...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Green Skills Centre of Excellence (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to talk to the Senate in relation to the green skills centre in Newnham, Launceston, in my home state. The Tasmanian Skills Institute has been in operation since 1 January 2009 as...
  • 27th Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (1 speech)
    At the beginning of this month, I was fortunate enough to be in Sri Lanka in Colombo for the 27th Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development. This particular meeting was...
  • Great Eastern Highway (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to talk about progress on major infrastructure projects in my duty electorate of Swan. I have been inspired to take this action following a similar discussion which occurred...
  • Climate Change (3 speeches)
    Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes.
  • Wake, Mrs Nancy Grace Augusta, AC, GM (1 speech)
    Mr President, I seek leave to speak for longer than 10 minutes. Leave granted. I rise tonight to honour and farewell one of Australia's greatest heroes. Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, affectionately...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (Question No. 4) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 28 September 2010: (1) Between the release of the Government's green and white papers in...
  • Infrastructure and Transport (Question No. 439) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 16 March 2011: With reference to travel behaviour change programs: How many positions are currently...
  • National Cycling Strategy (Question No. 537) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, upon notice, on 22 March 2011: With reference to the National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016 which notes that the $40...
  • National Rental Affordability Scheme (Question No. 571) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 4 April 2011: With reference to the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS): (1)   What is the name of the unit...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 603) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 604) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 605) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 606) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Climate Change (Question No. 607) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 19 April 2011: With reference to the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has the department conducted any research or...
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Question Nos 609 and 610) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: What is the current income distribution listed in $10...
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Staffing (Question No. 621) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 27 April 2011: With reference to the department and the agencies...
  • Mining (Question No. 657) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 May 2011: For each financial year from 2012-13 to 2021-22, what are the expenditure estimates or projections for each specific...
  • Australian Defence Force Land: Mining (Question No. 658) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 19 May 2011: (1) What is the approval process for exploration and mining proposals on Australian Defence Force land....
  • Human Services (Question No. 662) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services, upon notice, on 24 May 2011: Does the department recognise employees with awards for years of service; if so: (a) what lengths of...
  • Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Question No. 663) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 24 May 2011: To ask the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy— Has the...
  • Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: Accommodation (Question No. 664) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 24 May 2011: Did the department buy an office suite for the National Broadband Network (NBN) or an 'NBN...
  • Mining (Question No. 669) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 25 May 2011: (1)   Under the fuel tax credit scheme providing rebates for off-road diesel use: (a) what was the total...
  • Act of Grace Payments (Question No. 671) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 27 May 2011: (1)   How many act of grace payments have been approved by the Minister since 24...
  • Australian Federal Police (Question No. 680) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 8 June 2011: (1) Has the Australian Federal Police (AFP) been notified of or investigated war crime allegations...
  • Department of Parliamentary Services (Question No. 682) (2 speeches)
    asked the President of the Senate, upon notice, on 9 June 2011: (1) With reference to Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) staffing numbers and staff management policies: (a) what is the...