Senate debates

Thursday, 25 August 2011

• 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 Fawcett as an additional Temporary Chairman of Committees when the Deputy President and Chair of Committees is absent.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That general business order of the day no. 51 (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bioregional Plans) Bill 2011) be postponed till the next day...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 (No. 2); Second Reading (15 speeches)
    I rise this morning to speak on this National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 (No. 2), which has been brought here by Senator Birmingham as a private senator's bill. The bill...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall with­draw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 11th report of 2011 of the Selection of Bills Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That government business be interrupted at 1 pm to allow consideration of the following government business orders of the day till not later than 2 pm today: No. 4 Legislative Instruments...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Marshall, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 376, relating to the attendance of the President of Fair Work Australia at estimates hearings of the Education,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Stephens, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Townsville Enterprise Pty Ltd (21 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   north Queensland's significant economic growth has been recorded in...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Qantas Sale Amendment (Still Call Australia Home) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Bob Brown, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Qantas Sale Act 1992, and for related purposes. Qantas Sale Amendment...
  • Qantas Sale Amendment (Still Call Australia Home) Bill 2011; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memor­andum and 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...
  • Quarantine Amendment (Disallowing Permits) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Quarantine Act 1908, and for related purposes. Quarantine Amendment (Disallowing Permits) Bill 2011. Question agreed...
  • Quarantine Amendment (Disallowing Permits) Bill 2011; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memorandum and 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...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Eden Biomass Power Plant (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   the operator of the Eden woodchip mill in south east New South...
  • Convoy of No Confidence (6 speeches)
    I move: That—   (a)   the Senate requests Mr Alan Belford Jones AO apologise to the police and wider public for his false claim that thousands of people and...
  • Immigration: MV Tampa (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that:      (i)   26 August 2011, marks the 10th anniversary of the rescue of 433...
  • China: Arrest of Australian Citizens (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes that a series of Australian citizens have been arrested and held in prison in China in recent years without prompt...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Publications Committee, I present the 8th report of the Publications Committee. Ordered that the report be adopted.
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the respective chairs, I present additional information received by committ­ees relating to the following estimates: Budget estimates 2010-11 (Supplementary)—...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, I present the final report of the committee, Defence's request for tender for aviation contracts, together...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011, Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011, Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011; 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—...
  • Legislative Instruments Amendment (Sunsetting) Bill 2011; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The opposition supports the Legislative Instruments Amendment (Sunset­ting) Bill 2011. The purpose of the bill is to provide that legislative instruments unifor­mly remain in force for...
  • Legislative Instruments Amendment (Sunsetting) Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The coalition supports the Indigen­ous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2011. I note that schedules 1 and 2 of this bill were initially part of the Families, Housing and Community Services...
  • Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill 2011; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The purpose of this bill is to amend the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to provide the IGIS with capacity to undertake own-motion preliminary inquiries and extend the...
  • Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill 2011; In Committee (1 speech)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendment to be moved to this bill. The memorandum was circulated in the chamber on 24 August 2011. I move government...
  • Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Amendment Bill 2011; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (National Regulator) Bill 2011, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Registration Fees) Amendment Bill 2011, Offshore Petroleum (Royalty) Amendment Bill 2011, Offshore Resources Legislation Amendment (Personal Property Securities) Bill 2011, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulatory Levies Legislation Amendment (2011 Measures No. 2) Bill 2011; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    These bills will amend the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act. They will establish two new regulatory bodies to administer and regulate petroleum and greenhouse gas storage...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Member for Dobell (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Work­place Relations, Senator Evans. I refer the minister to the ongoing and seemingly endless investigation by Fair...
  • Employment (6 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, Senator Evans. Could the minister please outline to the Senate the measures the Gillard...
  • Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. Is the government aware that Western Australia is not part of the...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. In relation to the government's response to the...
  • Taxation (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Can the minister explain why at a time of increasing economic uncertainty as a result of the carbon tax and a chronic...
  • Manufacturing (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. I refer to Paul Howes's comments on Lateline last night that Austral­ian manufacturing is in its...
  • Apple Imports (18 speeches)
    I am grateful to Senator Madigan. We share a common interest in the issue about which I will be asking the minister. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Senator...
  • Carbon Pricing (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the Vivid Economics report commissioned by the Climate Institute and the Department...
  • Housing (13 speeches)
    Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness, Senator Arbib. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government is assisting in the construction of new...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Hicks, Mr David (1 speech)
    In response to a question asked yesterday by Senator Wright regarding David Hicks, the Attorney-General has provided the following additional informa­tion. I seek leave to incorporate the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Manufacturing (11 speeches)
    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 Colbeck today...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Senator Conroy) to a question without notice asked by Senator Waters...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government’s response to the fourth report of 2010 of the Senate Select Committee on Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities. I seek leave to incorporate the document in...
  • Community Affairs References Committee (4 speeches)
    I present the government’s response to the report of the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on mental health services in Australia. I seek leave to incorporate the document in...
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 2 of 2011-12 (1 speech)
    In accordance with the provisions of the Auditor-General Act 1997, I present the following report of the Auditor-General: Report No. 2 of 2011-12: Performance audit: Confidentiality in government...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter from a party leader seeking to vary the membership of a committee.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Australia (25 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate—   (a)   notes:   (i)   the opening statement made by the President of Fair Work Australia on 1 June 2010 during...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (10 speeches)
    Order! Before I call Senator Edwards, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech; therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (1 speech)
    We have just heard three magnificent, uplifting, thoughtful, articulate speeches and I congratulate Senators Edwards, McKenzie and Madigan on their first speeches. They were very good. It brings...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Essendon Football Club (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to speak about the Essendon Football Club's community development program. Essendon is a proud club not only because of the on-field success it has had over the years but because...
  • Pacific Islands, Amazon Forests (1 speech)
    I speak on two issues today: Australia's reluctance to support independent trade advice for the Pacific island countries and Australian community support for protecting the Amazon forests....
  • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
    It is with disappointment and dismay that I rise this evening to bring to the attention of the Senate a serious breach of trust being perpetrated on the good people of the federal seat of Calare...
  • Dampier Peninsula: Traditional Owners (1 speech)
    I would like to talk about a couple of very special people in the Kimberley. As those in this chamber would know, I have had a healthy respect for and interest in the Kimberley for a very long...
  • Member for Dobell (1 speech)
    Along with the many questions that the Member for Dobell, Mr Craig Thomson, needs to answer is whether he has properly renounced his New Zealand citizenship. I understand Mr Thomson, and another...
• Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (Question No. 371) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 12 January 2011: Why is further reform of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme necessary when the 2007 reforms...
  • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 735) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 July 2011: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2011, how many civilian employees, including full-time and part-time,...
  • Naltrexone (Question No. 835) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 13 July 2011: In regard to the ‘Naltrexone implant treatment for opioid dependence–Literature...
  • IP Australia (Question No. 891) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, upon notice, on 25 July 2011: With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 676 (Senate Hansard, 4 July 2011, p. 3979):...
  • Defence: Special Purpose Aircraft (Question No. 898) (2 speeches)
    asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 1 August 2011: In regard to the special purpose aircraft: (1) For the past 6 months, on what dates did the Prime Minister...