Senate debates

Monday, 17 September 2012

  • Bills (0 speeches)
    • Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012; Second Reading (14 speeches)
      I rise today to speak to the marriage equality bill that is before us. This bill, the Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012, is the second marriage equality bill that I have spoken on in the past...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (18 speeches)
      I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bill, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings. Environment Protection and...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mustafa, Mr Taji (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Evans. Can the minister explain why, despite warnings from the opposition, the government decided to issue a visa to Mr...
    • Australian Securities and Investment Commission (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. I draw the minister's attention to a report released today by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission...
    • Muslim Protest (8 speeches)
      My question today is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister advise what his response is to the violent protests in Sydney on the weekend following the release of...
    • Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to the government's decision to link its...
    • Alcohol Abuse (6 speeches)
      My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Ludwig. I draw the minister's attention to the Salvation Army's Alcohol Awareness Week initiative and to the report...
    • Vocational Education and Training (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research and the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Chris Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate on how...
    • Carbon Pricing (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to the government's recent advice to Australia's small...
    • Economy (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. She has been a bit neglected today.
    • Defence: Budget (14 speeches)
      My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to this year's budget, which saw a cut to Defence spending in real terms of around 10...
    • Queensland Floods (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister provide an update to the Senate on the Gillard government's investment and action to...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I seek leave to make a personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented. Leave granted. During question time Minister Wong stated that I had said, 'Newman's budget razor is Abbott's...
  • Questions to the President (0 speeches)
    • Conduct of Senators (2 speeches)
      Mr Deputy President, unfortunately the President has left before I could raise this issue, but could you please ask the President if he could give a ruling on senators addressing the chair? The...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Mustafa, Mr Taji (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (Senator Evans) to a question without notice asked by Senator Brandis...
    • Australian Securities and Investments Commission (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating to finance and...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That Senator Sinodinos be granted a leave of absence for the period 17 September 2012 on account of parliamentary reasons; that Senator Bushby be granted a leave of absence...
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: That the government business orders of the day relating to the Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Improvements) Bill (No. 2) 2011 and two related bills, and the Customs Amendment...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (1 speech)
      ) ( ): I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, no later than noon on Wednesday, 19 September 2012, information for each of the financial years 2012-13,...
    • Nauru (1 speech)
      I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, no later than 21 September 2012, the contact between the Commonwealth Government...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Parramatta Heritage Precinct; Postponement (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion No. 932 standing in my name for today, relating to the Parramatta Heritage Precinct, be postponed till the next day of sitting....
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Threatened Species and Wilderness (2 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the intention of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Mr Burke) to transfer responsibility for protecting...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (9 speeches)
      A letter has been received from Senator Fifield: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The crisis in...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Mustafa, Mr Taji (1 speech)
      by leave—I correct an answer I gave at question time. In answer to a question by Senator Brandis today regarding a visit to Australia by Mr Taji Mustafa, I answered incorrectly. I sought...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Economics Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Bishop, I present the report of the committee on the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Excessive Noise from Wind...
    • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on the review of the Defence annual report 2010-11 and move: That the Senate take note of the report....
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I seek leave to make a personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented. Leave granted. In the past week Senator Sinodinos has misrepresented my position on the 9-11 terrorist attack...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Bravehearts (2 speeches)
      Order! I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Member for Gilmore, Parliamentary Friendship Group for Early Literacy (1 speech)
      I am going to speak in the main this evening about the launch of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Early Literacy, which was held in the parliament last week. However, first I want to...
    • Nuclear Energy (1 speech)
      In the context of what is happening around the world this week in the nuclear industry, I would like to dedicate this speech to an Indian gentleman called Antony Samy, who was 40 years old and...
    • Tigers Oxfam Trailwalker Team (1 speech)
      I have previously spoken in the Senate about the Tigers Oxfam Trailwalker Team. This year the Tigers team set a new goal to become the first team in Australia to participate in all three...
  • Questions on Notice (0 speeches)