Senate debates

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Comans, Mr Charles Kennedy, CBE, QC (1 speech)
      It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death last month at the age of 97 of Charles Comans, QC, former First Parliamentary Counsel. It was after his retirement as First...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Speaker of the House of Representatives (26 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to his public comments regarding the James Ashby allegations against the Speaker of the House of...
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Evans. Can the minister advise the Senate on how the...
    • Defence Budget (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to the comments he made in the Senate on 17 September: … by deferring Defence...
    • Pensions and Benefits (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Wong. I refer to comments reported today by the member for Page, Janelle Saffin, that,...
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. I refer the minister to the latest data on Australia's financial accounts by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which...
    • Syria (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Can the minister update the Senate on the Australian government's response to the humanitarian situation in Syria, including...
    • Carbon Pricing (12 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Senator Ludwig. Miss you, Senator Wong! After 100 days of the carbon tax and with...
    • Environment (9 speeches, 2 comments)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Minister Burke has indicated that he is waiting for...
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Lundy. I remind the minister that the 2012-13 budget forecast for the Immigration and Citizenship...
    • Wheat Industry (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister advise the Senate on the progress of the deregulation of the wheat industry in Australia?
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Qantas (1 speech)
      On 21 September 2012 I took a question on notice from Senator Xenophon regarding migration. I now seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted. The answer read as...
    • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
      I seek leave to have an answer to a question from Senator McKenzie on 20 September 2012 regarding the regional structural adjustment assistance package incorporated into Hansard. Leave granted....
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Carbon Pricing (22 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to questions without notice asked by Senators Birmingham and Sterle...
    • Environment (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...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Bills (1 speech)
      I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
      Mr Deputy President, I would like to withdraw notice of motion No. 930 standing in my name for today. I have given notice in writing of a replacement motion.
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That general business order of the day no. 95 (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Making Marine Parks Accountable) Bill 2012) be considered on Thursday, 11...
    • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Singh from the 9th of October to the 11th of October 2012 on account of Parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
    • National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—On behalf of Senator Gallacher I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate...
    • Economics References Committee, Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the Economics References Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday, 10 October 2012, from 6 pm, to take evidence...
    • Burma (1 speech)
      by leave—I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 962 standing in my name, relating to political prisoners in Burma, before be asking that it be taken as a formal motion....
    • WikiLeaks (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the Senate calls: (a) the attention of the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) to a resolution of the Senate of 21 June 2012; and -(b) on the Prime Minister to indicate...
    • Vocational Education and Training: State Funding (1 speech)
      by leave—I move That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 20 September 2012 thousands of students, parents, teachers, staff and friends of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) rallied...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Attorney-General (30 speeches)
      A letter has been received from Senator Brandis: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The failure of...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (1 speech)
      I present documents listed on today's order of business at item 13, which were presented to the President, Deputy President and Temporary Chairs of Committees after the Senate adjourned on 20...
    • Dementia Awareness Week; Tabling (3 speeches)
      I table a response from the President, Alzheimer’s Australia (Ms Buttrose, AO, OBE) to a resolution of the Senate of 19 September concerning Dementia Awareness Week.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Digital Local Government program (1 speech)
      Order! I propose the question: That the Senate do now adjourn.
    • Digital Local Government Program (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak on the Digital Local Government program, another government program that forms part of the National Digital Economy Strategy. We are moving into an increasingly...
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation (2 speeches)
      Today I would like to talk to the Senate about the Healing Foundation. There is overwhelming evidence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' mental health and social and emotional...
    • Afghanistan: Hazara People (1 speech)
      In the world of refugees there are many deserving causes, but perhaps none more than that of the Hazara people of Afghanistan, who, through no fault of their own, survive persecution to become...
    • Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to make some brief remarks about an event that occurred this past weekend just outside Alice Springs: the 15th meeting of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance. It is the 15th...
    • Public Services (3 speeches)
      I seek leave to speak for 20 minutes. Leave granted. Over the last few months we have heard much about the savage cuts that conservative governments are making to public services across...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      Mr President, I seek leave to speak for up to 20 minutes. Leave granted. The month of October is a very significant and important month for the mental health sector, for people suffering with a...
  • Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
    • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 1901) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 25 June 2012: Can a list be provided detailing all payments and grants made to unions or...
    • Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2012 (Question No. 1929) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 26 June 2012: With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 1792 (Senate Hansard, 20 June 2012, proof p.103), is this to be...
    • Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 1965) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 16 July 2012: With reference to the May 2010 Consultation...
    • Murray-Darling Basin Authority (Question No. 1969) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 31 July 2012: For each of the following financial years 2009 10,...
    • Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 1978) (2 speeches)
      Senator Milne asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 1 August 2012: With reference to the May 2010...
    • Treasury (Question Nos 1993 and 1994) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 6 August 2012: (1) Is it the case, according to the Government’s Competitive Neutrality Policy Statement, released in June...
    • Defence Force Posture Review (Question No. 2003) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 9 August 2012: (1) Is the Department considering the Defence Force Posture Review suggestion that the Cocos Islands...
    • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2005) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, in writing, on 9 August 2012: Further to the answer to question on notice no. 1923 and given that the...
    • Carbon Pricing (Question No. 2010) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 15 August 2012: With reference to the: (a) Carbon Price Claims Hotline; and (b) online complaints form announced by the Australian...
    • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2016) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 15 August 2012: With reference to the illegal picket line at the Coles Distribution Centre in...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2029) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012, how many (a) permanent uniformed staff, both part-time and full-time; and (b)...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2030) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, how many uniformed full-time, permanent personnel were...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2031) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: (1) For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012 how many: (a) uniformed staff; and (b) civilian staff,...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2032) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, how many temporary civilian positions, both full-time and...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2033) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, how many temporary civilian positions, including part-time,...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2034) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, how many civilian employees, including full-time and part-time,...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2035) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, what was the average cost in recruiting each new uniformed...
    • Defence: Staffing (Question No. 2036) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: What was the total expenditure on recruiting for the period 1 January to 30 June 2012?
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2038) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012, what specific savings have been made in the Strategic Reform Program 'Provisional...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2040) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012, what specific savings have been made in the Strategic Reform Program (SRP)...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2041) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, what specific savings have been made in the Strategic Reform...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2042) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workplace Implications': (1)...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2043) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications':...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2046) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on Monday, 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2047) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2048) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2049) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications -...