Senate debates

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

  • Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
    • Temporary Chairmen of Committees (1 speech)
      Order! Pursuant to standing order 12, I lay on the table a warrant nominating Senator Bernardi as an additional Temporary Chairman of Committees when the Deputy President and Chairman of...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (3 speeches)
      I move: That the motion relating to designating the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country be called on immediately. In moving this motion, please let me explain...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That the motion relating designating the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country be called on immediately. Question agreed to.
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Manus Island (14 speeches)
      I move: That, for the purposes of section 198AB of the Migration Act 1958, the Senate approves the designation of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country, by...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
    • Breast Cancer (1 speech)
      October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When the late Mrs Evelyn H Lauder, co-creator of the pink ribbon, launched the Estee Lauder company's breast cancer awareness campaign in 1992, she...
    • Water (3 speeches)
      I will begin by commending Senator Polley on an excellent speech and saying that it crosses over to men and prostate cancer as well—so congratulations. I rise today with great melancholy to...
    • Refugees (1 speech)
      Today I want to talk about an important situation concerning many vulnerable refugees, people who have been found to need Australia's protection. They are in genuine need of Australia's...
    • Child Protection (1 speech)
      Nothing is more important than protecting vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. If we do not, as a community we deny those children the opportunity to reach their full potential and to live...
    • Food Allergies (1 speech)
      I too rise today to talk about children in our community but in a different way from the preceding speaker, Senator Thorp. Nonetheless, I have a very important message to deliver about the safety...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Australian Political Exchange Council ninth delegation from New Zealand led by Ms Louise Upston MP. On behalf of...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mental Health (6 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ludwig, representing the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. I remind the minister that today is World Mental Health Day. It is now 10 months since the government...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from Myanmar, led by the Speaker, the Hon. U Khin Aung Myint MP. On behalf all senators I...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Broadband Network (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. Can the minister provide advice on initiatives the government is taking to ensure the...
    • Defence Budget (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to the recently released 2012-17 defence corporate plan which states, on page 11, that...
    • Newstart Allowance (6 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and, Indigenous Affairs, Senator Evans. Yesterday this Senate passed the Social Security...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before calling the next questioner, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of former senator Lyn Allison. Welcome back. I hope you are enjoying question time as much as the rest of us are....
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Setka, Mr John (15 speeches)
      I trust Ms Allison will enjoy this question. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and former CFMEU industrial officer, Senator Wong....
    • Parliamentary Budget Office (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Wong. Can the minister outline to the Senate the effect of the Australian government protocols governing the engagement...
    • Superannuation (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Wong. Can the minister confirm reports in the Australian Financial Review today, said to be based on advice from government...
    • Malaysian Elections (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr. Later today before the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade two key representatives from the...
    • Carbon Pricing (28 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Ludwig, representing the climate change minister. Does the minister still stand behind the government's prediction of $29 per tonne for the carbon price in 2015-16?
    • Mental Health (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing—again, Senator Ludwig. Can the minister provide details to the Senate about how our government is...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Carbon Pricing (39 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Ludwig) to a question without notice asked by Senator Macdonald today...
    • Newstart Allowance (1 speech)
      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 Siewert...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
      I withdraw notice of motion No. 932 standing in my name.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Joyce for 10 October 2012, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Economics Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, I move: That the Economics Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in...
    • Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold a private...
    • National Broadband Network Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
      by leave—At the request of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network, I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Anti-Poverty Week (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 14 October to 20 October 2012 is Anti-Poverty Week, (ii) poverty and severe financial hardship affect more than a million Australians and people...
    • World Mental Health Day (4 speeches)
      by leave—At the request of Senator Moore, I move this motion, as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 10 October 2012 is World Mental Health Day, which aims to raise public...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Productivity Commission Report; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
      I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, no later than noon on 11 October 2012, a copy of the final report of...
    • North West Slope Trawl Fishery (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) trawling in the northeast area of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery, in depths of less than 200 metres off the Western Australian Kimberley...
    • Reef Rescue Program (2 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences study released on 2 October 2012, which found that: (i) the Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Medicare (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with subsection 10B(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the Senate approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2012 (No. 1)...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Industrial Chemicals...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Mental Health (7 speeches)
      A letter has been received from Senator Fierravanti-Wells: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The...
  • First Speech (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Before I call Senator Ruston, I remind honourable senators that this is her first speech and, therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
      At the request of the Chair, Senator Macdonald, I present the 12th report of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee. I also lay on the table the Scrutiny of Bills Alert DigestNo. 12 of 2012.
    • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
      At the request of the chair, Senator Heffernan, I present an interim report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on fresh pineapple imports. I move: That the time...
    • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
      I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on palliative care in Australia, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee....
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, I present the fifth report of 2012 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights on the examination of legislation in accordance with...
    • Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (3 speeches)
      On behalf of the Chair of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the review of the...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tabling (1 speech)
      Pursuant to section 198AC of the Migration Act, I table a letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Antonio Guterres, to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Mr...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees in accordance with the document circulated in the chamber. Environment and Communications Legislation...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Australian Research Council (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise this evening to make some comments on the Australian Research Council's annual report 2011-12. The ARC is a great organisation. Its...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
      Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of welcoming an officer from the Australian Defence Force into my office as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program. Wing Commander Jonathon...
    • Bowel Cancer (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak on an issue of great importance, and one that I feel needs to be spoken about with honesty, compassion and openness. A few weeks ago, I was privileged enough to meet with...
    • GS Kidd Memorial School (1 speech)
      Tonight I wish to talk about a most enjoyable experience I had in Gunnedah in the New England north-west region during Education Week a few months ago. I was invited to spend some time with the...
    • Owens, Mr Joe, Murray, Mr Arthur (1 speech)
      Tonight I wish to pay tribute to Joe Owens and Arthur Murray. Joe Owens was a former leader of the Builders' Labourers Federation and also a great leader of the green ban movements. He dedicated...
  • Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
    • Bureau of Meteorology (Question No. 1849 amended) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, in writing, on 17 May 2012: With reference to forecasts made by the Bureau of...
    • Strategic Reform Program (Question No. 2050) (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...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2051) (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: (1) Which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy fleet were...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2052) (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, (a) which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2053) (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: (a) how many fully qualified personnel are 'Dolphin Qualified'...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2054) (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 personnel fully completed training courses and became...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2055) (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 personnel completed training courses and became...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2056) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012, how many Royal Australian Navy personnel were 'Perisher qualified' and eligible to...
    • Royal Australian Navy (Question No. 2057) (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, which submarines were undergoing maintenance/refit programs and...
    • Defence: Naval Vessels (Question No. 2058) (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: (1) Which Naval vessels were fully operational with a full crew...
    • Network Centric Warfare Capability Policy and Plans (Question No. 2059) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence on 20 August 2012: Given that video communications are integrated into robots, soldiers and unmanned aerial vehicles, network centric...
    • Defence: Media Monitoring (Question Nos 2060 to 2062) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Minister representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Material,...
    • Defence: Travel (Question Nos 2072 to 2074) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing Minister for Defence, Minister representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and Minister representing the Minister for Defence Materiel, upon...
    • Defence (Question No. 2078) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012: (1) With reference to the acquisition of the first 14 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)...
    • Defence (Question No. 2080) (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: (a) where specifically have the provisional savings of the...
    • Defence (Question No. 2081) (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 productivity improvement savings have been made by the...
    • Defence (Question No. 2083) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012: (a) what specific productivity improvement savings have been made in Smart...
    • Defence (Question No. 2084) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012: (a) what specific savings, over the period 2010 to 2019, have been made in the...
    • Defence (Question No. 2085) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: As at 30 June 2012: (a) of the savings expected over the period 2010 to 2019, what specific savings have...
    • Defence (Question No. 2088) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012: For the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012: (a) What 'First Pass' Project approvals; and (b) What 'Second...
    • Health (Question No. 2090) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 21 August 2012: (1) Can the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) explain the concept of 'benchmarking' and the...
    • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2094) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 23 August 2012 : With reference to the answer provided to question no. EW0004_13, taken on...
    • Employment and Workplace Relations (Question No. 2096) (2 speeches)
      asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 23 August 2012: With reference to the answer provided to question no. EW0156_13, taken on...