Senate debates

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Interest (0 speeches)
    • Molonglo Football Club, Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Senator Zed Seselja Awards, Benny Wills Gala Dinner (1 speech)
      I want to raise a number of matters of public interest, relating to the community of the ACT, that I have had the pleasure of engaging with over the past few weeks: the Molonglo Football Club,...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      I rise again in this chamber to talk about the Abbott government's cruel and arbitrary cuts to the aged care sector that have left providers reeling and older Australians at the most vulnerable...
    • Southern Ocean and Antarctic Research (4 speeches)
      I have made two matters of public interest speeches to the Senate so far in my two years here. This my third. Both of my previous speeches have been on matters deeply important to...
    • Western Australian Government (17 speeches)
      I wish to make a contribution today while I have time before question time. We are well aware of some of the political stench coming out of New South Wales. I have been on the record more than...
    • Rural Woman of the Year (1 speech)
      In the minute or so we have left I would like to put on the record the fantastic event that is occurring tonight in the Great Hall: the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's...
  • Shadow Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I inform the Senate that Mr Albanese has been appointed shadow minister for cities in addition to his current shadow ministerial responsibilities. I seek leave to incorporate the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Defence Procurement (9 speeches)
      My question is to Senator Abetz. I refer the minister to comments made by Senator Fawcett, recorded in the Adelaide Advertiser, that it is more important for South Australia to maintain...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey led by the Speaker, His Excellency Mr Cemil...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Security (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General update the Senate on the attacks on two police officers in Melbourne last night, including an update on their...
    • Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer the minister to the fair entitlements guarantee and to a letter he wrote on 17 July 2013 to Mr Pierre Rault, a former...
    • National Security (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, regarding the extension of preventative detention orders in the foreign fighters legislation to be introduced today. The COAG review of...
    • Indigenous Affairs (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Scullion. Can the minister update the Senate on negotiations with state governments to shift responsibility for municipal and...
    • Indigenous Health (35 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the observation of Associate Professor Brian Owler, President of the Australian Medical Association that all of the...
    • Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister advise the Senate how the government's workplace relations legislation reform package will improve...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the House of Representatives of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. They...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Housing Affordability (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. I refer to current debates about high house prices and, in particular, the push by some for more government intervention on home...
    • Higher Education (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement in parliament yesterday: … the Commonwealth taxpayer will continue to cover 50 per...
    • Aged Care (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on development of the replacement scheme for aged care providers who support the...
    • Budget (18 speeches)
      My question is also to Senator Fifield, the Minister representing the Minister for Communications. I refer to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise of, 'No cuts to the ABC and no cuts to the...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Workplace Relations (15 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Cameron today relating to the Fair Entitlements...
    • National Security (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Attorney-General (Senator Brandis) to a question without notice asked by Senator Wright today relating to anti-terrorism laws. Today...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      Pursuant to notice of intention given yesterday, I withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos 1 to 3 standing in my name for today.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Fair Work Amendment (Protected Industrial Action) Regulation 2014 (1 speech)
      I move: That— (a) so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the succeeding provisions of this resolution having effect; (b) on Wednesday, 24 September 2014, the business...
    • Senate Temporary Orders (6 speeches)
      Mr President, I have three motions of the Procedures Committee to deal with. I seek leave to make a very short statement in relation to the three of them before I seek to formally move them....
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Photographs in the Senate (14 speeches)
      I move: That the order of the Senate of 21 March 2002 relating to photographs in the Senate chamber cease to have effect on and from 30 September 2014.
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Postponement (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That general business notice of motion No. 434 be postponed to Wednesday, 1 October 2014. Question agreed to.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
      I move: That paragraph (1) of the order of the Senate of 18 May 1993 relating to the provision of seating on the floor of the Senate for members of the House of Representatives be amended by...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Whaling (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the recent International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting passed a resolution instructing members to have their future scientific whaling programs...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes recent analysis by Mr Chris Bonnor and Mr Bernie Shepherd, which demonstrated that inequality between the most advantaged and disadvantaged schools has...
    • East West Link (8 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the recent release of the G20 finance ministers report on leading practices to promote and prioritise quality investment, particularly in...
    • Middle East (4 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate calls on the Government to heed the request of the United Nations and provide increased humanitarian assistance in the Middle East by offering and preserving asylum space...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Defence Procurement (28 speeches)
      The President has received the following letter from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Investment (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr Robb, I table a ministerial statement on investment.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Responses to Senate Resolutions; Tabling (3 speeches)
      I present the following responses to the resolutions of the Senate: Attorney-General (Senator Brandis)—Marrakesh Treaty (agreed to 23 June 2014) Minister for Education (Mr...
  • Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (1 speech)
      I move: That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows: Community Affairs Legislation and References Committees— Appointed—Participating member: Senator...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Western Australia: Telecommunications (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak about a convergence of two issues that are very close to my heart—regional Western Australia, and communications. As many senators will be aware, I have a...
    • Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to pay tribute and respect to a young Western Australian woman whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 22. On August 4 of this year, a young woman, aged 22, died in the...
    • Transport (1 speech)
      I want to talk tonight about what makes a great city. How do we bring people together to work, play, go about their daily lives, have somewhere to call home and be educated efficiently happily...
    • Soccer (1 speech)
      Australia is a proud sporting nation. We unite together to support our national teams at competitions at home and abroad, across a wide range of sporting pursuits. However, there is possibly no...