Senate debates

Thursday, 4 December 2014

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Family Tax Benefit (Tighter Income Test) Bill 2014; Second Reading (14 speeches)
    The Family Tax Benefit (Tighter Income Test) Bill 2014 cuts government spending by more than $270 million a year by means-testing family tax benefit part A more rigorously. Both the coalition and...
  • Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (18 speeches)
    I rise to contribute Labor's position on the Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2013. Labor is happy to see that the government has changed its approach by making some of these changes to...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Divisions (1 speech)
    Earlier today a division occurred on the second reading of the Family Tax Benefit (Tighter Income Test) Bill 2014. The division was called for by two voices, as required by standing order 100(1),...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (28 speeches)
    I present the 16th report for 2014 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown in the list circulated in the chamber be considered from 12.45 pm today; and (b) government business be called on after...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee, Economics Legislation Committee (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Gallacher, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2015: The...
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Cameron, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2015: The scale and incidence of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend government business notice of motion no. 1 before seeking to have the motion taken as a formal motion. Leave not granted.
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the ACT Government Loan Bill 2014, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings. Question...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 3 December 2015: The future role and contribution of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Donations Reform) Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to prohibit political donations from certain industries, and for related purposes....
  • Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Donations Reform) Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
  • ACT Government Loan Bill 2014; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the ACT Government Loan Bill 2014. Firstly, I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting the quick passage of this bill through the parliament. This bill is of great...
  • ACT Government Loan Bill 2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to support the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014 which I did not expect to do when the bill was introduced in February. The bill was introduced without...
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014; In Committee (2 speeches)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014. I seek leave to move...
  • Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Minister for Defence (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston. I refer to the minister's spring culinary tour of Australia, which has currently clocked up over $6,000 of spending in restaurants in...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I inform senators of the presence in the President's Gallery of former Senator Sue Boyce. Good to see you. Honourable senators: Hear,hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Budget (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Abetz: will the minister inform the Senate why it is absolutely vital that we deal with important legislation prior to rising...
  • Minister for Defence (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to reports of chaos and dysfunction within his office. Can the minister confirm that two of his staff had their phones and...
  • Economy (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing he Treasurer, Senator Cormann. Given the Treasurer's admission that we cannot take another decade of growth for granted, will the government now...
  • Senator Sinodinos (29 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Does the Prime Minister maintain full confidence is his suspended Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinos, noting...
  • Asylum Seekers (8 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi said during her visit to Australia in November 2013 that the rule...
  • Higher Education (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the Senate on the progress of higher education reforms following...
  • Fishing Industry (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. Yesterday in the Senate the tabled report of the Expert Panel on the Declared Commercial Fishing...
  • Abbott Government (14 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the article by Ms Niki Savva in today's Australian, which reveals the internal chaos and confusion around...
  • National Security (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. The key offence provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014, including the offence of entering...
  • Abbott Government (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I refer to the Prime Minister's promise before the election that there would be no changes to pensions. Hasn't the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (121 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion to vary the routine of business for today. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent me...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014; Second Reading (43 speeches)
    Mr President, we have had the most irregular of procedures here where a bill has been brought on, no speakers' list has been distributed—I have not seen it. I have responsibility for the...
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014; In Committee (83 speeches, 1 comment)
    I table four supplementary explanatory memoranda relating to the government's amendments to be moved to this bill. I also seek leave to move government amendments on sheet HA110, government...
  • Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That the bill be read a third time.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Australia Fund Establishment, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! I have received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Amendment Bill 2014; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
    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 as follows— This Government is...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Privileges Committee; Report (6 speeches)
    I present the 160th report of the Committee of Privileges on the use of CCTV material in Parliament House. I also table a volume of documents. Ordered that the report be printed. Given the hour,...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate at its rising adjourn until Monday, 9 February 2015 at 10 or such other time as may be fixed by the President or, in the event of the President being unavailable, by the...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be granted to every member of the Senate from the end of the sitting day today to the day on which the Senate next meets. Question agreed to.
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Valedictory (6 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. As we break to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, it is my prayer and wish that all Australians might enjoy the true blessings of...