Senate debates

Monday, 10 August 2015

  • Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
    • Tasmania (1 speech)
      I inform the Senate that I have received a letter from Senator Milne resigning her place as a senator for the state of Tasmania. Pursuant to the provisions of section 21 of the Constitution, I...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Randall, Mr Donald James, Schultz, Mr Albert John (1 speech)
      It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 21 July this year of Donald James Randall, a member of the House of Representatives for the division of Swan, Western Australia,...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Meeting (1 speech)
      Does any senator wish to have the question put on either of those motions? If not, we will proceed.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Defence Procurement (19 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Ronaldson. I refer to the Prime Minister's announcement last week that South Australia will build...
    • Workplace Relations (18 speeches)
      I apologise, Mr President—I was absolutely amazed by that answer. My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to Hutchison Ports Australia and the reprehensible...
    • Employment (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Will the minister update the Senate on how the government's reform agenda will strengthen...
    • Climate Change (9 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Abetz. I understand tonight that cabinet will be discussing its climate change targets—targets that...
    • Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham, representing the Minister for the Environment. Can the minister update the Senate on the savings delivered...
    • Human Rights (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Justice. In August 2013 and in January 2014 Chile's Supreme Court issued extradition orders for Adriana Rivas, who has lived...
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator Cash. Will the minister update the Senate on the success of the government's turn-back policy in halting...
    • Workplace Relations (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. I refer to the recent release of the Productivity Commission's draft report into workplace relations, which called for cuts to...
    • Trade (6 speeches)
      My question is to my good friend and colleague the Minister for Human Services, Senator Payne, representing the Minister for Trade and Investment. Can the minister outline to the Senate how the...
    • National Security (24 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Secretary to the Attorney-General's Department who says that officers of his department were running around like headless...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Answers to Questions (11 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. What we have seen on display today is a government in decline,...
    • Climate Change (1 speech)
      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 the Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Di Natale)...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (2 speeches)
      I withdraw business of the Senate motion No. 768 standing in my name for today.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Reporting Date (1 speech)
      I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, I shall now move on.
    • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the Regulator of Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2014 be extended...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • 70th Anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations (1 speech)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Singh, move: That the Senate— (a) recognises the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations on 26 June 2015; (b) notes that: (i)...
    • Genetically Modified Crops (1 speech)
      I, and also on behalf of Senators Wang and Day, move: That the Senate recognises that: (a) genetically modified crops have higher yields per hectare than conventional crops and therefore reduce...
    • Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      I move: That— (a) the Senate notes the comments made by Productivity Commissioner, Mr Peter Harris, who said 'we treat consumers like idiots if we don't publish [cost benefit studies]' in...
    • Beef Industry (3 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senators Canavan and Williams, move: That the Senate notes that: (a) the Australian beef industry contributed $8.5 billion to the national economy in 2013 14; (b) in...
    • Illicit Drugs (6 speeches)
      I move: (a) notes: ( i ) the near fatal overdose by five young people of the deadly and illegal drug fantasy, gamma hydroxybutyrate , at a South Stradbroke Island dance party on 7 June 2015, and...
    • Waltzing Matilda Centre (1 speech)
      In moving motion No. 779, relating to the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton and its destruction by fire earlier this year, I note that the Mayor of the Winton Shire is currently in this...
    • Vietnamese Community in Australia (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) welcomes the Vietnamese Community in Australia's (VCAs) celebration of the 40th anniversary of resettlement in Australia with a reception at Parliament House on...
    • International Development Assistance (10 speeches)
      I ask that general business notice of motion No. 777 standing in my name for today, requiring military logistical support not to be accounted as foreign aid, be taken as a formal motion.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Unemployment (14 speeches)
      A letter has been received from Senator Moore: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The Abbott...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      The President has received letters from party leaders requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Dissent from Ruling (10 speeches)
      Mr President, previously I moved a motion of dissent from a ruling of the presiding officer in the chair on 25 June 2015. I will be very brief but it is perhaps important to relate the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That government business order of the day No. 1, Social Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2015, be postponed to the next day of sitting. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Randall, Mr Donald James, Schultz, Mr Albert John (1 speech)
      Earlier today the Senate observed a minute's silence for two of our colleagues, one current and one past member of the House of Representatives, who had passed away since the Senate last sat....
    • Nuclear Weapons (1 speech)
      Over the last few days, on 6 and 9 August, organisations like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Medical Association for Prevention of War and the Australian Red Cross...
    • Wishart, Ms Felicity (Flic) (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to mark the tragic passing, on 20 July, of Felicity Wishart, the leading light of Queensland's conservation movement. She was dear friend to me and to many, including other members...
    • Randall, Mr Donald James (2 speeches)
      I cannot help but think that tonight is one of those rare opportunities when Australians get to see the human face of the Australian Senate. I want to acknowledge Senator Macdonald's contribution...