Senate debates

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Meeting (1 speech)
      Does any senator wish to have the question put on any of those motions? There being none, we will proceed.
    • Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network; Membership (1 speech)
      Yesterday I informed the Senate that I had received letters from Senator Griff and Senator Hanson seeking appointment to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network. There are...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
    • Australian Labor Party (2 speeches)
      by leave—I advise that, at the meeting of the federal parliamentary Labor Party this morning, Senator Farrell was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. I...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Attorney-General (7 speeches)
      Thank you, Senator Brandis, for those kind words. I am not sure how long it is going last—I will put the next question! I am pleased to say that, not only do I have friends on that side, I...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! I draw to the attention of the Senate the presence in the gallery of a delegation from the Federal Republic of Germany led by Ms Ingrid Fischbach, Parliamentary State Secretary to the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Country Fire Authority (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the actions the government is taking to protect emergency services volunteers?
    • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On what date was the Solicitor-General first made aware of the Attorney-General's intention to make the Legal Services Amendment...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call Senator Hanson-Young, could I just indicate to senators that we also have a delegation from the Australian Political Exchange Council's 10th delegation from the Republic of the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Oil Exploration (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. Senator, BP today announced that they will not pursue their plans to drill for oil in...
    • Marriage (27 speeches)
      I rise to ask my question to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, and it is with some degree of sadness today that I actually have to ask this question. Can the Attorney-General comment on the...
    • Attorney-General (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the evidence of the former Solicitor-General, Dr David Bennett, to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee...
    • Defence Industry (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister update the Senate on how the structural reforms to ASC announced today will support Australia's record naval...
    • Illicit Drugs (8 speeches)
      My question without notice is to the Attorney-General. I refer the Attorney-General to two important facts regarding my proposal for involuntary medical detox treatment for children who are...
    • Attorney-General (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, and I refer to statements made by Senator Macdonald in the Senate yesterday in relation to the Solicitor-General, where he stated, 'It...
    • Mental Health (12 speeches)
      My question is to the representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Nash. With today marking the inaugural headspace day, can the minister inform the Senate of the work the...
    • Northern Territory: Juvenile Detention (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. On 29 July 2016, when asked whether he had consulted with any Aboriginal groups about the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into...
    • Child Care (8 speeches)
      Mr President, my question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister update the Senate on the Turnbull government's compliance measures to ensure that...
    • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Can the Attorney-General confirm that he sought advice in relation to the government's proposal for a marriage equality plebiscite from a...
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Attorney-General (19 speeches)
      This is the first time I have had the opportunity to congratulate you in your new role, Madam Deputy President. I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Attorney-General...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Ludlam for 10 October 2016, for personal reasons; and (b) Senator Waters for 10 October 2016, for...
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That, on Wednesday, 12 October 2016 the sitting of the Senate shall be suspended at 10.30 am to noon to enable senators to attend the address by His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Wilson, Ms Rebecca (8 speeches)
      I ask that general business notice of motion No. 75, standing in my name and also the name of Senator Hinch for this afternoon, relating to Rebecca Wilson, be taken as a formal motion. Question...
    • World Day Against the Death Penalty (1 speech)
      I, and also on behalf of Senators Rhiannon, Brown, Moore, Rice, Siewert, Paterson, Hume, Canavan, Duniam, Bushby, Birmingham, Sinodinos, Whish-Wilson and Singh, move: That the Senate— (a)...
    • Indigenous Artefacts (4 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Rhiannon, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) in 1770, two members of the Gweagal people stood on the shore of the place now called...
    • National Headspace Day (1 speech)
      ) ( ): I move: That the Senate— (a) supports the first National Headspace Day on 11 October 2016 as part of National Mental Health Week; (b) notes that:   (i) one in four young...
    • Human Trafficking (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) human trafficking and slavery are serious and often transnational crimes encompassing a wide range of exploitative practices with...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Red Tape Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
      I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Red Tape Committee, be established to inquire into and report on, by 1 December 2017, the effect of restrictions and prohibitions on...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Philippines (13 speeches)
      I ask that general business notice of motion No. 78, standing in my name for today, relating to extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, be taken as a formal motion.
    • Australian Statistician (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) on 12 September 2016 the Senate agreed to an order for production of documents directed at the Minister representing the Minister...
    • Ministerial Standards (6 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move: That the Senate— (1) notes that: (a) the statement of ministerial standards stipulates that "Ministers are required to undertake that, for an...
    • Housing Affordability (5 speeches)
      I, and also on behalf of Senator Cameron, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Australian dwellings increased in price by 10 per cent in 2015-16, indicating a clear...
    • United States Presidential Election (9 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the misogynistic, hateful comments made by the Republican candidate for President of the United States of America, Mr Donald Trump, about women and...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Medicare (51 speeches)
      The President has received the following letter from Senator Gallagher. Dear Mr President Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to...
  • First Speech (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches, 1 comment)
      Pursuant to order, we now move to first speeches. I remind senators to extend the normal courtesies that we do to first speeches to those giving those speeches.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Attorney-General's Department; Consideration (4 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the document. Obviously the seeking of legal advice has been quite topical this week, and it will continue to be topical up until and beyond Friday this week....
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Northern Australia (6 speeches)
      by leave—I am very proud as the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia to present this first report on our progress implementing the white paper on developing northern Australia: Our...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      Order! The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Knight, Mrs Annette AM (1 speech)
      Those of us who are fortunate enough to have involvement with, and represent, regional communities in this place understand that there is something very special about them. Of course, each local...
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      Members of the chamber are aware of my passionate support for a national public register of convicted sex offenders. It was one of the main policies of the Justice Party in the July federal...
    • Working Holiday Maker Program (3 speeches)
      Might I just start by attaching myself to the submission that Senator Hinch has made in this place. He will enjoy my support of any measures, and I am sure he will enjoy the support of most of...
    • Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
      I wish to speak tonight on an issue that is of significant concern to my community in Blaxland, in the Blue Mountains, and to all of the surrounding communities, including Penrith, St Marys, Mt...
    • S Kidman & Co. (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to contribute to a public debate which has arisen today about the purchase of Kidman & Co., the cattle empire and significant rural landholding. When recently I saw the news...
    • Manufacturing (1 speech)
      Last Friday was a very sad day in Australia's manufacturing history. Ninety-one years of Ford manufacturing in Australia ended and 633 workers in Broadmeadows and Geelong lost their jobs. A total...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak of an issue of critical importance to all Australians, and that is mental health. This week is Mental Health Week, yesterday was World Mental Day and today is headspace...
    • Carers (1 speech)
      As we prepare to celebrate National Carers Week, I rise to say thank you and pay tribute to Australia's family and friend carers. National Carers Week, marked from 16 to 22 October this year,...
    • Women in Sport (1 speech)
      I would like to seek the indulgence of the Senate to give a brief update on the latest sporting foray between us and our great rivals New Zealand. And, no, it is not the rugby, it is not the...
    • Definium Technologies (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about the issue of economic development in my home state of Tasmania in the area of information technology, in particular, to outline the successful story of Definium...
    • Western Bulldogs Football Club (3 speeches)
      I seek indulgence—
    • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
      I spent the last week in central Australia, and I had the opportunity to speak with women from the Tangentyere Council, the women's council. These women represent 16 town camps. I had the...
    • New South Wales Government (4 speeches)
      New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, was once a very popular politician. 'Teflon Mike' and 'Mr Untouchable' were nicknames that reflected his sky-high popularity and perceived ability to dodge...
    • Healthy Welfare Card, Bass Strait Fast Cat Feasibility Study, Aged Care (5 speeches)
      Mr Acting Deputy President, Senator Rhiannon stood aside for me and, as far as I am concerned, she had 20 minutes allotted.
    • Health Funding, Mental Health, Tesch, Ms Liesl, AM, Druery, Mr Frank (1 speech)
      I rise in the adjournment debate tonight—and it has been some time since I have been able to speak in the adjournment—to address a number of matters that are of great interest to the...