Senate debates

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    Does any senator wish to have those motions put? There being none, we shall proceed.
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Clerk of the Senate (5 speeches)
    Senators, as you are aware, on 15 September this year, the Clerk of the Senate, Dr Rosemary Laing, gave notice to me that she intends to retire as Clerk on 8 March next year. The Parliamentary...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; In Committee (34 speeches)
    I stand to oppose this bill on behalf of the Australian Labor Party. Working people have got a lot to fear from this bill and a lot to fear from this coalition government. We have a government...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Attorney-General (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. In the Attorney-General's statement to the Senate yesterday regarding the Bell Group matter, he indicated that the first personal...
  • High Court of Australia (8 speeches)
    My question is also to the Attorney-General, but it is a serious question. Attorney, I understand that you have some good news for us in relation to appointments to the High Court. I wonder if...
  • Attorney-General (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Yesterday the Attorney-General failed to either rule out or confirm whether the federal Liberal-National government had a deal or...
  • Revenue (8 speeches)
    I was a bit confused as to who to ask this question to, given Senator Brandis's recent experience with recovering revenue for the Commonwealth, but I will direct my question to the Minister...
  • Trade (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Cabinet Secretary representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Sinodinos. Noting that the government has already delivered unmatched preferential...
  • Minister for Social Services (14 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ryan, the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services. I refer to the Attorney-General, who yesterday told the Senate: Just as Mr Porter had suggested that I...
  • Coal Industry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Canavan. Can the minister please update the Senate on the current state of the coal industry and the benefits it...
  • Health Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care in the Senate, Senator Nash. Last week in the Senate I revealed the horror affecting thousands of women that is...
  • Attorney-General (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General. I refer to his answer to Senator Gallagher earlier today. The Attorney has indicated that his office was contacted in January in relation to the Bell...
  • Child Care (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Turnbull government is clamping down on rorting in the federal...
  • Attorney-General (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the reports that the Attorney-General's Queensland Liberal National Party colleagues are actively discussing his replacement....
  • Disability (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for the Arts, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on how the arts portfolio will mark this year's International Day of People with Disability?
  • Attorney-General (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. Did the Attorney-General prevent, discourage or inhibit attempts to challenge the Western Australian government's Bell Resources...
• 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 relating to the Bell Group litigation. Something is on the nose....
  • Revenue (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to the collection of...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Brown, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 13 September 2017: The delivery of outcomes...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I move: That— (a) where the Scrutiny of Bills Committee writes to a minister it expects a response to be received in time to be considered by the committee and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Disability Awareness Week (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that this week is Disability Awareness Week, and that 3 December 2016 is International Day of People with Disability; (b) acknowledges the report of the...
  • International Day of People with Disability (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Brown and Senator Siewert, move: That the Senate— (a) recognises that:   (i) Saturday, 3 December 2016, is International Day of People with...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Smith, I move: That the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit be authorised to hold private meetings otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the...
  • Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 134 by omitting the date 30 March 2017 and substituting it with 24 March 2017. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Strengthening Multiculturalism Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 135, standing in my name, relating to the establishment of a select committee, in the terms circulated. Leave granted. I move the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Red Imported Fire Ants; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes:   (i) the adverse effect of Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) populations on ecosystems, native species, agricultural communities and human health,...
  • Minamata Convention on Mercury; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, by no later than 9.30 am on 1 December 2016, the cost-benefit analysis...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) since 1989, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has investigated New South Wales (NSW) politicians...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Bilyk, I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates, be established to inquire...
  • Economics References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day of the autumn sittings of 2018: The regulatory framework for the...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McKim, move: That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 21 March 2017: (1) The...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) opposes recent cuts to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that have resulted in:   (i) the loss of almost 500 Australian jobs,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes:   (i) the grave concerns of the wider agricultural and agribusiness community that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Australian of the Year (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Retired General David Morrison, AO, was appointed Australian of the Year for 2016,   (ii) Australian of the Year has...
• 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 Civil Nuclear Transfers to India Bill 2016, allowing it to be considered during this period of...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Revenue (15 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am this morning Senators Gallagher and Siewert each submitted a letter in accordance with standing order 75 proposing a matter of public importance. The question...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on the indefinite detention of people with cognitive and psychiatric impairment, together with the Hansard record of the...
  • Economics References Committee; Government Response to Report (4 speeches)
    I present the government's response to the report of the Economics References Committee on its inquiry into agribusiness managed investment schemes. I seek leave to have the document incorporated...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise as Chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee to speak to this report of the committee on the closures of electricity generators, Retirement of coal fired power...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the government's response to a report of the Community Affairs References Committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2016; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to theCriminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2016. The addendum responds to recommendations made by the...
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to.
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016; 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— The Competition and...
  • Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013; In Committee (122 speeches)
    It seems to me that things are very fluid out there in relation to this bill. There are a number of amendments we have got sheets for that outline amendments from Senator Xenophon and Senator...