Senate debates

Tuesday, 17 September 2019

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Overseas Welfare Recipients Integrity Program) Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Life certificates or proof-of-life requests are commonly used for pension eligibility confirmation by European countries—for example, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Overseas Welfare Recipients Integrity Program) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    Labor senators support this legislation. Child sexual exploitation is abhorrent. Children are the most precious and vulnerable members of our community, and we must protect and support them. To...
  • Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019; 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.
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Partner Service Pension and Other Measures) Bill 2019; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Partner Service Pension and Other Measures) Bill 2019. I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak on this bill which, importantly, has...
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Partner Service Pension and Other Measures) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading.
  • Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I appreciate the opportunity to outline Labor's position on the Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019. The Aged Care Act 1997 is to be amended as in its...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Canavan will be absent from question time today due to ministerial duties. In Senator Canavan's absence, Senator Birmingham will represent the...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Pensions and Benefits (32 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Since 2014, how many of the government's budgets have included cuts to the pension?
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from Samoa, led by the Deputy Speaker of Samoa, the Hon. Nafoitoa Keti. On behalf of all...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Saudi Arabia (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Could the minister advise the Senate what the government's response has been to the recent attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia?
  • Pensions and Benefits (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. The government recently promised pensioners a boost of up to $800. How many pensioner couples out of Australia's...
  • Great Barrier Reef (9 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority just downgraded the outlook of the future of the Great Barrier Reef...
  • Trade with China (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, representing the Treasurer. Is it not the case that Australian organic infant milk formula, IMF, producer Bellamy's Australia has...
  • Aged Care (64 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. I refer to the government's own home care package waiting list. Can the minister confirm that there are more...
  • Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Can the minister please advise the Senate how a strong budget is helping to deliver stability and certainty for...
  • Newstart Allowance (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Social Services, Minister Ruston. The government is keen to introduce a trial of drug testing 5,000 Newstart recipients. As part of this initiative, your...
  • Member for Chisholm (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. When asked yesterday why the Prime Minister was allowing the member for Chisholm to dodge accountability to the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care, Pensions and Benefits (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Families and Social Services (Senator Ruston) and the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians (Senator Colbeck) to...
  • Trade with China (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 Patrick today relating to foreign investment in...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I seek leave to postpone general business notice of motion No. 133 until tomorrow. Leave granted.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Canavan for today on account of ministerial business. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    Pursuant to standing order 78(1), I give notice of my intention, at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting, to withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name...
• 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 ANL Legislation Repeal Bill 2019, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings. Question...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales Youth Council Conference 2019 (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the New South Wales (NSW) Youth Council held their 'Unleash the Future' Conference from 13 to 15 September 2019 in Rooty Hill, and (ii) young...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • jobactive; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, by 10 am on 18 September 2019, the latest job seeker compliance data including all...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (21 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McGrath, move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 October...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate supports the right of people to engage in non-violent civil disobedience to demand action on the unfolding climate and environment crisis.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Drought Interagency Taskforce, Coordinator-General For Drought, Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Sterle, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, by no later than 3 pm on 18 September 2019, copies of the final reports...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Member for Chisholm (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Wong, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes widespread reports in the media about the Member for Chisholm over the last week, which raise questions concerning her...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Economy (5 speeches)
    The President has received the following letter from Senator Gallagher: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (4 speeches)
    Pursuant to order, I call Senator Antic to make his first speech. I ask honourable senators to extend the usual courtesies to him on this occasion.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Economy (9 speeches)
    Let me say at the outset what a pleasure it is to have the opportunity to speak on this MPI proposed by Senator Gallagher. I say that because the Morrison government has an incredibly strong...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the third report of 2019 of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, Referral made July 2019.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Home Affairs: Paladin Contracts; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to an order for the documents concerning the Paladin contract relating to Manus Island and the Independent Health Advice Panel.
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Member for Chisholm, Dastyari, Mr Sam (1 speech)
    I table responses to questions taken on notice during question time on 12 and 16 September 2019 asked by Senator Wong relating to the member for Chisholm and to former Senator Dastyari. I seek...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    We know Australia has a growing ageing population. We also know more Australians are choosing to age in their own home. The former minister admitted last year that he needed to intervene, but he...
  • Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated and no senator requires a committee stage, I shall call the minister to move the third reading.
  • Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Extend Family Assistance to ABSTUDY Secondary School Boarding Students Aged 16 and Over) Bill 2019; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to support the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Extend Family Assistance to ABSTUDY Secondary School Boarding Students Aged 16 and Over) Bill 2019. Education is critical to...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Last week the US state of California took an important stand for its working families, the people who built the state into the sixth-largest economy in the world. The California legislature voted...
  • Victoria: Rugby Union (1 speech)
    As a proud Victorian and resident of Australia's most liveable city, it gives me pleasure to rise this evening to speak about rugby in my home state. It may surprise senators from the northern...
  • Israel (2 speeches)
    National elections are taking place in Israel today. Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that if he is re-elected as Prime Minister he'll move to annex the Jordan Valley and other territory in the...
  • Manufacturing (1 speech)
    Last week, the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon. Karen Andrews, announced funding to support manufacturers in Australia. I'm going to begin by saying Labor welcomes this...
  • Northern Territory: Community Events, Campbell, Ms Shirleen (1 speech)
    I would like to tell the Senate about something pretty awesome that happened last month. It was the highlight of Darwin's dry season calendar, the Darwin Festival, which in August celebrated its...
  • Disability Support Pension (1 speech)
    Today, here at Parliament House, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations launched three significant reports into the disability support pension and its operations: firstly,...
  • Tasmania (1 speech)
    I rise to discuss the local economy innovation in my home state of Tasmania, and a Prime Minister only interested in self-promotion instead of the health of Tasmanians. Tasmania continues to...
  • Energy (5 speeches)
    Yesterday I rose and spoke about the Governor-General's speech. I don't want to repeat what I said yesterday, but in general terms I found that the Governor-General's speech, which of course is...
  • Rural and Regional Health Services, Drought (3 speeches)
    I want to indicate to those who might be listening, and to those in the chamber, that we do listen to one another. I think the previous speaker, Senator Patrick, has made some important points. I...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    Across WA and across the country young people are planning and organising. We are getting ready to leave our classrooms, our schools, our places of education on 20 September, to take the hands of...
  • Tasmania: Centrelink (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about concerns expressed by members of the Huon Valley community, which is south of Hobart, about the government's plan to co-locate the Centrelink service centre in Huonville...
  • Medicinal Marijuana (1 speech)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, I want to speak about medical cannabis and what is needed to give more than a million Australians access to this powerful medicine. On...
  • West Australian Gliding Association (1 speech)
    Before we adjourn this evening I will make a few brief remarks to commemorate what is a very important event in the history of flying in Western Australia. I know Senator Sterle, who is the...