Senate debates
Thursday, 19 September 2019
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (1 speech)
I remind honourable senators that pursuant to the order of the Senate agreed to yesterday, 18 September, the address-in-reply will be presented to the Governor-General at Government House today...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put at the request of any senator.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given on 18 September 2019, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I withdraw notices of motion proposing the disallowance of various legislative...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (2 speeches)
I present the sixth report of 2019 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) the following government business orders of the day be considered from 12.45 pm today: No. 5 Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2019 No. 6...
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the following senators be granted leave of absence for today, 19 September: (a) Senators Dodson and Farrell, for personal reasons; and (b) Senator Sterle, on account...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Privileges Committee; Reference (9 speeches)
I move: That the following matter be referred to the Standing Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report: Having regard to the statements made to the Senate by Senators Patrick and Lambie on...
- Economics References Committee; Reference (9 speeches)
I move: (1) That the Senate notes that: (a) Australia's oil and gas reserves are valuable sovereign resources which are finite; (b) in 2018, natural gas and crude...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Dolphin Captivity (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) dolphins are highly intelligent animals, with complex physical and behavioural needs – in the wild, they live in intricate...
- Northern Australia: Insurance (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) inquiry into northern Australian insurance found insurance premiums rose...
- World Maritime Day (1 speech)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Sterle, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 26 September 2019 will be World Maritime Day, a day commemorated by the United Nations and...
- Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that children and young people who are in youth detention centres and prisons are excluded from accessing Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;...
- Coal Industry (11 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) thanks workers in thermal coal mining operations for their contribution to our economy, and notes that coal workers and communities are not to blame for the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
Order! I have received letters nominating senators to be members of committees.
- Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the Murray-Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry Bill 2019, together...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members' Interests First) Bill 2019; In Committee (3 speeches)
The committee is considering the Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members' Interests First) Bill 2019. The question is that the bill, as amended, be agreed to.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
Before the chamber today is the Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2019, with regard to superannuation and the taxation treatment of super. The bill does a number...
- Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Superannuation Measures No. 1) 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.
- Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019; Second Reading (3 speeches)
Labor welcomes the provisions set out in this bill, the Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019, for a standing Indigenous member on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Labor...
- Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
No amendments to the bill have been circulated. I call the minister.
- National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2019; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I rise to speak on the National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2019. Labor will support this bill, which amends the National Health Act 1953 to make two relatively minor changes...
- National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
Minister, I call on you to move the third reading.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members' Interests First) Bill 2019; In Committee (8 speeches)
I have an additional question for the minister. As you're aware, Labor has sought to amend the legislation and been unsuccessful in the changes that we propose, particularly in relation to the...
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members' Interests First) Bill 2019; Third Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Customs Amendment (Immediate Destruction of Illicit Tobacco) Bill 2019; Second Reading (3 speeches)
I rise in support of the Customs Amendment (Immediate Destruction of Illicit Tobacco) Bill 2019. We note, however, that the government's failure to pass this legislation before the deadline that...
- Customs Amendment (Immediate Destruction of Illicit Tobacco) 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.
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Police Powers at Airports) Bill 2019; Second Reading (10 speeches)
I rise in support of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Police Powers at Airports) Bill 2019. Airports are hubs of activity and so can become focal points for serious and organised crime groups,...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Canavan will be absent from question time today for personal reasons. In Senator Canavan's absence, Senator McKenzie will represent the Minister...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator Ruston. Can the minister confirm that, because of the government's delays, staffing...
- Economy (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann. Can the minister provide an update to the Senate on the budget repair efforts of the government?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from Japan and members of the Australia-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (27 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator Ruston. Recent media reports have revealed it takes an average of 127 days for a...
- Climate Change (10 speeches)
My question is to the Special Minister of State, Senator Cormann. Over 2,000 Australian businesses have registered at the website This is not business as usual, and that number is growing by the...
- Questions to the President (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Computing Network (6 speeches)
Mr President, pursuant to standing order 72(2), I have a question for you. My question arises from your joint statement with the Speaker on 8 February and your statement to the Senate on 12...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Employment (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister please update the Senate on how today's release of the ABS labour force figures...
- Family Law (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. Yesterday the minister supported the inquiry proposed by Senator Hanson into the family law system. My question is: was the Office for...
- Northern Australia (32 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator McKenzie. The success of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility fund demonstrates...
- United Nations (8 speeches)
I note that this is not my first speech. My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise the Senate on Australia's priorities at the United Nations...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Aged Care (1 speech)
Yesterday I was asked a question by Senator Urquhart about home care providers and quality reviews of home care providers. Of the 929 home care providers currently registered in Australia, there...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Families and Social Services (Senator Ruston) to questions without notice asked by Senators Bilyk and Gallagher today....
- Climate Change (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 the Leader of the Australian Greens (Senator Di Natale)...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
I present additional information received by the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Legislation Committee relating to estimates: Additional estimates 2016-17—Foreign Affairs, Defence and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
- Bills (0 speeches)
