Debates

Housing aspects of the Stimulus Package

Thursday 12th February 2009, 12:00am
in

Senator SHERRY (Tasmania-Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) (10.25 am)-That was a very effective contribution. I think Senator Cameron outlined very succinctly the issues facing this chamber and the country. Senator Ludlam is here. I have, as I have indicated, been responding to questions in this committee stage. I want to outline to him a response to an issue that he raised yesterday. I think this is now the only question that we have not responded to and I want to take this opportunity in the early stage of the committee debate today to respond.

Senator Ludlam asked for information about the degree to which the government is considering resilient housing measures and adaptability to these sorts of events and what kinds of benchmarks we would be setting for the developers and builders. Bearing in mind that the package has not been passed yet and obviously there are some discussions going on with the states and territories-hopefully, the package will be passed and those discussions have got down to the detail but there is no conclusion yet-the government will be encouraging social housing projects that incorporate innovative ideas in both the design and construction elements. This will include construction techniques and use of materials that will make housing more resilient over time.

NATION-BUILDING FUNDS BILL 2008 - In Committee

Thursday 4th December 2008, 12:00am
in

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (12:38 PM) -by leave-I move, on behalf of the Australian Greens and the opposition, amendments (1) to (8) on sheet 5963 together:

NATION-BUILDING FUNDS BILL 2008 - Consideration of House of Representatives Message

Thursday 4th December 2008, 12:00am
in

Message received from the House of Representatives returning the Nation-building Funds Bill 2008 and informing the Senate that the House has disagreed to the amendments made by the Senate, and desiring the reconsideration of the amendments.

Ordered that the message be considered in Committee of the Whole immediately.
Senator SHERRY (Tasmania -Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) [11:24 PM] -I move:

That the committee does not insist on the amendments disagreed to by the House.

EDUCATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2008 - SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE BILL 2008 - In Committee

Tuesday 2nd December 2008, 12:00am
in

SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE BILL 2008

Bill-by leave-taken as a whole.

Senator IAN MACDONALD -Minister, you have already indicated that you will give me the assurances which I sought. I thought that if I could get those assurances and just understand on what basis those assurances are given then I will be out of the debate and will leave it to people who have a lot of amendments and other issues to raise. But, Minister, I would not accept you are well versed and competent to do it, and I will say a few things while your officials are getting here. I am very concerned, on advice from those involved, that this bill will mean a massive reduction in funding for Catholic boarding schools, particularly in the diocese of Townsville, which are the schools that educate the greatest number of Indigenous people in Australia.

Carbon sink forests tax rort debate

Monday 1st December 2008, 12:00am
in

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (4.41 pm)-I move:
That the Environmental and Natural Resource Management
Guidelines in relation to the establishment of trees for
the purposes of carbon sequestration, made under subsection 40-1010(3) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, be disallowed.

Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008

Tuesday 18th November 2008, 6:32pm
in

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (1.33pm)-I move Greens amendment (1) on sheet 5636:
(1) [Amendment to Senator Troeth's amendment (1) on sheet 5632]
At the end of paragraph (g) of the definition of terrorism laws, add:
; (h) any other law or part of a law of the Commonwealth under which a power is conferred or a liability is established in connection with, either directly or indirectly, a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur).

Urgency Debate: Childcare in Australia

Friday 14th November 2008, 5:11pm
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.53 p.m.)—I move:

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The collapse of ABC Learning and its effect on childcare across Australia, which requires an urgent response from the Government including an emergency summit of the key childcare providers from around the country, to ensure services to parents and children are available beyond the end of 2008.

Debate on Offshore Petroleum (Geosequestration) Bill

Monday 10th November 2008, 12:00am
in

 

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AMENDMENT (GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE) BILL 2008 - OFFSHORE PETROLEUM (ANNUAL FEES) AMENDMENT (GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE) BILL 2008 - OFFSHORE PETROLEUM (REGISTRATION FEES) AMENDMENT (GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE) BILL 2008 - OFFSHORE PETROLEUM (SAFETY LEVIES) AMENDMENT (GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE) BILL 2008 - In Committee

Senator WONG (South Australia) (Minister for Climate Change and Water) (6:25 PM) -I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill. I am advised that the memorandum was circulated in the chamber on 14 October 2008.  

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (6:26 AM) -I move Australian Greens amendment (1) on sheet 5603 revised:

(1) Schedule 1, item 2A, page 3 (after line 23), at the end of section 2A, add:

(2) Another object of this Act is to ensure the full liability into the future for any adverse impact, including any leakage from carbon storage projects, is borne by the entities undertaking those projects.

It is an additional subsection and the effect of this amendment is to include:

Another object of this Act is to ensure the full liability into the future for any adverse impact, including any leakage from carbon storage projects, is borne by the entities undertaking those projects.

The reason for this amendment is