The Senate met from 9.30 am until 7.57 pm
Senators
Senator Thorp gave her first speech.
The President announced the resignation, on 14 August 2012, of Senator Fisher.
Legislation
Bills and related documents
Bills considered
The following bill was introduced and debated
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2012 [passed by the House of Representatives on 15 August 2012]–second reading debate commenced [first speaker]–1 Opposition second reading amendment to be determined
The following bill was debated
- Higher Education Support Amendment (Student Contribution Amounts and Other Measures) Bill 2012–second reading debate commenced [first speaker]
The following bill was passed
- Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Screening) Bill 2012 [first speaker] [This bill will now be assented to]
Notice of motion to introduce a private senator’s bill
- Fair Work Amendment (Small Business—Penalty Rates Exemption) Bill 2012
Motion agreed to
The Senate debated and agreed to a motion to vary the hours of meeting and routine of business for 16 August 2012 to enable the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2012 to be considered [first speaker].
See Committees for details of reports relating to legislation
Committees
Scheduled public committee hearings
Committee reports
Reports tabled
Reports on legislation
- Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011–Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee [preliminary report] [a motion setting a final reporting date of 31 October 2012 and referring any proposed Government amendments to the committee was agreed to]
- Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill 2012 and a related bill–Environment and Communications Legislation Committee [report]
Other report
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee–Alert Digest No. 8 and 8th report of 2012 [contains assessments of bills on civil liberties and related grounds] [a motion to take note of the report was agreed to]
Meetings during the sitting of the Senate
The Senate authorised the following meetings to be held while the Senate is sitting:
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Joint Committee–
- 16 August 2012 from 11.00 am–private meeting
- 13 September 2012 from 11.00 am–private meeting
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee–
- 16 August 2012 from 5.00 pm–public meeting–Low Aromatic Fuel Bill 2012
- 21 August 2012 from 12.30 pm to–private meeting
- Community Affairs References Committee–21 August 2012 from 12.30 pm–private meeting
- Electoral Matters Joint Committee–22 August 2012 from 9.30 am to 11.00 am–public meeting–Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Procedure) Bill 2012
- Environment and Communications Legislation and References Committees–16 August 2012 from 1.00 pm–private meeting
- Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee–16 August 2012 from 4.30 pm–public meeting–Examination of the Foreign Investment Review Board national interest test
Reporting date extended
The Senate extended the reporting date for the inquiry of the Community Affairs References Committee into health services and medical professionals in rural areas to 22 August 2012.
Notices of motion to hold meetings when the Senate is sitting
- Community Affairs References Committee–16 August 2012 from 4.00 pm–private meeting
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee–21 August 2012 from 4.30 pm–public meeting–Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012
Membership
The Senate agreed to the following changes to committee membership:
- Environment and Communications Legislation and References Committees–Senator Birmingham appointed
Documents
Delegated legislation
See Disallowance Alert for a complete list of notices of motion to disallow (and outcomes)
- Clerk’s documents were tabled [legislative instruments and other documents required by statute to be tabled]
Documents tabled
- Australian parliamentary delegation–UK, Spain, Germany and the United States–14 April to 3 May 2012–Report
- A petitioning document
- Communiqué–43rd Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference–Honiara, Solomon Islands
- Collection of condolence speeches relating to Senator Judith Adams
Orders for the production of documents
Orders with continuing effect
Unproclaimed legislation
A document was tabled showing details of unproclaimed Acts, together with a statement of reasons for non-proclamation and a timetable for their operation [Standing order 139(2) requires tabling before 31 August each year]
Motion defeated
The Senate did not agree to a motion requiring the Minister representing the Treasurer to table information relating to Minerals Resource Rent Tax revenues.
Other business
Questions without notice and issues arising during question time–first question
Matters of public interest debate–first speaker
Adjournment debate–first speaker
Motions agreed to
Motions negatived
Matter of public importance discussed
Notices of motion
Notices of motion given today are available in the Senate Journals.
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Online
The Senate Daily Summary is available at www.aph.gov.au/senate
It is issued by the Senate Table Office as a convenient summary of each day’s proceedings in the Senate. For a complete account see the official record, the Journals of the Senate.
Follow the Australian Senate on Twitter: @AuSenate
Related resources
The Order of Business (or ‘Senate Red’) and the Dynamic Red (which updates the Order of Business throughout the sitting day) are also available on the Internet at www.aph.gov.au/senate
Contact details
Inquiries, comments and suggestions:
phone 6277 3021
e-mail: sds@aph.gov.au