Speeches...
Myall Creek Massacre
5th November 2007
Lifesaver of the Year
5th September 2007
Senator Forshaw - Senate Chamber Speech on Anti -Semitism - 28 March 2007
2nd April 2007
Senator Forshaw - Senate Chamber Speech on NSW State Election Result & Workchoices Issues
27th March 2007
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP BILL 2006; AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP (TRANSITIONALS AND CONSEQUENTIALS) BILL 2006: Second Reading
6th March 2007
Tribute to Mr Wes Adams
15th August 2006
Tribute to Mr Wes Adams Appropriation Bill Speech 22nd June 2006
27th June 2006
Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2006
27th June 2006
Premier Iemma Speech - NSW ALP State Conference June 2006
26th June 2006
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (WORK CHOICES) BILL 2005 (In Committee 2nd December 2005)
1st May 2006
I have a specific question that I would like the minister to respond to. It is an important issue. I understand that the government is aware of the matter I am about to raise. It came to light last week—certainly it was reported in the media—that the effect of the changes to unfair dismissal laws under this legislation would be that cases that are partly heard or for which decisions are pending, including in state jurisdictions, would effectively be terminated. The proceedings would be null and void and that would be the end of it.
COMMONWEALTH RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT (RELATED AMENDMENTS) BILL 2005 (2nd Reading - 8th December 2005)
1st May 2006
I have spoken in a number of previous debates and participated in a number of committee inquiries into this issue of radioactive waste. Yesterday, I spoke during the matters of public interest debate about the arrogance of this government and the way it now treats Senate committees and the way it is treating this parliament. Sadly, we are seeing another example of that today with the gagging and guillotining of this debate to push through the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2005 and the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management (Related Amendments) Bill 2005. These bills will clearly have long-ranging and important impacts upon not just the people of the Northern Territory but people across the country.
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (WORK CHOICES) BILL 2005 - 1st December 2005 - Part 2
20th April 2006
I have a question for the minister and I would probably even be interested in hearing what Senator Joyce’s response is. Minister, can you explain the application of these provisions that we have been discussing for some time? It is said that they enshrine the entitlement of workers to the iconic public holiday. How does that operate when the actual public holiday—Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day or Anzac Day—falls on the weekend and another day is gazetted in lieu of that day? BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL) BILL 2005 (Part 3)
20th April 2006
Minister, I think you may have been distracted when I asked one of my questions. It was whether or not direct employees of local government, who are often engaged in building local roads and preparing local roads and footpaths, will be covered by this legislation?
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (WORK CHOICES) BILL 2005 - 1st December 2005 Part 1
20th April 2006
Minister, I appreciate that you have responded, and I think you have actually acknowledged that I am right. Let me explain it to you. What you have just said is that, under that proposed section of this legislation, the refusal that an employee is entitled to on reasonable grounds relates to the iconic day, the exact day—let us say Christmas Day, 25 December. Are you listening? It relates to the exact day. You talked about kids opening their presents on Christmas Day on a Saturday. I have a question from listening to your interpretation and explanation. If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, which is not a normal working day for many employees as it is already a day off for them because it is a weekend, they are entitled to refuse to work on that day—but in ordinary circumstances they are not required to work on that day. They are not going to get paid for that day because it is a—
Interjection
COMMITTEES Finance and Public Administration References Committee 6th October 2005
20th April 2006
I present the report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee entitled Regional Partnerships and Sustainable Regions programs, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee.
Finance and Public Administration References Committee Report 6th December 2005
20th April 2006
I present the report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on government advertising and accountability, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT BILL 2005 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL) BILL 2005 (Part 2) 7th September 2005
20th April 2006
I remind the government and the minister that breaches of workplace relations legislation and industrial legislation occur constantly in this country. Indeed, unions are well aware of this, because they are constantly pursuing claims against employers for underpayment of wages and pursuing employers and companies to ensure that entitlements and other conditions of employment as specified in an award or agreement are adhered to.
TELSTRA (TRANSITION TO FULL PRIVATE OWNERSHIP) BILL 2005 Second Reading 12th September 2005
20th April 2006
On 3 March 1845 British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli stood in the House of Commons and uttered these words:
A Conservative government is an organised hypocrisy.
The government’s position on Telstra demonstrates the truth of Disraeli’s maxim, except for one thing: this government is a disorganised hypocrisy.
AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORTS Report No. 30 of 2004-05
20th April 2006
I rise to speak on this report of the Australian National Audit Office, Performance audit—Regulation of Commonwealth radiation and nuclear activities: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, generally referred to as ARPANSA. This report was tabled in March of this year. I do at the outset want to compliment the Auditor-General’s office on this report because it is a very comprehensive report—the reports always are, but this was the first audit report to be undertaken of the role, administration, management and performance of ARPANSA since it was established a few years ago. It is certainly a report that I urge all senators to read.
CONDOLENCES Former Senator the Hon. Peter Francis Salmon Cook 5th December, 2005
20th April 2006
The passing of Peter Cook is a sad loss. It is a loss that has occurred far too early. Peter Cook was a person who made a tremendous contribution not only to the labour movement but also to the Labor Party and the parliament. He was a person who clearly, if he had lived, would have carried on making a great contribution outside of this place.
I met Peter Cook when I was young industrial officer with the Australian Workers Union and Peter was the secretary of the West Australian Trades and Labour Council and vice-president of the ACTU. There were some big figures in the union movement and leadership of the ACTU in those days, and Peter was one of them.
SENATE PROCESSES 8th September 2005
20th April 2006
I rise this afternoon to support this general business motion and, in doing so, I want to give some specific instances that prove the case as stated in the motion; that is, ‘The government’s arrogant abuse of its Senate majority in subverting the Senate’s processes and procedures.’ What has become clear in the short time since this parliament resumed after the winter recess and the government had, for the first time, an absolute majority on the floor of the chamber, is a pattern of behaviour in decision making which is all about ignoring due and proper process in this chamber. The pattern of behaviour that is developing is all about this government brutally using its numbers to truncate and even avoid debate. It is a pattern of behaviour which is all about this government ignoring longstanding conventions and principles regarding the functioning of this chamber, Senate committees and support staff of the parliament. I particularly want to highlight at least three instances to demonstrate that case.
ADJOURNMENT Middle East 15th September 2005
20th April 2006
Tonight I rise in the adjournment debate to make some remarks about developments in the Middle East, particularly in relation to Israel’s disengagement from Gaza. I want to start by once again placing on the record the fact that the Labor Party has a long and proud history of support for the state of Israel. Indeed, Labor were there, as a Labor government, at the establishment of the modern state of Israel by the United Nations General Assembly in 1947-48.
In this debate it is important for people to pause at times, because we know it is an emotional debate, people are very passionate on both sides of the issue and it is unfortunate that it often divides into two sides. But it is important to remember that the state of Israel was established by a United Nations resolution.
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (WORK CHOICES) BILL 2005 - 1st December 2005 - Part 3
20th April 2006
People have been listening to and participating in this debate about amendments to the provisions regarding public holidays for quite some time. The very fact that that has been happening tells you one thing. It tells you that this legislation, when it started out, was a serious undermining, if not removal, of many of the rights and entitlements that public holidays attract. WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (WORK CHOICES) BILL 2005 - Second Reading 29th November 2005
20th April 2006
The Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Bill 2005 is 687 pages long. It is an amendment to an existing act, but it is actually longer than the existing act. The explanatory memorandum is 565 pages long. It is an extensive and complex document and it needs a lot of study and explanation. But it has one overall purpose. That purpose was outlined by the current Prime Minister back in 1992. He was then the shadow minister for industrial relations in the failed Hewson coalition. On the occasion of the launch of the coalition’s industrial relations policy on Tuesday, 20 October 1992—this was Fightback, remember—he was speaking about their policy on minimum conditions. He said:
MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST 7th December 2005 Consideration of Legislation
20th April 2006
Today I also want to speak on the topic of the arrogance of government, but I actually want to talk about the arrogance of this government. In the last couple of weeks we have seen the use of the guillotine and the use of the gag to just ram through this place complex, detailed, lengthy legislation that will have substantial effects on the Australian community well into the future.
We saw, for instance, the Telstra bill rammed through this place, once they finally got Senator Joyce into the cart. And what was their approach to scrutiny of that bill? They allowed the relevant Senate committee one day—one day—for a hearing into that important bill. Similarly, with the IR legislation, which is 687 pages long with 565 pages of explanatory memorandum, they allowed approximately a week for public hearings. There was no time for people to really get an opportunity to read and consider the bill. Most people would take at least a week to read the explanatory memorandum and the legislation, let alone digest it all and deal with it in a properly considered public hearing.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT BILL 2005 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT (CONSEQUENTIAL AND TRANSITIONAL) BILL 2005 - (Part 1) - 5th September 2005
20th April 2006
In speaking on the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Bill 2005 and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2005 I will, of course, cover some of the points that have been made by other speakers from the opposition. I also want to say at the outset that this legislation demonstrates clearly an ideological obsession of this government—if you happen to have the word ‘union’ in your title then this government are going to come after you. They have done it with student unions and they are now doing it with trade unions. I wonder whether or not they will eventually start going after rugby union.
Tribute to Steve Rogers 7th February 2006
19th April 2006
The Cronulla Sutherland Rugby League team entered the first-grade competition in 1967. Naturally, as a young teenager I spent many a Saturday and Sunday—as I am sure you did, Acting Deputy President Hutchins—barracking for our local team the ‘Sharks’, at Shark Park. It took a few years, but by 1973 we had a team that could challenge for the premiership. We managed to get some of our locals back from St George, promoted a number of outstanding local juniors and signed up a couple of English great imports in Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson.
In 1973, a young 18-year-old local junior who was playing in Queensland at the time joined the Sharks. His name was Steve Rogers.
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs 2nd March 2006
19th April 2006
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Speech
I rise to take note of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Report for 2004-05, and in doing so I want to particularly refer to a recent debate in the media regarding immigration issues. I particularly want to refer to the comments that were made on 13 February this year by the member for Hughes, the Hon. Danna Vale. Those comments were made in relation to the debate that was then ensuing on RU486. I think everybody in the chamber—and just about everybody in the country—saw those comments that were made at a news conference by Mrs Vale and shown on TV footage later in the day and subsequently. I remind senators of the comments that were made by Mrs Vale:
Finance and Public Administration References Committee 1st March 2006 Additional Information
19th April 2006
I present additional information received by the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on its inquiry into the Gallipoli peninsula and its inquiry into government advertising and accountability.
Mental Health Committee Report 30th March 2006
19th April 2006
I rise to make a few comments in regard to this comprehensive report that has been tabled today, recognising that in the short time available it will be impossible to do justice to it. I believe it is one of the most important reports tabled in this parliament for many years. It was certainly one of the most important inquiries that I have been involved in. The report runs to 17 chapters and hundreds of pages covering the evidence and submissions that were presented to the committee inquiry. International Womens Day: Government Policies
8th March 2005
One of the phrases that often gets thrown around in debates like this is `the gender gap', particularly in relation to issues to do with wage levels. One of the other gaps that is relevant to this debate is the gap between the rhetoric and the reality—the rhetoric of the government, which we have just heard two of the speakers from the government engage in, and the reality of what is facing workers in this country. Private Health Insurance Incentives Amendment Bill 2004
10th February 2005
I rise to make a few remarks on the Private Health Insurance Incentives Amendment Bill 2004. Whilst this bill is specifically directed at measures that were put before the electorate during the election campaign by the government, the broad issues of the private health insurance rebate have been debated on many occasions and have been the subject of investigation by the Senate through committees and estimates. Health Insurance Amendment (100% Medicare Rebate and Other Measures) Bill 2004
2nd December 2004
This bill does not address the fundamental problems that now exist with Medicare in respect of bulk-billing. Opening of Parliament: Governor General's Speech
29th November 2004
The coalition government was re-elected on 9 October. It now claims a mandate for a whole raft of legislative change ... I think it is important to consider the basis upon which the campaign was run by the government, particularly with respect to the economy. Occupational Health and Safety
12th August 2004
I rise to speak on the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Amendment (Employee Involvement and Compliance) Bill 2002. Marriage Amendment Bill 2004
12th August 2004
I rise to support the Marriage Amendment Bill 2004. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
4th August 2004
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is of fundamental importance to the health of all Australians, so this is a matter of vital public importance. The PBS must be protected. Workplace Relations Amendment (Codifying Contempt Offences) Bill 2003: In Committee
24th June 2004
I have been listening intently to this debate. It is a very important issue. Senator Ian Campbell, the minister, seeks to dismiss the issue on the basis that we are debating amendments to the Workplace Relations Act; we are not debating a bill to amend the Corporations Act. Families Australia Child Abuse and Neglect Summit
18th June 2004
Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the opportunity to address this Summit today on Child Abuse and Neglect. Aged Care Amendment Bill 2004: Second Reading
18th June 2004
The Aged Care Amendment Bill 2004 amends the Aged Care Act 1997, and it is that act that provides the framework for Australia's residential aged care system. Industrial Reform in the University Sector
18th May 2004
An attack upon trade unions, the award system and the Commission was always going to be a major part of the Coalition’s agenda despite John Howard’s promise that no worker would be worse off and that he wanted people to fell “relaxed and comfortable”. Anzac Day: Gallipoli
11th May 2004
Tonight I rise to make some remarks regarding the Anzac Day ceremonies in Gallipoli this year, which I was very privileged to attend. Telstra (Transition to Full Private Ownership) Bill 2003 [No. 2]: Second Reading
29th March 2004
You have to ask whether or not this government has its attention focused on the key issues facing this country today. Once again it is seeking to put forward a proposal to sell off the remaining 51 per cent of Telstra, knowing that Australians overwhelmingly oppose that privatisation. Workplace Relations Amendment (Termination of Employment) Bill 2002 [No. 2]: Second Reading
22nd March 2004
Since 1996, when the coalition government came to power, there have been over 50 separate pieces of industrial relations legislation introduced by the coalition government. In nearly all cases they have been directed at reducing entitlements for workers, removing their rights, targeting particular groups of workers—such as those in small business—and creating inequitable situations for them. Aged Care in Australia
18th March 2004
It is very clear that the sector is in crisis in three fundamental ways: access, funding and ability to provide high quality care. Today I’ll outline the policy priorities in aged care, and will discuss Labor Party policy directions. Matter of Public Importance: Health and Ageing
10th March 2004
In this country today we are facing a crisis in aged care funding, and it has been brought about because this government has neglected the funding needs of the aged care sector since it came to office in 1996.
Matter of Public Importance: Howard Government's Employment Policies
3rd March 2004
The history of superannuation shows that it was the Labor Party that brought about universal superannuation for all Australians. No ifs, no buts.
Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare) Bill 2003: Second Reading
12th February 2004
The Australian people know which political party supports Medicare and which political parties do not. There is a long history on the record of support for Medicare by the Australian Labor Party. There is an equally long history on the record of opposition to Medicare by the Liberal and National parties. Workplace Relations: Paid Maternity Leave
12th February 2004
The Prime Minister likes to portray himself as a friend of the family, a person who is keen to promote greater family values and assistance to families. Of course, the picture that he tries to portray is far different from the reality of his government's policies and practices. Medicare Committee: Report
11th February 2004
The first thing to note in this debate is that this is the second package that the government has brought forward in terms of reforming Medicare or making changes to Medicare to try to address what everybody recognises is a system that is in decline. Higher Education Support Bill 2003 and the Higher Education Support (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2003: Second Reading
25th December 2003
This is the much vaunted higher education package that the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Nelson, has been endeavouring to convince the Senate, convince the university vice-chancellors, convince all of the tertiary education institutions in Australia and convince the Australian public should be implemented. The message that has come through loud and clear to Dr Nelson and to this government is that this package should not be passed by the Senate. Veteran and Military Compensation and Income Support
4th December 2003
The purpose of this report is to assess the current review structure and process for veteran and military compensation cases and analyse a range of options for streamlining the review hierarchy and improving the review system's administration. Recruitment and Training in the APS
28th November 2003
Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today on the Committee’s report on its inquiry into recruitment and training in the Australian Public Service. It is a subject that is obviously central to your work as human resource practitioners. Ministerial Advisers: Their Role and Accountability
17th October 2003
The Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee yesterday tabled its report on Members of Parliament Staff. I will focus on describing to you what the Committee found, and what its recommendations are. |
