Senator BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (10:38): I would like to contribute to the discussion we are having here. I am inspired to do so, seeing that inspiration was taking hold in the chamber just before, to address some of the issues related to Senator Xenophon’s specific amendment but also to address some of the broader issues…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (17:09): I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend and Other Measures) Bill 2011. This bill has two main components, one being to effect a reorganisation of digital television channels to realise what is commonly referred to as the ‘digital dividend’, and the second being to deal with…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM:(South Australia) (7:01 PM) -I rise to speak on a matter of great importance for Australia-that is, foreign aid. Foreign aid is truly a tale of hopes and despairs. Hopes spring within people who can see a glimmer of light at the end of a long tunnel of suffering, while despair crushes those enduring…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (10:02 AM) -As the first speaker on a Monday morning in this place it would usually be a pleasure to rise and say, ‘It is a pleasure to speak on this legislation.’ Unfortunately, however, this is flawed legislation designed to pursue and implement a bad policy. It is not a pleasure…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (4:33 PM) -It is a pleasure to lead the debate on this outstanding submission of Senator Fifield’s in relation to the matter of public importance debate, which is to focus on and highlight the Gillard government’s continued failure to accept responsibility for its broken promise not to introduce a carbon tax.…
SECOND READING SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (11:30 AM) -It is a pleasure to rise to contribute to this debate on the Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme) Bill 2010. I thank the Greens for bringing this bill forward and ensuring continued discussion on this important topic. As a South Australian Senator, which Senator…
SECOND READING: SENATOR BIRMNGHAM: (South Australia) (9:52 AM) -I rise to speak on the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcasting Amendment) Bill 2010. The overarching issues that we deal with in this topic are very important and Senator Moore has reflected upon the significance of the overarching issues of obesity, particularly childhood obesity. Obesity…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (7:35 PM) -I thank Senator Cameron for the lead-in, although I think it is high time to dispel some of the myths that Senator Cameron and others want to peddle, and they want to peddle them in this debate as much as they have in any other climate debates of recent…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (12:31 PM) -It is a pleasure to rise and to speak on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2010. During the course of this debate in the Senate I have no doubt we will hear various interpretations from those opposite about what is actually in this bill and…
SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (4:14 PM) -I am pleased to contribute to this debate and I will certainly return to some of the remarks made by Senator Cameron during his contribution. Notwithstanding the faint praise-or however one may wish to accept it-he gave me during that contribution, there are a number of issues on which…