Senator BIRMINGHAM: (12:05): As always, it is a pleasure to follow Senator Bushby, who makes arguments in this place that are well considered, well constructed and really do highlight very sensible points of concern about legislation that comes before this chamber. It is disappointing that in this debate on the Parliamentary Service Amendment (Parliamentary Budget…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: (12:28): I rise to speak on Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 and the Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011, and I do so having had, I think, a track record in my few years in this place of expressing reservations where appropriate about proposals that governments introduce that increase the nanny-state…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: (13:43): At the outset may I concur with Senator Mason and congratulate Senator Furner on a very wise and appropriate speech on an important subject matter. But I rise to offer some advice to the Prime Minister. My advice is: never let Senator Conroy near a tender process! Senator Conroy has a track…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: (20:50): It is a pleasure to follow Senator Boswell in this debate on the second reading of the Steel Transformation Plan Bill 2011. He makes so many valid arguments about what the government are up to with this bill and about its potential impacts. It is nothing more than a tricky little tactic…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: (11:22). Bad policy is always bad policy. That is why political parties who are true to their convictions should stand against bad policy from opposition and be willing to replace it with good policy in government. The Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills represent bad policy. That is why the Liberal and…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (17:39): I rise to take note of this Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Clean Energy Future Legislation advisory report on the clean energy bills and the Steel Transformation Plan Bill 2011. I am pleased to speak after Senator Milne because after listening to her you would be forgiven for believing that…
DetailsSimon BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (17:38): I rise to support the arguments put so eloquently by my colleague Senator Fifield and by other colleagues-Senators Abetz, Cormann, Joyce and Nash-that the Senate should deny the government’s move that these carbon tax bills proceed without formalities and that the Senate should deny the government’s move that these bills…
DetailsSimon BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (12:56): The Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 does feel a little like a back-to-the-future scenario. We debated a very similar bill in the previous parliament and the parliament before that debated the matter of voluntary student unionism and an end to the compulsion of student union…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM: South Australia) (10:36): I thank all senators for their contribution to the debate on the National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 (No. 2). I even thank Senator Conroy for his contribution, no matter how misguided it was, no matter how wrong it was and no matter how misleading it was. I thank…
DetailsSenator BIRMINGHAM (South Australia) (16:49) I join Senator Macdonald in seeking to have the Senate take note of the first of what are designed to be regular reports from the Joint Standing Committee on the NBN-a committee that, like Senator Macdonald, I am a member of. This committee was intended to be the primary body…
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