SENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (12:52): It is a pleasure to present this report on a series of treaties tabled on 7 and 28 February 2012. One of the more important treaties to put some remarks on the record about is the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (20:30): I rise to speak on the Clean Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, the Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2012 and the Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2012. Let me say at the outset that those of us on this side have said all along that these carbon…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (12:44): I rise to speak on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012. I have been listening to Senator Pratt’s comments and I listened to Senator Milne’s contribution prior to that. The chamber just received a lecture from Senator Pratt about how this bill was going to support projects that were…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (11:07): I rise to speak on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Improved Access to Television Services) Bill 2012. At the outset of my remarks, let me reflect on what we just saw in the chamber. I am not referring to the division we just saw, although the division was of course like…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (21:21): Thank you, Madam Acting Deputy President, and it is a pleasure to see you in the chair. Can I say as I rise to speak and congratulate you on that role. It is also a pleasure to follow Senator Joyce in speaking and to have heard some of his remarks…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (10:53): It is often a pleasure to follow Senator Faulkner in debates in this place and it is no less so on this occasion. As Senator Faulkner said in his concluding remarks, the threat of terrorism against Australians is real and the need to deal appropriately with all aspects of that…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (13:01): It is a pleasure to follow Senator Colbeck who, as always, has provided a very wise and thoughtful contribution. Certainly on this Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 and associated bills, his contribution and analysis are spot on. I thought it would be useful in this debate today to go…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM (South Australia) (18:06): I come to this debate with a fairly firm belief. It is a belief that private investment in activities like health care is something that should be encouraged. It is a belief that the systems that we support out of this place-that are society, that are government, that are laws-should…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM (South Australia) (19:52): Many people grapple with new media and how it can be used for good and how we can ensure that, as a society, it achieves positive benefits. We have seen over recent years many social, political and corporate successes and failures as people have made different forays into the use of…
DetailsSENATOR BIRMINGHAM: (South Australia) (19:31): One of the first issues I addressed in the parliament was the future of the River Murray. It was partly out of my own personal concerns for better management of the Murray, it was partly as a result of it being the top issue confronting people in my home state…
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