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Hansard
- Start of Business
- PETITIONS
- NOTICES
- BUSINESS
- KYOTO PROTOCOL RATIFICATION BILL 2003 [NO. 2]
- COMMITTEES
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS: UKRAINIAN FAMINE
- COMMITTEES
- CHRISTMAS ISLAND: MINING PROPOSALS
- SENATE: COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIALITY
- COMMITTEES
- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
- CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
- FORMAL MOTIONS
- COMMITTEES
- TELSTRA (TRANSITION TO FULL PRIVATE OWNERSHIP) BILL 2003
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PETROLEUM (SUBMERGED LANDS) AMENDMENT BILL 2003
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM (SAFETY LEVIES) BILL 2003 - BUSINESS
- FARM HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT AMENDMENT BILL 2003
- FINANCIAL SECTOR LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2002
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2003
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Defence: Defence Capability Plan
(Evans, Sen Chris, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Economy
(Colbeck, Sen Richard, Minchin, Sen Nick) -
Foreign Affairs: Dr Mahathir Mohamad
(Ray, Sen Robert, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Law Enforcement: Gun Control
(Macdonald, Sen Sandy, Ellison, Sen Chris) -
National Security
(Faulkner, Sen John, Ellison, Sen Chris) -
Defence: Budget
(Bartlett, Sen Andrew, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Arts: Playing Australia
(Lundy, Sen Kate, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Environment: Tasmania
(Murphy, Sen Shayne, Macdonald, Sen Ian) - Family Services: Child Care
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Insurance: Public Liability
(Watson, Sen John, Kemp, Sen Rod) -
Iraq
(Faulkner, Sen John, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Indigenous Affairs: Children
(Harris, Sen Len, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Customs: Illicit Drugs
(Bishop, Sen Mark, Ellison, Sen Chris) -
Employment: People with Disabilities
(Ferris, Sen Jeannie, Patterson, Sen Kay)
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Defence: Defence Capability Plan
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: ADDITIONAL ANSWERS
- MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: TAKE NOTE OF ANSWERS
- COMMITTEES
- DOCUMENTS
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WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (COMPLIANCE WITH COURT AND TRIBUNAL ORDERS) BILL 2003
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (CODIFYING CONTEMPT OFFENCES) BILL 2003
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (IMPROVED REMEDIES FOR UNPROTECTED ACTION) BILL 2002 - COMMITTEES
- DELEGATION REPORTS
- LAOS: SEPON MINE
- AUSTRALIA-UNITED STATES FREE TRADE AGREEMENTREGULATION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
- SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
- EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TRAINING: ROAM CONSULTING
- NOTICES
- COMMITTEES
- KYOTO PROTOCOL RATIFICATION BILL 2003 [NO. 2]
- DOCUMENTS
- COMMITTEES
- DOCUMENTS
- ADJOURNMENT
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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France: Australian War Graves
(Bishop, Sen Mark, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Defence: Security Clearances
(Evans, Sen Chris, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Attorney-General's: Military Compensation
(Brown, Sen Bob, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Environment: Basslink
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Immigration: Parent Visa Applications
(Hutchins, Sen Steve, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Science: Chief Scientist
(Brown, Sen Bob, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Defence: HMAS Kanimbla
(Evans, Sen Chris, Hill, Sen Robert) -
National Radioactive Waste Repository
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Romania: Australian Mining Companies
(Brown, Sen Bob, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Environment: Ningaloo Reef
(Brown, Sen Bob, Hill, Sen Robert)
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France: Australian War Graves
Page: 17304
Senator FAULKNER (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (2:45 PM)
—My question is directed to Senator Hill, the Minister for Defence. I refer to the minister's response to my question regarding the provisions of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995 and the role of an Australian company in the export of aluminium tubes destined for Iraq. Can the minister confirm that the WMD act specifically applies `to the provision of services external to Australia' as stated in the Information guide for industry and the general public, published by his department in April 2002? Can the minister explain why the provisions of this act were not applied to the Australian company if there was a genuine belief that these goods might be used in a weapons of mass destruction program? Why did the minister yesterday refer only to the guidelines of the international Nuclear Suppliers Group, while completely ignoring the provisions of the weapons of mass destruction act?
Senator HILL (Minister for Defence)
—What I answered yesterday related to the question that was asked of me. In relation to the question that is being asked today, I will seek further legal advice and respond in due course.
Senator FAULKNER
—Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I would appreciate a full response to this question. It ought to have been provided when asked on Tuesday. I ask the minister something he should know because this is a matter for his ministerial responsibility. Is it correct that the final decision in these cases `rests with the Minister for Defence' as defence guidelines state? Can he at least confirm that? If there was the slightest suspicion about the purpose of these tubes, why then did the minister not exercise his clear ministerial responsibility? This is your responsibility, Minister. You should be able to answer these questions.
Senator HILL (Minister for Defence)
—It is not my responsibility, because I was not the minister at the time. However, the minister of the time did sign off on the process that was adopted.