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- BILLS
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COMMITTEES
- Finance and Public Administration References Committee
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- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee
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BILLS
- Higher Education Support Amendment (Maximum Payment Amounts and Other Measures) Bill 2012
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2012 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2012
- Commonwealth Government Securities Legislation Amendment (Retail Trading) Bill 2012
- Migration Legislation Amendment (Student Visas) Bill 2012
- COMMITTEES
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Mining
(Cormann, Sen Mathias, Wong, Sen Penny) -
Health
(Marshall, Sen Gavin, Ludwig, Sen Joe) -
National Disability Insurance Scheme
(Fifield, Sen Mitch, Wong, Sen Penny) -
Environment
(Waters, Sen Larissa, Evans, Sen Christopher) -
Gambling
(Fierravanti-Wells, Sen Concetta, Evans, Sen Christopher) -
Asian Century
(Bishop, Sen Mark, Carr, Sen Bob) -
Defence Equipment
(Nash, Sen Fiona, Carr, Sen Bob) -
Renewable Energy
(Xenophon, Sen Nick, Lundy, Sen Kate) -
Broadband
(Birmingham, Sen Simon, Conroy, Sen Stephen) -
Drug Testing in Sport
(Thistlethwaite, Sen Matt, Lundy, Sen Kate)
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Mining
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: TAKE NOTE OF ANSWERS
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DOCUMENTS
- Australian War Memorial
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- Repatriation Commission, Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Department of Veterans' Affairs
- Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
- DOCUMENTS
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COMMITTEES
- Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Joint Select Committee
- Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee
- Electricity Prices Committee
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee
- Gambling Reform Committee
- Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee
- COMMITTEES
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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Fair Work Act (Question No. 1990)
(Abetz, Sen Eric, Wong, Sen Penny) -
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 2131)
(Siewert, Sen Rachel, Conroy, Sen Stephen) -
Budget Estimates: Question No. EW0292_13 (Question No. 2160)
(Abetz, Sen Eric, Wong, Sen Penny) -
Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 2164)
(Waters, Sen Larissa, Conroy, Sen Stephen) -
Medical Services Advisory Committee (Question Nos 2167 and 2168)
(Abetz, Sen Eric, Ludwig, Sen Joe) -
Employment Participation and Child Care (Question No. 2227)
(Siewert, Sen Rachel, Wong, Sen Penny) -
Medicare (Question No. 2381)
(Cash, Sen Michaelia, Ludwig, Sen Joe)
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Fair Work Act (Question No. 1990)
Page: 8880
Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (18:32): I am just not sure whether we were conscious of the fact that this motion was coming forward. We no doubt will be supporting it. (Quorum formed) I am pleased to see that this committee is being formed. When I was local government minister in the Howard government, this issue was constantly raised with me. I always used to say to local government: 'I understand the principle. I support it in principle. But do not come to me until you can assure me that there will be no state opposing this constitutional recognition.' When I asked local government to do that, they rightly felt that they could not do that at the time. It has moved on a lot since then.
Senator McEwen interjecting—
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McEwen, I heard what was said and I think it should be withdrawn.
Senator McEwen: I withdraw.
Senator IAN MACDONALD: I did not hear the comment; more's the pity. If it was a comment decrying my right to speak on this particular motion, I would take offence. But this is typical of the Labor Party. If you do not agree with the Labor Party then you should not be allowed to speak at all—that seems to be their approach. I assume the interjection, which I did not hear, was along those lines. I do not know whether Senator McEwen's past involved local government; I proudly served on a local government for 11 years.
Senator Thorp: Why speculate? Just get on with it.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Macdonald, ignore all interjections and please address your remarks to the chair.
Senator IAN MACDONALD: I will. Thank you, Mr Deputy President. I proudly served on a local government for 11 years before I came into this chamber, and then I had three years here as the minister for local government. I am delighted to see that this is moving on. I know local government themselves are very keen for constitutional recognition. I am totally supportive of most of their arguments.
A friend and associate of mine, Mr David Crisafulli, is now the Queensland Minister for Local Government, and I know he has some views on this issue as well. I am sure this committee will be consulting widely and will be ensuring that the views of all of the states are taken into account. I look forward to the determinations of this committee when they report in due course.
Question agreed to.