Senate debates

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Meeting (1 speech)
      I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
    • Queensland: 2032 Summer Olympics Bid (1 speech)
      Queensland's bid for the 2032 Summer Olympic Games presents a major opportunity. It is something the whole state could benefit from—metropolitan, regional and rural Queensland alike. We...
    • Coronavirus (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the impact of the coronavirus in regional Queensland, particularly on the tourism sector and the thousands of local jobs supported directly and indirectly by tourism. The...
    • Coal Industry: Otis Group (12 speeches)
      A couple of weeks ago, at the end of the last sitting fortnight, a group of pro-coal Labor MPs outed themselves with a mock gotcha set-up that didn't fool too many political insiders. The...
    • Holden (1 speech)
      General Motors' announcement that it will be winding down its business is an inevitable result of this government's actions. Tony Abbott, Joe Hockey and Warren Truss goaded Holden to shut down...
    • Tanna, Ms Catherine Leigh (1 speech)
      As I've outlined in a previous speech, I aim to put the spotlight on a number of Australian businesspeople who play important roles in our nation but who rarely appear in the headlines. Another...
    • Parliamentary Representation, Tasmanian Businesses (1 speech)
      It is a pleasure to be able to make a contribution to the senators' statements debate. Typically I take the opportunity to talk about some great things that are happening in Tasmania at this...
    • Coronavirus (2 speeches)
      I would like to pay tribute to my constituency of the Northern Territory, including Christmas Island, who know how to step up in times of great need in helping fellow Australians impacted by...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Special Purpose Flights (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Under the guidelines for special purpose aircraft flights—otherwise known as the VIP flights—the minister is required to...
    • Coronavirus (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing Minister for Health, Senator Cash. Minister, could you update the Senate on what actions the Morrison government is taking to keep Australians safe and...
    • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Colbeck. In response to the Senate order for the production of documents No. 387, regarding the colour coded spreadsheet such as I am...
    • Cybersecurity (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on how Australia is joining with international partners to address the global challenge of...
    • Coronavirus (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Cash. It refers to the Australian health sector's emergency response plan for COVID-19, which was endorsed by the...
    • Defence Industry (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government is helping to protect Australians and build a more resilient...
    • Australian Bushfires (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Senator Cormann. This summer's devastating bushfires have seen more than 20 per cent of Australia's mainland forests...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Former senator Sean Edwards is in the gallery. Welcome back, former Senator Edwards. Honourable senators: Hear, hear!
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator Ruston. Can the minister update the Senate on the rollout of the NDIS and how the...
    • Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (8 speeches)
      My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. The Prime Minister has claimed his office's only involvement in the sports rorts scheme was to pass along...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber and the gallery of a delegation from the German Bundestag, led by the Vice-President, Mr Wolfgang Kubicki. On behalf of...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Dementia (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. Dementia is one of this country's greatest health challenges, and it touches almost all families in one way...
    • Aged Care (28 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck. When asked during question time about the Morrison government's plans to put ACAT out to tender, the minister...
    • Rural and Regional Health Services (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on how the coalition...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Special Purpose Flights (1 speech)
      During question time I took on notice a question from Senator Wong about the special purpose aircraft and I now have answers to her question. I can advise that my office received the verified...
    • Coronavirus (3 speeches)
      In response to the question asked to me by Senator Rex Patrick on behalf of the Minister for Health, I have some further information for him. which I will now table.
  • Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
    • Special Purpose Flights (9 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Defence to the question asked by Senator Wong on special purpose flights. I did just live in a brief shining moment of...
    • Australian Bushfires (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Rice today...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Presentation; Withdrawal (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I give notice of my intention at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting to withdraw business of the Senate...
    • Presentation; Postponement (2 speeches)
      I ask that the question for the postponement of general business notice of motion No. 505 standing in the name of Senator Waters be put to a vote.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines; Order for the Production of Documents (12 speeches)
      I move: (1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than 30 April of each calendar year: (a) all reports and correspondence received by the Minister for Finance...
    • National Security (8 speeches)
      I'd like to inform the Senate that Senator Keneally will sponsor this motion as well. I, and also on behalf of Senators Di Natale and Keneally, move: That the Senate— (a) notes:...
    • Oil Exploration (11 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Norwegian oil company Equinor, has announced it is discontinuing its exploration drilling plans in the Great Australian Bight,...
    • Renewable Energy (8 speeches)
      At the request of Senators Watt, Green and Chisholm, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Leader of the Liberal National Party in the Queensland Parliament, Mrs Deb Frecklington, has...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (9 speeches)
      At the request of Senator Keneally, I move: That— (1) The Senate notes that: (a) the Morrison Government has announced that it intends to privatise Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) from...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACAT) are teams of experienced, qualified and highly trained medical, clinical and allied health...
    • Youth Incarceration (5 speeches)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) First Nations children are over-represented in the youth justice system and the failure of state and territory governments to...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
    • Approval of Works (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal by the National Capital Authority for capital works within the Parliamentary Zone, relating...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
      I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Statute Update...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Australian Bushfires (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the spread of misinformation on social media during the recent bushfires, particularly posts that exaggerated the number of bushfires started by...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Australian Bushfires (1 speech)
      I, and on behalf of Senator Watt, move: That the Senate acknowledges the important work of federal public servants, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) staff and Australian Defence Force...
    • Coronavirus (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate acknowledges the important work of federal public servants to address the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, including: (a) consular staff and other public servants who have...
    • Child Exploitation (1 speech)
      I move: That the Senate— (a) condemns child exploitation material of any kind and through any medium; (b) acknowledges that Japanese anime (animation) and manga (graphic novels) are visual...
    • Domestic and Family Violence (8 speeches)
      I inform the chamber that Senator Marielle Smith will also sponsor the motion. I, and on behalf of Senator Marielle Smith, move: That the Senate: (a) notes that: (i) in his statement to...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • Withdrawal (1 speech)
      I withdraw the notice of motion given earlier today in my name, and the names of four other senators, relating to Tasmanian forestry.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum; Consideration (2 speeches)
      by leave—I present the joint communique and chairman statement of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, which took place in Canberra from 13 to 16 January 2020. I move: That the Senate take...
  • First Speech (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Pursuant to order, I now call Senator McLachlan to make his first speech, and I ask honourable senators that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum; Consideration (2 speeches)
      I'd also like to make some brief remarks in support of the comments made by Senator Lines and Senator Van from Victoria reflecting on the joint communique of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Climate Change (19 speeches)
      I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, six proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
      At the request of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Senator Polley, I present ScrutinyDigest No. 3 of 2020 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills.
    • Report (1 speech)
      Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2019.
    • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, I present the third report of 2020 of the Human rights scrutiny report. I move: That the Senate take note of the...
    • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian...
    • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, Senator Fierravanti-Wells, I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2020. I also present...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Mr Littleproud, I table a ministerial statement on disaster risk reduction.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • National Security (1 speech)
      Terrorism and how we keep Australians safe from terrorists is once again in the headlines this week with recent comments from the ASIO director-general that the terrorist threat remains...
    • Barrack, Mr Peter George, OAM, Goodger, Mr Walter David (Dave), O'Brien, Mr Edward (Eddie) John (1 speech)
      Over the summer, the Labor movement lost three remarkable people: Peter Barrack, Dave Goodger and Eddie O'Brien. They devoted their lives and talents to the service of working people. They...
    • Parliament House: Art (1 speech)
      One of the incredible things about being commissioned by your community to be their voice here in this place is the very space in which we do the work of the community: Parliament House. One of...
    • Employment (1 speech)
      I want to bring a message of hope here tonight from the Kimberley, a beautiful part of my home state. Indeed, it's one of the most beautiful parts of the country. It is absolutely fantastic. If...
    • Gundagai Show (1 speech)
      Two weeks ago I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Gundagai Show, hosted by the Gundagai Pastoral & Agricultural Society. I was invited at the end of last year during a street walk in...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
      If you follow British politics, you may have seen that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is looking to reform the British Broadcasting Corporation, the BBC. One option being considered is to scrap the...
    • Climate Change (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about Labor's major commitment in recent days, should we be elected, to ensure that Australia becomes carbon-neutral by 2050. I want to speak to my home state of Queensland in...
    • Poverty (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak on a report by the Australian Council of Social Service, ACOSS, and the University of New South Wales. That report is Poverty in Australia 2020. It makes very distressing...