Senate debates

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Occupied Palestinian Territories: Casualties (17 speeches)
    I seek leave to table the names of 6,747 people who have been massacred by the State of Israel in the last five weeks. These are the only names available that we have at the moment. Leave not...
  • Remembrance Day, Middle East (3 speeches)
    President, I seek leave to make a statement.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The question is that the second reading be agreed to.
  • Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading.
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific) Bill 2023; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    As I noted last night, the opposition's position on the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific) Bill 2023 is disappointing, but it's really not...
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific) Bill 2023; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments have been circulated, does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023. This is an omnibus bill presented in a series of schedules. Some of these the coalition will support. Others,...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Eugowra: Floods (1 speech)
    I can only imagine the experience of living through a one-in-5,000 year event as the residents of Eugowra did 12 months ago, on 14 November 2022. I can only imagine the horror of living through...
  • National Agriculture Day (1 speech)
    This Friday is AgDay, a day to celebrate and learn about Australia's agriculture sector. I'm a proud supporter of Australian farmers, as many are in this place, and I think this year's AgDay...
  • Youth Voice in Parliament Week (1 speech)
    I'm proud once again to be taking part in the annual Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign, amplifying the voices of young women and gender-diverse people nationally in parliament about the...
  • Rotary Australia Repurposing Equipment (1 speech)
    I rise to pay tribute to the Rotary Club of Archerfield for its successful delivery of another container of medical equipment to our Pacific family—in this case, to Nadi Hospital in Fiji....
  • Youth Voice in Parliament Week (1 speech)
    Today I put on the record the words of Ashleigh, who is aged 14, as part of Raise Your Voice in Parliament. I want to say thank you to Ashleigh for putting the needs of children in Australia on...
  • Parliamentary Conduct (8 speeches)
    Over the last few months, we've tried to do the right thing by the government over here. We tried to split a bill which is terribly contentious, leaving all the contentious parts off to one side...
  • Vaccination (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the $100 million given to the World Health Organization by the Albanese Labor government to prevent, prepare for and respond to future pandemics. I find it quite amazing that...
  • Transport Industry (1 speech)
    I just want to clarify something. I talk to every transport operators association and union in this nation—the Western Roads Federation, the Northern Territory Road Transport Association,...
  • Environment: Swift Parrots (1 speech)
    Right now, Forestry Tasmania is destroying native forest in coupe KD022C, part of the Kermandie Divide in south-east Tasmania. This is a disgraceful act of wanton destruction. The Kermandie...
  • Housing and Homelessness (1 speech)
    This morning I helped launch the Rental Affordability Index with National Shelter and SGS Economics & Planning. It would be no surprise to those in this place that Australia's housing system...
  • Beach Volleyball World Championships (1 speech)
    Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Louise Bawden, who is one of our great beach volleyball athletes and an Olympic athlete, along with Volleyball Australia to celebrate the fact that...
  • Schools (1 speech)
    Just when you thought it couldn't get worse in Queensland, school parents have been unpleasantly surprised by the government's suddenly allowing schools to switch to a four-day week from 2024. At...
  • White Sharks Global (1 speech)
    We can protect great white sharks in Australia, and we can protect the people who share the ocean with them. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Great white sharks are a protected species in...
  • Middle East (2 speeches)
    On 7 October we were confronted by the harrowing scenes from Israel of innocent civilians subjected to brutal attacks, tragic loss of lives and the profound degradation of human dignity. Over 200...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Immigration Detention (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong, and relates to the High Court's ruling on immigration detention. This morning the Australian newspaper reported that...
  • Health Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Gallagher. Minister, during the election campaign Labor committed to opening 50 Medicare urgent-care clinics across...
  • Protest Activity (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, yesterday you declined to answer whether the Prime Minister had spoken with representatives of Australia's...
  • Housing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Gallagher. Australia is in a rental and housing crisis, and research released today confirms that yet again, loudly...
  • Skills and Training (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Skills and Training. Upon election, the Albanese government inherited a massive skills deficit holding our economy back. According to...
  • Australian Capital Territory: Infrastructure (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. Minister, my question is about the government's...
  • Middle East (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. On 7 October, Gaza erupted when the Hamas terror group rained terror on Israelis. Over 200 people were abducted by Hamas and...
  • Workplace Relations (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Yesterday, Minister Burke, while blocking the four closing loopholes bills that the Senate passed...
  • Housing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Senator Gallagher. The Albanese government is delivering on its wide-reaching housing agenda....
  • Cost of Living (27 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. As has been pointed out several times in this chamber, new analysis of OECD data reveals that Australians have...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Immigration Detention, Cost of Living (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) and the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice asked by...
  • Housing (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a questions without notice I asked today relating to the residential rental market. The...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a)   Senator Brown from 14 to 17 November 2023; and...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senators. I shall now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Home Affairs; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Paterson, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, by no later than midday on...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of Senator McKenzie, I advise that notice of motion No. 375 will be postponed until Wednesday the 27th.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than 4 December 2023, any briefing notes, media briefing notes, file...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave Of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Thorpe from 17 October to 17 November 2023, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (9 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that I have received the following letter under standing order 75, dated 14 November 2023, from Senator Babet: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (15 speeches)
    The Senate will now consider the proposal from Senator Hughes, which is also shown at item 12 on today's Senate Order of Business: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's eighth report of 2023.
  • Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee, Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present two government responses to committee reports: the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit on its inquiry into the Commonwealth financial statements for 2021-22, and the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Environmental Laws and Standards; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    by leave—I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning national environmental laws and standards.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion in relation to the Australian government response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement report on public communications campaigns targeting drug...
  • Parliamentary Library Joint Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter nominating a senator to be a member of a committee.
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    As nobody is seeking the call, I'll put the question. The question is that the motion moved by Senator Cadell and Senator Colbeck be agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023; Second Reading (18 speeches)
    As I was saying earlier today in the debate on this bill, we effectively have a situation where the government is pursuing a reform of the tax system which puts the whole franking system at risk....
  • Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    On behalf of the federal coalition, I rise to speak on the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Bill 2023, and, in doing so, I affirm that on this side of the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Research Council; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    by leave—I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Australian Research Council.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Postcards to the Front (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to provide the Senate with a brief update on the Postcards to the Front campaign, which I've spoken about in this place previously. To remind senators, Postcards to the Front is a...
  • Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023 (1 speech)
    The Albanese government's proposed censorship law, the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023, is a two-card trick on the Australian people....
  • Tasmania: Salmon Industry, Maugean Skate (1 speech)
    The foreign-owned Tasmanian salmon farming industry and our state's Premier are on the warpath, determined to let nothing, not even the extinction of a wild and endangered marine species, get in...
  • Tasmania: Renewable Energy (1 speech)
    I rise as a proud member of the Albanese Labor government that is making important reforms to make our country stronger, fairer and safer, for this generation and the next. I'm proud to say that...
  • South Australia: Health (1 speech)
    Throughout the COVID period we learnt a lot about our bureaucratic class, and one bureaucracy we learnt about was the South Australian Department for Health and Wellbeing, otherwise known as SA...
  • Veterans: GO2 Health (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about an innovative and extremely effective holistic treatment model for Australian Defence Force veterans and their families. GO2 Health in Brisbane is providing comprehensive...
  • Western Australia: Health Care (1 speech)
    Western Australia's healthcare system is in crisis, and it has been in crisis since before the pandemic because of the systemic undervaluing of healthcare workers and the under-resourcing of what...
  • Northern Territory Indigenous Economic Development Forum (1 speech)
    I'd like to talk about the Northern Territory Indigenous Economic Development conference that took place towards the end of last week. It was an honour to be the keynote guest speaker there on...
  • Members of Parliament: Staffing (1 speech)
    Imagine this: you're in a fight. Your opponent picks their weapon and then they pick yours. You don't get a say. Whatever they choose, that's what you're working with. That's politics today, and...
  • Paramedics (1 speech)
    Paramedics are exceptional Australians. When they choose this life of service they know, unlike most of their university friends, that when they complete their studies they will face trauma,...
  • McLean, Mr John Barry, AM (1 speech)
    I rise to celebrate the life of the late John Barry McClean AM. All who knew John knew that he was a hardworking and thoroughly decent man. Throughout every aspect of his life, he demonstrated...
  • Immigration Detention (1 speech)
    Before I commence my contribution, let me say to Senator Sheldon: that was a beautiful contribution, and I suspect the family will be extraordinarily grateful. I don't think you could have done...
  • Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, Middle East (1 speech)
    Let's speak simply. Australia's social security system is a bonfire. It is a convoluted, inaccessible, rotting zombie of a system that is harming people across the country. I need to speak simply...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    Over 200 hostages are being held by Hamas. Here are their names: Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Noga Weiss, 18; her parents, Shiri Weiss, 53, and Ilan Weiss, 56; husband and wife Gad Haggai, 73, and Judy...
  • Protest Activity (1 speech)
    I would like to ask every Australian how they would feel if their children were afraid to go to school. How would they feel if their children were wearing raincoats on a hot day because they...
  • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    Tonight I'll read a letter from a constituent, a special forces veteran who chose to leave the Australian Defence Force after seeing Defence leadership callously throwing soldiers under the bus....
  • Jewish Community (1 speech)
    It is more than a month since Hamas terrorists brutally attacked innocent Israelis. Since this time, with no end in sight to this horrific conflict, we have seen an alarming rise in antisemitism...