Senate debates
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
I move: That, subject to restoration to the Notice Paper, private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (11 speeches)
I move: That the following address-in-reply be agreed to: To Her Excellency the Governor-General MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY— We, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Australia in...
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- South Australia: Marine Environment (3 speeches)
I wish to update the Senate on developments regarding the algal bloom in my home state of South Australia. We South Australians love our beaches and our coastline. We are rightly proud of them....
- Bilyk, Ms Catryna Louise (2 speeches)
It's a real honour to deliver this speech to acknowledge my friend and colleague former senator Catryna Bilyk. Catryna and I have shared more than just a party room over the past 17 years. We've...
- Bilyk, Ms Catryna Louise, Middle East (1 speech)
Senator Bilyk, don't leave yet; I'm about to say something nice about you as well. I associate myself with the lovely remarks from Senator Brown. I would also like to acknowledge, from the...
- Gambling Advertising (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a very important matter relating to the harm of gambling advertising and the scourge that it is across the country. This election saw a significant result for the Albanese...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
I'm grateful for the opportunity to make some remarks at the beginning of this parliament and congratulate everyone for being re-elected to their positions. It is a great honour to be a...
- Child Abuse: Childcare Centres, Discrimination (1 speech)
Recent reports of abuse in early learning centres across Victoria are abhorrent and deeply disturbing. These are places where children should feel safe and be educated and nurtured, not put in...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
It has been nearly three months since the 47th Parliament rose, and in that time I have met Canberrans here at Parliament House, where a thousand people turned up to listen to Dr Mo talk about...
- Superannuation (1 speech)
Former senator Bilyk has left the chamber now, but I too wanted to associate myself with the beautiful words of Senator Carol Brown earlier in this session regarding Senator Bilyk's contribution...
- Western Australia: Charitable Initiatives (1 speech)
Many of you would be aware of the mattress run I do up to the Kimberley region in Western Australia with my partners from Centurion Transport, Bedshed Midland, Bedshed Osborne Park and, of...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
We live in an increasingly fractured, polarised world, where principles and values we once took for granted in Australia are being undermined. Today, the Albanese Labor government gets away with...
- Trading Practices: Subscriptions, Motherhood (1 speech)
This morning I announced that Australia's Voice will be pushing the government to pursue click-to-cancel, a legislative change that would provide a positive impact for consumers across Australia....
- Bilyk, Ms Catryna Louise (2 speeches)
It brings me a great deal of pleasure to say a few words at this tail end of senators' statements, because Senator Catryna Bilyk joined us earlier today, and wonderful words were said by Senator...
- Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
I rise to indicate that I intend to introduce a private senator's bill to amend the Sex Discrimination Act by removing references to gender identity and restoring the act to its original purpose....
- Oliver, Mr John Phillip (1 speech)
I rise today with deep sadness to pay tribute to a very special man. It was with great sadness and heavy hearts that, some months ago, we farewelled John Phillip Oliver, husband to Geraldine;...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
This is my first speech for the new 48th Parliament. I was reflecting on the first order of business for this government in the 47th Parliament, and my first reflections were on the setting of a...
- Budget (1 speech)
Today, we learned that more than half of voters now rely on the government as their primary source of income, whether through public sector wages, welfare payments or subsidies. That's a pretty...
- South Australia: Parliamentary Representation (1 speech)
I rise to provide a heartfelt thanks to the people of South Australia for returning me to this place and for electing a Labor government—a Labor government that will deliver on all of our...
- Australian Society (1 speech)
Acknowledgements of and welcomes to country may have started with good intentions. Like so many good ideas, however, they've been pushed far beyond their original scope and have become tools of...
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
The idea of paying a fee in order to spend your own money sounds like a bizarre one. The notion that someone who's taking a payment from you will also then be able to charge you for taking that...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
While members of the opposition spent the first week of the 48th Parliament attempting to reprosecute the climate wars of the last few decades, our No. 1 focus as a government continues to be...
- Northern Territory: Detention Facilities (1 speech)
The details that have come out in the last 24 hours of what's happening in the Northern Territory's watch house in the Palmerston Police Station are utterly chilling. Sixteen people in a single...
- World Health Organization (1 speech)
This government has betrayed our nation. How? By refusing to reject the WHO's international health regulations amendments just last week. In doing so, what have they done? They have jeopardised...
- Education (1 speech)
I rise in this new parliament not just as a senator but as a former teacher and educator. I rise proud to be part of a political movement that places education for all at the heart of our...
- Aboriginal Community Elders Services (1 speech)
Victoria has always been a proud, progressive state, shaped by strong communities and a deep commitment to fairness and equity. It's a real honour to represent it in this place and to work for...
- Tertiary Education (1 speech)
Yesterday the ABC reported that the University of Technology Sydney spent $140,000 on an alumni trip to the United States. The vice-chancellor who joined this trip earned over $900,000 in 2023...
- North West Shelf Project (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the great Western Australian gas industry—in particular, the North West Shelf project. The life-cycle extension of the North West Shelf is an absolute no-brainer....
- National Farm Safety Week (2 speeches)
This week is National Farm Safety Week. Every year, and especially this year, National Farm Safety Week is an important and timely reminder of the everyday dangers out there for farmers and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the Albanese government rule out any new or increased taxes on Australian taxpayers or businesses in this term of...
- Albanese Government (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In May, the Albanese Labor government took a positive agenda to the election, and the Australian people voted to...
- Medicare (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. During the election campaign, the Prime Minister promised Australians that when they visit the doctor, 'Under Labor,...
- North West Shelf Project (8 speeches)
My question is to the new Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Peter Dutton promised to approve Woodside's mega gas plant in the Burrup Peninsula within 30 days of the election....
- Cost of Living (10 speeches)
This is not my first speech. My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government worked hard to support Australians with...
- Housing (18 speeches)
President, congratulations on your re-election as our president. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister please advise the Senate if the...
- E-Cigarettes and Vaping Products (8 speeches)
My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. A Roy Morgan survey from July 2025 found that smoking rates have increased since the federal...
- Consumer Protection (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Senator Gallagher. Last year the then minister released a consultation paper relating to...
- Tertiary Education (8 speeches)
Thank you, President, and congratulations on your re-election. My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, representing the Minister for Education, Senator Walsh. How is the...
- South Australia: Marine Environment (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Last week I walked along the Ardrossan Jetty and saw hundreds of dead garfish and the occasional King George whiting...
- Metals Industry (13 speeches)
Thank you, President, and congratulations on your re-election. My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, none other than Senator Ayres. Many Australian smelters are in...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Faruqi, Senator Mehreen (31 speeches)
by leave—I move: That a motion relating to the conduct of a senator may be moved immediately and debated for up to 30 minutes (6 minutes per speaker). I understand the motion has been...
- Statement by the President (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Standards (1 speech)
Senators, yesterday the eyes of the Australian people were on our chamber for the opening of the 48th Parliament. We had in attendance Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General, as well as...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move government business notice of motion No. 8, standing in the name of Senator Gallagher: That consideration of the business before the Senate on the following days be...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
Mr Deputy President, I congratulate you on your election to the office. I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to questions...
- North West Shelf Project (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Environment and Water (Senator Watt) to a question without notice asked by the Leader of the Australian Greens...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Eggleston, Dr Alan, AM (5 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 13 May 2025, of Dr Alan Eggleston AM, a senator for the state of Western Australia from 1996 to 2014.
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- Whiteaker, Senator Ellie (2 speeches)
Pursuant to order, I now call Senator Whiteaker to make her first speech and ask senators that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
- Blyth, Senator Leah (2 speeches)
Senators, pursuant to order, I now call Senator Blyth to make her first speech and ask senators that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
- Mulholland, Senator Corinne (4 speeches)
Pursuant to order, I now call Senator Mulholland to make her first speech and ask senators that the usual courtesies be extended to her.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Eggleston, Dr Alan, AM (5 speeches)
President, may I also extend to you my congratulations on your election to this high office. I rise this afternoon to also pay tribute to a remarkable Western Australian, a deeply committed...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Ciccone for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (2 speeches)
If there is no objection, the business is postponed.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Lambie for 22 to 31 July, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Days and Hours of Meeting (2 speeches)
I move: That the days of meeting of the Senate for the remainder of 2025 be as follows: Wednesday, 23 July and Thursday, 24 July Monday, 28 July to Thursday, 31 July Monday, 25 August to...
- 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: Competition and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Lambie, I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Tertiary Education Legislation...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hanson-Young, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion no. 6.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Paterson, I withdraw general business notice of motion no. 6.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024 be...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Australian Energy Market Operator; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than midday on Monday, 28 July 2025, all written or digital...
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 660, relating to Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation decision...
- North West Shelf Project; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Hanson-Young, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than Tuesday, 29 July 2025, any approval conditions...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Hanson, I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Australian Education Legislation...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Bilyk, Ms Catryna Louise (1 speech)
I rise to honour the remarkable contribution of former senator Catryna Bilyk, whose service to the people of Tasmania and this parliament was defined by compassion, conviction and an unwavering...
- Metals Industry (1 speech)
Understandably, some of us have been celebrating a new job post the election—a new job as a parliamentarian. But tonight I do want to focus on the thousands of Australians who are facing an...
- Work-Life Balance (1 speech)
BARBARA POCOCK () (): Labor has made improving productivity central to its second-term agenda. The question of fair distribution of productivity gains should be central in this debate, and...
- Liberal Party of Australia (1 speech)
At the last election, Australians delivered a clear and difficult message to the Liberal Party. Sussan Ley is right to say that we were 'smashed' at the last election, and we are going to take...
- One Nation, Members of Parliament: Staffing (1 speech)
Change is coming. Following One Nation's best ever federal election result in May, our party leader Senator Pauline Hanson declared on national TV, 'This is not the end of an election; this is...
