Senate debates
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: (a) Right to Protest Bill 2025, today; and (b) Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Right to Protest Bill 2025; Second Reading (37 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. A few short weeks ago I and, I think, all of my Greens colleagues across the country joined thousands of people—300,000 of whom walked...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Tasmania: Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry (1 speech)
A couple of weeks ago I stood with my colleagues from the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments to announce a $135 million support package for Nyrstar smelters in Hobart and Port Pirie. Let me...
- Collard, Mr Stanley James, OAM (1 speech)
I would like to acknowledge the life of former Senator for Queensland Stan Collard, OAM, who passed away recently. Stanley James Collard was born in Maleny in 1936 in what was known then as the...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
It's 2025, and the system is broken in Australia. People know it; people aren't fools. They know a bandaid measure when they see it. They can tell when politicians are kicking the can down the...
- Western Australia: Fossil Fuel Industry (1 speech)
The last 50 years have seen Western Australia emerge as the engine room of the Australian economy, particularly through the development of the iron ore, oil and gas industries in our north....
- Labor Government: Economy (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government is proudly building our country and providing security for the future of all Australians. From 1 July this year, another round of energy bill relief was rolled out...
- National Climate Risk Assessment (1 speech)
I rise to again call on the government to release the National climate risk assessment. In the coming weeks, the government will decide Australia's emissions reduction target for 2035. It's a...
- Housing (1 speech)
I want to speak about the agenda that this government brings to the 47th Parliament. It's a minimalist agenda in the face of really important and serious national crises. This government has...
- Porepunkah: Attack (1 speech)
The man accused of shooting two police officers in Victoria yesterday identifies as a sovereign citizen and has called police 'terrorist thugs'. Before I go on, I would like to send my love and...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
Since being re-elected, the Albanese Labor government have wasted no time on delivering on the promises that we made to Australians. Our focus, since being re-elected and in the last term, has...
- Energy (1 speech)
Labor's policies—net zero, out-of-control immigration and out-of-control spending—and their justifications by cherrypicking facts to suit their agenda are destroying Australia. They...
- Western Australia: Aged Care (2 speeches)
After a lightning visit to Canberra yesterday, WA's premier Roger Cook has returned to our home state. He was on a mission to get more aged-care beds to take some strain off the health-system...
- Inherited Cancers (1 speech)
Inherited cancers, like those caused by the BRCA gene and Lynch syndrome mutations, carry significant lifetime risk of cancer for individuals and families. These mutations pass silently through...
- Women's Health (1 speech)
Middle-aged women and many men are part of the sandwich generation, raising children while caring for ageing parents—all while working. The result is fatigue, stress and parental...
- Summit: Combat Antisemitism Movement (1 speech)
Next week the Combat Antisemitism Movement, CAM, which has links to the Israeli military and the far right, is hosting a summit on the Gold Coast. Politicians, public servants, mayors and...
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
Eight years ago, when I first came to this place, debanking was not an issue that was even on my radar. Since then, sadly, it has come to me more and more. The first instances involved areas of...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise to talk about penalty rates. I want to talk about the people who work when the rest of us don't. I'm talking about hospital cleaners, supermarket staff, aged-care workers and those who...
- Australian National Flag (1 speech)
The Australian flag is more than just a piece of fabric; it's a powerful symbol of who we are as a nation. It stands for the values that bind us together—freedom, democracy, the rule of law...
- Australian Football League (1 speech)
Last week the Australian Football League banned Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine for four weeks for using a slur, citing its dedication to respect and inclusion. Yet the 2025 grand final...
- Housing (1 speech)
Housing is a nation-defining challenge for Australia because every Australian deserves a place to call home, and every Australian should aspire to homeownership. Housing, housing,...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
We need this government to step up and release more home care packages. Seriously, what will it take for this government to give older Australians the care they need? This morning I received an...
- Porepunkah: Attack (1 speech)
We go about our day today with heavy hearts. Yesterday two Victoria Police officers lost their lives. They were doing what they swore to do, keep the rest of us safe. To their families,...
- Southern Tasmanian Netball Association (1 speech)
On Friday 22 August I attended the Southern Tasmanian Netball Association Junior Presentation Night, an event that brings together players, coaches and families to mark the end of the season. It...
- National Security (1 speech)
I welcome the government's listing of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. That has been a long time coming. But this government needs to do more. The...
- Defence (1 speech)
Later today Quakers Australia will be launching their report Australia's opaque arms trade & obligations under international law. This follows a powerful joint statement by 60 civil society...
- Indian Community (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure of attending a celebration hosted by Indians in Sydney for the 78th anniversary of Indian Independence Day. I want to commend Indians in Sydney under the leadership of...
- Porepunkah: Attack (1 speech)
I want to take a moment to speak about the heartbreaking tragedy that occurred yesterday in Porepunkah in my home state of Victoria. I, like many of us are this place, am devastated and saddened...
- Tasmania: Animal Welfare (2 speeches)
I rise today to talk about the amazing work of local cat rescues in Tasmania, particularly in southern Tasmania. The people who run our local cat rescues work absolutely tirelessly, and often at...
- Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
by leave—I advise the Senate that Senator Gallagher will be absent from question time today, for personal reasons. In her absence, ministers will represent portfolios as outlined in the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Security (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. We know, through a list of documents released under freedom of information, that the government was preparing to list...
- Housing (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Ayres. Building more homes is a priority for the Albanese Labor government. Can the minister outline the improvement...
- National Security (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. At a protest rally against Israel in Sydney earlier this month that was attended by a number of state MPs, one of the...
- Environment (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Last week, you told the productivity roundtable that the Albanese government is committed to reforming Australia's...
- Workplace Relations (22 speeches)
My question, without yelling, is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. This week marks one year since the Albanese Labor government's...
- Multiple Birth Allowance (21 speeches)
My question—
- Housing (30 speeches)
I'm sorry that my questions aren't going to be as funny as Senator Farrell's answers, but we'll certainly make a go of it! My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator...
- Renewable Energy (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. In August 2023, the government allocated $3 billion to energy transition projects in WA...
- Early Childhood Education (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Parents know that the early childhood education and care workforce is the backbone of the sector. Today's...
- Taxation (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, yesterday, when asked about the Prime Minister's decision to adopt taxing Australian families who have a...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I would like to update an answer to Senator Tyrrell on multiple birth allowances. This is a complex policy area. The Minister for Social Services has committed to write to Senator Tyrrell with a...
- Questions to the President (0 speeches)
- Question Time (3 speeches)
Senator Cash, are you seeking the call?
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of all answers given to all coalition questions today during question time. The decision to expel the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran is both welcome...
- Environment (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 I asked today relating to the environment. I asked...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
I withdraw government business notice of motion No. 1.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Antic, I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Digital ID Repeal Bill 2024 be restored...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Australian Army: Jervis Bay Incident; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
I will now move to general business notice of motions No. 114 and 115.
- Comcare; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 29 August 2025, in relation to the...
- Office of the eSafety Commissioner; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
At the request of Senator Antic, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, by no later than 9.30 am on Monday, 29 September 2025, all...
- Australian Public Service Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 25 August 2025, the Senate rejected a claim of cabinet confidentiality advanced by the Minister for the Public Service in relation to order...
- Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than midday on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, any correspondence or...
- Housing Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than midday on 2 September 2025: (a) any documents that...
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Kovacic, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that: (i) order for the production of document no. 14, directed to the Minister representing the Minister for...
- Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move general business notices of motion Nos 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 together: GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 101 That there be laid on the table by...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 5 September 2025, copies of all letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, meeting...
- Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 5 September 2025: (a) all data held by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in...
- Australian National University; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, by no later than 9 30 am on 3 September 2025: (a) a copy of any reports resulting from an...
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- International Relations: Australia and Iran (8 speeches)
Senator Chandler has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, which has been circulated and is shown on the Dynamic Red: The Albanese Labor Government's failure to act on repeated...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Housing (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Minister for Housing, I table a statement concerning five per cent deposits for all first home buyers.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Cybersecurity (1 speech)
I wanted to talk tonight about the issues that we are experiencing nationally and internationally in relation to cybersecurity and the attacks that have happened, as we know, in some major...
- Education (1 speech)
There is a crisis in our nation's schools. For all the investment, reform packages and rhetoric, Australia's education system is underperforming. The evidence is undeniable. International...
- Universities (1 speech)
Public universities are in a deep, structural crisis. I have had the privilege of working at a university, teaching students, guiding and supporting them and seeing firsthand how universities can...
- Salvation Army (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the incredible work being done by the Salvation Army of Hobart. Recently I had the privilege to attend and hear about the wonderful work the team are doing for the...
- Women's Rugby Union (1 speech)
Rugby in Australia is more than a game. It is part of our identity and community. Nowhere is that more evident than in the growth of women's rugby. Since the first New South Wales women's team...
