Senate debates

Thursday, 28 August 2025

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025; Second Reading (15 speeches)
    The Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025 exists for one reason and one reason only: the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese,...
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025; In Committee (24 speeches)
    The committee is considering this bill and amendment (1) on sheet 3408 moved by Senator Kovacic.
  • Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading (1 speech)
    In the limited time we have remaining before the hard marker, I'll see how I go in getting the coalition's position on the record in relation to the Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025. Upfront,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (8 speeches)
    I present the fifth report of 2025 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— Selection of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business notice of motion No. 126, standing in the name of Senator Tyrrell, be considered during general business today. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (8 speeches)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that: (i) the review of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 recommended that the Independent Review of Resourcing in Parliamentarian Offices (the...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I move the motion as amended: Amended motion to read as follows: (1) That the 2025-26 supplementary Budget estimates hearings be scheduled as follows: Tuesday, 7 October and Wednesday, 8 October...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Defence; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 5 September 2025, copies of all letters, briefing notes, meeting...
  • Department of Finance (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Special Minister of State, by no later than 5 pm on Friday, 5 September 2025, copies of all letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, meeting...
  • Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; 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 4 September 2025, any advice, submissions, emails,...
  • Attorney-General's Department; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Cash, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that on 28 November 2023 the Senate agreed to order for production of documents no. 405, which required the tabling...
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) order for the production of documents no. 41, relating to the release of documents regarding Climate...
  • COVID-19; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Antic, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, by no later than 9.30 am on Monday, 29 September 2025,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— I move: That this bill...
  • Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I believe Senator Paterson was in continuation; I'm not quite sure if he had concluded his remarks.
  • Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; In Committee (21 speeches)
    The Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills requested a justification for why this bill includes a standing appropriation rather than being included in the annual appropriation bill, which...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Migration (1 speech)
    I am a proud Australian and I stand here as a proud Australian senator, and I would not be in this chamber without the promise of Australia—a promise extended to my family and to me as a...
  • Queensland: Resources Sector (1 speech)
    As the new Assistant Minister for Resources, it was fantastic to visit Moranbah earlier this month alongside mayor Kelly Vea Vea and the Queensland shadow minister for resources, Linus Power....
  • International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances (1 speech)
    International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is on 30 August, and today I'm honoured to host a round table with people from around the world who have experienced this horror. Many...
  • McArdle, Mr Mark (1 speech)
    I rise to pay tribute to Mark McArdle. Mark was the long-term LNP member for Caloundra between 2004 and 2020. Mark was a dedicated and passionate servant for the people of Caloundra, the Sunshine...
  • Liberal Party of Australia (1 speech)
    As many in this chamber should well know by now, I come to this place with an immense amount of state pride. West is best. But, sadly, I'm not always sure the same can be said of some of my...
  • Gambling Advertising (1 speech)
    Usman Khawaja has come to Parliament House to talk to elected representatives about the need to act on gambling advertising. I was just at a roundtable hosted by the member for Curtin, Kate...
  • Housing (1 speech)
    Over the past three years, net overseas migration has added approximately 1½ million people to Australia's population. There were 171,000 in 2021-22, a record 536,000 in the year 2022-23 and...
  • Parkinson's Disease (1 speech)
    When fellow Tasmanian and former World Health Organization scientist Harley Stanton was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2019, his life changed overnight. He joined more than 200,000 Australians...
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers (1 speech)
    I rise in outrage at this government's decision to allow PwC, the firm at the centre of one of the most shocking breaches of public trust in recent memory, to rebid for government contracts....
  • South Australia: Marine Environment (1 speech)
    The Labor Government's closed eyes and deaf ears have added to the algal bloom catastrophe, but our great state of South Australia remains open for business. State and federal governments could...
  • Australian Society (1 speech)
    Australian values pronounce a spirit. They're not tangible, but they're there. They're very strong. They run through every Australian's heart. Let's have a look at some of these....
  • Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 (1 speech)
    In the dying hours of the last parliament, the Albanese government joined forces with Peter Dutton to ram through some of the most extreme antimigrant, antirefugee laws this country has ever...
  • Members of Parliament: Staffing (1 speech)
    Imagine a bakery owner in Tasmania, like that of Scottsdale Cottage Bakery or of the internationally renowned Ross Village Bakery. They've worked hard their whole lives to get where they are, to...
  • Workplace Relations: Qantas (1 speech)
    I don't normally read things in here too often, but I'm going to break that habit today; I'm going to change it. I want to proudly read from a media release from Monday 18 August from the...
  • Housing (2 speeches)
    The Albanese Labor government promised five per cent deposits for first home buyers, and we are delivering early. We've brought forward the expanded five per cent deposit scheme to 1 October...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Housing (34 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Yesterday you could not confirm whether the 2,000 homes which the housing minister said were completed by the Housing...
  • Women's Economic Security (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Since coming to government in May 2022, advancing women's economic equality has been a core priority of the Albanese government. We...
  • Climate Change: Taxation (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister confirm that the government is working on developing a range of tariffs in the form of a carbon...
  • Middle East (13 speeches)
    My question is to Minister Wong. Overnight, all members of the UN Security Council except Trump's America backed the IPC's declaration that the famine in Gaza is man made, with half a million...
  • Trade (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. The Albanese Labor government has been working to make Australia's economy more resilient and our exports more diverse. In...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator McAllister. During the 2022 election campaign, the Labor Party went to great lengths to talk about how serious...
  • Energy (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Minister, labour productivity in the electricity, gas, water and waste sector has fallen by...
  • Migration (14 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Treasurer, Minister Gallagher. Does Labor accept that record immigration has outpaced investment in Australia and is driving declining...
  • Climate Change (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. The Albanese government was re-elected with a renewed mandate to lower emissions and deliver...
  • South Australia: Marine Environment (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. The devastating South Australian algal bloom now covers 4,500 square kilometres across the coastline and the Great...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (12 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the 2025-26 supplementary budget estimates hearings, as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in the name of...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Public Service Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    Before I read this statement on behalf of the Minister for the Public Service, I'd just like to briefly inform the Senate that Senator Gallagher is not able to make this explanation because she...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Sitting here day after day, during question time, we listen to...
  • Housing (2 speeches)
    I rise to take note of government answers to questions. I have sat here not for five weeks, Senator Collins, but for three weeks. There have only been three sitting weeks in this term of...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to the question without notice asked by Senator Faruqi today about the man-made famine in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government response to the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on its inquiry into equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for rare and less common cancers and...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ciccone, I present additional information received by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee relating to estimates.
  • Human Rights Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the Human rights scrutiny report4 of 2025.
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I'd like to present the advisory report to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2025. I move:...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I would like to speak to the Environment and Communications References Committee's report on the offshore wind industry consultation process. I rise to speak on behalf of the members of my...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the Community Affairs References Committee's report into excess mortality—item 2 on page 9 of today's Notice Paper. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. How...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Minister King, I table a statement concerning the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Online Gambling, Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2021; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I tabled documents relating to the orders for the production of documents concerning online gambling and the review of the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act 2021.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (1 speech)
    In relation to the statement that was tabled by the minister, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I seek leave to continue my remarks later. Leave granted; debate adjourned.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Economy (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) productivity growth is at its slowest rate in 60 years, (ii) as a result, people born in the 1990s are the first in multiple decades to miss out...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Report on Outstanding Orders for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a report on government responses to outstanding orders for the production of documents.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Mental Health (1 speech)
    I am a proud Queenslander, and everyone here knows that there is a unique brand of resilience forged in Queensland. We face cyclones, floods and droughts, and we keep going. But behind that tough...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I rise to address the latest Quarterly update of Australia's national greenhouse gas inventory. This report should have been an opportunity for the Albanese Labor government to demonstrate...
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee (1 speech)
    This week I was honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. I want to thank my colleagues for their trust, and I look forward to...
  • Neill-Fraser, Ms Susan Blyth (Sue) (1 speech)
    On Tuesday night I ended my speech about massive short comings in the investigation of Eden Westbrook's death by promising more to come. The culture and procedures of Tasmania Police allowed...
  • National Security (1 speech)
    My fellow Australians, make no mistake: we are under attack. The despotic Iranian regime of terror is a blight on the world. I welcome the removal of their ambassador and the listing of the IRGC,...
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    Right now, older people in Australia are dying while they are waiting to access a home-care package. Labor promised that, on 1 July, it was going to release more home-care packages to tackle the...
  • Economy (1 speech)
    Before we go this week, I just wanted to provide a friendly reminder of how important productivity is. We've had a belated discussion about productivity in the past couple of weeks, although I...