Senate debates
Thursday, 30 October 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meeting is authorised.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975: 50th Anniversary (15 speeches)
I rise on behalf of the government, and, at the request of Senator Walsh, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that this week marks 50 years since the landmark Racial Discrimination Act...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (30 speeches)
I present the seventh report for 2025 of the Selection of Bills Committee. 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. 214 be considered during general business today. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Senate Procedure Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
I move: (1) That the following matter be referred to the Procedure Committee for inquiry and report by Wednesday, 4 February 2026: Senate orders for the production of documents, with particular...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Freedom of Speech (1 speech)
Last year, we saw one of the most draconian bills ever presented to this parliament in the form of the MAD bill—that is, the misinformation and disinformation bill. Fortunately, that was...
- Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
This week, we've had the great privilege of welcoming Major Tim Miller into our office as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program. The ADF parliamentary exchange program...
- Middle East (1 speech)
Israel's killing has never stopped. The ceasefire may have reduced the devastation, but the bombing continues. A ceasefire is meant to mean no more bombs. Palestinian families continue to mourn...
- Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
Sall Grover, an Australian entrepreneur, created Giggle, a women-only app, to give women a safe space free from online harassment from men. When a biological man sought to join, she said no. For...
- Wages and Salaries (1 speech)
Today, I have a very clear and simple message: enough is enough. It's time for fairness, respect and dignity in the workplace, and that means equal pay for all adults, starting at the age of 18....
- Youth Voice in Parliament (1 speech)
Today, as part of Youth Voice in Parliament Week, I'll be reading a speech written by Sean, a 12-year-old Canberran: Canberra's cyclists are vital to reducing our carbon footprint and supporting...
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
We all know the feeling of tapping a card or waving our phone at the check-out. It's fast, it's convenient and it's become the norm. But, somewhere along the line, convenience has become...
- Youth Voice in Parliament (2 speeches)
I'm reading this speech on behalf of Kaleah, as part of Raise Our Voice: Hello, I am Kaleah, I am 12 years old, and I am from the Mayo electorate. Growing up I loved going to school, being with...
- Health Care (1 speech)
I would like to share one of my constituents' stories: 'One chapter of my life will never leave me: the years my family spent fighting for our son, Felix. He was born with a rare genetic...
- Freedom of Information (1 speech)
This week, the Centre for Public Integrity released its integrity report card on the Albanese government, and it is absolutely scathing. This independent report shows that the Albanese government...
- Migration (1 speech)
Today, I want to raise an issue brought to my attention by Mr Carlos Montoya. He reached out to my office to express a serious concern about the direction this country is heading, especially when...
- Medicare (1 speech)
Cohealth is one of Victoria's largest community health providers. It is a lifeline for people who too often fall through the cracks. They deliver complex multidisciplinary care with GPs, nurses,...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
I want to talk about something that's hitting Tasmanians hard: the state of crisis in mental health support and the way it's being left to fall apart while governments argue about who's meant to...
- Youth Voice in Parliament (1 speech)
Today, as part of Raise Our Voice's Youth Voice in Parliament Week, I'm proud to share a speech written by a Canberra student. This year, my office received more than 60 speeches from students...
- Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
You could have knocked me over with a feather yesterday when I received an invitation from Senator Henderson. I don't get many, but it was an invitation from Senator Henderson and Drew Hutton,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Albanese Government (26 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Yesterday the Senate exercised its power to extend question time to allow more scrutiny of this government....
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Acknowledgement (1 speech)
I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the gallery of a delegation from the Kiribati government led by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, the Honourable Bootii...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
Minister Gallagher, is leave granted to table that document? Leave granted. The document's tabled.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975: 50th Anniversary (8 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Farrell. In February 1975, the then Labor attorney-general, Kep Enderby, introduced the Racial Discrimination Act. The...
- Albanese Government (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Yesterday this chamber responded to the government's continued refusal to comply with orders of this chamber and,...
- Defence (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. When it comes to defence, the Albanese Labor government has just promised Donald Trump another billion dollars for the US to...
- Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Minister, the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner's yearly report was tabled in parliament today. The commissioner makes...
- National Anti-Racism Framework (28 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Minister Farrell. Last November, the Race Discrimination Commissioner handed down the National Anti-Racism Framework. Built on...
- Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister Ayres. In January 2025 the minister visited Tomago Aluminium to announce a $2 billion green-aluminium production credit,...
- Energy (18 speeches)
My question is to Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Minister Ayres. Electricity bills have soared 23.6 per cent over the past year, with an 8.1 per cent rise last...
- Indigenous Health (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government is committed to improving health outcomes for First Nations Australians and supporting...
- Roads (24 speeches)
My question is to Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator McCarthy. Regional roads have been deteriorating under this...
- Environment: Shark Nets (13 speeches)
My question is to Minister Watt. Minister, on Tuesday we woke up to distressing images of a humpback whale, a species protected under federal and state laws, killed in a shark net off the coast...
- Superannuation (12 speeches)
My question is to—
- Tasmania: Manufacturing Industry (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation—
- Health Care (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing. Minister, people across the country are struggling to access affordable health care right now....
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (41 speeches)
I seek leave to ask a question on behalf of South Australians regarding the Albanese Labor government's historic women's health package. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the order of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Minister, the Albanese government's National Climate Risk Assessment report claims that...
- Questions to the President (0 speeches)
- Questions Without Notice (10 speeches)
I'm wondering whether it is possible to seek clarification from you, President, in relation to two issues during question time. On the primary question I asked and the second supplementary...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Questions Without Notice (127 speeches)
I seek leave to ask a question on behalf of Queenslanders regarding the Albanese government's commitment to net zero.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Minister, the Building Industry 2000 slush fund was first exposed at the 2014 royal commission, more than a decade...
- Medicare (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing. Yesterday the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, revealed on the ABC that, if GPs cannot afford to fully...
- Superannuation (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Treasurer blocked public access to documents exchanged between the superannuation industry and the government...
- Health Care (20 speeches)
I've got a question for the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator McAllister, but could I also just say I think this is a really landmark question time, because—
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (2 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion that the Senate does not adjourn until the Leader of the Government in the Senate asks that further questions be placed on notice. Leave not granted.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
I seek leave to give a notice of motion. The reason I'm asking for this, if I could just let you know, is that I would like to give notice of this motion before 5.30, given that that's the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Following yesterday's confirmation of a shock rise in inflation to 3.2 per cent, economist Saul Eslake said: Today's...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (14 speeches)
I am aware that there are at least two Greens senators at the airport despite wanting to be in question time instead, but I seek leave to move that the Senate does not adjourn until the Leader of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Aukus (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. Minister, as highlighted in Crikey today, your government decided to breach the standard payment terms of 30 days to rush...
- Energy (12 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Senator Ayres. As I'm sure he's aware, this week the operators of Tomago Aluminium smelter were told they...
- Regional Security (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. The government has publicly described the incident on 19 to 20 October in the South China Sea in which a Chinese...
- Housing (14 speeches)
My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Minister Farrell. On 8 October 2024, in response to my question on the progress of the National Housing and Homelessness...
- Mining Industry (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Minister, your EPBC changes will negatively impact our mining sector. It will delay approvals, it will undermine our economy and it...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Tabling (1 speech)
I seek leave to table a non-conforming petition. It was agreed to earlier. Leave not granted.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Child Care (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Minister, on 28 July, in response to a question from me, you said: We are implementing the findings of that...
- Crime: Illicit Tobacco (10 speeches)
As a senator from the beautiful state of Queensland, my question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Minister Watt. The Illicit Tobacco National Disruption...
- Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Does the Prime Minister stand by his commitment—
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Questions Without Notice (9 speeches)
Today we've seen 10 senators trying to ask a question, representing their state, and those over there have shut them down, every single time. They are doing the work to shut down question time...
- Labor Government (2 speeches)
Can I just say that I take what has happened today extremely seriously, despite the fact of the comedy and theatre that we just had presented to us by the five-minute contribution from the...
- Energy (1 speech)
When Australians finally saw the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's incoming government brief for the Albanese government, after months of resistance and Senate...
- Cybercrime (1 speech)
Today I rise to address an urgent and growing threat: cybercrime and, in particular, the surge of cryptocurrency investment scams targeting Australians. Cybercrime is no longer a distant danger;...
