Senate debates

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    If there is no objection, the meeting is authorised.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025, Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025; In Committee (40 speeches)
    The committee is considering amendment (1) on sheet 3457, moved by Senator McKim, to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025, Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bills read a third time.
  • Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025, Australian Centre for Disease Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    The government has backed this reform with serious investment—$251.7 million over four years to established the CDC and $73.3 million in ongoing annual funding from 2028-29. That is a...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Albanese Government (1 speech)
    There is a cult of secrecy building a culture of secrecy in Parliament House. When Labor came to office, Prime Minister Albanese promised Australians a new era of accountability and transparency....
  • Questions Without Notice (1 speech)
    What we have seen unfold in this chamber over the past days is the selective tearing up of the very conventions that govern this place. It has been a longstanding convention that the government...
  • Horseracing Industry (1 speech)
    This year marks the largest number of deaths recorded for horseracing; 174 horses were killed on track or from injuries sustained on the track. It is disgusting that today's cup of cruelty was...
  • Diesel (1 speech)
    Labor's hand-picked climate and energy tsar has now floated the idea of getting rid of the diesel fuel rebate to provide even more subsidies to the intermittent energy sector. This is a direct...
  • Prime Minister's Prizes for Science (1 speech)
    Last night, I was so delighted to attend my first Prime Minister's Prizes as Minister for Science. The prizes promote some of our most brilliant scientists, but what they also do is elevate...
  • Gambling Advertising (1 speech)
    Many Australians will have a flutteron the Melbourne Cup. Despite what critics like to claim, there's almost no-one saying that they shouldn't. The Murphy review doesn't call for an end to...
  • Energy (1 speech)
    Australians deserve honesty about energy policy. The reality is that Labor's net zero cannot be achieved without devastating consequences for Australian families, farmers, businesses and...
  • Australian Parliament: Senate (1 speech)
    There has been a lot of talk in recent days about transparency and accountability in this chamber. But, when it comes to transparency and accountability, that standard must apply to all of us,...
  • Sydney: Protests (1 speech)
    Israeli weapons companies, like Elbit Systems and Rafael, are in Sydney right now, showing off their instruments of death at the Indo-Pacific defence expo and maximising their profits, which are...
  • Renewable Energy (1 speech)
    In August, it was reported that, despite $3 billion set aside for Western Australia under Rewiring the Nation, a program designed to upgrade, expand and modernise Australia's electricity grid to...
  • Medicare (1 speech)
    Anthony Albanese promised Australians, 'All you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card,' and, 'You can see a GP for free under Labor.' He's made these promises more than 71 times, but...
  • Migration (1 speech)
    This is not my first speech. It is time we had a proper conversation about how many people are in this country unlawfully and the pressure this is putting on housing, services and hardworking...
  • International Relations: Australia and the United States of America (1 speech)
    Over the past six months, we have seen a violent shift in the United States, a shift that should worry every single one of us—armed troops occupying cities like Los Angeles, Washington, DC,...
  • Tasmania: Hospitals (1 speech)
    Right now in Tasmania, our hospitals are filled with workers who show up every day for their communities, but they alone can't keep the system running when the funding simply doesn't add up. The...
  • Climate Change (2 speeches)
    Australians know that climate change is real and the need for action is urgent, even many in the Liberal Party now say as much. But missing in action are the Nationals, who, with a shrug and a...
• Ministry (0 speeches)
  • Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
    I inform the Senate that Senator Farrell, the Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State, will be absent from question time for the remainder of the week on account of...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • Acknowledgement (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the public gallery of parliamentarians from the Indian parliament. On behalf of all senators, I wish you a warm welcome to Australia...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Migration (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Watt. Net overseas migration for the year up to 31 March 2025 was 315,900. That is 46 per cent...
  • Health Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. A focus of the Albanese Labor government's first term was strengthening Medicare after a decade of neglect. How is...
  • Energy (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. AEMO estimates that increases of up to 55 per cent for overhead transmission line projects...
  • Climate Change (8 speeches)
    My question is to Minister Ayres, representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, the Senate committee report on climate risk and insurance premiums, tabled a year ago, found...
  • Renewable Energy (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Figures released over the weekend show that renewable energy in Australia edged right up to 50 per cent of the national...
  • Northern Territory Government (29 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Recently your Labor colleagues in the NT parliament—all of whom are Aboriginal people—voted in favour of a motion for an...
  • Aged Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Senator McAllister. Minister, I've been approached by a family in Canberra who are desperately seeking a place...
  • Migration (8 speeches)
    My question goes to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Minister, the number of people living in Australia unlawfully could be as high as 200,000. This includes...
  • Housing (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. After a decade of inaction by the coalition, the Albanese Labor government has delivered the most ambitious housing...
  • Medicare (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. The Prime Minister promised on more than 71 occasions that Australians would only need their...
  • Middle East (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. The Nightly reported yesterday that the Albanese government sent an email to defence companies telling them to stop directly...
  • Bureau of Meteorology (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister of the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Senator, there were a barrage of complaints from the public regarding the rollout of the Bureau of Meteorology website,...
  • Housing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing. House prices across the country are out of control. Prices are rising at their fastest pace in more than two years. It's...
  • Climate Change (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Last week, Prime Minister Albanese called communist China a friend. A recent study shows that, in every 12 days, China produces...
  • Economy (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Moments ago, the Reserve Bank confirmed its decision to keep the cash rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent, meaning there...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Humanitarian Visas, Bureau of Meteorology (1 speech)
    President, you might recall that I took some questions from Senator Roberts on notice yesterday. I have written to him today, responding and providing some detail on those questions, and I table...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (10 speeches)
    Today, the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities has provided the Senate documents in scope of the order of production No. 27. I'm not sure why, but I have been...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Migration, Economy (15 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked today by me and by Senator Paterson. I asked a number of very simple questions for which it's...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by Senator Shoebridge today relating to the Middle...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Defence and Trade be authorised to hold a public meeting during the Senate today from 5.30 pm to take evidence for the...
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Thank you. If there are no objections, the business is postponed.
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the terms of reference for the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee's inquiry into the state of Australia's aviation sector and its ability to deliver...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting Tuesday in November 2026: The Support at Home Program, with...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Industry and Innovation, by no later than 9 am on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, Document 2—300105,...
  • Housing Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf 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 Wednesday, 5 November 2025, any briefing...
  • National Construction Code; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that orders for the production of documents nos 101 to 104, agreed to by the Senate on 27 August 2025, requesting numerous...
  • Office of the eSafety Commissioner; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Minister representing the Minister for Communications has failed to comply with orders for the production of documents nos 116 and 117, agreed to...
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Science, by no later than 5 pm on Monday, 10 November 2025, copies of all ministerial submissions, records of conversation, letters,...
  • Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Minister representing the Minister for Communications has failed to comply with order for the production of documents no. 37, agreed to on...
  • Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Hume, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Industry and Innovation, by no later than midday on Thursday, 6 November 2025, a document showing the...
  • Visitor Visas; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Duniam, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs by no later than 2 pm on Monday, 24 November 2025: (a) all...
  • Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I ask if motion No. 224 could be recommitted. I was slightly not paying attention and didn't call a division on that. I believe it was called for the ayes when I don't think that actually...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • AUKUS Select Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on AUKUS be established to inquire into the AUKUS agreement and its implications for Australia's environment, safety and...
  • Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount Select Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 163. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on the Operation of...
  • Select Committee on Intergenerational Housing Inequity; Appointment (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 164. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Intergenerational...
  • Productivity in Australia Select Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 166. Leave granted. At the request of Senator Bragg, I move the motion as amended: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • International Relations: Australia and Nauru; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, by no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, all and any translations,...
  • Tobacco Regulation; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Duniam, I move general business notices of motion Nos 228, 229, 230, 231: GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 228 That there be laid on the table by the Minister...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Senate Temporary Orders (5 speeches)
    I move: That the following apply as a temporary order until the arrangements for question time adopted by the Senate on 29 October 2025 cease to apply: (1) All senators be required to attend the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, all written or digital correspondence, briefing...
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that: (i) the Senate has passed 4 resolutions in relation to the production of the incoming government briefs for the Climate Change, Energy, the...
  • Housing Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) order for the production of documents no. 197, agreed to by the Senate on 28 October 2025, requesting that the...
  • 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 order for the production of documents (OPD) no. 47, agreed to on 29 July 2025, required the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move a motion for a supplementary budget estimates spillover hearing of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, to be held from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm on...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Housing (9 speeches)
    Senator Bragg has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today. It is shown at item 13 of today's Order of Business: The Albanese Government's $60 billion housing plan is making...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Gas Industry (12 speeches)
    The Senate will now consider the proposal from Senator David Pocock, which is also shown at item 13 on today's Order of Business: The need for the government to legislate to redirect uncontracted...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I'm very pleased to present the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee's report Issues relating to advocacy services for veterans accessing compensation and income support...
  • Human Rights Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present Human rights scrutiny report: report 6 of 2025 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security of its review into the Strengthening Oversight of the National Intelligence Community Bill 2025, also known...
  • Treaties Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the 228th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission (3 speeches)
    I table the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission's 2025 report to parliament.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Environment (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a statement relating to international environmental leadership. Leave granted. Thank you for the opportunity to present my first statement to parliament, as the Minister for...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Office of the eSafety Commissioner, Attorney-General's Department, Industrial Facilities; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning eSafety Commissioner meetings, estimates briefings prepared by the Attorney-General's portfolio and industrial...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
    I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025. The addendum responds to matters raised by the Scrutiny of Bills...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 June 2026: The AUKUS agreement and its implications for...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    What an exciting day it has been here in Canberra. But, more importantly, in my home state of Victoria, it has been an equally if not more exciting day, being Melbourne Cup day, with the race...
  • Northern Territory: Liquor Licensing (1 speech)
    Last December the Northern Territory Liquor Commission granted a liquor licence to the Wadeye Community Club, the first in that community for more than 30 years. With a population of over 2,000...
  • Medicare (1 speech)
    I want to talk about the government's bulk-billing changes that came into effect over the weekend. Back in February, the health minister told Australians the new incentive would mean that some...
  • Retail Distribution Industry, Come and Say G'Day Campaign (1 speech)
    With Halloween now done and the Melbourne Cup race run, it's time to look forward to Christmas. It is seven weeks until Christmas. Many people will start winding down in December, but this is...
  • Subiaco Community Men's Shed (1 speech)
    Recently I had the privilege of visiting the Subiaco Community Men's Shed in Western Australia. I want to take a few minutes to talk today about what I saw, what I heard and, more importantly,...
  • Liberal-National Coalition (2 speeches)
    I rise to speak about the state of the Liberal and National parties, once serious political movements in this country that are now hopelessly dysfunctional. The coalition are in crisis. There's...
  • Energy (1 speech)
    Australians are good stewards of this land. We care deeply about our environment, our farms, our coastlines and our communities. Australians want to do the right thing, yet this government wants...
  • Energy, Migration (1 speech)
    Welcome to the latest episode of your favourite TV show: One Nation Were Right All Along. First up, we have the Nationals finally seeing the light of the net zero scam—well, kind of. Their...
  • Climate Change, Cost of Living (1 speech)
    We've heard a lot today about other parties in this place suddenly claiming to have adopted One Nation's position on net zero, so let me give Australians a clear warning. Beware the opposition;...