Senate debates
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there are no objections, the meetings are authorised.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That today— (a) the questions on the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 and a related bill be put as follows: (i) second reading, immediately, and (ii)...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (9 speeches)
I move: That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent further consideration of all stages of the bill without limitation of time or for a specified period.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Australian Parliament (5 speeches)
I rise to make some remarks about the use of orders for the production of documents. It's a longstanding power of the Senate and was, until recently, used sparingly for many decades, presumably...
- Labor Government (1 speech)
As a senator for Victoria, it's my job to represent the views and interests of those that are in my state, and that's exactly what I'm going to do today. Recently I surveyed some constituents in...
- Public Sector Governance: Online Compliance Intervention (1 speech)
Today in the Senate we are joined by two incredibly brave Queensland women: Kath Madgwick and Jennifer Miller. They are two mums who've made yet another difficult journey to be here—a...
- South Australia: Marine Environment (2 speeches)
I'll fill up the minute left, and I'll have to deliver this in my adjournment speech tonight. I want to alert the chamber that there has been a major scientific discovery in South Australia in...
- South Australia: Energy (1 speech)
We're still on South Australia too. Labor governments across the country are addicted to reckless spending. Do you want certainty? Well, know that, as the taxpaying public, you can be sure that,...
- Great Barrier Reef (1 speech)
Our precious Great Barrier Reef is not just an incredible environmental accent. It is also an economic powerhouse. A report released last week confirms the reef is worth $95 billion. It...
- Rohingya People, Mamdani, Mr Zohran (1 speech)
The military junta in Myanmar has committed horrific acts, including ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya people since 2017, and indeed that violence continues. Forced from their home, separated...
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss (1 speech)
Earlier in the week, the Labor government rammed through the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025. The stated purpose of that bill was to ensure that employer funded paid parental leave...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
The great north-west of Victoria, including my old stomping ground in the Mallee and Nicholls electorates, is a vast region that is powering the nation and tackling climate change head-on....
- United Nations Climate Change Conference (1 speech)
One billion dollars—that's how much the Albanese Labor government expects hosting a United Nations climate talk fest in Australia will cost taxpayers. The United Nations' Conference of the...
- Ward, Mrs Kathleen (1 speech)
With my colleagues' indulgence, I'd like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a very special person in my life, my grandmother Kathleen Ward. Sadly, Nanna passed away on Monday morning,...
- Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry (1 speech)
I'm sure the thoughts of the whole chamber are with Senator O'Sullivan and his family. It was a big month for Australia's resources sector. As the Assistant Minister for Resources, I had the...
- Housing (1 speech)
October 2025 saw the fastest increase in housing prices in more than two years. Coincidentally, October was also when Labor's five per cent deposit scheme kicked in. The latest global housing...
- Social Cohesion (1 speech)
It may not be fashionable to say this, but we all know it to be true: Christianity is the foundation of Western civilisation. Our nation was built on two great assumptions—that every human...
- Tasmania: Budget (1 speech)
I stand before you with a deep sense of urgency and responsibility. The great state of Tasmania, my home state, is facing a financial crisis of historic proportions. After 11 years under the...
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1 speech)
I rise today to again call on the Albanese Labor government to properly fund the CSIRO, our national science agency and one of the great engines of Australian ingenuity. It's the CSIRO that gave...
- West Papua (1 speech)
I send my strength and solidarity to my brothers and sisters in West Papua, where 15 civilians were recently massacred by the Indonesian military. Reports from West Papuan advocates detail...
- Covid-19 (1 speech)
I was denied the opportunity to speak on the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 earlier today, so I thought I'd use this opportunity to make a couple of brief remarks. In that debate...
- Western Australia: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
Acting Deputy President Ghosh, you will understand better than almost anyone in this chamber that Western Australia is the economic powerhouse of our nation, driving growth, innovation and jobs....
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, earlier this week, the Prime Minister said: Go back and have a look at some of the front pages that were...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Acknowledgement (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of a parliamentary delegation from the Tuvalu parliament led by the speaker, the Hon. Sir Iakoba Italeli. I also...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (7 speeches)
The Prime Minister also said: My government's been very disciplined about fulfilling the commitments that we made prior to the election. Well, prior to the 2022 election, the Prime Minister said...
- Economy (23 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. In the face of substantial economic uncertainty, the Australian economy has proven to be remarkably resilient. Since the election of...
- Housing (24 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The government continues to cover up secret Treasury modelling that shows how much Labor's expanded home guarantee...
- Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services. Minister, the robodebt royal commission was meant to mark the end of the government's war on people living in in...
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Senator McAllister. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government delivered cost-of-living relief to...
- Cybersafety (8 speeches)
My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator McCarthy. The report on the Online Safety Act review was released on 4 February 2025. The government is yet...
- Employment: Mining Industry (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres. Minister, Iluka Resources are planning on suspending operations at their Cataby mineral sands mine and their only...
- Iron Ore Industry (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres. Green iron represents a massive opportunity for jobs, investment and exports in line with a Future Made in Australia....
- Energy (29 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres—it's Ayres day! Delivering cheaper and cleaner electricity is central to the...
- Environment (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minster, Senator Wong. Yesterday Western Australian Premier Roger Cook met with the Prime Minister and other ministers on the latest Labor...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Cybersafety (1 speech)
In question time today, I undertook to provide further information in response to questions asked of me by Senator Tyrrell in my capacity as the Minister representing the Minister for...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to all questions asked by coalition senators. The government is presiding over a cost-of-living crisis and the largest decline...
- Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services (Senator Gallagher) to questions put by Senator Allman-Payne regarding the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 242 standing in my name.
- Presentation (1 speech)
I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to Customs Tariff Amendment (Geelong Treaty...
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Whish-Wilson, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 for today.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the Higher Education Support Amendment (End Dirty University Partnerships) Bill 2025 be considered at the time for private senators' bills on Thursday, 6 November 2025. Question...
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be grated to the following senators: (a) Senator Farrell from 4 to 6 November 2025, on account of ministerial business; (b) Senator O'Neill for 5 and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- 2023-24 Survey of Income and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Minister representing the Treasurer has failed to fully comply with orders for the production of documents nos 109 and 139, agreed to on 27...
- Freedom of Information; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, copies of all ministerial submissions, records of...
- National Reconstruction Fund Corporation; 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 Wednesday, 5 November 2025, the National...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business motion 236.
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Australian Labor Party (1 speech)
by leave—I inform the Senate that, in the absence of Senator Sheldon, I will be Acting Chief Government Whip for today and tomorrow.
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Housing (12 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, which has been circulated and is shown on the Dynamic Red: The need for the Australian Government to reform their $181...
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (18 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator Kovacic, which has been circulated and is also shown on the Dynamic Red: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Middle East (1 speech)
by leave—I table the names and photos of 273 Palestinian journalists and media workers killed by Israel's genocide in Gaza in the last two years.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
() (): I present Scrutiny digest 7 of 2025 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, dated 5 November 2025, together with ministerial correspondence. I also seek leave to incorporate...
- Senate Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the procedures committee on motions to take note of answers, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. This is basically looking at the issue of taking note...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs References Committee, Economics Legislation Committee, Economics References Committee, Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Education and Employment References Committee, Electoral Matters Joint Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Implementation of the National Redress Scheme — Joint Committee, Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy — Select Committee, Intergenerational Housing Inequity Select Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount — Select Committee, Senate Procedure Committee, Productivity in Australia Select Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Treaties Joint Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (6 speeches)
This motion, of course, seeks a referral to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee so that that committee can seek public submissions and review the AUKUS fiasco that both...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Tasmania: Liberal Party (1 speech)
After a decade and more of Liberal leadership, we are rapidly approaching a staggering $13 billion in state debt in my home state of Tasmania. This isn't just a number on a government balance...
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
What a farce we have seen this week in Canberra. We've had the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, and his deputy premier and treasurer Rita Saffioti over here supposedly lobbying this...
- Cost of Living: Tertiary Education (1 speech)
Australia's tertiary education system is one of the best in the world. Under the HELP scheme, every Australian student can study a university degree without paying a cent in tuition until they...
- Order of St John (1 speech)
'For the faith, in the service of humanity' is the motto of St John. These words not only describe what my St John brothers and sisters do every day but also inspire us to continue to give care...
