Senate debates
Monday, 24 November 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there are no objections, the meetings are authorised.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (9 speeches)
by leave—I move: That the Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 be removed from the Senate Notice Paper.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Davey, Ms Alison (1 speech)
I rise to talk about the life of Alison Davey, the former mayor of Cessnock from 2008 to 2012. Alison Davey was one of those people you meet in your life whom you just have to admire. She served...
- Torpey, Mr John Lindsay (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge and honour the life of John Torpey, a respected Vietnam veteran and a much-loved member of the Hawthorn RSL sub-branch in Victoria. I had the privilege of attending...
- Myanmar (1 speech)
On 8 November, the people's survey, which was undertaken for the Platform for People Movement Myanmar, was released. It covered 271 townships across Myanmar, and the findings are...
- Fossil Fuel Industry (1 speech)
Over the weekend, there was the extraordinary news that an Australian government is wishing for and planning for the loss of over 60,000 jobs in Australia. The energy minister, Chris Bowen, over...
- Health Care (1 speech)
Last week I visited the Health Hub at Eaton Fair. It's the home to the Bunbury urgent care clinic and a GP clinic that has recently converted to a fully bulk-billing practice under our incentive...
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation (1 speech)
Two weeks ago, I had the great honour of being part of One Nation's first Western Australian branch launch in the Forrest electorate, alongside our fantastic Western Australian state...
- Dismissal of the Whitlam Government: 50th Anniversary (1 speech)
November 11 marked 50 years since the 1975 Dismissal, an event still debated but, too often, misrepresented. Contrary to Prime Minister Albanese's claim that it was a 'partisan ambush', the...
- Workplace Relations: Amazon (1 speech)
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and as we stare down the barrel of the silly season, we must remember who really pays the price as we add another item to our cart of online shopping...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
A recent study by Cornell University found that 99.9 per cent of scientists across 90,000 peer reviewed papers found that climate change was being driven by humans. Action on climate change is a...
- Make Amazon Pay Campaign (1 speech)
This week unions around the world, including the mighty SDA and Transport Workers' Union here in Australia, are standing up together in unity as part of the Make Amazon Pay campaign. I've spoken...
- Social Cohesion (1 speech)
As a society, we are tolerating the intolerable, and it is destroying our once great country. Tolerance is an important virtue, but like any virtue it can be twisted and misused. When we tolerate...
- Energy (1 speech)
It is time. It is time to prioritise energy security and energy abundance and to take real action to drive down power prices, ease the cost-of-living pressures, and protect Australian jobs and...
- Discrimination (1 speech)
I'm reading this speech on behalf of Zaina Amro, a student who recently completed work experience in my office. My name is Zaina. For years, I have been a dedicated volunteer of the Bayside City...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Last week I sent a survey out to the electorate of Aston and asked them, amongst other things: 'What would be the one issue you would raise in federal parliament? If you had one issue, what would...
- Energy (1 speech)
That is an amazing contribution from a member who, when in government, had 22 energy policies and couldn't deliver one of them—not one of them. They've allowed the dog's tail to wag the...
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Australian Labor Party (1 speech)
by leave—I inform senators that Senator Darmanin will be the Acting Chief Government Whip, in the absence of Senator Sheldon, from 24 November to 27 November 2025, and I thank her for...
- Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
by leave—I inform the Senate that Minister McCarthy will be absent from question time today. She is unable to travel as a consequence of the tropical cyclone. In the absence of Minister...
- Shadow Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (2 speeches)
by leave—I wish to advise that Senator Cash is still unable to travel and will not be present for the remainder of this week and into next week for estimates. In her absence I'll be acting...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Energy (30 speeches)
My question is to Minister Ayres, the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, recently ANZ CEO Mr Nuno Matos told the House of Representatives economics...
- Albanese Government (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In its first term, the Albanese Labor government laid a strong foundation to build Australia's future. We did this by...
- Hospitals (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. I refer to the Prime Minister's correspondence to the states and territories where he demanded that they 'reduce...
- United Nations Climate Change Conference (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister pulled Australia out of the race to host next year's international climate summit. That global meeting would...
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The International Monetary Fund has endorsed the Albanese Labor government's economic and budget strategy, praising...
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Science, Minister Ayres. Minister, under your watch, CSIRO has now copped the biggest job cuts in its history—more than 800 jobs lost over the past 18...
- Energy (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Minister Ayres. Minister, last week the Australian Energy Council released its Delivering Australia's...
- Immigration (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister Watt. I thank the minister for his written response to my last question without notice on...
- Renewable Energy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Minister Ayres. Minister, the Capacity Investment Scheme is a revenue-underwriting scheme which uses...
- Fossil Fuel Industry (26 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Last week, the Albanese Labor government signed Australia up to an agreement for a 'just, orderly and equitable transition...
- Environment (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Minister Watt. This week the Senate has a chance to pass landmark reforms to our nation's environment laws that not only will better...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (9 speeches)
I move: That the Senate takes note of answers given to all coalition questions. Wasn't that very, very telling today to see the response to our questions on net zero, to have the minister...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Wong) and the Minister for Science (Senator Ayres) to questions without notice...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- 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 the Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a) Senators Lambie and Sheldon from 24 to 27 November 2025; and (b) Senator McCarthy for...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Plebiscite (Future Migration Level) Bill 2018 be restored to the Notice...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Standards (22 speeches)
I would like to request that you review your earlier ruling, because, clearly, what has happened today is not a genuine demonstration of faith. In fact, it is the middle finger to people of...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Henderson, can I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 246, please.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Energy (9 speeches)
Senator Dean Smith has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, as shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: The Australian Energy Council's November report states that 'AEC members...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Housing (7 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator McKim, which is also shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: The need for the government to rein in...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Northern Australia (3 speeches)
On behalf of the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, I table the 2025 Annual Statement on Developing Northern Australia, and I move: That the Senate take note of the statement. A...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Freedom of Information Amendment 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.
- Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
- Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025; First Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
- Environment Information Australia Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Customs Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Excise Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (General Charges Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Restoration Charge Imposition) Bill 2025, Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025, National Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2025; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (1 speech)
In this last sitting week, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on the year that was. It has been an incredible year, particularly for us on this side of the chamber. We saw the population...
- Goodna Special School, Kenyans in Queensland, Lankan Fest (1 speech)
I'd like to pay my deep respects and congratulations to the 2025graduating class of Goodna Special School. It was my absolute honour to attend their graduation ceremony earlier this month. I'd...
- Housing (1 speech)
Across Australia too many people, especially young people and older women, are being pushed into housing stress, couch surfing and homelessness. Housing is a human right. Your age, your income or...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise to make a contribution about workplace relations, particularly with regard to Black Friday. This Friday marks the start of the Black Friday weekend, and, according to recent reports from...
- Geneve, Ms Vyonne (1 speech)
I rise this evening to recognise a remarkable Western Australian, Ms Vyonne Geneve, and to congratulate her on her retirement as president of the Art Deco and Modernist Society of Western...
- International Relations: Australia and Nauru (2 speeches)
I'm going to read out the transcript of an interview between President Adeang of Nauru and Joanna Olsson of the Nauru Government Information Office. This interview was posted to Facebook on 17...
