Senate debates
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Hanson, Senator Pauline Lee; Censure (36 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion to provide for the consideration of a motion relating to the censure of a senator. Leave granted. I thank the Senate. I move: That the motion circulated in the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Kippax, Dr Jorian (2 speeches)
I rise today to commend Dr Jorian Kippax, who was named the 2026 Australian of the Year for Tasmania. Dr Kippax is an emergency physician and hyperbaric medicine specialist at the Royal Hobart...
- Albanese Government, Irwin, Mr Robert Clarence (1 speech)
As you know, Acting Deputy President Polley, and as I'm sure you campaigned to the good people of Tasmania, during the election we promised to cut student debt, and we meant it. It was the very...
- 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (1 speech)
Today is the first day of the UN's global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. As I have done for years, I'm going to read the names of women killed by violence this year...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Our part-time Minister for Climate Change and Energy continues to flit around Brazil and take on roles, when instead he should be worried about energy prices here at home. Meanwhile, the...
- Education (1 speech)
Renowned researchers such as Annamaria Lusardi, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, show that financial literacy is lowest among disadvantaged groups and that...
- Racism (1 speech)
In the last sitting period we saw the Senate at its best, uniting to pass a motion in solidarity on the atrocities in Sudan, forcing the government back to the drawing board on a bad defence...
- Armenian National Committee of Australia (1 speech)
Before speaking I'd like to endorse and commend the comments made by Senator Pocock just then and add my name to his sentiments. Today I want to express my congratulations and appreciation to the...
- 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (1 speech)
Today marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. It is a stark reminder of both the scale of this national crisis and what enables it. At the root of gender based...
- Macquarie Point Stadium (1 speech)
Tasmania stands on the cusp of making a terrible mistake that will place an intergenerational burden on our state. The Macquarie Point Stadium is an awful deal for Tasmania, and the Legislative...
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (1 speech)
Today, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we confront the truth the UN has made abundantly clear: digital violence is violence. It is a real form of violence and...
- Australian Society (2 speeches)
Yesterday, the Senate blocked a burqa ban and then enforced a burqa ban. The rules here don't apply to the people that make them. Senator Hanson chose to make this very point, and the Senate has...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
Broken promises, overcrowded hospitals, ambulances ramped for hours, elective surgeries delayed for months, if not years, and a Prime Minister who is shirking his responsibility—this is...
- People with Disability: Education (1 speech)
Too many disabled kids are being excluded from our public schools. Just last week, over 900 school bags were laid on the steps of Parliament House in Perth, each carrying the story of a disabled...
- Macquarie Point Stadium, Small Business: Taxation (1 speech)
The Macquarie Point Stadium has been dominating Tasmanian headlines. Now that it's passed the lower house and looks like it'll make it through the upper house, we've got to be realistic. If the...
- Renewable Energy (2 speeches)
Last week, I travelled to Collie in regional Western Australia to meet with workers, local leaders and community organisations who are shaping Collie's next chapter. It's a powerful reminder that...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Renewable Energy (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Mr Bowen has repeated on numerous occasions that renewables are the cheapest form of energy....
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a reminder that ending gender based violence has been...
- Bureau of Meteorology (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Minister, we've had reports from farmers who couldn't track incoming storms to protect their sheep because the new BOM...
- Domestic and Family Violence (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Forty-three women have been killed by family and domestic violence this year alone. We continue to be in an epidemic of violence...
- Tertiary Education (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education, Senator Walsh. The Albanese Labor government went to the election promising to support students at our universities and...
- General Practitioners (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Minister, the ACT has a dire shortage of GPs. We have fewer GPs per capita than even some outer...
- Migration (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Under the Albanese Labor government, Australia's immigration...
- Tropical Cyclone Fina (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator McAllister. Over the weekend, we saw Tropical Cyclone Fina impact communities across the Northern...
- Australian Public Service (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Minister, I was hugely supportive of Labor's defence of the Australian Public Service at the last election and your move to end...
- United Nations Climate Change Conference (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Senator Farrell. I refer to the government's decision to sign the Belem declaration on the transition away from fossil fuels, which is an agreement to...
- Health Care (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. This year, delivering cost-of-living relief and affordable health care has been a key priority...
- 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 all answers to questions without notice asked by coalition senators today. Something that I've been reflecting on recently is something that a lot of people...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Women (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice asked by Senator Waters today relating to violence against women....
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Richardson, Hon. Graham Frederick, AO (6 speeches)
Senators, it is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 8 November 2025 of the Hon. Graham Frederick Richardson AO, a former minister and senator for the state of New South...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4 before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. Leave granted. I move the motion as...
- Privileges Committee; Reference (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Hume, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes the recent reports on the handling of privileged documents by the Department of Parliamentary Services, and decisions by...
- Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move government business notices of motion Nos 1 to 3 together, and I table statements in relation to the works: GOVERNMENT BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 1...
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- Bell, Senator Sean (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 26 November 2025 be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Chisholm, I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator McDonald, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 257.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Kovacic, I request that general business notice of motion Nos 248 and 249 be withdrawn. At the request of Senator Bragg, I ask that general business notice of motion No....
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Housing Australia (5 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 259. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That there be laid on the table by the Minister...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 11 December 2025: (a) copies of all ministerial...
- Triple Zero Custodian; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I ask that general business notices of motion Nos 261 to 263 be taken as formal motions.
- Housing; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Minister representing the Minister for Housing has failed to comply with order for the production of documents no. 208, agreed to on 3 November...
- Cybersafety; 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 order for the production of documents no. 215, agreed to on 3...
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Minister representing the Minister for Communications (the minister) has failed to comply with order for the production of documents no. 37,...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 265.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Health Care; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing and the Minister representing the Minister for...
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: (1) That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) its agreement to orders for the production of documents no. 47, on 29 July 2025, and no. 100, on 26 August...
- Consumer Data Right; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: (1) That the Senate— (a) notes that order for production of documents no. 186, requiring all written or digital correspondence, briefing notes,...
- National Reconstruction Fund Corporation; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
On behalf 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 1 December 2025, all documents currently held by the...
- Energy; Order for the Production of Documents (6 speeches)
At the request of Senator Hume, I move general business notice of motion No. 270: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Industry and Innovation, by no later than midday on 1...
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
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 1 December 2025, all ministerial submissions to the...
- Net Zero Economy Authority; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
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 1 December 2025, all research materials received by...
- Thompson, Mr Glenn; Order for the Production of Documents (6 speeches)
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 1 December 2025, all electronic messages, texts,...
- Housing Australia Future Fund; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 275 in the terms circulated. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That there be laid on the...
- Attorney-General's Department; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
I 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 of: (i) the statement of reasons...
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (5 speeches)
At the request of Senator Sharma, I move: That the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee hold an additional meeting during supplementary Budget estimates 2025-26 on Friday, 5...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Discrimination (11 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, as shown at item No. 15 of today's Order of Business: The need for the Australian Government to take immediate action to...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Minister for Climate Change and Energy (8 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal from Senator Hume which was also shown at item No. 15 on today's Order of Business: Dear President Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Victoria: Medical Workforce, Australian Defence Force School of Health (1 speech)
Recently I had the privilege of attending a celebration for the very first cohort to graduate from Victoria's end-to-end rural medical training program, delivered in partnership between La Trobe...
- Housing (1 speech)
When speaking to my children and their friends and to young Australians right around the country, I've noticed this growing and deeply troubling sentiment, and that's a feeling that no matter how...
- Sudan, Environment (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on the escalating humanitarian and security crisis in Sudan and to honour the voices of the Sudanese Australian community leaders who met with me recently. The Head of...
- World Prematurity Day (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise World Prematurity Day, marked each year on 17 November, and to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Australia's researchers, particularly those in my home state of...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
To honourable senators I recommend the publication titled Returning to our roots: how conservative environmentalism can win hearts and minds. I was favoured by the editors and invited to...
- Indigenous Australians: Child Safety (1 speech)
This speech was written by an Aboriginal person who advocates for our kids in out-of-home care. It's truth-telling of the devastating experience of a young Aboriginal girl currently residing in...
- Make Amazon Pay Campaign, Forestry Industry (1 speech)
Tonight I'd like to join my colleagues alongside the SDA and TWU unions and workers in the lead-up to Make Amazon Pay day on 28 November, a global day of action that coincides with Black Friday....
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
This week the Prime Minister posted to social media, 'Our 20 per cent cut to your student debt has started rolling out,' but with government debt of around $1 trillion it's disingenuous and...
- Economy (1 speech)
Earlier this month, the people of New York City elected a new mayor, who supports a radical swing towards socialism. You can't really expect that young people in this country wouldn't fall for...
- Windsor Community Children's Centre, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Gas Industry (1 speech)
Over a year ago, I stood here and urged Labor to save Windsor Community Children's Centre. It's a beloved community-run early learning centre in my home city of Melbourne. After huge pressure...
- Russia (1 speech)
As we speak, the oil tanker Proteus Bohemia is steaming its way to Australia. It left the port of Jamnagar in India on 8 November. It's currently off the southern coast of Western Australia, due...
- Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry, Small Business (1 speech)
I rise tonight to welcome the announcement from Eva Copper about their financial investment decision, which was just made yesterday. This is incredibly important in the north-west minerals...
- Tasmania: Disability Services (1 speech)
Tonight I want to shine a light on a Tasmanian organisation that has quietly held our community together for generations: St.Giles. Many in the chamber will know the name because St.Giles is...
- Parliamentary Standards (26 speeches)
When I was elected as a senator for our great country earlier this year, I was honoured to represent Australians in the chamber. Yesterday I witnessed our Senate censure, gag and suspend our...
- Make Amazon Pay Campaign (1 speech)
The labour practices of Amazon, one of the world's largest and most influential corporations, can only be described as infamous. In 2025, Amazon's relentless pursuit of profit continues to come...
- Ipswich: Waste Management, Tanzania, Kurdish Australians, Hazara Australians (1 speech)
It's always a joy to follow Senator Polley, who made another great contribution. On 7 November 2023, I rose in this place to call for a public health inquiry into the impact of odours from waste...
- Nauru, Tamil Community (1 speech)
The wall of secrecy around Australia's cruel and corrupt offshore detention arrangements with Nauru must be torn down. Any system based on intentional and deliberate cruelty inevitably attracts...
- Rose, Mr Peter John (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to a prince of Australian literature. Earlier this year, Peter Rose retired as the editor of the Australian Book Review after 24 years at that helm. During his tenure,...
- Adelaide: Built Environment (1 speech)
I did enjoy that contribution. I rise to talk about a significant new building in South Australia: South Australia's first skyscraper, 38 storeys high, which is planned to be built a few metres...
- United Nations Climate Change Conference (3 speeches)
This month, 55,000 carpetbaggers, technocrats and enablers gathered in the shadow of the Amazon rainforest to breathe life into the greatest climate change scam for one more year. The United...
