Senate debates
Thursday, 12 March 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meeting is authorised.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (9 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the consideration of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Domestic Reserve) Bill 2026 during the time for private senators' bills...
- Rearrangement (16 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to consideration of a motion concerning the domestic gas reserve, as circulated. Leave granted. I move: That: (a) the consideration of private senators'...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given on 11 March 2026, on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 for six sitting...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection of Bills Committee; Report (16 speeches)
I present the third report of 2026 of the Selection of Bills Committee, and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— Selection of...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Kovacic for 12 March, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business of the Senate notice of motion no. 1, for 30 March 2026, proposing a reference to the Education and Employment References Committee, be considered at the time...
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Lambie for 11 and 12 March, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (4 speeches)
I move: That on Thursday, 12 March 2026: (a) during government business, the time for the consideration of the following bills be: (i) Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Cash, I seek leave to postpone general business notice of motion No. 421. Leave granted.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
Acting Deputy President Sterle, you know as well as anyone here that the children of our country are our future. The quality of life our children receive will more often than not directly impact...
- Parliament Shop National Showcase (1 speech)
I want to take a moment to highlight an opportunity for Tasmanian producers and makers to showcase their products in our nation's capital. The Parliament Shop here at the Australian Parliament...
- National Anti-Corruption Commission (1 speech)
Today I want to send strength and solidarity to the thousands and thousands of people around this country whose lives were devastated by the robodebt scandal. I want to send strength and...
- Middle East (1 speech)
Persian New Year, or Nowruz, on 21 March, is approaching, but I know it's a particularly difficult time for the Persian community not only abroad in Australia but also in Iran at home. I've just...
- Iranian Women Organisation South Australia (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge Iranian Women Organisation South Australia and the recent event they hosted in recognition of International Women's Day. While International Women's Day is marked each...
- Biosecurity: Buffel Grass (1 speech)
Today I want to acknowledge the many traditional owners who have travelled from across the country to bring the devastating impacts of invasive buffel grass to the attention of parliamentarians....
- Fuel Security (1 speech)
There is a fuel crisis in Australia. Australians, particularly in the regions, are struggling to access fuel. They can't take their children to school, they can't start their tractors and they...
- Women's Health (1 speech)
Unrecognised pain, delayed diagnosis, shame in having to ask to leave work a little earlier—these were the themes I heard at a women's health forum I hosted in Goldstein with Assistant...
- National Disability Insurance Agency (1 speech)
The disability community has had a massive win recently in the Federal Court. The court ruled that the NDIA must fund a motorised scooter for Lee Eastham, a disabled man and NDIS participant with...
- Child Care (1 speech)
This morning, many of us had the opportunity to hear from the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia, ELACCA, about the future of early childhood education in this country. Their message...
- South Australia State Election (1 speech)
This week, in the media in South Australia, there has been an almighty pile-on on one of our candidates, Carston Woodhouse, who is the candidate for Wright. The media in SA are a little bit like...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
One Nation is the only party that will scrap net zero. We have heard a lot of talk from the coalition and the Nationals about walking away from net zero, but, today, when this chamber was given a...
- South Australia State Election (1 speech)
The election in South Australia is just nine days away, on 21 March. Housing has been a very significant issue in the election to date, and it's no wonder. House prices in Adelaide are up 40 per...
- Bill of Rights (1 speech)
It's crazy to think this country doesn't have a human rights act. We need to legislate an Australian human rights act to ensure our rights are properly protected by law at the national level....
- Mauritius (1 speech)
Today, 12 March, is Mauritian Independence Day, marking the day in 1968 when Mauritius began its journey as a sovereign nation. It is a moment to recognise the remarkable story of a small island...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Fuel Security (21 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Yesterday, the minister assured the Senate that Australia has: … in terms of petrol...
- Middle East (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, involving more countries, endangering civilians and creating...
- Economy (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. In a recent interview, the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank, Andrew Hauser, said that inflation was well above...
- Middle East (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. Minister, your government has been complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Now not only have you backed the illegal Israel/US...
- Fuel Security (10 speeches)
My question is to Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Global energy markets remain disrupted due to the war in the Middle East. In response the...
- Indigenous Australians: Cultural Heritage (30 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Last week, the Territory Labor candidate for the Nightcliff by-election said, 'Territory Labor is proud to now oppose...
- Agriculture Industry (30 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister McCarthy. The Australian government's premier advising body on farming, ABARES, recently...
- Equality Australia (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Minister Gallagher. After Equality Australia was rejected by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, rejected by the AAT and rejected...
- Early Childhood Education and Care (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. The Albanese Labor government is focused on delivering for Australian families, including the many families who rely...
- Fuel Security (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. The government keeps telling Australians there is no fuel supply problem and that stocks...
- Workplace Relations (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. It's been nearly 18 months since the Albanese Labor government's landmark same-jobs...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Fuel Security (4 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the government's failure on fuel security, as circulated in the chamber. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name,...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of all answers to coalition questions. Today, we spoke about a number of things. Obviously, front of mind is fuel. I note the change in tone, over the last week,...
- Middle East (3 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the Middle East. The Albanese...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Middle East (1 speech)
by leave—I table a nonconforming petition from 194 signatories relating to Iran.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Mining Industry (1 speech)
I rise to talk about our nation's resources industry ahead of the 2026 Minerals Week, which is taking place from 23 to 25 March. Australia has a long and proud history of producing valuable and...
- Iran (1 speech)
We are living in a new geopolitical landscape—a new global reality that we must acknowledge, contemplate and respond decisively to. Our rhetoric must now give way to conviction. We must...
- Fuel Security (7 speeches)
I am an optimist. It's important to understand that, because otherwise I wouldn't have believed that the government could have got this fuel crisis so very, very wrong. Last week people started...
