Senate debates
Monday, 22 June 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to uphold people's rights, but what happens when the rights of two groups come into conflict? That was a question that I put to the...
- Early Childhood Education and Care (1 speech)
I am proud to be a working parent, and I know many of my colleagues in this place and many, many working parents across the country feel the same way. It's a juggle and it's tough, but it is...
- One Nation (1 speech)
I love Australia, but Senator Pauline Hanson hates Australia. She hates our free press. She hates our public broadcasters. She hates the very idea that ordinary Australians deserve access to...
- Food Industry (1 speech)
I rise today to sound the alarm on another threat to Australian food security. The Albanese government is progressing a process aimed at opening the door to fresh banana imports from the...
- One Nation (1 speech)
One Nation's dangerous rise should cause great concern to every Australian who believes in a secure workplace, fair wages and a decent standard of living. Behind the slogans and grievances of One...
- Migration (1 speech)
It takes some serious gall to come out and celebrate the latest immigration figures as a win; the third-highest immigration figures in Australia's history—during a housing crisis fuelled by...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
Earlier this month, the Australian Institute of Family Studies released a report on the adverse childhood experiences of men and their long-term mental health impacts. It found that 33.6 per cent...
- Migration (1 speech)
In my first speech to this place, I said: Diversity and difference are the magic that make our local communities into the places we love and Melbourne into one of the most vibrant cities in the...
- One Nation (3 speeches)
The rise of One Nation from 6½ per cent of the national vote at the federal election last year to polling over 30 per cent in nine months is a political anomaly the likes of which we have...
- Social Cohesion (1 speech)
Culture is the shared values, traditions, beliefs, customs and way of life that bind a people together. It's the invisible thread that connects generations and gives a nation its identity, its...
- Housing (1 speech)
Australia's housing crisis won't be solved with a three-word slogan or a social media culture war. Australians can't live in a press release or a political cartoon, no matter how jazzy the...
- Budget (1 speech)
This bad Labor budget is an assault on the Australian dream of being able to work hard and being rewarded for that work, as well as the dream of providing for your family and having your children...
- Data Centres (1 speech)
A recent Knight Frank report ranked Australia second globally for data centre investment, yet our government is yet to put in place effective regulatory and tax settings to protect Australians...
- Wild, Mr Brett (1 speech)
On Friday of this week, I'll be returning to the Hunter Valley where we'll be celebrating life and mourning the loss of Warrant Officer Brett Wild, retired. Brett was a personal friend of mine....
- Australian National Men's Football Team (1 speech)
I want to rise in this chamber to acknowledge and encourage the Socceroos in their must-win game of the World Cup on Friday. For those of you who are new to football here in Australia, yes, the...
- Virgin Australia (2 speeches)
Virgin Australia is holding $93 million of customers' money in the form of COVID-era travel credits, and they are refusing to refund those travel credits to their customers. Recently, they...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (36 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister recently announced that small businesses will receive favourable capital gains tax treatment if...
- Cost of Living (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Australia currently has 178 billionaires, who make $29 million a day. Corporate profits have grown at almost double the rate of...
- Wages and Salaries (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Earlier this month, the Fair Work Commission handed down the 2026 annual wage review...
- Avian Influenza (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. Australia has had its first confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu, a disease that has devastated wildlife populations...
- Budget (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last week, the Western Australian premier warned that the government's proposed capital gains tax changes would...
- Migration (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Ayres. Minister, last financial year your Labor government issued more than 350,000 new permanent...
- Economy, Migration (21 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher, and relates to productivity. The measure of productivity I'm using is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics: GDP per hours...
- Budget (26 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing— Who? Geelong? No, we didn't win on the weekend, unfortunately, but thanks for pointing that out.
- Early Childhood Education and Care (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Minister, families in my home state of Tasmania know how important our childcare system is. It helps children grow,...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (9 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Well, I listened with interest to the answers to the questions...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
I rise to take note of the answer to my question to the Minister representing the Prime Minister about the cost of living, the rise of the far right and taxing the one per cent. Politics should...
- Migration (1 speech)
I asked a question today of Labor about immigration to the country and the minister said, 'Oh, we're doing a great job. We're actually reducing the immigration by 45 per cent.' Well, you're the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
I withdraw government business notice of motion No. 1 for today.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: (a) Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Tackling the Gender Super Gap) Bill 2025, on Wednesday, 24 June 2026; and (b)...
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Liddle for 24 and 25 June 2026, for personal reasons; (b) Senator McKenzie from 22 to 25 June 2026,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Gas Industry: Taxation (13 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today. It is shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian...
- Budget (13 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal from Senator Bragg under standing order 75, which is also shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2025-2026; 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.
- Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2025-2026, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2025-2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— APPROPRIATION...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2026-2027, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027; 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.
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2026-2027, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027; Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— APPROPRIATION...
- Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026, Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025, Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026; 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.
- Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Repealing Offences) Bill 2026, Secrecy Provisions Amendment (Sunsetting Provision) Bill 2026, Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025, Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and Trusted Tax System) Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
I table revised explanatory memoranda relating to the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Delivering an Efficient and...
- Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026, Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026; 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.
- Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026, Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— COMPETITION AND...
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Bill 2026; 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.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Business Registries Stabilisation and Uplift) Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— This Bill delivers...
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Wages and Salaries (1 speech)
I rise and stand alongside retail workers, pharmacy workers and warehouse workers across our country, who deserve a pay rise and deserve to have a safe working environment. The Shop, Distributive...
- Medicare (2 speeches)
One hundred and thirty-seven is quite an interesting number. It's a prime number—the 33rd prime number, to be exact—and it's a number that's been the subject of much intrigue over...
- Social Cohesion (1 speech)
Earlier this month I had the good fortune of being invited by Adireddy Yara, one of the founders of the Adelaide Telangana Association, to join them in their celebration of their state formation...
