Senate debates
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Australians know their money is not going far enough. They know that it doesn't go as far as it used to. They know that groceries costs more, power costs are going up, insurance costs more and...
- Australian National Men's Football Team, Multiculturalism (1 speech)
There's something pretty special happening around Australia right now. People who have never watched football—soccer—before are setting alarms in the middle of the night. Pubs are...
- NAIDOC Week (1 speech)
Next week is NAIDOC week, a national celebration of First Nations culture. This year's NAIDOC Week theme is 50 Years of Deadly, recognising decades of advocacy. Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Uncle Jack...
- Freedom of Religion (1 speech)
The Australian Christian Freedom Index has recently published a report on the state of religious liberty pertaining to Christians in Australia. Over 10,000 Christians were surveyed and shared...
- After-Hours Medical Services (3 speeches)
I rise today with news for Hobart's northern suburbs. The Albanese Labor government is delivering a Medicare urgent care clinic in the Glenorchy and Derwent Park area.
- Australian Parliament (1 speech)
On behalf of Canberrans, I would like to recognise some of the outstanding work that happens in this place and thank senators for their important contribution. In March 2023, we saw the Finance...
- Victoria's Big Build (1 speech)
Every day, we hear that Labor has zero tolerance for corruption, yet it continues to happen under their watch. We continue to hand over Australians' hard earned money, corruption continues, and...
- Cleanaway (1 speech)
Cleanaway has become one of Australia's worst offenders when it comes to workplace safety. In the past two years alone, five people have lost their lives while working there—and a total of...
- Pride Month (1 speech)
Today is the last day of Pride Month, which is held around the world on the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, where gay activists fought back against the regular police...
- Great Western Highway (1 speech)
On 2 July, I wrote to the Prime Minister imploring him to declare the Great Western Highway—which is cracked and crumbling, and now closed—a disaster. The government has declined to...
- Gas Industry (1 speech)
Right now, communities are dealing with the harsh reality of an increasingly extreme climate. On the other side of the world, millions of people are suffering through an unprecedented heatwave....
- One Nation (1 speech)
According to those who are bitterly opposed to myself and One Nation, another sacred cow I supposedly slaughtered at the National Press Club was paid parental leave funded by taxpayers. Let's be...
- Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement (1 speech)
Yesterday's landmark Nakamal agreement with Vanuatu is another transformational breakthrough in our region by the Albanese Labor government. We are doing the work after Australia lost a decade in...
- Water Safety: Sharks (1 speech)
Recently, I was able to visit the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club with the president, Basil Scaffidi. It was tremendous to be able to see that great institution, with prospects for a much larger...
- Cybersecurity: Artificial Intelligence (1 speech)
Last week, leaders of the Five Eyes cybersecurity agencies issued a very important warning to our people, our businesses and governments: AI is rapidly transforming cyber risk and swift action is...
- Budget (2 speeches)
Those responsible have a lot of answering to do, because they still have not told us how and why they legislated a widows tax. Seriously, you talk about standing up for women, but what government...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (21 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. When did the Prime Minister first become aware that Labor's tax legislation would impose what has become known as the...
- Cost of Living (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. From tomorrow, 1 July, Australians will be receiving even more cost-of-living relief, including an additional tax cut...
- Housing (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last weekend, Sydney recorded its lowest auction clearance rates since April 2020—the very start of the...
- Workplace Relations: Maritime Industry (8 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Transport. Minister, this morning I met with Queen and Christiana who are both former Carnival Cruise crew members. These young women...
- Health Care (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. We on this side of the chamber hear every day how important a strong and affordable health...
- Budget (21 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Senator McAllister. Can the minister confirm how many pensioners will lose their private health insurance...
- Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Minister, Palantir builds the tools that ICE uses to deport people from the US. It's been linked to targeting in...
- Agriculture Industry (29 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Watt. I refer to the deal between your government and the Greens to change the Environment Protection and Biodiversity...
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. As we know, tomorrow is 1 July, and the next lot of income tax cuts will start. This is very good news for many, many...
- Aged Care (32 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Senator McAllister. Ninety-one-year-old John Wilson spent the final months of his life waiting for care your...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations: Maritime Industry (1 speech)
In response to Senator David Pocock's question, I undertook to come back to the chamber if there was further information I could provide. The government is committed to ensuring ships operating...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (21 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. It was an interesting question time. There was a general theme....
- Defence Procurement (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take notice of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by the Greens today. Palantir CEO Alex...
- Agriculture Industry (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Environment and Water (Senator Watt) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the Environment...
- Workplace Relations: Maritime Industry (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Transport (Senator Farrell) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the maritime...
- 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 Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Green for 25 June 2026, for personal reasons; (b) Senator Chisholm from 29 June to 2 July 2026, on...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (3 speeches)
If there is no objection, the business is postponed.
- Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
- Proposed Works (5 speeches)
I move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the Senate approves the proposal by the National Capital Authority for capital works within the Parliamentary Zone, relating...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Colbeck, I move general business notice of motion No. 542: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no...
- Superannuation; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than midday on Thursday, 2 July 2026, a regulatory impact...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- One Nation (14 speeches)
I seek leave to make a statement of no more than five minutes relating to the decision of Pauline Hanson's One Nation to deny me formality in relation to introducing a bill. Leave not granted....
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Senior Australians (17 speeches)
Senator Ruston has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, as shown at item 12 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Data Centres (15 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal under standing order 75, from Senator McKim, which is also shown at item 12 on today's Order of Business: The Albanese government's failure to protect...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 (1 speech)
In relation to the Commonwealth Ombudsman's report on the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, for the period 1 July to 31 December 2025, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I read...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Legislation Committee, Public Works Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the Senate Economics Legislation Committee's report in respect of the 2026-27 budget estimates, together with accompanying documents. On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee...
- Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Intelligence and Security Joint Committee, Public Works Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
I present five government responses to committee reports as listed on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard. Leave...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Report (1 speech)
I wish to take note of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report on Australia's sanctions regime, and I seek leave to continue my remarks.
- Public Works Joint Committee; Membership (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That Senator Kovacic be discharged from and Senator Scarr be appointed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
This evening I'm going to talk about something that really concerns me, and that concern was compounded again this week. Last night we had debate in this place in relation to schedule 1, part 9...
- Paraquat, Data Centres (1 speech)
Australia has just made a deadly call. Despite irrefutable evidence linking toxic paraquat to Parkinson's disease, despite warnings from some of Australia's leading neurologists and despite more...
- Refugee Week (2 speeches)
Refugee Week was celebrated between Sunday 14 June and Saturday 20 June. This is the 40th year in which Refugee Week has been held. The theme for this year was A Million Stories. I want to tell...
- Defence, International Relations: Australia and Nauru, Yekta, Mr Hatam (1 speech)
In the middle of the country, there's a facility that most Australians couldn't tell you anything about, and it might be the single biggest reason we'd be dragged into a war we never chose. I'll...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Defence Procurement: Submarines (1 speech)
I rise tonight to express concern regarding a recent episode that was produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation titled 'Women of the Revolution' which profiled women in Iran who support...
- St John Ambulance, Climate Change Authority (1 speech)
Senators would be aware that I'm a proud volunteer with St John Ambulance. On 24 June 2026, we celebrated St John's Day around the world. It's a time of celebration and reflection. We recognise...
- Tertiary Education and Training, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1 speech)
Tonight I discuss the heart of Australia's future: whether our higher education system is identifying and supporting excellence or whether elites have captured education to reward size, history...
- Filipino Australian Club of Perth Inc., Vietnam War: Veterans (3 speeches)
Tonight I rise to acknowledge a significant milestone in the life of Western Australia's Filipino community: the 40th anniversary of the Filipino Australian Club of Perth. For four decades, the...
- Moore, Mrs Nancy (Pat) (1 speech)
My Nana passed away last month at the age of 106. For the first time since I started this job, I took leave from the Senate so that I could go to New Zealand and say goodbye to her. I sat by her...
- Derderian, Mrs Vrejouhi (Vicki) (1 speech)
Thank you, Senator Collins; that was beautiful. Now, Vicki Derderian was an Australian woman of extraordinary faith, courage and conviction. She was a devoted mother of two, a loving wife and a...
- Rushy Lagoon (1 speech)
First of all, I also thank Senator Collins for her contribution earlier. It was a wonderful thing you shared with us all, so I thank you. Rushy Lagoon is a big agricultural property in Tasmania;...
