Senate debates
Monday, 7 September 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move that today, before government business is called on, Senators may make statements of not more than five minutes each for not more than one hour in total relating to the...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Himalayas: Floods (13 speeches)
The devastation we have witnessed in Nepal and Tibet, China has been catastrophic. We have seen the terrifying force of floodwaters tear through towns and villages and homes, roads and bridges...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (9 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the instruction to the Committee of the Whole as circulated. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent...
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Western Australia: Agricultural Shows (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about regional shows in Western Australia. It was my absolute pleasure over the last couple of weeks to attend the Beverley Agricultural Show in Beverley and the York Show in...
- Parliamentary Friends of Financial Capability (1 speech)
In the last sitting fortnight, I stood in a packed Mural Hall alongside more than a hundred experts from across industry, education, consumer and community organisations, regulators and...
- Himalayas: Floods (1 speech)
I rise today to speak of the horrible situation that has unfolded in Nepal over the last two weeks. We know that the death toll is currently at over 1,400, and there are still over 5½...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I rise to speak to a number that should not exist: 68. It is 68 women and children whose lives have been taken by violence since 1 January this year. Behind every number is a person with their...
- Victoria: Manufacturing Industry (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the incredible industry in regional Victoria, particularly in Shepparton. That is in, of course, one of the greatest states in the country. Shepparton is northern...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
Australians are suffering right now through a cost-of-living crisis inflicted on them by the Albanese Labor government, which is why One Nation has a proposal. It is the super pay boost, a...
- Kojonup Memorial Hall (1 speech)
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Kojonup Memorial Hall, which was built in 1926 by the local community to honour those who served and sacrificed in the First World War. A century...
- Australian Curriculum (2 speeches)
Last week, when Senator Canavan told the country that boys are sick and tired of the feminisation of our curriculum, I was reminded of the words of the late Gloria Steinem, who said, 'The first...
- Migration (1 speech)
Every year 230,000 people leave Australia, mostly PALM agricultural workers, backpackers and students at the end of their visa, and Australians retiring, working or staying with family overseas....
- Labor Government (1 speech)
Over the last fortnight I've had the privilege to spend time in the best place in Australia, regional Queensland. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for regional Queenslanders, and I've...
- Cybersafety (1 speech)
In 2024, during the Senate inquiry on the social media ban, I and other senators asked the big tech industry body what they were doing about their nasty algorithms. The big tech rep said that...
- Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026 (1 speech)
Children's bodies don't belong to the state. Last month, I introduced a private senator's bill, the Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026, to ban strip...
- Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program, Veterans (4 speeches)
This week, you may have noticed a lot of the ADF personnel embedded into parliamentary offices, and I want to welcome them. I'm privileged to have a commander of 30 years service. I want to thank...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Acknowledgement (2 speeches)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the National Diet of Japan, led by His Excellency Mr Sekiguchi, President of the...
- Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
I'm advising the Senate of changes to ministerial arrangements. Senator Watt will be absent from question time today and tomorrow for ministerial business, and ministers will represent portfolios...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Veterans: Health Care (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, today a group of Australian military veterans laid down their medals outside Parliament House in protest to...
- Women's Health (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister the Health, Disability and Ageing, Senator McAllister. This week is Women's Health Week, which is an opportunity to focus on the health of...
- Housing (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, the Property Council says Labor's housing taxes have driven buyer confidence to an all-time low, with new...
- Climate Change (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Last week, the Albanese government approved another fossil fuel project, an extension to a coal mine in Queensland....
- Cybersafety (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Farrell. Australia is leading the world when it comes to online safety, specifically the online safety of our...
- Defence (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Minister Wong. Reporting from the Guardian and the Nautilus Institute released today has revealed that the US has either...
- Tobacco Control (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Minister, last week I visited the once vibrant and thriving Victoria Street in Richmond, in Victoria, where 10 small...
- Superannuation (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Australians are being crushed by rent, mortgages, groceries, power bills, petrol and insurance under this government....
- Employment (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produce a measure called the 'underutilisation rate of Australian workers', which...
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister told the Queensland Labor conference that his goal 'is to make our economy work for people, not...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (14 speeches)
With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in accordance with informal arrangements agreed by the whips.
- Climate Change, Defence (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 representing the Minister for Defence (Senator Wong) to...
- Superannuation (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to superannuation. Today I asked the...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Margetts, Dr Diane Elizabeth (1 speech)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 16 August 2026, of Dr Diane Elizabeth (Dee) Margetts, a senator for the state of Western Australia from 1993 to 1999. I understand...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: (a) Fair Work Amendment (Disqualified Officers) Bill 2026, on Wednesday, 9 September 2026; and (b) Protecting Australians...
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Nampijinpa Price for 7 September 2026, for personal reasons; (b) Senator McGrath for 8 September...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Animal Welfare; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, by no later than 9 am on Thursday, 17 September 2026, all animal welfare...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (10 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today. It is shown at item 15 on today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Tobacco Control (9 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator Cash, which is shown at item 15 on today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
I seek leave to postpone business of the Senate motion No. 1 until the next day of sitting. Leave granted.
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Liberal Party of Australia (2 speeches)
by leave—I am pleased to inform the Senate that Senator Liddle and Senator Gatenby have been elected as deputy opposition whips, and I would like to thank Senators Blyth and Collins for...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs References Committee, Economics Legislation Committee, Economics References Committee, Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Education and Employment References Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Intergenerational Housing Inequity Select Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Productivity in Australia Select Committee, Public Works Joint Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Women's Health Select Committee; Membership (1 speech)
I move: Community Affairs Legislation Committee— Discharged—Senator Antic Appointed— Senator Gatenby Participating member: Senator Antic Community Affairs References...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Legislation Committees (1 speech)
At the request of the chairs of the respective legislation committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 30 April 2026.
- Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
(): At the request of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Senator Stewart, I present the report of the committee on the Protecting Australians from...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Tertiary Education and Training (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the Albanese Labor government's commitment to easing the cost-of-living pressure and ensuring that financial hardship does not stand in the way of students and the...
- St John International (1 speech)
'For the faith in the service of humanity'. That's the motto of St John Ambulance. It's a call to action that best describes its incredible work around the world. Perhaps a better description may...
- Parliamentary Standards (1 speech)
I want to raise a matter in the Senate tonight that's been sitting quite uneasy with me for some time and did come to light last Friday in the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References...
