Senate debates
Monday, 14 September 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meeting is authorised.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Artificial Intelligence (51 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the regulation of AI and threats of extinction, as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice standing in the name of Senator Waters, I...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (5 speeches)
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 of sittings: Knox Class Action...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The Business Council is warning that Australia is on track for the worst decade of productivity growth since records began in 1960, with productivity having gone backwards for the entirety of the...
- Medicare (1 speech)
You can now see a GP for free at more than 3,800 clinics across Australia, making it easier for Australians to get the health care they need when they need it. Access to affordable health care...
- One Nation (1 speech)
(—) (): They say, if you want a friend in politics, get a dog, but it seems as though, for the Leader of One Nation, Pauline Hanson, it's get a Gina. The relationship between Senator...
- Battle of Pozieres (1 speech)
Pozieres—for an entire generation, that name evokes memories of suffering, courage, mateship, 'the mincing machine' and, ultimately, sacrifice. The Battle of Pozieres and nearby Mouquet...
- One Nation (2 speeches)
Acting Deputy President Polley, as you well know, you cannot be pro-worker while you're attacking workers' superannuation, and you can't be pro-worker while opposing real wage rises for...
- Mining Industry (1 speech)
Why does Labor want to hurt WA's mining industry? It's a good question that Western Australians are asking themselves today. Australia's resources sector generates $383 billion in revenue every...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise to welcome the Albanese Labor government's commitment to establish a new Fair Work court. I know this is the right way, because already today we've had someone from that side being...
- Health Care (1 speech)
I welcome today's news that Minister Butler has asked for options to start to deal with the growth in fees to see a specialist in this country. Unfortunately, I wasn't surprised to learn that...
- Economy (1 speech)
Donald Horne referred to Australia as a 'lucky country run mainly by second-rate people'. Well, I guess he wasn't wrong, was he? Under this government, this Albanese government, we are in danger...
- Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
Last week, I had the fantastic opportunity to welcome Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Commander Ashley Cox into my office as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program. It's a...
- Internet Content (1 speech)
These are some of the nasties coming through to my office. Leanne said: Something is wrong with this girls mental capacity. Tony said: I don't know whats worse. Her voice or her face? Troy said:...
- Red Lines Package (2 speeches)
This Albanese Labor government love to say they're tough on crime, but they're not when it comes to war crimes and crimes against humanity. They will face a test when they vote on the Red Lines...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
There's a tower being built in New South Wales, and the comments around it are quite amazing. They are: 'This is ruining our lifestyle,' 'This is ruining our lookout,' 'We weren't consulted...
- Alexander, Mr Joe (2 speeches)
On 14 January 2026, Joe Alexander, life member of the ALP, passed on. Joe was born on 13 January 1929 in Larras Lee. At 14, Joe left school to help his family pay the bills. This pattern of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Bill Kelty, a prominent Australian Labor Party figure and former head of the ACTU, has highlighted the disastrous...
- Cybersafety (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last week, the Albanese Labor government announced a world-leading step to protect young people from harm on social...
- Productivity (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Business Council of Australia has released analysis showing 'labour productivity has gone backwards by an average...
- Energy (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister Ayres. Why is the Albanese government constantly doing the bidding of big polluters? You're not making gas companies pay their...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. The IMF has downgraded global growth and upgraded global inflation due to the war in the Middle East, with energy prices and supply...
- Data Centres (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. New York and Texas have imposed moratoriums on building new AI data centres. Meanwhile, leading tech CEOs Dario...
- Housing (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The NAB says that loans to owner-occupiers are down by 15 per cent since the budget. Are you aware that your taxes...
- Migration (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Minister Gallagher. Australia's labour productivity has barely moved since 2016 and ranks amongst the weakest in the advanced world. The...
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is, once again, to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher, on the subject of labour market economics. In June 2022, at the start of the Albanese government, there...
- Private Health Insurance (19 speeches)
I acknowledge the Western Australian shadow minister for agriculture in the gallery. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Terry and...
- Early Childhood Education and Care (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Walsh. Today, the Albanese Labor government announced that the final Building Early Education Fund agreement was signed with...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (6 speeches)
I shall now proceed to motions to take note of answers. With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in accordance with informal arrangements agreed to by the whips.
- Energy (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Industry and Innovation (Senator Ayres) to a question without notice asked by Senator Waters today relating to the gas...
- Migration (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Women, Minister for Government Services and Manager of Government...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Denman, Ms Kay Janet (6 speeches)
On Tuesday 11 August 2026, I informed the Senate of the death, on 20 April 2026, of Kay Janet Denman, a senator for the state of Tasmania from 1993 to 2005. Honourable senators, I draw to your...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Amendment (No Jab No Pay Repeal) Bill 2025 be considered on Wednesday 16 September 2026 at the time for private senators' bills. Question...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (3 speeches)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 674 for today.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (12 speeches)
Senator McGrath has submitted a proposal under standing order 75, today, as shown at item 13 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Water (8 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator McKim, which is also shown at item 13 of today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Cybersafety (2 speeches)
Last week our government released the exposure draft of our digital duty of care legislation. It is designed to do something pretty simple: put more responsibility on technology companies to...
- Biosecurity: Feral Cats (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a longstanding invasive species and biosecurity issue in Tasmania that is seriously impacting our farmers: feral cats. Feral cats have contributed to the extinction of at...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise today to mark the 25th anniversary of the collapse of Ansett Australia. Let me tell you about Dave Lupton. He worked for Ansett for 27 years. When Ansett collapsed, Dave helped secure...
- Cybersafety (7 speeches)
I rise to speak on Labor's proposed digital duty of care exposure draft. This legislation is a masterclass in policy deception. Sold as yet another tool to protect children online, it is about...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government understands that Australians are working hard and feeling the pressure in their household budgets, whether from groceries, power bills, rent, fuel or the everyday...
