Senate debates
Monday, 12 October 2026
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Australian Greens (2 speeches)
by leave—I advise the Senate the new Australian Greens leadership positions are as follows: Senator Shoebridge is the Leader of the Australian Greens. Senator Hodgins-May is Deputy Leader...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Western Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
As Western Australian families face rising costs of living, inflation is placing additional pressure on household budgets. At the same time, the state is facing an unprecedented shortage of...
- Raise Our Voice in Parliament (1 speech)
This week, senators in this place will have a chance to read speeches written by young people in our communities as part of the Raise Our Voice campaign. I'm pleased to be, I think, the first one...
- Environment: Coral Harvesting (2 speeches)
I've spent my life fighting against the logging of our native forests, but there is another, equally destructive activity occurring in our oceans. Fifty-nine licence holders have been granted...
- Scouts Tasmania (1 speech)
Some lessons stay with you for life. One of mine is 'Always be prepared.' I learnt that growing up in Tasmania as a proud member of the Lindisfarne Cub Scout group. That lesson has stayed with...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Last month, the Australia Institute stated that big government serves the interests of everyday Australians and small government only serves the rich. The point was to attack as 'neoliberal'...
- Bali: Attacks (1 speech)
Twenty-four years ago, on 12 October 2002, Australians awoke to news of an act of terrorism that would leave an enduring scar on our nation. The Bali bombings claimed 202 innocent lives,...
- Tasmanian Government (1 speech)
In my eyes, Tasmania always comes first, but we recently found out that Tasmania has ranked dead last in the Commonwealth Bank's rankings of each state, down three places in a single year....
- Raise Our Voice in Parliament (1 speech)
It is my privilege and pleasure to read out a speech today as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. Sara, 14, from New South Wales says: Hello Australia, As a kid, it sometimes...
- Australian Public Service (1 speech)
People often ask me why Australia never changes—why it doesn't change direction. It doesn't matter who wins an election; it all stays the same. Labor out, Liberals in; Liberals out, Labor...
- Israel Attacks: Third Anniversary (2 speeches)
Last Wednesday, we paused to mark the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 terror attacks on Israel. Hamas murdered some 1,200 people—the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day...
- Freedom of Information (1 speech)
Before the Albanese government were elected in 2022, they promised the Australian people that they would strengthen our freedom-of-information laws. They promised they would be more transparent....
- Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting Shackling During Childbirth) Bill 2026 (1 speech)
Surprise, surprise! Labor and the coalition don't want to pass my bill banning shackling of people during childbirth when it's voted on this Thursday. As usual, they're handballing it to states...
- Women's Health (1 speech)
() (): The Women's Health Committee has received over 1,200 submissions, some of them representing the voices of hundreds more women— (Time expired) Debate interrupted.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Banking and Financial Services (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Does the Prime Minister seriously expect Australia's small businesses to believe his promise that banning credit card...
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer. Senator Gallagher. Last month the Albanese Labor government released the Final Budget Outcome for 2025-26, which shows an improvement in...
- Small Business (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister, before the last election, said, 'Small business should be backing Labor in this campaign,' and,...
- Wages and Salaries (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Minister, wages are going backwards under the Albanese government. Right now, people in Australia are earning, in real terms, no...
- National Security (8 speeches)
My positive question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last month, the minister joined the Prime Minister as he led Australia's delegation to the United Nations,...
- Climate Change (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Last week, the High Court ruled that governments must consider emissions from coal burned overseas when deciding...
- Private Health Insurance (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. For months, Minister Butler has told Australians that only 44,000 people will drop their...
- Community Grants (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Minister, did you or your department seek or receive advice from ASIO or the Australian Federal Police...
- Fuel (18 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister Wong. Minister, six months ago I asked you if it was in the national interest to permit the importation of all fuels, even if these...
- Cost of Living (8 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, the Foodbank hunger report found that one in three Australian households experienced food insecurity...
- Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. The Albanese Labor government continues to deliver cost-of-living relief. The key...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Banking and Financial Services, Small Business (6 speeches)
With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clock in accordance with the informal arrangements agreed by the whips.
- Climate Change (1 speech)
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 climate change. Imagine asking the...
- Community Grants (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Watts to my question on multiculturalism. Last week an accused terrorist tried to hijack a plane trying to fly to Tel Aviv to...
- Fuel (5 speeches)
Minister Wong, that was a masterclass. Well done—
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Andrew, Hon. John Neil AO (1 speech)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 5 October 2026, of the Hon. John Neil AO, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and member for the division of...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That— (a) the Defence Amendment (Sexual Assault Prevention, Intervention and Response Commission) Bill 2025 be considered on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at the time...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Waters from 12 October to 15 October for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
If there are no objections, the business is postponed.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Housing; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 30 June 2026, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 546, relating to first home...
- Future Fit Program; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 569, relating to the Future Fit Program, requiring...
- Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than midday on 15 October 2026, the following documents covering the time period of 27 March to...
- Aged Care; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Ruston, I move: That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 15 October 2026,...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I ask that general business notice of motion No. 762 be withdrawn.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Defence Facilities; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Collins, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes the inadequate responses provided by the Department of Defence to questions on notice lodged through the Foreign...
- Australian Defence Force; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 2 July 2026, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 564, Defence reform study, with a compliance date of no later...
- Veterans; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
At the request of Senator Cadell, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 21 October 2026,...
- Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 755. Leave granted. At the request of Senator McKenzie, I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on...
- Housing Australia Future Fund, Housing; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, the Senate agreed to orders for the production of documents nos 676 and 677,...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
At the request of Senator McKenzie, I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 763 for today.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Supermarkets (16 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, which is shown at item 13 on today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Small Business (10 speeches)
The Senate will now consider the proposal, under standing order 75, from Senator Cash, which is also shown at item 13 on today's Order of Business: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Heseltine, Sir William Frederick Payne, GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO, PC (1 speech)
I rise tonight to pay tribute to one of Western Australia's most remarkable sons, Sir William Heseltine, GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO, PC, who died on 2 October at the age of 96. His was an extraordinary...
- Community Action (1 speech)
This Labor government has a habit of approving big developments that communities are opposed to. Look at how this federal Labor government is refusing to put a moratorium on mega AI data centres...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
Rome didn't just fall in one day. It was sold in instalments—a little gold to buy peace, a few foreign soldiers to fill the ranks. Each deal made sense at the time and nobody thought that...
