Senate debates

Thursday, 15 October 2026

• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Housing Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (12 speeches)
    OPD No. 546 seeks 'documents setting out the total number of first home guarantees issued by Housing Australia for the 2025-26 financial year to the end of May 2026, broken down by the top 10...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting the Strip Searching of Children) Bill 2026, Crimes Amendment (Prohibiting Shackling During Childbirth) Bill 2026; Second Reading (24 speeches)
    In 2026, people can be shackled while giving birth and children can have their clothes removed by adults to examine their bodies—legally. Today, by passing my two private senator's bills,...
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Direction to Committee (25 speeches)
    I wish to make some comments regarding the process that has followed the Greens political party and the coalition thwarting passage of an improvement to our generational aged-care reforms. As you...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That— (1) Today: (a) the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026 and the...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Rubicon Battery Energy Storage System (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a non-conforming petition, which has been circulated, concerning a battery energy storage project in a small rural community on the Rubicon in Victoria. We're on your side.
  • Children's Ground (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a non-conforming petition with more than 10,500 signatures demanding the government fully fund the Children's Ground proven First Nations approach.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the following bill be introduced: a Bill for an Act to ban the livestreaming and broadcast of capital punishment, and for...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (16 speeches)
    I present the 13th report of 2026 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— Selection of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business notice of motion No. 812 be considered during general business today. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    If there's no objection, the business is postponed.
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Direction to Committee (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee has resolved not to hold a public hearing as part of its inquiry into the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Water Amendment (Ending Further Murray-Darling Basin Water Buybacks) Bill 2026; First Reading (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Canavan, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Water Act 2007, and for related purposes. I present the bill and move: That this...
  • Water Amendment (Ending Further Murray-Darling Basin Water Buybacks) Bill 2026; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and the devastating impact of Labor's water buybacks on the Murray-Darling...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Minister for Communications; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Minister representing the Minister for Communications has failed to produce documents ordered to be laid on the table relating to the Minister...
  • Senate Estimates: Questions on Notice; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Leader of the Government in the Senate has failed to comply with order for the production of documents no. 671, agreed to on 9 September 2026,...
  • Minister for Indigenous Australians; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator O'Sullivan, I move general business notices of motion Nos 807, 808, 809 and 810 together: GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 807 That there be laid on the table by...
  • Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Dean Smith, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than midday on Friday, 30 October 2026, the revised Strategy for...
  • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 12 August 2026, the Senate agreed to order for the production of documents no. 573, relating to the impact...
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    If it suits the chamber, I am happy to move general business notices of motion Nos 815 to 818 together.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Direction to Committee (7 speeches)
    It being past 12.15 pm, pursuant to the order agreed to earlier, there will be a 30-minute debate. The Senate will now proceed to further consideration of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment...
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I move: At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate: (a) affirms that reliable and affordable mobile coverage is an essential service for regional, rural and remote Australians, underpinning...
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (9 speeches)
    I'll now put the questions on the remaining stages of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner and Other Measures) Bill 2026. I will first...
  • Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Iran and Syria) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (1 speech)
    The question is that this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time. The question now is that this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025; Limitation of Debate (4 speeches)
    I will first deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments and requests for amendment, starting with the requests circulated by the government. In accordance with the usual practices, the...
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (7 speeches)
    I will now deal with the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2026. I will first deal with the second reading amendment circulated by the...
  • Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025; Limitation of Debate (1 speech)
    I'll now deal with the Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025. The question is that this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second...
  • National Student Ombudsman Levy Bill 2026, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (National Student Ombudsman Levy) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (1 speech)
    I will now deal with the National Student Ombudsman Levy Bill 2026 and a related bill. The question is that these bills be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bills read a second time....
  • Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate (4 speeches)
    I'll now deal with the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2026. I will first deal with the second reading amendment...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Brisbane small-business owner David Kelly, who employs nearly 40 Australians through his cleaning company, warned of...
  • Fiscal Policy (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. When we came to government, there was almost a trillion dollars of debt left by the coalition. Since coming to government, the...
  • Goldmining Industry: McPhillamys Gold Project (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. Minister, the Federal Court has now cleared the way for further consideration and progress on the McPhillamys...
  • Gas Industry: Taxation (8 speeches)
    My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Gallagher. According to the recent report into income support mortality outcomes, at least 3,000 more...
  • Health Care (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing and the minister for disability, Senator McAllister. After a decade of neglect, the Albanese Labor government was...
  • Taxation (31 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, how much of the $4.4 billion a year in revenue from the trust tax comes from small business, including...
  • Trade with the European Union (19 speeches)
    Happy Thursday, President. I've got a great question before me today, and I'd love to ask my question to my very good friend the Minister for Trade and Tourism, the wonderful Senator Farrell. In...
  • Cybersafety (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Senator Farrell. At the National Press Club today, Minister Wells insisted Labor's new digital duty of care bill would...
  • Indigenous Business (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. October is Indigenous Business Month, a month to celebrate, showcase and, most importantly, purchase from Aboriginal...
  • Small Business (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. First, small businesses had to deal with out-of-control inflation, and then they had to deal with increasing...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
    In question time yesterday, I indicated I'd provide further information in response to questions asked of me in my capacity as Minister representing the Minister for Defence regarding Westport....
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Taxation, Goldmining Industry: McPhillamys Gold Project (9 speeches)
    With the concurrence of the Senate, the clerks will set the clocks in accordance with informal arrangements agreed by the whips.
  • Gas Industry: Taxation (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today. I note with...
  • Cybersafety (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications (Senator Farrell) to a question without notice I asked today relating to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Cox from 12 to 15 October 2026, on account of parliamentary business; and (b) Senator Green for...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    We now turn to a deferred vote from yesterday evening. I remind senators that, yesterday evening after 6.30 pm, a division was called on the urgency motion moved by Senator McGrath relating to...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the 518th report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, on the committee's inquiry into the 2023-24 and 2024-25 major projects reports.
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    At the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present additional information received by various committees as shown at item 19 of today's Order of Business.
  • Human Rights Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present Human rights scrutiny report: report 11 of 2026.
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Sharma, I present the report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on financial support for state and territory infrastructure projects, together...
  • Treaties Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Collins, I present the 236th report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to continue my remarks...
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I present the government response to the report of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee on its inquiry into provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation...
  • Corporations and Financial Services Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    I rise to take note of the government response to the report on financial abuse undertaken by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services. It's a title that has a...
  • Northern Australia Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I rise to speak on the tabling of this important report by the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia. At its heart is a simple question:...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Fuel Security, Climate Change Authority, Safeguard Mechanism, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning the Fuel Supply Taskforce coordinator, Climate Change Authority contracts, the National Roads and Motorists...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes to the membership of a committee.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Artificial Intelligence (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— a. acknowledges the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes, voice cloning and other emerging technologies, which are increasingly being...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Glenorchy Medicare Mental Health Centre (1 speech)
    Tonight I rise to recognise the important new service for the people of Glenorchy and surrounding communities, the Glenorchy Medicare Mental Health Centre. Earlier this month, I was proud to join...
  • Australian Gujarati Community, Nepal Festival Perth (3 speeches)
    I rise this afternoon to recognise the Brabham Gujarati community and the wonderful Garba night recently held in Beechboro. It was a night filled with colour, music, dance, food and, above all, a...
  • Raise Our Voice in Parliament, Housing (1 speech)
    I'm honoured to deliver a speech this evening that was written by Kade, a 16-year-old South Australian, as part of the Raise Our Voice in Parliament campaign. It's a delight to welcome Kade and...
  • Education, Employment (1 speech)
    We begin our lives by participating in a kind of cosmic lottery. None of us chooses where we start life or where we are born. We do not choose our parents or our postcode or the skills or...
  • Raise Our Voice in Parliament, Energy, Goldmining Industry: McPhillamys Gold Project (1 speech)
    I'm delighted to share these thoughts from Chase, who lives in the electorate of Spence in Adelaide's northern suburbs. I'll now read their submission which was part of the Raise Our Voice in...
  • Western Australia: Child Care, Raise Our Voice in Parliament (2 speeches)
    It was through Instagram that the then Labor candidate for Durack Karen Wheatland brought glad tidings to her followers in WA's Wheatbelt. Stuffed animal in hand, Ms Wheatland beamed as she...