Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

It was about why environmental reform cannot be progressed this year—again, another year where environmental law reform doesn't progress. I know how many meetings Senator Watt has had with members of this place and with other stakeholders to ensure that this bill has the smoothest or quickest passage through, with appropriate scrutiny. The minister has been working on this and working with colleagues since May, and he has outlined the arguments to this chamber. But we accept that the view of those on the opposition benches, the Greens and others is that they want to delay the passage of this bill. That's what's happening here this morning on the environmental law reform.

On the other bills—and I note there are a number of amendments that are going to be moved across a number of bills—I just want to take the opportunity to outline the government's position outside of environmental protection reform. We would like a short committee process to report on that by 24 November. But there are a number of other pieces of legislation, including on payday superannuation. Again, it is unsurprising that the opposition are seeking to delay the passage of this bill. The ATO estimates that $5.2 billion in super went unpaid in the 2021-22 year. That's $100 million every week that workers did not get put in their accounts. This bill seeks to address that. I would have thought that was a pretty important job—for the Senate to be dealing with that bill so that workers are getting the superannuation they are entitled to as soon as that bill is able to be passed. That is why we are suggesting that that bill not be referred to a committee. We are moving an amendment to that degree. I hope that people will support that amendment.

In (c) of the amendment moved by the government, it states:

(c) the Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 not be referred to a committee …

This bill would allow the government to list the IRGC, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a state sponsor of terrorism, consistent with the PM's announcement in August. There has been a lot of discussion around that. We think it's very important that that bill be passed as soon as possible and not referred to a committee, especially as we know the advice from our intelligence agencies about the involvement of people aligned with that group in relation to attacks here on our own soil that have aimed to put fear into the community. This bill deals with that. Again, I hope that we get the support of the chamber not to refer that to a committee. 'The provisions of the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025 not be referred to a committee'—this important bill will allow the establishment of a committee to provide increased transparency on AUKUS and allow the parliament to continue to scrutinise this important project. This is going to be done through this bill, and we again would urge the chamber to not refer that to a committee.

The final point I want to make is in relation to Senator Robert's amendment that's foreshadowed to be moved in this part, which is on the Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025. Senator Roberts seeks to move that to a report by 27 February 2026. The government does not support that. This bill will provide clarity and consistency about eligibility for paid parental leave. The bill uses existing definitions that already apply to unpaid parental leave in the Fair Work Act and government funded paid parental leave in the Paid Parental Leave Act. The loss of a child is one of the most devastating things a parent can experience. It has a profound and long-lasting impact on parents, families and their communities. These are very difficult circumstances for workers and employers to navigate. We feel this bill provides certainty, and we are—as we have heard in speeches in the other place—deeply disappointed that a very small minority have tried to hijack this bill and pretend it is about something that it is not. On those grounds, the government will not be supporting Senator Roberts amendment and don't support the inquiry until the end of February next year that he's proposed.