Senate debates

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

  • Bolaffi, Mr Allen (3 speeches)
    I rise this evening to pay tribute to a fine South Australian who, sadly, is no longer with us. Mr Allen Bolaffi would be known to you, Mr Acting Deputy President Bernardi, as he would be to...
  • Cystic Fibrosis (1 speech)
    During the last Senate estimates I was privilege to host two events in this place for Cystic Fibrosis Australia. CF Australia is a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with cystic...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about how the Abbott government's budget will hurt the Northern Territory. This budget will hurt all Australians but I believe it will hurt people in the Northern Territory...
  • School Chaplaincy Program (1 speech, 1 comment)
    I rise this evening to share my concerns in this place about the coalition School Chaplaincy Program. There is in our country a mounting and substantial evidence base that young people,...
  • Inclusive Education (1 speech)
    My themes are similar to those of Senator Pratt in terms of the fact that I will be talking about schools, discrimination and bullying, but for a different cohort of people. Students with...
  • Workplace Safety (1 speech)
    My contribution tonight is about workplace safety, particularly in the Australian Public Service. It goes to the understanding that, while the consequences of being injured at work can be...
  • Racial Discrimination Act (1 speech)
    Australia is a tolerant, multicultural nation. We value free speech and democracy and we celebrate the fact that we have built a society where people can live without fear of being verbally or...
  • Cowan, Hon. Dr Hendy John, AO, Meaton, Mr Murray, AM, Heatley, Mr Arthur Macedon, OAM, Watling, Mr Edward Joseph, OAM (1 speech)
    I am delighted this evening to rise to honour four friends and colleagues, all of whom were honoured in the Queen's Birthday honours list last weekend. The first of them—on a night when we...
  • Gary John Gilmour (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to remember the life and career of Gary Gilmour, a cricketer who played not for records or recognition but for the joy of the game—a cricketer for whom the record book just...
  • Chemicals Re-registration, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on two issues where the Abbott government wants to wind back progress. I know—you are shocked! The repeal of reforms of the last parliament is extremely...
  • Telecommunications (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to make a very short contribution as a result of a visit to the great Goulburn Valley—the centre of Victorian's fruit growing and fruit processing area—at the request...
  • World War I (1 speech)
    This is my sixth and final speech relating to the centenary of the First World War and the letters that my grandfather, Sergeant Edward John Farrell, wrote to Miss Emily Jane McConnachy, who...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    For too long in this country, the debate about refugees and the seeking of asylum has been used and abused for political purposes. Like many Australians, I find the media 'frames' and 'messaging'...
  • Queensland Floods: Jordan Rice (1 speech)
    In January 2011, devastating floods moved right across my state of Queensland. In my home town of Toowoomba we saw devastation which is unsurpassed in our recent history—although Toowoomba...
  • Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (1 speech)
    Today in Doha, the World Heritage Committee is meeting to discuss the preservation of the world's greatest areas of natural beauty and civilisation, and its deliberations this week will include...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    I rise to pose a conundrum that has been troubling me for some time, and it is this: What is it with the cigar-chomping Liberal ideologues from Sydney's North Shore and their desire to ruin life...
  • Shipbuilding (1 speech)
    Yesterday during Senate question time I was horrified to hear the Abbott government's Minister for Defence, Senator Johnston, say in response to a question about the replacement of Australia's...
  • headspace (3 speeches)
    I welcome the opportunity to rise tonight to talk about a program that I have had the good fortune to have something to do with. It is a program that was first commenced by the former Howard...
  • Queensland Sugar (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on a matter of quite significant importance relating to the sugar industry, predominantly in my state of Queensland. I do so in support of federal colleagues, the members...
  • Broadband (3 speeches)
    At the release of the coalition broadband policy in April 2013, when asked about the independent review and cost-benefit analysis he was planning for the NBN, Prime Minister Abbott said: Look, it...
  • Coal Industry (1 speech)
    There is something strange happening in New South Wales. Every day we are hearing stories about the decline in the coal industry. We are hearing about job losses, the falling price of coal, the...
  • Trad, Mr Keysar (1 speech)
    A couple of weeks ago it came to my attention that a man by the name of Keysar Trad was entertaining the notion of becoming a federal MP. He said he had had discussions with a friend in the...