Senate debates

Wednesday, 6 September 2017

  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy (1 speech)
    I rise to bring the attention of the chamber to a cruel disease called spinal muscular atrophy or SMA. It's a relatively unknown illness, despite it being the No. 1 genetic killer of infants...
  • West, Mr Alan Lindsay (1 speech)
    On 7 June this year, Mr Alan West of Mitcham, Victoria, passed away, at the age of 88. His daughter Roslyn West is in the gallery today. She's driven up from Melbourne to hear these remarks....
  • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
    Today I would like to speak about this country's shamefully low Newstart and youth allowance rates. Not long ago, in fact in the last sitting, I was speaking on this matter, on the bill I brought...
  • Western Australia: Space Research (1 speech)
    I rise this afternoon to talk about something that we don't talk enough about in this place, and that is space. As a senator for the great state of Western Australia, I have so much to be proud...
  • Multiculturalism (1 speech)
    I rise to make a statement in response to the Senate report from the Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism which was tabled late in the last session of the Senate. I would like to...
  • National Security, Parliament House: Dress Standards (9 speeches)
    On 17 August this year, I took my place in the Senate wearing the burqa, which is the most widely recognised symbol of radical Islam. It sent shock waves across this chamber because it was the...
  • Northern Australia (1 speech)
    Northern Australia, and that part of northern Australia which I represent in Queensland, have had huge advancements and successes in recent years, for many reasons, not the least of which is the...
  • Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (2 speeches)
    I too, following on from Senator Macdonald, want to talk about regional Queensland. Specifically, in the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to travel to the federal seat of Dawson and...