Senate debates Documents
Housing; Order for the Production of Documents
Wendy Askew Tasmania, Liberal Party
3:44 pm
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move:
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than 9 am on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, all written or digital correspondence, documents, briefing notes and meeting notes between Housing Australia and the Minister for Housing in relation to the Chair of Housing Australia since 1 January 2025.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
The question is that this motion be agreed to.
A division having been called and the bells being rung
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Where's the President? This can't be happening. Get this racist person out of here now!
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Get the President! Who's in charge here?
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Resume your seat! This matter has been considered before. Dress is a matter for an individual senator's conscience.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
The chamber attendants have verified that this is a senator. If Senator Askew is not comfortable in counting that senator then she can notify the matter to me. This matter has been considered before.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
No! I'm going to play up. I'll shut down this Senate until she is removed!
Pauline Hanson Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party
There's no dress code in this Senate.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
Dress code might be a choice of senators, but racism should not be the choice of this Senate! This is a racist senator displaying blatant racism and Islamophobia. Someone should pull her up on that!
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
It is you in the chair. You should be pulling her up on that!
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Faruqi, resume your seat! Senator Payman, on the same issue I take it.
Fatima Payman WA, Australia's Voice
What else would I be talking about, Deputy President? If this is about the dress code, she is disrespecting a faith. She is disrespecting the Muslim Australians out there. It is absolutely unconstitutional. This needs to be dealt with immediately, before we proceed. It's disgraceful! It is a shame—
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Payman, resume your seat. Your position has been made clear. This is a matter for the entire Senate chamber. I have made the previous rulings of this Senate clear. If the Senate wants to change that ruling, that is a matter for the entire chamber, not for me.
Senator Whish-Wilson, if this is on the same matter, I'm not going to entertain it any more.
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania, Australian Greens
It's different. Senator Hanson is using a prop in the Senate, and it's a dangerous prop. It is dangerous to this country, so I ask that you rule on her bringing a prop into the Senate. It's not her normal dress code. It is clearly a prop to make a political statement. If I was to wear a Greens t-shirt in here, or a Fremantle Dockers shirt of whatever, I would get shown the door.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Whish-Wilson, resume your seat. This matter has been ruled on before.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
No, not until you get this racist out!
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Thorpe, resume your seat. Senator Faruqi, resume your seat.
Mehreen Faruqi NSW, Australian Greens
No; there is a person in here ridiculing my religion. Senator Hanson, if you had any shame, you'd walk out of here! Deputy President, you need to rule on this.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Faruqi, resume your seat. Senator Shoebridge and Senator Waters, resume your seats.
No; Senator Shoebridge, resume your seat. I will complete this division, and then if a senator wishes to dissent from my ruling, they are entitled to.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
You cannot dissent now. We need to complete the division. We will complete the division, and then you may move dissent in the chair.
David Shoebridge NSW, Australian Greens
My point of order, if you can hear me, Deputy President—
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
There has been a request to cancel the division.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Does anyone object to cancelling the division? We will cancel the division.
No; it's cancelled.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The doors have been locked. The division will need to be finalised. Would senators please resume their seats. Senator Wong?
Larissa Waters Queensland, Australian Greens
Hello, Deputy President. I've been on my feet for a minute.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
My understanding and the advice I have is the division needs to be completed. If someone wants to dissent at that point with my ruling, they can. I am going to put the question. The question is that the motion, as moved by Senator Bragg, be agreed to. Ayes will pass to the right of the chair, noes to the left. I'll give senators a few moments to assume their seats, as I assume, Senator Wong, you do not wish to be on this side—nor you, Senator Chisholm.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Is this to kick the racist out? What's this vote for?
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
We are attempting to finish the division. Then you may dissent on the chair's ruling.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
We have a right to be in a safe workplace, and that racist is making it unsafe.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
Senator Thorpe, sit down. You do not have the call.
Slade Brockman WA, Liberal Party
3:56 pm
(In division) Senator Wong, a division is being counted.
Senator Wong, I think we need to complete the division—
Honourable senators interjecting—
Order! The doors have been locked. We can't.
Honourable senators interjecting—
The doors should not have been unlocked, if they were.
Honourable senators interjecting—
Senator Thorpe, you cannot leave your chair.
Lidia Thorpe Victoria, Independent
Well, I'm not voting on that side, and I'm not voting with that racist, so I'll stand here, thanks.