Senate debates

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Correspondence; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table, on behalf of Senator Cormann, a response to the order for the production of documents No. 59, moved by Senator Waters, relating to ministerial correspondence.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Bonded Medical Programs Reform) Bill 2019; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise again to continue my contribution on the Health Insurance Amendment (Bonded Medical Programs Reform) Bill 2019, which will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 by introducing a statutory...
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Bonded Medical Programs Reform) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, does any senator require that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole? I call the minister.
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Cashless Welfare) Bill 2019; First Reading (3 speeches)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time. by leave—I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Cashless Welfare) Bill 2019; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— SOCIAL SECURITY...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Cashless Welfare) Bill 2019; In Committee (117 speeches)
    Both the opposition and the Greens have amendments, but I have some questions of a general nature. I'm wondering if we could deal with those first and then proceed to some of the amendments? The...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Oliver, Mr Oscar (Neil) Blackburn, ED, Lewis, Mr Kennon (Richard), AM (1 speech)
    I'd like this afternoon to reflect on the great contribution of two very good Western Australian Liberals who, unfortunately, have passed away in recent months. I single out Mr Neil Oliver and Mr...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    The climate is in meltdown while the global economy delivers ever growing profits to corporations at the expense of people and the planet. Our political establishment has utterly failed to...
  • ACT Hotels Association, ACT Healthy Waterways (1 speech)
    It's always good to rise after a Greens, and I thank her for that Venezuelan inspired vision for the future. I'd like to turn to more important local issues and honour some great achievers here...
  • Newstart Allowance (1 speech)
    I'd like to address the issue of the Newstart payment, and the commentary and debate about that. I think it's fairly instructive to place on the record first up that I honestly don't know how...
  • Gambling (1 speech)
    We've had four scandals in the first four weeks of this parliament. All of them were over ministers and ex-ministers acting—or being seen to be acting—in a way that gives...
  • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
    I rise today to update the Senate briefly on the current state of the live sheep export trade, which is predominantly from my home state of Western Australia. I do so to report some positive news...
  • Superannuation (1 speech)
    The recent attacks on the superannuation system by the Liberal Party reveal the true face of the government when it comes to supporting workers in retirement. Under Mr Abbott, the Liberals...
  • Federal Election (1 speech)
    I would like to talk about what happened on May 18, if I may, especially in the context of Queensland. I want to acknowledge that many people did a lot of work to help the Liberal-National Party...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Sexual Harassment (1 speech)
    I seek leave to make a brief statement in relation to allegations of sexual assault reported in the media today. Leave granted. I thank the Senate. Allegations in the media today reporting on...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I seek leave to make a statement regarding a ministerial absence. Leave granted. I advise the Senate that Senator Payne will be absent from question time from Wednesday, 31 July 2019 to Thursday,...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Pensions and Benefits (31 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. The minister has on seven occasions assured the Senate that there has been no debt recovery undertaken in the...
  • Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. Will the minister inform the Senate about how the Morrison government is on the side of Australians who want to...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I'm going to take this opportunity to acknowledge, in the gallery, former senator and now Queensland minister Mark Furner and former senator Scott Ludlam. Welcome back to the chamber, gentlemen....
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Child Care (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Government Services, Senator Ruston. How many families will be impacted by the government's application of its robodebt program to the...
  • Law Enforcement (8 speeches)
    Thank you, Mr President. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Australians are increasingly concerned about the revelations surrounding Crown Casino and...
  • Education (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Family and Social Services. Could the minister please advise how the government is on the side of families in rural and remote areas of Australia wanting access...
  • Pensions and Benefits (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Government Services, Senator Ruston. On Tuesday night the Minister for Government Services told the ABC's 7.30 program, 'Bank records,...
  • Northern Territory: Infrastructure (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister. Could the minister update the Senate on the transformative road infrastructure projects the government is rolling out in the...
  • Health (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Cash. During the health policy election debate, Minister Hunt referred to a decision by the United States Food and...
  • Conservative Political Action Conference (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. US Congressman Matt Gaetz is attending the first Australian event of the Conservative Political Action Conference,...
  • Sport, Tourism (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport. Will the Minister inform the Senate on the benefits of hosting major international sporting events in Australia, such as the ICC T20 Cricket...
  • Conservative Political Action Conference (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to the CPAC conference to be held in Australia next week, which will feature many right-wing extremists,...
  • National Broadband Network (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister update the Senate on how the government is demonstrating...
  • Pacific Labour Scheme (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Reynolds. In 2012-13, 1,473 workers came to Australia in the first full year of the Seasonal Worker Program....
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Pensions and Benefits (9 speeches)
    I'd like to acknowledge that the government accepts the document tabled by Senator Green earlier in question time. However, I would request that Senator Green provide additional information,...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Conservative Political Action Conference (24 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to questions without notice asked by Senators Wong and Keneally today, relating to extremism....
  • Law Enforcement (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating to ministerial...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that I will soon be delivering a motion on the Aboriginal flag.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator McCarthy be granted leave of absence for today, 31 July, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: Postponed general business notice of motion no. 72 standing in her name for today, proposing the establishment of a Select Committee into the Integrity of Government...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Bill 2019; First Reading (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator McKenzie, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the appointment of an Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports, and for related...
  • Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Bill 2019; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I take the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Seselja, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • New South Wales: Hospitals (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) there is a worsening crisis in New South Wales (NSW) public hospitals, with regard to the safety of patients and staff; last year alone there...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2015 be restored to the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Freedom Festival 2019 (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator McCarthy I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 23 August 2019 marks 53 years since the Gurindji people, led by Mr Lingiari, walked off Wave Hill station in the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (19 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2019: The impact of seismic testing on fisheries and...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    In light of the fact that our names will be added to Senator McKim's motion, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2, standing in my name and the name of Senator Lambie, today...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (14 speeches)
    Before asking that this motion be taken as formal, I wish to inform the chamber that Senators Patrick and Lambie will also sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Patrick and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Banking and Financial Services (15 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 69 standing in my name for today, relating to all Australian based insurance companies no longer insuring new thermal coal projects, be taken as a...
  • Media (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Griff, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released the final report in its Digital Platforms...
  • Education (6 speeches)
    I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Keneally will also sponsor the motion. I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 66, standing in my name and in the name of Senator...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than 9.30 am on 1 August 2019, all draft and final versions, produced since July 2018, of the Department...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Jobs for the Future in Regional Areas Committee; Appointment (3 speeches)
    I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into Jobs for the Future in Regional Areas, be established to inquire and report on the following matters: (a) new...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • ParentsNext Program (5 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the majority of ParentsNext participants are women, (ii) the Australian Human Rights Commission has stated that ParentsNext is...
  • Taxation (2 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 71 standing in my name, relating to families and the tax system, relating to income splitting. Leave is granted. I move the motion as...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 4 December 2019: Centrelink's compliance program, with specific reference to:...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Newstart and Youth Allowance (14 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator Siewert: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: That Newstart...
• First Speech (0 speeches)
  • (6 speeches)
    Order! Before I call Senator Sheldon, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech; therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Newstart and Youth Allowance (10 speeches)
    I am very happy to continue on this very important matter of public importance. At the outset, I want to comment on the two proceeding contributions. As always, the contribution from Senator...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 30 April 2019.
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the third report of 2019—Human rights scrutiny report. I seek leave to have the tabling statement incorporated in...
  • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's 82nd annual report.
  • Regulations and Ordinances Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present a corrigendum to Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 3 of 2019. On behalf of the Chair of the Senate...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    I present Scrutiny Digest 4 of 2019 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, dated 31 July 2019.
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    I table a response to a question taken on notice during question time on 30 July 2019 asked by Senator Patrick relating to the Future Submarine program. I seek leave to have the document...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Environment and Energy, Home Affairs Portfolio; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning files held by the Department of Environment and Energy and the strategic review of the Home Affairs portfolio.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Jobs for the Future in Regional Areas Select Committee, Multi-Jurisdictional Management and Execution of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters from the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate nominating senators to be members of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment (Sunsetting of Special Powers Relating to Terrorism Offences) Bill 2019, Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2019; First Reading (1 speech)
    I indicate to the Senate that these bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I shall move a motion to have the bills listed...
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment (Sunsetting of Special Powers Relating to Terrorism Offences) Bill 2019, Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2019; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— AUSTRALIAN...
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Private Sessions) Bill 2019; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Private Sessions) Bill 2019; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— ROYAL COMMISSIONS...
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bill read a first time.
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— FAIR WORK (REGISTERED...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Cashless Welfare) Bill 2019; In Committee (9 speeches)
    Can I ask a question in terms of the time lines and the need for timing the processes of both the wellbeing exemption and the exit application? In terms of time lines, how are you going to...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Conservative Political Action Conference (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on this adjournment debate to respond to some comments made about me in this chamber by Senator Keneally and others in the last day, which, if they were made outside of this...
  • Follett, Ms Rosemary, AO (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to make a short contribution on an important anniversary, which is the 30-year anniversary of the first woman elected to lead a government in Australia, and that was Rosemary...
  • Conservative Political Action Conference, Hospitals (1 speech)
    Following on from Senator Gallagher's contribution, I would like to pay tribute to Rosemary Follett and the contribution that she's made to politics, not just in the ACT but around the...
  • Grandparents (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to talk about a very important issue, and that is grandparent carers across Australia. Grandparent carers are those taking primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren....