Senate debates
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
- Statement by the President (0 speeches)
- Senate Procedure (1 speech)
Senators, welcome back again—this time hopefully for more than a single day. The Senate meets today in accordance with the request made by the Leader of the Government in the Senate,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, I call Senator Cormann.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Senate meet on Wednesday, 13 May and Thursday, 14 May 2020. Question agreed to.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Economy (7 speeches)
I table a ministerial statement relating to the economy and seek leave to make a statement. Leave granted. I thank the Senate. Australia finds itself at war against a faceless and flagless enemy....
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Covid-19 (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Yesterday the News Limited papers reported that 'Scott Morrison is considering slashing the $1,500 JobKeeper...
- COVID-19: Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. ABS data released earlier this month showed that up to 700,000 people had lost their jobs since mid-March due to...
- Pensions and Benefits (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Today the Minister for Finance referred in his speech to 'ensuring a safety net which is underpinned by a sense of...
- Alcohol Labelling (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck, as chair of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation. Minister, I refer you to your...
- JobKeeper Payment (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. How many Australians are earning more than their normal wage because they are now receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy...
- Trade with Indonesia (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister outline the benefits of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement...
- Sheean, Ordinary Seaman Edward (Teddy) (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence, Minister Reynolds. In July 1940, the mortally wounded Leading Seaman Jack Mantle trained his weapon on a swarm of Nazi Junkers attacking HMSFoylebank....
- Superannuation (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. On 20 April, superannuation funds wrote to the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Senator Hume, outlining...
- COVID-19: Defence (8 speeches)
What an excellent answer about an excellent program. My question is for the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister update the Senate on what actions Defence has been taking in...
- Superannuation (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. In response to a question on ABC yesterday about Australians being defrauded of their retirement savings, Senator...
- Pensions and Benefits (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. How is the Morrison government supporting Australians who are being impacted by the economic downturn resulting...
- Member for Dawson (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. In Brisbane, TheSunday Mail reported that the LNP member for Dawson, Mr Christensen, blindsided cabinet ministers by launching...
- COVID-19: Small Business (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government's economic response to the...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Covid-19 (5 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 Gallagher today relating to COVID-19....
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Families and Social Services (Senator Ruston) to a question without notice asked by Senator Siewert about the jobseeker...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
Pursuant to notice given on 8 April 2020 on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, standing in my...
- Presentation (1 speech)
I give notice that on the next sitting day I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during...
- Postponement (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, we shall proceed.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (3 speeches)
I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Duniam, Senator McLachlan and Senator Molan for 12 to 14 May 2020 for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Defence Equipment (19 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Collins class submarines are a vital capability for Australia, (ii) historically the Collins class had poor availability, at worst not one...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (3 speeches)
I move: (1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than 30 April of each calendar year: (a) all reports and correspondence received by the Minister for Finance...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Migration (7 speeches)
I wish to inform the chamber that Senators Ciccone, Walsh and Sheldon will also sponsor the motion. At the request of Senators Keneally, Ciccone, Walsh and Sheldon, I move: That the Senate—...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Child Sexual Abuse (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) expresses its ongoing support for the implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; (b)...
- Great Barrier Reef: Climate Change (10 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 7 April 2020, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies released key findings from their...
- Higher Education (15 speeches)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 525 standing in my name for today relating to the tertiary education system, before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. Leave...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (12 speeches)
I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, eight proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Regional Forest Agreements; Consideration (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of the Regional Forest Agreements deeds of variation in document 16, the agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia...
- Protection Visas; Consideration (1 speech)
(): I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of document 21, Department of Home Affairs—Protection visas—Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Migration (1 speech)
I seek leave to table a statement made by the Manager of Government Business regarding general business notice of motion No. 527 and to have it incorporated into Hansard. I can confirm to the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Covid-19 (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak regarding the future of this country, the future of my home state of South Australia and the urgent need to address this country's economic and strategic future in the...
- Jobseeker Payment: International Students (1 speech)
Tonight I want to talk about the real harm that the denial of the jobseeker payment to international students is having on their wellbeing and their ability to continue to survive the pandemic....
- Covid-19 (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the pandemic, its impact and our future. The coronavirus pandemic is having some of its greatest impacts on people on low incomes, temporary migrants and women. It has exposed...
- COVID-19: Queensland (1 speech)
Mr Acting Deputy President Gallacher, can I first say that it's good to see you in this chamber and good to see you back. I'd like to say a few words about the great response from the Queensland...
- Moranbah Mine Disaster, COVID-19: Aged Care, Australian Bushfires (1 speech)
Mr Acting Deputy President Gallacher, I join with Senator Scarr in welcoming you back to the chamber. I'm sure you're glad to be back as well. There are a couple of things I'd like to touch on...
- Australian Workers Union (1 speech)
Last week, a full bench of the Federal Court heard the appeal in the matter of the Australian Workers Union's long-running attempt to shut down an investigation by the Registered Organisations...
- Manufacturing (1 speech)
Senator Gallacher, it is very pleasing to see you in the chair this evening as Acting Deputy President. I rise in the adjournment debate tonight to speak about the impact of COVID-19 on...
- Women's Economic Security (1 speech)
This global pandemic has shown us that we're all in the same storm but definitely not in the same boat. Despite the government mantra 'we're all in this together', too many people are being left...
- Queensland Government (1 speech)
If a week is a long time in politics, in my home state of Queensland it seems a weekend can be even longer. In just over 48 hours, we had three Treasurers in the Queensland Labor government...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The COVID-19 crisis has made it clear who our essential workers really are, and I want to thank them—thank them for so often putting their own health at risk to keep Australia running and...
- Democracy (1 speech)
As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia I remind the government of a word whose meaning they have forgotten: democracy. It is essential for accountability. Yesterday, a group of 10...
- COVID-19: Economy (2 speeches)
Tonight I rise to speak about the economic recovery from the coronavirus challenge. As a senator for Western Australia, I've spent much of my time since we were last in this place speaking to...
- Antarctic Science (1 speech)
Over the past two decades the Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the University of Tasmania, with the support of successive Tasmanian and federal governments, have...
- COVID-19: Child Care (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the government's changes to the childcare system due to the outbreak of COVID-19. As a former early childhood educator, it is an issue that I'm passionate about. It's vital, at...
- COVID-19: Retail, Fast-Food and Warehousing Workers (1 speech)
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we've seen many heroes in our workforce—nurses, doctors, emergency services and many others—but one group that I'd particularly like to thank is those...
- Mundey, Mr Jack, AO (1 speech)
I would like to associate myself, too, with Senator Farrell's remarks. Not enough praise, thanks and gratitude can be sent in the direction of workers who've worked through this, particularly...
- COVID-19: China (1 speech)
Post Wuhan coronavirus, Australians do not want business as usual with the communist regime in China. The billions of dollars being expended to counter the pandemic is borrowed money which we,...
- COVID-19: Aviation (1 speech)
I rise to tell the stories of some of the hundreds of thousands of aviation workers across Australia who have been let down by the Prime Minister and this government. There is no doubt that the...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
In March this year the government made one of the most significant changes to our social security system in Australia's history, doubling the rate of the jobseeker payment by providing the...
- Covid-19 (1 speech)
I rise to speak to the Senate and to take the opportunity to say thank you to the people of the Northern Territory, to say thank you to those who've worked so diligently right across our country...
- Gambling: Poker Machines (1 speech)
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a surreal world for all of us—a life none of us imagined we would be living. When Australians finally come out of this crisis, many won't want to return to...
- Higher Education: Overseas Students (1 speech)
COVID-19 has been a once-in-a-generation shock to our political and economic system, but some institutions entered this crisis nowhere near as well equipped as they should have been for events...
- Trade with China (1 speech)
Do you know what the Chinese ambassador did when our government called for an inquiry into the coronavirus? He threatened us. He said that if Australia pushes too hard on this inquiry idea China...
- Multiple Sclerosis (1 speech)
Tonight, amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, I rise to speak about a different health condition: multiple sclerosis, more commonly referred to as MS. Senator Deborah O'Neill and I are...
- Foskey, Dr Deborah 'Deb' Jane (1 speech)
I rise to remember and to pay tribute to my friend, colleague and quintessential Green Dr Deb Foskey. Deb passed away on 1 May, aged 70. She leaves two daughters, Samara and Eleni, and a mountain...
- Collins Class Submarines (1 speech)
I rise to discuss my Collins class submarine motion in the chamber today; a motion calling on the government to retain all Collins full cycle docking activities in South Australia. The Collins...
