Senate debates

Thursday, 14 May 2020

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020; In Committee (37 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020. The question is that the bill stand as printed.
  • Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Emergency Leave) Bill 2020; 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.
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Emergency Leave) Bill 2020; Second Reading (7 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— Today I am introducing...
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Emergency Leave) Bill 2020; In Committee (18 speeches)
    I have no intention of dragging this out. There are some issues that I want to ask the minister about and get on the record. Minister, in your second reading contribution just then you referred...
  • Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Emergency Leave) Bill 2020; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019, Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    When we were last debating this legislation, I was reflecting on the fact that Australia has the most expensive broadband of all OECD countries and that we should be seeking to improve...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (2 speeches)
    by leave—I would like to inform the Senate that later today it is the government's intention to table a sitting calendar for the remainder of this year. Given that, I would ask the Senate...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown on today's Order of Business be exempted from the cut off as required, and considered from 12.45 pm today;...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • 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 will proceed.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business motion 591 be considered during general business today. Question agreed to.
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Seselja be granted leave of absence for yesterday, 13 May 2020, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the fourth report of 2020 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 November 2020: Issues facing diaspora communities in...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Variation of Enterprise Agreements) Regulations 2020; Disallowance (5 speeches)
    Before moving business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4, I wish to inform the chamber that Senators Patrick will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Farrell and all...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Building and Construction Industry (10 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that the construction industry has reported a substantial fall in activity as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) that homelessness has...
  • JobKeeper Payment (4 speeches)
    I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Brown will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Gallacher, Bilyk, Chisholm, Sterle, Marielle Smith and Brown, move: That the...
  • Superannuation (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator McAllister, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) our superannuation system is a significant national achievement of which all Australians can...
  • Returned and Services League of Western Australia (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) acknowledges the following Western Australians who received RSLWA Branch Life Membership, and 50 Year Certificates on 25 April 2020, for their devoted service...
  • Australia-United States of America Relationship: 80th Anniversary (4 speeches)
    I ask that the names of Senators Seselja, Van and Keneally be added as co-sponsors of the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Askew, Seselja, Van and Keneally, move: That the Senate—...
  • Korean War: 70th Anniversary (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Askew, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that 25 June 1950 will mark the 70th Anniversary of the start of the Korean War; (b) acknowledges:   (i)...
  • New South Wales: Aviation (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 569, standing in the names of Senators Keneally, Sheldon, McAllister, O'Neill and Ayres, in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave...
  • COVID-19: Overseas Students (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 571, standing in my name for today, in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Temporary Visa Holders (7 speeches)
    Before moving general business notice of motion No. 573, I wish to inform the chamber that Senator McKim will also sponsor the motion. I, and also of behalf of Senator McKim, move: That the...
  • COVID-19: Medicine (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes:   (i) the COVID 19 pandemic sweeping the world has placed significant strain on health care systems around the world,   (ii) the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I seek leave to defer notice of motion No. 575 standing in my name to the next sitting day. Leave granted.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Water for Fodder; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 576 standing in my name for today proposing an order for the production of documents concerning the Water for Fodder program. Leave...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (1 speech)
    Before moving general business notice of motion No. 577, I ask that the names of Senators Dean Smith and Wong be added to the sponsoring of this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Pratt,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Australian Sports Commission Amendment (Ensuring a Level Playing Field) Bill 2020; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989, and for related purposes. Australian Sports Commission Amendment (Ensuring a...
  • Australian Sports Commission Amendment (Ensuring a Level Playing Field) Bill 2020; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to table an explanatory memorandum relating to the bill. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum and I seek to have the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Pensions and Benefits (8 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Steele-John, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients did not receive the coronavirus supplement; (b)...
  • Aviation Security (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business motion of motion No. 583, standing in the names of Senators Watt, Chisholm and Green, relating to aviation security in Queensland. Leave granted. I, and...
  • Hunting and Shooting (9 speeches)
    Before moving general business notice of motion No. 584, I ask that the name of Senator Stoker be added to the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators McMahon, Canavan, McDonald, Davey and...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National COVID-19 Coordination Commission and Manufacturing Working Group; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
    I move: That: (1) The Senate orders that there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister by no later than 5pm on 25 May 2020, the following documents relating to the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Middle East (11 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 586, standing in my name for today, relating to Palestine, be taken as a formal motion.
  • COVID-19: Wildlife (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the science is well established on the link between wildlife consumption and the transfer of zoonotic diseases, such as Coronavirus, to humans,...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2020; 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.
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2020; Second Reading (3 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— I am pleased to...
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2020; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments to the bill have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I call the minister to move the third reading.
  • Student Identifiers Amendment (Enhanced Student Permissions) Bill 2019; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    The opposition supports the Health Insurance Amendment (General Practitioners and Quality Assurance) Bill 2020 and commends the bill to the Senate.
  • Student Identifiers Amendment (Enhanced Student Permissions) Bill 2019; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Bill 2020; 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Bill 2020; Second Reading (3 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 This Bill contains two...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Bill 2020; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated. Does any senator require a committee stage? If not, I shall call the minister to move the third reading
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House to refer a matter to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019, Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019; In Committee (19 speeches)
    by leave—I move Labor amendments (1) to (10), on sheet 8878, to the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit...
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2019; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the bill be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Official Development Assistance Multilateral Replenishment Obligations (Special Appropriation) Bill 2019; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Labor has a proud history of supporting foreign aid. We know that it's not just in Australia's national interests but it's the right thing to do as a prosperous nation and a good global citizen....
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • JobKeeper Payment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. ABS labour force figures released today show that 2.7 million Australian workers either lost their job or had less...
  • COVID-19: Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the Australian labour force figures for the month of April?...
  • Australian Bushfires (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. This week, the Prime Minister described his government's bushfire recovery work as 'sensational' and 'tremendous'....
  • National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (8 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. Minister, are you confident that the COVID-19 commission is free of conflicts of interests when it comes to...
  • COVID-19: Freedom of Information (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister representing the Prime Minister. Is it not the case that, in the course of January, the Prime Minister received at least...
  • COVID-19: Women (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. Can the minister advise of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women?
  • COVID-19: Pensions and Benefits (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Cash. The only advice Minister Cormann could offer Darcy Moran, a hospitality worker suffering as a result of the...
  • COVID-19: Youth Mental Health (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister outline what the Morrison coalition government is doing to support young Australians as they face the mental...
  • COVID-19: Superannuation (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Cormann. I refer to reports in The Australian Financial Review that the superannuation accounts of close to 100,000 Australians...
  • Defence Cooperation Program (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister outline how Defence is using its Defence Cooperation Program to support international partners to respond to the...
  • Covid-19 (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Cormann. When did the Chief Medical Officer first brief the cabinet in relation to COVID-19?
  • Energy (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government is investing in...
  • JobKeeper Payment (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Cormann. It was revealed in corrected evidence to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 that the Prime Minister's...
  • COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate how the Liberal-National...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • JobKeeper Payment (5 speeches)
    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 Gallagher today relating to impacts of Covid-19...
  • National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (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 Waters today relating to the National COVID-19...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (7 speeches)
    by leave—I move: (1) That the days of meeting of the Senate for the remainder of 2020 be as follows: Winter sittings: Wednesday, 10 June to Friday, 12 June Monday, 15 June to Thursday, 18...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Building Landcare Community and Capacity Grants Program; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Building Landcare Community and Capacity Grants program.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Australian Natural Disasters (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Minister Littleproud, I table a ministerial statement, Update on bushfire recovery and drought response.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Economy (10 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Gallagher, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the Government said that the economy would 'snap back' after the end of the COVID-19 crisis,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance Amendment (General Practitioners and Quality Assurance) Bill 2020; 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.
  • Health Insurance Amendment (General Practitioners and Quality Assurance) Bill 2020; 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— I am pleased to...
  • Telecommunications (Regional Broadband Scheme) Charge Bill 2019; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Social Media: Standards (1 speech)
    In recent months, we've spoken a lot about being in this together. The coronavirus pandemic has tested us as a nation like never before, perhaps not since World War II. Australians have welcomed...
  • COVID-19: South Australia (1 speech)
    I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be back here in the Senate this week, having originally been told that I wouldn't get the opportunity until August. If there's one thing this week has...
  • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the government's failure to properly support disabled people and carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. I need to let the government now how abandoned disabled people and...
  • Automotive Industry (1 speech)
    For many Australians, the biggest battle Holden had been involved with over the last 60 years was with Ford for championship points at Bathurst. But now, sadly, it appears a bigger battle is...
  • COVID-19: Aviation (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to talk about the thousands of jobs at risk in the aviation industry and the Morrison government's lack of action to save them. When the JobKeeper wage subsidy was announced, the...
  • COVID-19: COVIDSafe (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the COVID-19 app legislation which passed this chamber earlier today. Looking at the responses people have had to the app, it's fair to say that we have a problem with...