Senate debates

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

• 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, we will move on.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Defence Equipment; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    by leave—I refer to an order for the production of documents that was made in the last sitting session seeking documents relating to promises made by contractors in respect of Australian...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I won't speak for much longer in relation to this matter. But I want to make one point in relation to the Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020 that I think is...
  • Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020; In Committee (48 speeches)
    by leave—I move amendments (1) to (3) on sheet 1084 revised together: (1) Schedule 1, page 3 (before line 5), before item 1, insert: 1A Before section 1 Insert: Part 1—Preliminary (2)...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—The Leader of the Opposition has announced the appointment of the Hon. Ed Husic MP as shadow minister for agriculture and resources following the resignation of the Hon. Joel...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Conduct (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. I refer to the disturbing report aired by Four Corners last night which reflected an ongoing culture within the Morrison government of...
  • Covid-19 (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on the progress Australia has made containing the outbreak of COVID-19 and on...
  • Grants and Funding (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Birmingham. I refer to the minister's comments during his appearance on Sky News on 8 October when he said: As Finance Minister myself, I will...
  • Ministerial Conduct (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. The allegations aired on Four Corners last night reveal a culture of sexism, cover-ups, abuse of power and...
  • Trade with China (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Birmingham, and relates to trade with China. South Australian lobsters were among tonnes of lobster left decomposing on...
  • Small Business (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Birmingham. I refer to the minister's comments during his appearance on Sky News on 8 October, when he said: As Finance Minister myself, I will...
  • COVID-19: Partnerships for Recovery (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on the ways in which Australia's development program has pivoted to support our Indo-Pacific...
  • Commonwealth Integrity Commission (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Payne. Minister, I'm sure you have heard of the former New South Wales Labor politician Mr Eddie Obeid. Mr Obeid was a...
  • Ministerial Conduct (8 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Birmingham, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Last week, former New South Wales Auditor-General Tony Harris told the sports rorts Senate inquiry: If the...
  • Australian Defence Force (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister advise the Senate on how the Liberal-National government's strong budget management is delivering vital capability...
  • Commonwealth Integrity Commission (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Almost three years after it started work on it, two years after it committed to implementing it and almost 12...
  • COVID-19: Vocational Education and Training (9 speeches)
    My question is to the an you update the Senate on the progress of the Morrison government's $1 billion JobTrainer Fund and how this program is ensuring that Australia has the skilled workforce it...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Conduct, Small Business (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Payne) and the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) to questions without notice asked by...
  • Commonwealth Integrity Commission (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Payne) to a question without notice asked by Senator Lambie today relating to the establishment...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator. There being none, I call Senator Siewert.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 825 standing in my name.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the provisions of the Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That on Wednesday, 11 November 2020 the sitting of the Senate be suspended at 10.15 am till 11.45 am to enable senators to attend Remembrance Day services; and any proposal pursuant to...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Horse Racing (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the racehorse Anthony Van Dyck died following injuries sustained in the 2020 Melbourne Cup,   (ii) Anthony Van Dyck was...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Casinos; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Keneally, move: That— (a) the Senate notes that:   (i) Australia's financial intelligence agency, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis...
  • Inland Rail; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That the Senate— (a) notes that the first round of funding for the Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program was announced on the 13 April 2020 by the Deputy Prime Minister and...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Gas Industry (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the 2020 Budget contains $28.3 million over three years from 2020-21 to establish five strategic basin plans to accelerate gas development in...
  • Coal Industry (5 speeches)
    Before moving general business notice of motion No. 841, I ask that the names of Senators Stoker, Scarr, McGrath, Rennick, Hanson and Roberts be added to the motion. I'd add Joel Fitzgibbon too,...
  • Senate Chamber: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags (16 speeches)
    I inform the chamber that Senator Thorpe will also sponsor the motion. At the request of Senators McCarthy, Dodson and Thorpe, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes the resolution of 8 October...
  • COVID-19: International Travel (13 speeches)
    At the request of Senators Wong and Keneally, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) the Australian Government is responsible for borders, quarantine, and assisting...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Budget (14 speeches, 1 comment)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, 18 proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted was determined by lot. As a result,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present three reports: Annual report of committee activities 2019–20; Review of regulations listing the...
  • Select Committee on Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Select Committee on Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century, I present the government's response to the report of the Select Committee on Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century....
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    (—) (): I seek leave to make a short contribution on the report tabled earlier by Senator Smith, the Review of the mandatory data retention regime: A review of the mandatory data retention...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present Summary report of the 24 June 2020 public hearing on the Australian Institute of Criminology’s National Deaths...
  • National Capital and External Territories Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, I present the report of the committee on its delegation to London in the United Kingdom, which took...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present Report 190: Matters relating to two treaties with Hong Kongand Report 191: IMF-NAB; IMF-BBA; IMF-PRGT.
  • Australia's Family Law System Joint Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
    by leave—I'm proud to be playing a role as the deputy chair in such a wideranging and honest review of the family law system. I wish to thank Prime Minister Scott Morrison for allowing this...
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    [by video link] In respect of the government response to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee report Support for Australia's thalidomide survivors, I move: That the Senate take note...
  • Road Safety Joint Select Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    In respect of the government response to the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety report Improving Road Safety in Australia, I move: That the Senate take note of the document. This is a very...
  • Aboriginal Flag Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I wish to announce to the chamber that this is not my first speech. I'm rising here to speak on the report tabled in the chamber on the Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag. I thank my...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Veterans and their Families (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, I table a ministerial statement on veterans and their families.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio and Other Measures) Bill 2020, Health Insurance Amendment (Administration) Bill 2020, Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2020, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and Their Families) Bill 2020; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio and Other Measures) Bill 2020, Health Insurance Amendment (Administration) Bill 2020, Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2020, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and Their Families) Bill 2020; 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— BROADCASTING...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection) Bill 2020, Higher Education (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection Levy) Bill 2020; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time. Question agreed to. Bills read a first time.
  • Education Legislation Amendment (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection) Bill 2020, Higher Education (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection Levy) Bill 2020; 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— EDUCATION...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Economic...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020; In Committee (9 speeches)
    To continue with the debate we've been having about amendments to this bill: the Labor Party have sought to support amendments to the bill that increase the transparency of the legislation so...
  • Economic Recovery Package (JobMaker Hiring Credit) Amendment Bill 2020; Third Reading (1 speech)
    ) ( ): I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
  • Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Coronavirus and Other Measures) Bill 2020 and I move: At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate: (a) notes that:...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • China (1 speech)
    In recent times, it's been suggested I've occasioned some controversy by taking a principled stand against the brutality of the Chinese dictatorship. Australians have been let down by the fake...
  • Moranbah Mine Safety, Mine Safety (1 speech)
    Last Friday I had the very great privilege of speaking at this year's Moranbah Miners Memorial. It was only last year that this memorial was opened in the coalmining town of Moranbah in Central...
  • Gambling (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the prevalence of gambling advertising and marketing affiliates, their predatory behaviours and the impact they can have on particularly vulnerable people. Over the...
  • France: Attacks, Vienna: Attacks (1 speech)
    People all around the world have been shocked and appalled at the abhorrent terrorist atrocities in France and Austria in the past month. The shootings in Vienna, the horrific murder of three...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I want to pay tribute to the many brave workers who, back in 2015—with the dedicated union officials at the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association and lawyers at Maurice...
  • Pet Food Industry (1 speech)
    Tonight I'd like to talk about an issue most of us care about but few of us spend time thinking about, and that's the quality of the food we feed our pets. Two years ago I tabled a petition with...
  • Chromy, Mr Josef, OAM (1 speech)
    I rise to speak tonight on one of Tasmania's icons and treasures Josef Chromy and send my best wishes for his 90th birthday in December. Josef Chromy is well known and well loved around Tasmania....
  • Horseracing Industry (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on an animal welfare matter that has captured the country's attention this fortnight. The 2020 Melbourne Cup claimed the life of Anthony Van Dyck, the latest victim of a race that...
  • South Australia: National War Memorial (1 speech)
    North Terrace in my state's capital is considered by many to be one of the world's the most beautiful boulevards. As you stroll down its wide footpaths, shaded by the plane trees, and gaze on the...
  • Trad, Hon. Jacklyn Anne (Jackie) (1 speech)
    I want to begin this evening by congratulating Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Queensland Labor government on re-election. This is a difficult time for Queensland. We faced a global...
  • Infrastructure: Indigenous Culture, Racism (1 speech)
    I note for the chamber's information that this is not my first speech. I rise today to speak about an incredibly important matter in my home state. Just over two weeks ago the Andrews Labor...
  • Environment (1 speech, 1 comment)
    I rise to highlight the increasingly virulent attacks being waged on everyday Australians by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and other extreme environmentalist groups intent on stopping...
  • Commonwealth Integrity Commission (1 speech)
    Watching the US election this past week, we've seen just how important it is to protect our own democracy and to protect integrity in politics. It has made me appreciate more than ever our own...
  • Tasmania: Environment (1 speech, 1 comment)
    The last adjournment speech I gave in this chamber a few weeks ago was about a threat to the Tasmanian devil from impending new mining operations by Venture Minerals in the Tarkine. It pains me...
  • Manufacturing (1 speech)
    Today we have witnessed more climate crisis inside Labor. The resignation by the member for Hunter, Mr Fitzgibbon, from the frontbench is further evidence of what so many working Australians...
  • Pell, Cardinal George, AC (1 speech)
    The sexual abuse case brought against Cardinal George Pell connects across Australian jurisdictions, but it begins and ends in the Vatican. If the story were a crime novel or a thriller, it would...
  • Northern Territory: Australian of the Year Awards, NAIDOC Week (1 speech)
    I rise to congratulate and acknowledge a number of Territorians who've been recognised through the Australian of the Year awards and the NAIDOC awards in the past week. Dr Wendy Page was...
  • United States Presidential Election (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about the recent US elections and their implications for Australia and for global democracy. The American people have spoken. Trump has lost. Democracy has won. Trump has been a...
  • South Australia: Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2020 (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak regarding the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2020 introduced into the South Australian legislative council on 14 October of this year. This bill seeks to radically change...
  • Tasmania: Community Events (1 speech)
    I want to say a few words this evening about a very special day I had last week visiting the west coast of Tasmania, a place that I love and try to get to whenever I can. I was given the...
  • China, Veterans (1 speech)
    ) ( ): This week I moved a motion calling on the Australian government to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Liberal Party voted to block me, even debating it. Apparently not only is it...
  • Queensland State Election (1 speech)
    I would like to use this opportunity, and it's the first opportunity I've had since the Queensland state election, to make some reflections and give some thanks and make some acknowledgements....
  • Ministerial Conduct (1 speech)
    Last night's Four Corners program raised some very concerning allegations regarding two senior coalition government ministers. Four Corners revealed details of a secret affair between a former...
  • Parliamentary Representation (1 speech)
    [by video link] I've said it before and I will say it again and again: we must urgently break the monopoly on power held in this place by the stale, pale and male majority which currently...