Senate debates

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Trade with China; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I table a document responding to the order for the production of documents concerning the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. In tabling this document, I'm explaining the government's...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020; Second Reading (52 speeches)
    I rise today to speak on the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020. Well, here we are again talking about a discriminatory, racist, punitive...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Australia (7 speeches)
    The great civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King said: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but...
  • Welfare (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the Northern Territory and those hundreds if not thousands of families across Australia in the trial sites for the cashless debit card. For the record, there are two trial...
  • Victoria: Forestry (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about the ongoing logging of native forests in my state. As I said in this chamber earlier this week, our people are not from country; we are of country. I call this place's...
  • Gender Dysphoria (1 speech)
    Last week in the United Kingdom, a momentous judgement with international implications was handed down by the High Court. The court found in favour of the arguments put forward by the mother of a...
  • China: Human Rights (2 speeches)
    I rise to give my last speech of the year that's not on legislation where I get to actually determine the subject matter that I might discuss, and I promised myself earlier in the year that I...
  • Electric Vehicles (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on electric vehicles, and I do so because the government is not speaking on electric vehicles. Australia's electric vehicle policy is battery dead, and it's in need of a jump...
  • Government Procurement, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Video Games Industry, Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
    As our nation hopefully rounds the corner from coronavirus, I reiterate my call for the introduction of online transparency portals for government spending as a necessary measure to tackle...
  • Aged-Care (2 speeches)
    Today I rise to speak about aged care. I particularly want to focus my remarks today on the aged-care workforce. I say at the beginning that, as an organiser with my union, the United Workers...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Welfare (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ASIC, has advised that the ASIC Act 2001 prohibits a credit...
  • COVID-19: Small Business (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Senator Watt interjecting—
  • Workplace Relations (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. On Monday in question time the Prime Minister refused to guarantee that no worker would be worse off as a...
  • Fraser Island: Bushfires (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. A fire has been burning on the World Heritage site on K'gari-Fraser Island since 14 October—that's eight...
  • Boosting Female Founders Initiative (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on the Morrison government's support for female-led start-ups across the country and how this will help...
  • Workplace Relations (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister confirm that, under Mr Morrison's industrial relations changes, employers will be able to cut...
  • Forestry Industry (9 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Ruston, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management. The Australian forestry industry is the ultimate renewable industry,...
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Masjidain on 15 March 2019 (12 speeches)
    My question without notice is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Yesterday the report of Aotearoa New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist...
  • Vocational Education and Training (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Why is the minister pushing a plan to allow people to qualify for some trades with no on-the-job...
  • Defence Procurement (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister provide an update on the benefits of our involvement in the global F-35 program to Australia and Australian industry?
  • Welfare (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Yesterday, on Sky News, Senator Canavan said this about the cashless debit card: I think it's now time we take the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Welfare (7 speeches)
    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 McCarthy today relating to...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice asked by Senator Sterle today relating to...
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Masjidain on 15 March 2019 (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice asked by Senator Faruqi today relating to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (4 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That today: (a) any proposal pursuant to standing order 75 not be proceeded with; (b) after formal motions or at 4.30 pm, whichever is earlier, the message from the House...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I give notice of my intention at the giving of notices on the next sitting day to withdraw notices of motion...
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. There being none, I shall now proceed to the discovery of formal business.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ayres, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2022: The planning,...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That consideration of the business before the Senate on Wednesday, 3 February 2021 be interrupted at approximately 5 pm, but not so as to interrupt a senator speaking, to enable Senator...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Ten Days Paid Domestic and Family Violence Leave) Bill 2020; First Reading (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator McAllister, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Fair Work Act 2009, and for related purposes. Fair Work Amendment (Ten Days...
  • Fair Work Amendment (Ten Days Paid Domestic and Family Violence Leave) 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 the explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) 10 December 2020 is the last day of the United Nations' 16 Days of Activism, recognising violence against women as one of the world's most...
  • COVID-19: Small Business (1 speech)
    I add as co-sponsors of the motion Senators Brockman and Van. I, and also on behalf of Senators McKenzie, Canavan, McDonald, McMahon, Dean Smith, Brockman and Van, move: That the Senate—...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Regional Forest Agreements) Bill 2020; First Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Regional Forest Agreements) Bill 2020; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the explanatory memorandum 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. The speech read as...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tasmanian Handfish (1 speech)
    I inform the chamber that Senators Bilyk, Urquhart, Brown and Polley will also sponsor this motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Whish-Wilson, Bilyk, Urquhart, Brown and Polley, move: That...
  • Queensland Government: Energy (14 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) Senator Watt's comments on 24 November 2020 that the Labor Party supports 'free' energy, (ii) the importance of cheap electricity to a successful...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Order for the Production of Documents (19 speeches)
    At the request of Senator McGrath, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, by no later than midday on 10...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • McKenzie, Senator the Hon. Bridget (23 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Farrell, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Senator McKenzie made a written submission to the Select Committee on Administration of Sports...
  • Coronavirus Supplement (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Government has failed to provide certainty to millions of Australians without work about the future rate of the JobSeeker Payment and Youth...
  • Climate Ambition Summit (8 speeches)
    I inform the chamber that Senator Waters will also sponsor the motion. At the request of Senators McAllister and Waters, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) that the Prime Minister told...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Withdrawal from Amalgamations) 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.
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Withdrawal from Amalgamations) Bill 2020; Second Reading (8 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 Government is...
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Withdrawal from Amalgamations) Bill 2020; Third Reading (3 speeches)
    No amendments have been circulated, so I intend to call the minister to move the third reading, unless there's an objection.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the consideration of legislation. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, I move: That so much of the standing orders be...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement (19 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a statement to the Senate. Leave granted. I want to bring to the attention of the chamber a rather serious issue that all senators ought to be aware of. Most will not know...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    At the request of the chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Senator Polley, I present Scrutiny Digest No. 18 of 2020 of the committee.
  • Northern Australia Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, I present the interim report of the committee on the Juukan Gorge caves, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I...
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    I present Delegated Legislation Monitor 14 of 2020 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I rise to speak to the...
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (2 speeches)
    I present Human rights scrutiny report: report 15 of 2020 of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I am pleased to table the...
  • COVID-19 Select Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the first interim report of the Select Committee on COVID-19, together with the Hansard record of proceedings, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. In the few minutes...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Joint Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I table two reports: one on general issues and one on the NDIS workforce.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • PFAS Taskforce, Australian Taxation Office; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table documents responding to two orders for the production of documents concerning the PFAS Taskforce and foreign shipping.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    (—) (): I present the government's response to the report of Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee—Primary Industries (Customs) charges Amendment (Dairy...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Bill 2020, Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020, Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance Administration) Bill 2020, Immigration (Education) Amendment (Expanding Access to English Tuition) Bill 2020, Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 5) Bill 2020, Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 6) 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.
  • Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Bill 2020, Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020, Export Market Development Grants Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance Administration) Bill 2020, Immigration (Education) Amendment (Expanding Access to English Tuition) Bill 2020, Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 5) Bill 2020, Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 6) Bill 2020; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Aged Care Amendment (Aged Care Recipient Classification) Bill 2020. I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to...
  • Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, Bankruptcy (Estate Charges) Amendment (Norfolk Island) 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.
  • Territories Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, Bankruptcy (Estate Charges) Amendment (Norfolk Island) 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 speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech es read as follows— Today I introduce...
  • Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response) Bill 2020, Corporations (Fees) Amendment (Hayne Royal Commission Response) 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.
  • Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response) Bill 2020, Corporations (Fees) Amendment (Hayne Royal Commission Response) 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 speech es read as follows— On 4 February...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Industry Research and Development (Forestry Recovery Development Fund Program) Instrument 2020; Disallowance (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Industry Research and Development (Forestry Recovery Development Fund Program) Instrument 2020, made under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986, be disallowed...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Intelligence and Security Legislation Amendment (Implementing Independent Intelligence Review) Bill 2020; Report from Committee (1 speech)
    by leave—On behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the Intelligence and Security Legislation Amendment (Implementing...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020; Second Reading (20 speeches)
    Before I was interrupted, I was discussing some of the examples of how there's a complete lack of evidence that this card creates positive change for the people who will be subjected to it. In...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020; In Committee (139 speeches)
    The government opposes items 3 and 4 in schedule 1 in the following terms: (1) Schedule 1, items 3 and 4, page 3 (lines 8 to 19), TO BE OPPOSED.
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Continuation of Cashless Welfare) Bill 2020; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    The question is that the remaining stages of this bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed. Bill read a third time.