Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any of those proposals at the request of any senator.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019; Second Reading (17 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019 and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    by leave—I withdraw notice of motion No. 998 standing in my name for today.
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Energy (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about what I consider to be one of the most exciting opportunities in Tasmania today: renewable hydrogen production. As a state, Tasmania's clean, green image is already...
  • JobKeeper Payment (1 speech)
    I want to update the Senate today about the economic impact the pandemic has had on a local business that I've visited and had some dealings with in the last few months—Capital Travel...
  • Human Rights (1 speech)
    It has become easier over the last 12 months for many of us to forget about, or at least deprioritise, the struggles of oppressed people across the world. With our borders effectively closed and...
  • Climate Change, General Motors, Fall of Singapore: 79th Anniversary (1 speech)
    I will not vote for any policy target or measure that comes at the cost of Queensland jobs. Likewise, I won't vote for anything that hurts businesses in Queensland, which is why I'm sceptical...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Report: Diaspora Communities (1 speech)
    Last week the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee reported on its inquiry into diaspora communities, and I was not able to make some reflections on the report and the...
  • In Vitro Fertilisation (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak of a game-changing new website for Australians planning a family, and that website is yourivfsuccess.com.au. My office was heavily involved in the formation of the Your IVF...
  • Trade Unions (1 speech)
    Before proceeding to my statement, I want to congratulate my friend Senator Stirling Griff in relation to his success in that regard. I pay tribute also to our health minister, Greg Hunt. Knowing...
  • Revive, Western Australia: Employment (2 speeches)
    It gives me great pleasure to rise for the short time that I have to talk about a magnificent project being conducted in the east Kimberley, predominantly out of Kununurra. It is called Waste to...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. It relates to the allegations of rape which have been made publicly. The alleged rape occurred on the evening of Friday 22 March 2019...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister please update the Senate on the Morrison government's comprehensive plan to...
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. On Monday, the minister said that, in her meeting with Ms Higgins on 1 April 2019, she was 'not aware of the details or the...
  • Energy (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Seselja. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government is ensuring that...
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Reynolds. The minister says she has always wanted Ms Higgins to drive this process. If that is true, why has the minister failed to assure the...
  • Regional Australia: Employment (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister outline how our government is supporting jobs in regional Australia as we emerge...
  • JobSeeker Payment (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Minister Ruston. Minister, will you guarantee that people on the JobSeeker payment won't go back to $40 a day on 1 April?
  • COVID-19: Income Support Payments (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Payne. Businesses in Far North Queensland have made it clear to both the Morrison government...
  • Human Rights (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister outline to the Senate the importance of Australia standing with other countries to oppose the practice of...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I'd like to draw to the attention of senators the presence in the gallery of the Ambassador of Austria to Australia, His Excellency Mr Wolfgang Lukas Strohmayer. On behalf of all senators, I wish...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. I refer to reports that, in October 2019, following media inquiries into an alleged assault at...
  • Family and Early Childhood Support (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. What is the Morrison government doing to ensure families can give their children the best possible start in life?
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office said: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Defence (Senator Reynolds) to questions without notice asked today. I begin by reminding senators of an important...
  • JobSeeker Payment (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 today relating to the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to consideration of legislation. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice standing in my name, I move: That so much of the standing orders be...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice of my intention to amend business of the Senate motion No. 1 standing in my name for 22 February 2021, proposing the disallowance of the ASIC Corporations, Credit and Superannuation...
  • 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.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator McMahon for today for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Industry Research and Development Amendment (Industry Innovation and Science Australia) Bill 2021; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Industry Research and Development Act 1986, and for related purposes. Industry Research and Development Amendment...
  • Industry Research and Development Amendment (Industry Innovation and Science Australia) Bill 2021; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table the explanatory memorandum relating to this 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....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Regional Australia: Youth (4 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1004, relating to young regional Australians, be taken as formal.
  • Tasmania: Housing (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 988, relating to housing of aged Tasmanians, be taken as a formal motion.
  • HomeBuilder (9 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 995. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) timber demand is outstripping...
  • Steel Industry (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion no. 996, standing in the name of Senator O'Neill, be taken as a formal notion.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Cashless Debit Card; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table, by the Minister for Families and Social Services, by no later than 10 am on Monday, 22 February 2021, the final evaluation report of the University of...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Energy (2 speeches)
    I wish to advise the Senate that I'd like to add Senator Sheldon's name to this motion. I'd ask that general business notice of motion No. 1,000 be taken as a formal motion.
  • Family and Domestic Violence (1 speech)
    I inform the chamber that Senators McAllister and Bragg will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senators Faruqi, McAllister and Bragg, move: (1) That the Senate— (a) notes...
  • Hunting and Shooting (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1003, relating to sustainable game hunting, be taken as formal.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Use of Commonwealth Grant Money in Queensland Local Government: Select Committee; Appointment (8 speeches)
    I move: (1) That a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on the Use of Commonwealth Grant Money in Queensland Local Government be established to inquire into and report on the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 10.30am on Monday, 22 February 2021: (a) all documents and correspondence between the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Housing Affordability, Steel Industry, Oil and Gas Industry, Hunting and Shooting, Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Heywire (8 speeches)
    I seek leave to move general business notices of motion Nos 988, 996, 1000, 1003 and 1004 together and that they be determined without amendment or debate. Leave granted. I move general business...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations (18 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, 27 proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot....
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Hunting and Shooting (1 speech)
    by leave—I ask that the Greens' opposition to general business notice of motion No. 1003 on sustainable game hunting be recorded.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I present Scrutiny Digest 3 of 2021.
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Senator Kitching, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the issues...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (1 speech)
    I table a response to a question taken on notice during question time yesterday asked by Senator Wong relating to parliamentary staff and seek leave to have the document incorporated in Hansard....
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals and Other 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.
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals and Other Measures) 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— The Customs Tariff...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the Product Stewardship Amendment (Packaging and Plastics) Bill 2019...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019 and the related bill and express my strong opposition to this misguided reform. The Family Court was established in...
  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019; In Committee (168 speeches)
    I table supplementary explanatory memoranda relating to the government amendments to be moved to these bills. I seek leave to move together government amendments (1) to (3) on sheet UN126.
  • Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Bill 2019, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bills be now passed. Senate adjourned at 21:43