Senate debates

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions on Notice; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a response to Senate order for the production of documents No. 1011, on the matter of unanswered estimates questions on notice.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2021; In Committee (299 speeches)
    by leave—I move government amendments (1) to (5) on sheet PG138 together: (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 8 (lines 10 to 13), omit subsection 52E(3), substitute: (3) In making the...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Conduct (1 speech)
    On my desk in my office I have a little plaque which my husband made for me. Written on the plaque is a quote by Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher. It reads: When you speak in the...
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    Australia's aged-care system is in crisis. At the end of this week, the government is due to receive the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety report. It is long past time that this...
  • China (1 speech)
    From Mandalay to Moresby, from Manila to Melbourne, an 'iron silk curtain' is forming. A Chinese silk curtain is plunging as a parachute of leaden control on sovereign free...
  • Great Barrier Reef: Environmental Monitoring (1 speech)
    I rise to speak to the recent tabling of the reef water quality report card. I wanted to acknowledge the extraordinary work that has been done by farmers right along and through that catchment....
  • Welfare Reform (1 speech)
    In September 2019, I stood in this place to deliver a statement about this government's plans to impose a cashless debit card on 23,000 people in the Northern Territory. I spoke about the depth...
  • Holgate, Ms Christine (1 speech)
    In June 2017, following a global search, Christine Holgate was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Australia Post, a massive $8 billion organisation with around...
  • JobSeeker Payment (1 speech)
    Yesterday the government announced a $25 a week increase to JobSeeker, which is mean-spirited, cruel and in fact insulting to jobseekers. At the same time they announced their 'DobSeeker', an...
  • Road Safety (1 speech)
    In the couple of minutes that are available to me I want to put on the record—and it's a very sombre duty—that during the 12 months until the end of December 2020, 170 people died in...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    I advise the Senate that Senator Reynolds, the Minister for Defence, will be absent from question time for the remainder of this week for personal reasons. In Senator Reynolds's absence, Senator...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Yesterday the Minister for Defence claimed twice, for complete clarity, that she had met with the Australian...
  • COVID-19: Economy (8 speeches)
    My question is also to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison government's economic recovery plan is helping to...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    Order! I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the gallery of the Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, Her Excellency Ms Busadee Santipitaks. On behalf of all senators, I...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Cash. The Australian Federal Police National Guideline on Sensitive Investigations, together with the AFP's...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister update the Senate on the national COVID vaccine rollout, particularly to...
  • Banking and Financial Services (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Birmingham. The buy-now pay-later industry announced, today, a voluntary code of practice. The industry has claimed that this...
  • Vocational Education and Training (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister please update the Senate on how the Morrison government is leading generational...
  • Immigration Detention (30 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and the Minister for Home Affairs. Minister, can you confirm that, earlier this year, there was a significant disturbance...
  • Aviation (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; it's a trifecta for Senator Cash. Regional Express Airlines, which was the...
  • Defence Procurement (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. In an article entitled 'PM intervenes in submarine debacle', The Australian Financial Review has reported: Two...
  • COVID-19: Energy (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Senator Zed Seselja. Can the minister advise the Senate on the importance of gas in Australia's...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (18 speeches)
    That's a very lame act to follow. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health—
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Economics References Committee; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table for the Senate further information in relation to Senate order for the production of documents No. 786 outlining the information provided to the Senate Economics References Committee on 7...
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question No. 2391 (8 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Treasurer for an explanation as to why an answer has not been provided to question on notice No. 2391. The question relates...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
    As the Minister for Health and Aged Care has just advised the other place, we have some further advice from the DCMO which relates to my answer to the last question in question time regarding the...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) and the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (Senator Cash) to...
  • Immigration Detention (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business (Senator Cash) to a question without notice asked by Senator McKim today...
• 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 day of sitting, to withdraw notices of motion...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted for Senator Reynolds for 24 and 25 February 2021, for medical reasons. Question agreed to.
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2021 (1 speech)
    At the request of the Minister for Families and Social Serrvices, I move: That, in accordance with section 45-20 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, the Senate...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Senate Temporary Orders (1 speech)
    At the request of the Minister for Finance, I move: That the order of the Senate of 23 March 2020, relating to extensions of time for the presentation of reports from standing, select and joint...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Work Health and Safety Amendment (Norfolk Island) Bill 2021; First Reading (1 speech)
    At the request of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and for related...
  • Work Health and Safety Amendment (Norfolk Island) Bill 2021; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table the explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Future Frigate Program; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Kitching, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that:   (i) for years the Government publicly referred to the Future Frigates as a $35 billion acquisition,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Manufacturing (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1031, relating to manufacturing in regional Australia, be taken as formal.
  • Catholic Education (2 speeches)
    Before asking that general business notice of motion No. 1032 be taken as formal, I indicate that Senator Keneally will also be co-sponsoring this motion with Senator Canavan. I also seek leave...
  • Forestry (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) Australia's native forests are under threat – more than 12.6 million hectares were burnt and over 3 billion animals killed...
  • JobSeeker Payment (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that the Government is making a deliberate choice to keep people on the JobSeeker Payment living in poverty by keeping the payment below the poverty line;...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that:   (i) on 16 February 2021 the Prime Minister announced the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ms...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Manufacturing, Catholic Education (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to move general business notices of motion Nos 1031 and 1032 together and for the motions to be determined without amendment or debate. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    I withdraw general business notice of motion no. 1025 in my name for today relating to establishment of a select committee.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Employment (18 speeches)
    I inform senators 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....
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; Consideration (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to take note of the document Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry Act 1997—Livestock mortalities during export by...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Report (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports on the examination of annual reports tabled by 31 October 2020.
  • COVID-19 Select Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present the second interim report of the Select Committee on COVID-19 on public interest immunity claims. I move: That the consideration of the recommendations made in the report be a business...
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 4 of 2021 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...
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the report of its review of declared areas provisions. I move: That the Senate take note of the...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Senator Polley, I present Scrutiny Digest No. 4 of 2021.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Economics References Committee, Senator Gallacher, I present a statement relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the committee's inquiry into...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Executive Minutes (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present six executive minutes to various reports of the committee.
• 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 on Monday 22 February and additional information to an answer on Tuesday 23 February 2021, asked by Senators Waters, and to a...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Defence Procurement; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning future submarines.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Autism Select Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting a change in the membership of a committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) 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.
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) 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 Higher Education...
  • Education Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021; 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.
  • Education Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021; 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— Today I am introducing...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (6 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 2 August 2021: The need to reduce carbon pollution...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Bill 2021; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Reuniting More Superannuation) Bill 2020; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    On behalf of the opposition, I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Reuniting More Superannuation) Bill 2020. At the outset, I can confirm that the opposition will be supporting this...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Language (1 speech)
    I'd like to withdraw an interjection that I made during question time today. While it wasn't recorded in Hansard, the inference was inappropriate.
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Conduct (1 speech)
    I rise to raise serious concerns about a secret funding agreement between the current member for Corangamite, Libby Coker, and the construction division of the CFMMEU, headed by John Setka. This...
  • Bennett, Private George (1 speech)
    It's tough losing, isn't it? And it's difficult for people to come to grips with it. I appreciate that. Perhaps Senator Henderson should just let it go. Private George Bennett was a Gamilaraay...
  • Homelessness, Housing Affordability (1 speech)
    Tonight I want to talk about homelessness and housing. Over the last few decades, Australian governments have created a housing system that actively impoverishes people and makes inequality...
  • Tasmania: Economy (1 speech)
    Tasmania is the turnaround state. Tasmania's economic health is about as good as it has ever been. Today, my home state of Tasmania, thanks to the shrewd stewardship of federal and state Liberal...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I read an article today entitled 'Tech stars want gig economy reform but no minimum wage', in which a number of tech stars—and I call them 'tsars' in this case—were particularly...
  • Morrison Government (1 speech)
    The government at the moment is proposing industrial relations reform. It is tinkering. That's all it is. What I want to do is discuss the bigger picture that we need to consider. First, let's...