Senate debates

Monday, 15 March 2021

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I advise the Senate that Senator Payne has been appointed as Acting Minister for Defence. Senator Payne will represent the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister for Defence Personnel, the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (2 speeches)
    I move: That intervening government business be postponed till after consideration of government business order of the day no. 2, the Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Benefit to Australia) Bill 2020; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    Australian governments have failed to create wealth from the Commonwealth's ownership of vast reserves of oil and gas. I had thought it was a case of mismanagement and incompetence. Now it's...
  • National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2019 (No. 2); Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to support the bill before the Senate, the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2019 (No. 2). While this particular...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2020; Second Reading (11 speeches)
    I am in continuation on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2020. In the few moments left, I turn to the issue of how this bill intersects with faith based higher...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • March 4 Justice (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Payne. Today, hundreds of thousands of Australian women are marching for justice, raising their voices, saying, 'Enough is enough' and that...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Can the minister please update the Senate on how the Morrison government is helping people to have the tools and...
  • Tourism (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Payne. Last week, after months of anxiety for the tourism sector, the government finally...
  • Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. It has been 14 days since the Prime Minister released the final report from the royal...
  • National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. A hundred thousand people marched for justice today around the country, calling for an end to gendered violence...
  • Tourism Industry (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Payne. When the government announced its much anticipated support package for the tourism...
  • Migration (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Cash, and relates to net migration, which is the...
  • Apprenticeships (8 speeches)
    My question is to the fabulous Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Morrison-McCormack government is continuing...
  • Attorney-General (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. In 2019 when answering a question on women and the reporting of rape, Mr Morrison said: One of the things that...
  • Queensland: Olympic and Paralympic Games (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Sport, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister advise the Senate of what the recent announcement by the International Olympic Committee about the 2032 Olympics means...
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Today, despite repeated attempts by this government to undermine and delegitimise her experience, Ms Higgins...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Energy (1 speech)
    I have an additional answer to a question on 25 February from Senator Roberts. The additional information is that the Western Australian government manages the WA electricity market. While it is...
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Question Nos 2026, 2027, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2045, 2051, 2052, 2053, 2055, 2059, 2065, 2066, 2072, 2077, 2078, 2272, 2357, 2358, 2426, 2427, 2972 (5 speeches)
    Under standing order 74(5)(a) I rise to seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. The unanswered portfolio questions are as follows: Nos 2026,...
  • Question Nos 2943, 2944, 2945, 2946, 2947, 2948, 2950, 2951, 2952, 2953, 2954, 2955, 2956, 2957, 2958, 2959, 2960, 2961, 2962, 2963, 2964, 2965, 2966, 2967, 2968, 2969, 2970 and 2971 (5 speeches)
    Under standing order 74(5)(a), I rise to seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services, Senator...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • March 4 Justice, Members of Parliament: Staff, Attorney-General (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women (Senator Payne) and the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) to questions...
  • National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given to me by Senator Birmingham. I just want to firstly thank everyone who has spoken today and everyone who took the time to go to the March 4...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Somare, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas (9 speeches)
    by leave—I move: The Senate records its deep sorrow at the death, on 26 February 2021, of Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, the first and longest serving Prime Minister of Papua New...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Bilyk from 15 to 18 March 2021, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works be authorised to hold a private meeting otherwise than in accordance with standing order 33(1) during the sitting...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • World Tuberculosis Day (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1049 be taken as a formal motion.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal Flag Committee; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, by no later than 9.30 am on Wednesday, 17 March 2021, the government response to the...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (4 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1051, standing in my name, by sadly updating the numbers of women killed from five to eight. Leave granted. I move the motion as...
  • Victoria: Environment (7 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Rice, move: That the Senate opposes the proposed gas import terminal at Crib Point in Victoria which threatens the marine life of Westernport Bay, Ramsar listed...
  • Tasmania: Environmental Conservation (2 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that Senator Whish-Wilson will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Whish-Wilson, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) national parks are...
  • China: Human Rights (18 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion 1043, standing in my name Leave granted.
  • World Tuberculosis Day (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to move motion No. 1049, standing in the name of Senator Pratt relating to World Tuberculosis Day, and have it determined without amendment or debate. Leave not granted. Pursuant to...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Tourism (18 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today two proposals were received. In accordance with standing order 75, the question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot....
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Aviation (1 speech)
    I table a response to a question taken on notice during question time on 24 February 2021, asked by Senator Patrick, relating to the regional airline network support program and seek leave to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Reuniting More Superannuation) 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.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Road Safety Joint Select Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House proposing the appointment of a new Joint Select Committee on Road Safety.
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee, Public Accounts and Audit Committee, Public Works Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    The President has received a message from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of changes in the membership of the following joint committees: National Disability Insurance Scheme...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (6 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 21 October 2021: Models for Government investment in early childhood...
  • COVID-19 Select Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate endorses the findings of the Select Committee on COVID-19 that it does not accept the public interest immunity claims made by various ministers as detailed in the...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    Earlier this evening a division was deferred relating to the motion moved by Senator Pratt proposing a reference to the Senate Education and Employment References Committee. It now being after...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2020; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The central recommendation of Mr French's review was the adoption of a model code on freedom of speech and academic freedom. As outlined in the Walker review of progress toward this goal, which...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2020; In Committee (16 speeches)
    I move opposition amendment (1) on sheet 1231, standing in my name: (1)   Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (line 24), at the end of paragraph (c), add "or in relation to the Commonwealth...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) 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.
  • Transport Security Amendment (Serious Crime) Bill 2020; In Committee (8 speeches)
    I rise to contribute to the committee stage of this debate and move amendment (1) on sheet 1117: (1)      Clause 2, page 2 (table items 1 to 3), omit the table...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on the recent Australian Lawyers Alliance report Doing more harm than good: the need for a health-focused approach to drug use. This is an excellent report, and I would...
  • Somare, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas (1 speech)
    I rise to say a few words on the passing of Sir Michael Somare. He was a towering figure in the history of Papua New Guinea, a driving force for the development of PNG's national constitution,...