Senate debates

Wednesday, 17 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.
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Staff (6 speeches)
    I table a statement from the Presiding Officers in response to questions regarding searches of sign-in registers. The same statement is being tabled in the other place.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021; Second Reading (16 speeches)
    Last week, I attended rallies in Townsville and Cairns with workers who are against this Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021. I told those workers...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Online Safety (20 speeches)
    The defamatory abuse, denigration and harassment which is being posted every second of every minute of every day on social media in this country, particularly on Facebook and the extremely toxic...
  • Transport Industry (3 speeches)
    I've got a good news story, so I'm looking forward to my contribution. I'm sorry I've only got 10 minutes; I could go all day on this. I want to talk about a magnificent project that's come out...
  • King Island District High School Green Team, Tasmanian Devils (1 speech)
    I'm standing in the Australian Senate today and I'm doing a shout-out to the King Island District High School Green Team and their Little Busters and Power Rangers programs. I love you guys....
  • Tasmania: Hodgman Family (1 speech)
    Recently I spoke about Tasmania's first power couple, Joe and Dame Enid Lyons. Today I want to acknowledge another Tasmanian family who have also contributed an enormous amount to our political...
  • Central Queensland (1 speech)
    I want to take this opportunity to talk about my travel through Central Queensland last week with Chris Bowen, Labor's shadow minister for climate change and energy. It was a great opportunity to...
  • Department of Veterans' Affairs (1 speech)
    Okay, I've had it up to here with DVA—I've absolutely had it! I don't know how the veterans out there are able to take it, because I'm not far from breaking point myself. As for the guys...
  • Catholic Education, Infrastructure, Ricky Stuart Foundation (1 speech)
    I recently had the great pleasure of attending the 200th anniversary mass to celebrate Catholic education in Australia. It took place just down the road from here at St Christopher's Cathedral in...
  • JobKeeper Payment (2 speeches)
    There's no substitute for JobKeeper, and the aviation plan that the government announced will not guarantee jobs in Cairns or jobs in other tourism destinations. It's hopeless, it's hapless, it's...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. The Morrison government promised that four million coronavirus vaccines would be administered...
  • Papua New Guinea: COVID-19 (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Will the Minister update the Senate on the impact of COVID-19 on Papua New Guinea and advise how Australia is supporting our...
  • JobKeeper Payment (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. In my home state of New South Wales more than 350,000 workers will be affected by the Morrison government...
  • Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. There were three Aboriginal deaths in custody last week—in one week—bringing the number to almost 500. We're only 3.3...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Minister, can you please advise the Senate on the progress of the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout?
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    My question is to the acting Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Defence minister Linda Reynolds promised last year to secure a contracted requirement of 60 per cent minimum local content for...
  • Economy (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Could the minister please update the Senate on how the Morrison government is supporting small...
  • Attorney-General (16 speeches)
    My question is to Leader of the Government in the Senate representing the Prime Minister. The Attorney-General has instituted legal proceedings against the national broadcaster, the ABC....
  • Energy (19 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's...
  • Tourism Aviation Network Support Program (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Payne. After months of uncertainty for the half a million workers across our tourism sector,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19 Select Committee; Order for the Production of Documents (7 speeches)
    For the information of the Senate, I table information from the Chair of the Select Committee on COVID-19, Senator Gallagher, regarding seven recommendations made by the committee in its second...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • COVID-19: Vaccination, JobKeeper Payment (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services (Senator Colbeck) and the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) to...
  • Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (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 Thorpe today relating to...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice of my intention, at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting, to withdraw business of the Senate notices of motion Nos 1 and 2, standing in my name for two sitting days...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Hurford, Hon. Christopher John, AO (3 speeches)
    Senators, it is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 15 November 2020, of the Hon. Christopher John Hurford AO, a former minister and member of the House of Representatives...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on a proposal at the request of any senator.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a) Senator Carr for 18 March 2021; and (b) Senator Polley for 17 to 18 March 2021....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Kitching, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 August 2021:...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Transparency and Cost Recovery) Bill 2021, Royal Commissions Amendment (Protection of Information) Bill 2021; First Reading (1 speech)
    by leave—I indicate to the Senate that these bills are being introduced together. After debate on the motion for the second reading has been adjourned, I will be moving a motion to have the...
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Transparency and Cost Recovery) Bill 2021, Royal Commissions Amendment (Protection of Information) Bill 2021; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table the explanatory memoranda relating to the bills and move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: (1) That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent this resolution having effect. (2) That the Fair Work Amendment (Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2015 be restored to the Notice...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that on 16 March 2021 the Community Affairs References Committee will present its report, Effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and support for...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move: That the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Benefit to Australia) Bill 2020 be referred to the Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 6 May 2021,...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Tasmania: Environmental Conservation (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate notes: (a) the Robbins Passage - Boullanger Bay wetlands complex in Tasmania has been repeatedly assessed as being of global significance, including by the International...
  • Independent Inquiry into Sexual Assault Allegations (7 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a minor amendment to general business notion of motion No. 1064, which has been circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I, and also on behalf of Senator Rice, move the...
  • Climate Change (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1067, relating to carbon emissions, be taken as formal.
  • Energy (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1068, relating to affordable and reliable power supply, be taken as formal.
  • Climate Change, Energy (11 speeches)
    I seek leave to move general business notices of motion Nos 1067 and 1068 together and for the motions to be determined without amendment or debate. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • JobKeeper Payment (13 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....
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights (1 speech)
    by leave—I present to the Senate an Amnesty International petition relating to the detention of Mahira Yakub, a Uighur woman, by the Chinese government, from 38,926 citizens, which is not...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Polley, I present Scrutiny Digest No. 5 of 2021. Ordered that the report be printed.
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances, I present the Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 5 of 2021.
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to table a document, Mr Acting Deputy President Griff, in which I think you will be taking a great interest. I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on fetal...
  • Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth, I present the report of the committee, Diversifying Australia's trade and investment profile, together with the minutes...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a non-conforming petition.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal Flag Committee; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    In response to the order for production of documents agreed to on 15 March 2021, I table the government's response to the report of the Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag.
  • Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (1 speech)
    I table the Annual report on the operation of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme for 2019-20.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Online Safety Bill 2021, Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021; 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.
  • Online Safety Bill 2021, Online Safety (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021; 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— Online Safety...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) 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.
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill now be read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. The speech read as follows— Social Services Legislation Amendment...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Road Safety Joint Select Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    The President has received a message from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of appointments to the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    As I was saying before we ran into a hard marker earlier today, when I was just getting warmed up, it's no surprise at all to see, under the cover of a pandemic, that the ideologically driven...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Gender Dysphoria (1 speech)
    State governments in Australia are giving experimental, life-altering medical treatments to children and refusing to produce data demonstrating the extent of these practices, details about the...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
    COVID-19 has exposed many structural inequities in Australia and internationally, from economic insecurity to wildly unequal access to health services. In 2021, the global vaccine rollout has...
  • Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (1 speech)
    I rise this evening to make some remarks about the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which I think is one of the great contributions of Australian Liberalism to environmental conservation and...
  • Employment (1 speech)
    McCormick Australia workers in Victoria are taking strong strike action, and have been for the last three weeks. These are the workers who make the sauces for some of Australia's favourite fast...
  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (1 speech)
    A year and a half ago I spoke about the statutory review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. I reflected on the previous review from 2010, which identified a number...
  • COVID-19: State and Territory Border Closures (1 speech)
    Last year I rose in this chamber to talk about the #nobordersforboarders campaign. I introduced to the chamber the story of Barney and Charlie from near Bourke, who travel 900 kilometres to...