Senate debates

Wednesday, 12 May 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.
• Privilege (0 speeches)
  • (2 speeches)
    By letter dated 7 May 2021, Senators Gallacher and Patrick have raised a matter of privilege alleging interference with the Economics References Committee inquiry into Australia's sovereign naval...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2020-2021, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2020-2021; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I rise to speak on Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2020-2021 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2020-2021, bills which fund some of the business of government. This isn't about last night's budget; we're...
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2020-2021, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2020-2021; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That these bills be now read a third time. Senator Steele-John interjecting—
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Advance to the Finance Minister; In Committee (1 speech)
    I move: That the committee approve the advances provided under the annual Appropriation Acts for the year ended 30 June 2020. Question agreed to. Resolution reported; report adopted.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I appreciate the opportunity to make a contribution to the Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021. I want to start by stating Labor's strong opposition to the government's management of this...
  • Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021; In Committee (24 speeches)
    Minister, what is being done to address the concerns of electricians that this bill will undermine the work health and safety of electrical workers?
  • Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that on the next sitting day I shall move: That the following matter be referred to Standing Committee of Privileges for inquiry and report, having regard to the matters raised by...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Rotary International (1 speech)
    Senator Molan was to have spoken today on the centenary of Rotary in Australia. Given Jim's absence, I am happy to undertake this task in his stead. I know that Rotary is an organisation that he...
  • Member for Bowman (1 speech)
    Yesterday coalition MPs voted to keep the member for Bowman in the parliamentary roles that he had promised to stand down from. The fact that Mr Laming has gone back on his commitment to stand...
  • International Relations: China (1 speech)
    Virendrasinh Bhosale is a sailor who, in December last year, was in a ship packed with Australian coal sitting waiting off the Chinese coast. He missed his five-year-old son at home. 'Every night...
  • Cashless Debit Card (1 speech)
    A significant period of my professional life, and now in parliament, has been dedicated to the cashless debit card program and working to improve the employment outcomes for disadvantaged people...
  • Kimberley Aboriginal Women's Council (1 speech)
    I've no doubt that Senator O'Sullivan is very genuine in the comments that he makes, but the policy direction from this government on the cashless debit card is completely wrong, and it's an...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, I remind the Senate and all Australians that 24 years ago Pauline Hanson warned that Australia was heading to a place that we would not...
  • Forestry Industry (1 speech)
    Today, the drums of democracy are beating loudly for our native forest industry as this week the full bench of the Federal Court upheld the appeal of VicForests against the action by Friends of...
  • Budget (2 speeches)
    This budget is truly an underwhelming document, filled with promises that have no realistic chance of delivery. It's has been called the budget of nondeliverables, and I think it's a budget...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Budget (74 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Birmingham. I refer to page 37 of Budget Paper No. 1. Can the minister confirm that, despite spending of almost $100 billion and the racking up...
  • Defence Procurement (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. After a two-year FOI battle with the defence department, the Information Commissioner granted public access to the total...
  • Budget (27 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Birmingham. When asked this morning whether references in the budget papers to vaccinating the entire population by the end of the year mean...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Colbeck. This morning, this minister said: 'I expect some Australians will still be getting vaccinated next year.' On...
  • Budget (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Reynolds. Can the minister outline to the Senate the Morrison-McCormack...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Budget (12 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice asked by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (2 speeches)
    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...
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    by leave—I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2, in the name of Senator Pratt.
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Peacock, Hon. Andrew Sharp, AC (3 speeches)
    It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 16 April 2021, of the Hon. Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, a former minister and member of the House of Representatives for the division...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Henderson for today, due to electorate duties.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Allocation of Departments and Agencies (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ruston, I move: That the order of 13 February 2020, allocating departments and agencies to committees, be amended as follows: (1) Under Economics, omit "and Small...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Ruston, I move: That the order of the Senate of 2 December 2020 relating to estimates hearings for 2021 be amended so that cross-portfolio hearings on Indigenous matters...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Holocaust (1 speech)
    I advise that Senators Rice, Keneally, Ciccone and Wong have added their names to general business notice of motion No. 1098 relating to victims of the Holocaust. I, and also on behalf of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Biosecurity Amendment (No Crime to Return Home) Bill 2021; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Biosecurity Act 2015, and for related purposes—Biosecurity Amendment (No Crime to Return Home) Bill 2021....
  • Biosecurity Amendment (No Crime to Return Home) Bill 2021; 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 an explanatory memorandum and I seek leave to have...
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Reference to Committee (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021 be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Forestry Industry (2 speeches)
    I advise that Senator Ciccone and Senator McKenzie have added their names to general business notice of motion No. 1092, relating to Victoria's forestry industry, and I ask that it be taken as a...
  • COVID-19: Quarantine (8 speeches)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Faruqi, move: That the Senate— (a) condemns the Federal Government's travel ban on citizens and visa holders returning home from India as racist and...
  • Beef Week (2 speeches)
    I ask that the names of Senators Watt and Chisholm be added to general business notice of motion No. 1101 relating to the Australian beef industry and ask that it be taken as a formal motion.
  • Indigenous Australians (8 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) across the country governments are implementing extremely punitive youth justice legislation that will further criminalise and target young...
  • Australian Curriculum (5 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1095. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the 2014 review by Donnelly and Wiltshire...
  • Tasmania: Economy (2 speeches)
    I ask that general business notice of motion No. 1099 be taken as formal.
  • Forestry Industry, Beef Industry (9 speeches)
    I seek leave to move general business notices of motion Nos 1092 and 1101 together and that the motions be determined without amendment or debate. Leave not granted. With regard to general...
  • Tasmania: Economy (5 speeches)
    I seek leave to move motion No. 1099 standing in the name of Senator Polley and that it be determined without amendment or debate. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing orders...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Senator Henderson be granted leave of absence for today on account of electorate activity. Question agreed to.
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Budget (12 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today 26 proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    I present Scrutiny Digest No. 7 of 2021 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, dated 12 May 2021, and the committee's annual report 2020.
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    I present the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee's Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 7 of 2021 and move: That the Senate take note of the report. In December last year I warned the...
  • Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the advisory report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020 and...
  • Law Enforcement Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report Public communications campaigns targeting drug and substance abuse, together with...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the 195th report of the committee.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Women's Budget Statement 2021-22 (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Acting Minister for Women, Minister Ley, I table a ministerial statement on the Women's Budget Statement 2021-22.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    by leave—I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I will move a motion in relation to Catherine House.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Northern Australia Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes to the membership of a joint committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Fees) 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.
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Fees) 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— I am pleased to...
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Extension and Other Measures) Bill 2021. Labor has a long history of supporting development in northern Australia. In...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Beef Australia (1 speech)
    I rise to say thanks and congratulations to the Beef Australia committee, who last week put on the best beef week ever. It was a fantastic job from Bryce Camm and his team. Beef week is hosted in...
  • Budget (3 speeches)
    Scott Morrison's budget speaks for itself. It says clearly that Scott Morrison has not listened to the experts in aged care, the dedicated and hardworking aged-care workers. Scott Morrison and...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    Tonight marks the end of the month of Ramadan, when millions of Muslims across the world fast. This is a month of reflection, charity and spiritual connection. Now we celebrate Eid Mubarak. As I...
  • Employment (1 speech)
    I want to take the opportunity to extend 'Eid Mubarak' to Senator Faruqi and to all Muslims in Australia. The Morrison government has said a lot this week about our supposed economic recovery...
  • Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
    As a servant to the people of Queensland and Australia, I raise a deeply troubling issue for all Australians. We know that feelings arise and pass, especially through adolescence. No feeling is...
  • Seeing Eye Dogs (1 speech)
    Many people come through this place who've made really significant contributions to the lives of many Australians, but my special guest today takes the meaning of the word special to a whole new...