Senate debates
Wednesday, 4 August 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.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Burnside, Mr Julian, AO, QC (1 speech)
I rise to condemn the utterly odorous statements made last week by Mr Julian Burnside where he compared the treatment of Palestinians to the German treatment of the Jews during the Second World...
- Australian Research Council (1 speech)
The government's favourite newspaper, the Australian, advised us on 30 July that the Minister for Education and Youth, Mr Tudge, is worried about threats to free speech on Australia's university...
- Law Enforcement (2 speeches)
[by video link] I rise today to make a very important statement on something that I didn't think I would need to spell out and highlight to the parliament of this country in 2021. But here we...
- COVID-19: State and Territory Border Closures (1 speech)
I rise today with a massive sense of frustration. Throughout COVID, hundreds of families across regional and remote Australia commence each school term with a great sense of trepidation, not...
- Charitable Organisations (1 speech)
[by video link] Charities and not-for-profits play an important role in our democracy. As organisations that exist solely for the purpose of contributing to the public good, they work at the...
- Australian Constitution (1 speech)
[by video link] I rise to speak on the divisive and racist campaigns promoting the legislation of an Indigenous voice to parliament and the specific recognition of Indigenous people in the...
- Energy (1 speech)
I rise today to discuss the enormous potential of the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory. There is growing frustration amongst those of us who take a more reasoned approach to debate around...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
[by video link] Over the last few years of this Morrison government, we have seen time and again that it acts too little and too late. Now, Prime Minister Morrison wants Australians to make up...
- Grandparent Carers (2 speeches)
I rise this afternoon to talk about an issue in our community that has gone from being very, very invisible to being very, very visible. At the outset, I'd just like to congratulate this...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister (1 speech)
[by video link] Prime Minister Morrison took a baby step recently. He actually said sorry for the failures in his vaccine rollout—sort of. Prime Minister Morrison said: I'm certainly sorry...
- Auditor-General (1 speech)
The great Roman writer Juvenal asked: who will judge the judges? Today the question needs to be asked: who will audit the Auditor-General? Why do I ask that question? It's because the...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Labor's utter capitulation on tax policy is so saddening and so devastating for the millions of Australians who believe in progressive taxation and economic fairness. By backing in the stage 3...
- Small Business: Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1 speech)
[by video link] The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, part of my Northern Territory electorate, are an unspoilt Indian Ocean paradise. But, unfortunately for business operators the O'Dowd-Liu family,...
- Housing Affordability (1 speech)
There will be no family home on a block of land in the future, according to the Greens, Labor, the Liberal Party and their sellout sidekicks, the Nationals—not even a 500-, 400- or...
- Indigenous Ranger Program (1 speech)
Last Saturday, 31 July, was World Rangers Day, where we celebrate the work of rangers around the world in protecting our planet's natural environment. Today I would like to acknowledge Australian...
- Independent Review into Circumstances relating to the Death of Ann-Marie Smith (1 speech)
[by video link] In question time yesterday, I asked Senator Reynolds, the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, about the government's response to the Robertson review. That...
- Education (1 speech)
I rise today to remark on the Global Partnership for Education Replenishment, which happened in London last week, very ably chaired and led by former Prime Minister of our great country Julia...
- Homelessness (1 speech)
[by video link] This week is National Homelessness Week and our community here in Perth is in mourning. We are in mourning for the death of no less than 56 of our community's members who lost...
- National Anti-Corruption Commission (1 speech)
I rise to speak briefly on the need for a federal anti-corruption commission. This is a major concern for Independents in both houses. The Independents continue to keep this issue at the...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
[by video link] The Morrison Liberal government has been criticised for the slow and miscommunicated rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine across Tasmania and Australia, and with good reason....
- Media: Sky News (1 speech)
[by video link] It was welcome but not totally surprising to see that Sky News Australia this week has been temporarily banned from YouTube for sharing videos involving COVID misinformation. It...
- Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
It's well known that we in Australia have a world-class Defence Force, arguably one of the best in the world. We have men and women who are proud members of our Air Force, Army and Navy and who...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
[by video link] Last month the Deputy Prime Minister was asked on Insiders about the vaccine rollout in regional Australia. He said, 'We're doing quite well.' Figures released yesterday show the...
- Coal Industry (1 speech)
In the limited time I have available I will say thank you to the Collinsville mine and the workers there, who hosted us last week. I was there with the member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry,...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise the chamber that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne, is detained in international calls that are running slightly over time. Minister Payne wishes to extend her...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- COVID-19: Vaccination (16 speeches)
[by video link] My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister confirm that less than 15 per cent of Australians aged 15 and...
- Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women's Safety, Senator Ruston. Can the minister please update the Senate on how the Liberal and Nationals government is working towards the goal of ending...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister confirm that, under Mr Morrison's latest announcement, Australians will continue to face...
- COVID-19: Media (8 speeches)
My question is to Senator Birmingham representing the Prime Minister. Last week Sky News was banned from YouTube for spreading COVID-19 medical misinformation. Sky is broadcast on subscription...
- Services Australia (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Government Services, Senator Reynolds. Could the minister describe how Services Australia is supporting Australians in the current lockdowns?
- Covid-19 (21 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. In his announcement on 2 July, during the delta outbreak in Sydney, Mr Morrison declared that in phase b...
- Climate Change, Energy (10 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 Liberal and National government is...
- Forestry (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, Senator McKenzie. In September 2018 the government launched the National Forest Industries...
- Coalition Government (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham, and I note the answers Senator Birmingham gave to Senator Hanson-Young's earlier questions. In an episode of...
- COVID-19: Pacific and South-East Asia (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's support to the rollout of vaccines to combat COVID-19 in Australia's...
- Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program (18 speeches)
My question is to the and , Senator McKenzie. I refer to Senator McKenzie's statements this week defending her oversight of discretionary grants programs. The minister has previously told the...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Beirut Explosion: Anniversary (3 speeches)
by leave—When Australians first heard of the explosion at the port of Beirut, it was an incomprehensible disaster. The mobile phone videos of the sudden explosion, with its massive white...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. As the answers—or non-answers, I might say—given by government...
- COVID-19: Media (9 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham) to a question without notice she asked today relating to the propagation of misinformation...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That, on Thursday, 5 August 2021, the Senate meet after the ringing of the bells to enable senators to attend the Prime Minister's presentation of the annual report on...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put at the request of any senator. There being none, we will move on.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (5 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senator Green, move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by last sitting day in March 2022: The...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- COVID-19; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
At the request of Senator Siewert, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, by no later than 9.30 am on Thursday, 5 August 2021,...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I seek leave to withdraw general business notice of motion No. 1194 in my name. Leave granted.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Water, by no later than 10.30 am on Monday, 9 August 2021, the Government's current plan to...
- JobKeeper Payment; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Commissioner of Taxation, by no later than 9.30 am on Thursday, 12 August 2021, the list of all employers with an annual turnover of greater than...
- Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
At the request of Senator Rice, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, by no later than 2 pm on 12 August 2021: (a) all records,...
- Urban Congestion Fund; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, by no later than 10 am on Monday, 9 August 2021, the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Covid-19 (12 speeches)
I inform the Senate that at 8.30 am today 12 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)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Forestry (1 speech)
The Guardian is reporting today that international charity Oxfam has warned that reforestation , or a f forestation , as a mechanism to tackle climate change risks global food security and will...
- Children's Television Production (1 speech)
I rise to address the need for urgent support for small production companies in our screen industry. I'm referring especially to those involved in children's television production. Despite...
- Child Support (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about child support. Child support is always a difficult topic. It normally involves parents and children. These are parents who perhaps can't agree on an approach moving...
- COVID-19: Queensland (1 speech)
[by video link] I'm very pleased to be joining the Senate tonight from Cairns. Unfortunately, though, we are facing our own delta outbreak. This week millions of Queenslanders from the Gold...
- Homelessness (1 speech)
[by video link] Another week marking homelessness is another week marking lack of action by the government to reduce homelessness. People wait for over a decade to access public housing in some...
- Tasmania: Gutwein Government (4 speeches)
This is going to be great! It's one that is completely unprompted and has no notes written for it at all and, in fact, no thought put into it! It is therefore coming from the heart. I want to...
- Immigration Detention (1 speech)
[by video link] Seven refugees remain in detention in a Darwin airport hotel 522 days after they were taken there under Medevac legislation. That's 18 months in detention, since February last...
