Senate debates
Wednesday, 25 August 2021
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (3 speeches)
I move: That intervening business be postponed until after consideration of government business notices of motion Nos 1 and 3. And I move: That the question be now put.
- Consideration of Legislation (11 speeches)
I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Electoral Legislation...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (1 speech)
On Friday 20 August 2021, I had the honour of meeting with members of the Australian Afghan community in my home state of Queensland. On that occasion, I met a wonderful girl by the name of...
- National Skills Week (1 speech)
[by video link] I am very pleased today to be joining the Senate from Far North Queensland. I'm keen to talk to you today about National Skills Week. We know that it is National Skills Week this...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
I rise today to make some comments in relation to an issue that is very important for the people of South Australia. That is, of course, the issue of climate change and the devastating impact...
- COVID-19: Economy (1 speech)
Last week my home state of Victoria hit a tragic milestone. For over 200 days the doors of businesses have been shut and Victorians have been confined to their homes. On top of this, the...
- COVID-19: New South Wales (1 speech)
[by video link] What we've just seen from Senator Van is an example of the hyperpartisanship and ideological undermining of state governments by coalition senators that has done so much to...
- Water, Banking and Financial Services, Australia Post (1 speech)
[by video link] Earlier this month in my flag speech I spoke of parliament's duty to serve the people. Today I'm asking: who does this parliament really serve? I'll review the Morrison...
- Small Business (1 speech)
I rise in the Senate this afternoon to make some remarks about small business. When Robert Menzies established the Liberal Party some 76 years ago, Menzies thought very carefully about the sorts...
- COVID 19: Tasmania (1 speech)
We are witnessing a failure of leadership from the Morrison government, which is impacting many Tasmanian workers and families, who are struggling to pay bills and feed their families. These...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
I'm very concerned about reports that have emerged today of the Prime Minister doing what he does best, which is to blame other people for his own failures. Today, yet again, it's Queenslanders...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (1 speech)
Thirty-nine thousand Australians put their lives on the line serving in Afghanistan. Forty-one of our finest Australians gave their lives, something which we will always remember and honour. Our...
- Tasmania: Salmon Industry (1 speech)
[by video link] Huon Aquaculture, an industrial salmon farming business in Tasmania, is on the market. Its owners can no doubt see the writing on the wall and are getting out while the going is...
- Transport Industry (1 speech)
[by video link] There are 15,000 hardworking owner-driver and employee truck drivers across the country at Toll, Linfox, StarTrack and FedEx preparing to take industrial action over the coming...
- COVID-19: Queensland (1 speech)
[by video link] We have the Premier in Queensland at it again. As of midday today, she's shut down the borders to all of Queensland for anyone who wants to come in from New South Wales, Victoria...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
The Prime Minister had two jobs this year: a speedy rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and fixing quarantine. He's failed at both. Australia's vaccination rate is 35th out of the 38 OECD countries, and...
- Northern Territory: Zoos and Aquariums (1 speech)
I rise to speak of the plight of zoos and aquaria in the Northern Territory. In the Northern Territory, we don't have what you would call traditional zoos and huge aquaria, but we do have several...
- Siewert, Senator Rachel (1 speech)
[by video link] Today I pay tribute to someone who made an enormous and lasting contribution to the Senate: Senator Rachel Siewert, who will give her valedictory tonight after an incredible 16...
- COVID-19: Women (1 speech)
Recently, several published reports have pointed to women as the big losers coming out of COVID and the consequent recession and continuing lockdowns. Last year, eight per cent of Australian...
- Beetaloo Basin (1 speech)
We are in a climate crisis, yet, instead of taking the action that our community demands and needs, the major parties are joining together to support fossil-fuel-loving corporations because they...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
[by video link] Three weeks ago, I highlighted the impending relevance of being able to prove vaccination status and the weakness in the system being relied upon by government for such proof. In...
- COVID-19: New South Wales (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the very concerning and escalating crisis that is engulfing the people of Dubbo and the western part of New South Wales. As we speak, we know that there are 400 positive cases...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
[by video link] We are in a critical time for climate action, and the Liberals are busy giving handouts to their political donors, for gas giants to frack the Beetaloo basin and plunge us further...
- COVID-19: Lockdowns (1 speech)
We see daily evidence of why these cruel, inequitable, selfish and hypocritical lockdowns must end. Lockdowns have long since gone past their use-by date. This week more small businesses have...
- Prime Minister (1 speech)
[by video link] Australians have made it clear they are angry about Mr Morrison's failures on vaccine and quarantine. Mr Morrison knows his old pitches have fallen flat, so now he's promising to...
- COVID-19: State and Territory Border Closures (1 speech)
Last year I told the Senate the story of students who were being told that they must traverse through two COVID hotspots to get from one COVID-free zone back to their homes in another COVID-free...
- Statement by the President (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Language (5 speeches)
Before we go to questions, yesterday I ruled on a point of order regarding the use of the term 'dishonestly' in an answer to a question. In that context it referred to another senator. I ruled...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (21 speeches)
[by video link] My question is to Senator Birmingham, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. Yesterday we saw reports of hundreds of former Australian embassy guards and their families...
- COVID-19: Western Australia (20 speeches)
My question is to Senator Birmingham, the Minister representing the Prime Minister. WA Premier Mark McGowan, whose state has no local restrictions, criticised the Prime Minister for implying...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (36 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Today the WA Australian Medical Association president, Mark Duncan-Smith, said: Going with 70,...
- Covid-19 (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator McKenzie. Can the minister please outline how our government is supporting regional Australians through the COVID-19...
- Climate Change (12 speeches)
[by video link] My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Payne. On global climate change negotiations last week, the US Ambassador to Australia said: It would be really helpful...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. The ACT Chief Minister and Chief Health Officer argued that people aged 12 years and above...
- COVID-19: Small Business (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister please advise the Senate on how the national...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Government Services and Minister for the NDIS, Senator Reynolds. How many children with a disability in Australia have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- COVID-19: Western Australia, COVID-19: Vaccination (12 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Birmingham), the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services (Senator Colbeck) and the...
- Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- COVID-19: Western Australia, COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
[by video link] In question time today what we heard from the ministers—and what we continue to hear from the Prime Minister—was an attempt to misconstrue the facts and avoid scrutiny...
- Climate Change (4 speeches)
I understand Senator Waters would like to take note of the answers to a question from—
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
[by video link] 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...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Patrick from 24 to 26 August 2021, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (3 speeches)
I remind senators the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. Senator Ruston, you would like 1223 put to the vote. It is not a vote on the substantive motion yet. The...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Job Security Select Committee; Reporting Date (4 speeches)
At the request of Senator Sheldon, I move: That the time for the presentation of the report of the Select Committee on Job Security be extended to the last sitting day in February 2022. Question...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- COVID-19; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
At the request of Senator Keneally, 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 26 August 2021, the...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Covid-19 (2 speeches)
I have received the following letter from Senator Watt: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (24 speeches)
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunawal people, and I acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. I would also like to acknowledge the traditional...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Report (1 speech)
Pursuant to order and at the request of the chairs of the respective committees, I present reports from committees in respect of the examination of annual reports tabled by 30 April 2021. Ordered...
- Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Polley, I present Scrutiny Digest 13 of 2021 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, dated 25 August 2021. Ordered that consideration of the report be made an...
- Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, Senator Fierravanti-Wells, I present Delegated Legislation Monitor No. 13 of 2021, dated 25 August...
- Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present Human rights scrutiny report No. 10 of 2021, dated 25 August 2021. Ordered that consideration of the report be made an...
- Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (1 speech)
At the request of the chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Sterle, I present Without trucks Australia stops: the development of a viable, safe,...
- Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee Corporations and Financial Services, I present the report on the 2019-20 annual reports of bodies established under the ASIC Act....
- Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the advisory report on the Foreign Intelligence Legislation Amendment Bill 2021. Ordered that...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (5 speeches)
Rachel, I too wanted to add some comments. It's fitting, given that we're of the class of 2004. I snuck in a bit before you all after that 2004 election, but, just looking at the order of...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Bushfire Preparedness (1 speech)
[by video link] I wish to speak this evening about Australia's bushfire preparedness. We are now in the last week of August 2021. It's worth remembering that the fire season of 2019-20 began in...
- National Security (1 speech)
[by video link] Over the last two weeks we have seen alarming revelations in the media about the extent and character of far Right organising in this country. The 'Nazis Next Door' investigation...
