Senate debates

Thursday, 25 November 2021

• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Senate Procedure (1 speech)
    Before we commence today I wish to make a short statement about an issue that was raised in the chamber yesterday, which is the recording of pairing arrangements in Hansard. Basically, this...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That: (a) a motion relating to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women may be moved immediately by a minister; and (b) the time limit for the debate be 60...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (9 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate: (a) notes that— (1) today, 25 November 2021, marks the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, beginning the 16 days of activism...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise in continuation of my remarks with respect to this piece of legislation, the Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021. At the commencement of my remarks, I referred to the very...
  • Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021 (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021, and I move the amendment that has been circulated in the name of Senator Brown: At the end of...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given yesterday on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw notices of motion proposing the disallowance of five legislative...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (24 speeches)
    I present the 13th report for 2021 of the Selection of Bills Committee and I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2022: Missing and murdered First...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator McAllister, I move: That general business notice of motion no. 1283, standing in the name of Senator McAllister, be withdrawn from the Notice Paper. Question agreed to.
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That today: (a) government business orders of the day as shown on the Order of Business be considered from 12.15 pm; (b) government business then be called on and considered till not...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (Funders of Last Resort and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (Funders of Last Resort and Other Measures) Bill 2021 introduces two changes from the list of changes that the scheme...
  • National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Amendment (Funders of Last Resort and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021, Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021, Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    If there is one thing that the government excel at, it is that they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Whether it's rolling out vaccines in a pandemic or addressing climate change,...
  • Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021, Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021, Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bills have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bills be considered in Committee of the Whole.
  • Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise today to speak on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021. This bill will build on the Morrison government's commitment to reform employment...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • Hub Gymnastics (1 speech)
    I bring to the attention of honourable senators the incredibly successful sporting club Hub Gymnastics, which is located in Adelaide's southern suburbs. Hub Gymnastics was established in 1985 by...
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (1 speech)
    Today is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Every day should be eliminating violence against women. Our women have the right to live their lives in safety, with full...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    I rise to speak in support of maritime workers and the Maritime Union of Australia. They've both been negotiating in good faith for a new enterprise agreement for almost two years. Maritime...
  • Australian Greens (1 speech)
    [by video link] I want to refer to speeches that you, Acting Deputy President Faruqi, and Senator Thorpe gave yesterday. In your speech, Senator Faruqi, you mentioned the term 'far-Right...
  • COVID-19: Victorian Government (1 speech)
    I rise to raise serious ongoing concerns about Victorian Labor's proposed pandemic management bill. Even after Labor backtracked on some of the worst parts of the bill, Labor's proposed lockdown...
  • Pet Food Industry (1 speech)
    For close to four years now I've been raising the issue of unsafe pet food, the pets who have died, the manufacturers who were responsible and the governments who have failed to act. There have...
  • Morrison Government (1 speech)
    How can the people of Australia trust the Morrison government to deliver for them? This is a government that is absolutely divided. This is a government that is in disarray. This is a government...
  • Tasmania: Community Services (1 speech)
    Have you ever worried about where your next meal was coming from? Have you wondered whether you can afford bread and vegemite so your kids can eat for the next week? I can tell you that I have,...
  • Bruce Rock Remembrance Park (1 speech)
    It's our constant duty as Australians to remember and honour our Anzac heroes who fought for, and secured, the freedoms and way of life we enjoy today in Australia. Physical monuments remain one...
  • Australian Public Service (1 speech)
    In debate this week about the government's delayed response to national cabinet questions, I criticised Assistant Secretary Angie McKenzie of PM&C for refusing to accept the ruling of a...
  • Australian Natural Disasters (1 speech)
    [by video link] I join you today from Brisbane, but I can tell you that you don't have to be in Canberra to see that this government is becoming a complete shambles. What we've seen over the last...
  • Morrison Government (1 speech)
    Every new survey shows that trust in government and in democracy is plummeting. Time is running out to restore public confidence in democracy in this country. Yet, once again, today we saw this...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
    Violence of any sort by one human being against another is an ugly and completely unacceptable activity which deserves unequivocal condemnation. Violence is assault and a crime. The law, rightly,...
  • Morrison Government (1 speech)
    Last week we saw real wages going backwards again. The CPI was up to three per cent and real wages under this government are only going up by 2.2 per cent. Costs are going up and petrol prices...
  • Commonwealth Integrity Commission (2 speeches)
    [by video link] We saw from David Littleproud this morning a statement saying that the reason we don't have a federal ICAC is somehow Labor's fault. The simple fact is that they haven't...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women's Safety, Senator Ruston. Can the minister confirm that, six months after it was announced in this year's budget, not a cent of the $260 million promised...
  • Member for Dawson (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Yesterday the minister told the Senate that Mr Morrison had counselled Mr Christensen about his online...
  • Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (18 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General. In October 2018, the Prime Minister was asked what his message was for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and gender-diverse students who faced being...
  • Member for Dawson (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Birmingham. Mr Morrison stood up this morning to say that it's a great shame the Treasurer has to be offered personal...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (8 speeches)
    [by video link] My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Colbeck. Two days ago, it was reported that the Andrews Labor government in Victoria has refused to...
  • Women's Economic Security (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women's Economic Security, Senator Hume. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Liberal-National government is supporting the economic prosperity of...
  • Afghanistan (26 speeches)
    My question as to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Senator Cash. Minister, there are a large number of people in Afghanistan who were issued 449 visas by the immigration...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (28 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Colbeck. Is the Morrison-Joyce government prepared to consider an override of existing vaccine mandates as has been...
  • Small Business (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Cash. Can the minister please outline to the Senate how the Liberals...
  • Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Cash. On 13 October 2018, during the Wentworth by-election, Mr Morrison promised, 'I will be taking action to ensure amendments are introduced as...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Domestic and Family Violence (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Women's Safety (Minister Ruston) to a question without notice asked by Senator McAllister relating to domestic and family...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2021; Disallowance (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2021, made under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012,...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (2 speeches)
    I present Delegated legislation monitor No. 16 of 2021 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I would like to...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration By Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the respective chairs, I present additional information received by committees relating to the following estimates: Additional estimates 2020-21— Foreign Affairs, Defence and...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Senator Kitching, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into funding for...
  • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the Human rights scrutiny report:report 14 of 2021.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021; Report from Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the on the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021; Report from Committee (1 speech)
    Pursuant to order and at the request of the Chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I present the committee's report on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the report of the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on the capability of the Australian Public Service, together with accompanying documents. I move: That the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission; Consideration (13 speeches)
    While speaking to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission report for 2019-20 I take this opportunity today to express the importance of the Australian Charities and...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Investment (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, I table a ministerial statement on investment.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table a document relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Scarborough-Pluto gas project.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (Improving Outcomes for Litigation Funding Participants) 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.
  • Corporations Amendment (Improving Outcomes for Litigation Funding Participants) 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— The Corporations...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Wages and Cost of Living (3 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes: (i) the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics wages data show that real wages went backwards by $700 over the last...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Queensland: Water Infrastructure (3 speeches)
    I rise to provide the Senate with an update on an infrastructure fail. This is not just your average Labor cock-up that they can sweep under the carpet, like the State Bank of Victoria—
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (1 speech)
    I rise to pay my respects and show my support for the charities and not-for-profit sectors that have spent so many years being beaten and harassed by so many successive Liberal-National...
  • South Australia: Water (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak about the Eyre Peninsula desal plant saga. I have talked about this in the chamber, so I'll just give the chamber a brief update. Back in 2008, the South Australian...
  • Beijing Winter Olympics (1 speech)
    Three months ago, along with seven of my colleagues, I wrote to the Prime Minister seeking Australia's diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. I've continued to probe this question at Senate...
  • COVID-19: Insecure Work (1 speech)
    The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about our lives. It's changed the way we buy products and the way we access services. We've seen an enormous growth in deliveries. Australia Post has...
  • Prime Minister, Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (1 speech)
    In October 2018, the Prime Minister was asked what his message was for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse students who faced being expelled from school simply for being...