Senate debates

Monday, 6 March 2023

• 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)
  • Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022; Second Reading (16 speeches)
    I'm very pleased to stand today to speak on the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022. The opposition will be supporting this bill for a number...
  • Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022; In Committee (33 speeches)
    Honourable senators, with the concurrence of the Senate, the statements of reasons accompanying the requests circulated for this bill will be incorporated in the Hansard immediately after the...
  • Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Bill 2022; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia's Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    It is with great pleasure that I speak on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia's Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022 today as the shadow minister for education. The coalition supports...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation: Taxation (1 speech)
    TH () (): I rise to provide a two-minute statement about Labor's proposed super changes. My speech will take no longer than two minutes, but somehow it'll still be longer than Labor's so-called...
  • International Women's Day (1 speech)
    On Friday, I joined Ged Kearney at Preston High School and got to speak to a bunch of students, mothers and grandmothers about International Women's Day. We discussed equality and equity in the...
  • Fox News (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about the absolute shame and horror of what is unfolding in the Fox News court case in America right now. We've known for a long time that the Murdoch machine has not been...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (1 speech)
    With this government, the devil is always in the detail, and that's what we'll find as we dig into their broken promise on superannuation. Already, once the guidance has come out on how this is...
  • Rare Disease Day (1 speech)
    February 28 marked Rare Disease Day. Approximately eight per cent of Australians are currently living with a rare disease. That's about two million Australians. There are some 7,000 rare diseases...
  • Gender Equality (1 speech)
    Last month we welcomed our first grandchild, a boy, and I thank the Senate for that leave of absence. Observing the world that my grandson has been born into, I know he will need to fight the...
  • Blood Contamination (1 speech)
    Today I want to raise the plight of thousands of Australians who became severely ill or died after being infected with blood containing hepatitis C or HIV between the 1970s and the early 1990s,...
  • Koalas (1 speech)
    Koalas were declared endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT, but our regional communities are working hard, particularly in New South Wales, to deliver change and to deliver...
  • Iraq, Ukraine (1 speech)
    Twenty years ago, in March 2003, I was the most angry I've ever been in my life, when I realised my country was participating in an illegal, immoral war of aggression on another nation. I wasn't...
  • Covid-19 (1 speech)
    For three years, we've been censored, cancelled and ridiculed for simply questioning 'the science'. The truth always comes out, one way or another, and the flood gates have opened. We're now...
  • Homelessness (1 speech)
    Everyone here would have slept with a roof over their heads last night. I share with you now, with the permission of this family, a story of a family who didn't. This is a cruel eye-watering...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
    Last year, at least 61 women were killed by violence in Australia. That's more than one woman per week. Already, in 2023, at least six women have been killed. We've all heard these figures, but...
  • National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (1 speech)
    I rise in solidarity with the Barngarla traditional owners, who are in the Federal Court today to overturn the decision to construct a nuclear waste dump on their lands at Napandee, near Kimba on...
  • Golden Shears (1 speech)
    We know there's always a healthy competition between Australia and our friends across the ditch in New Zealand, and one such competition is shearing. Shearing is a massive sport in New Zealand,...
  • National Reconstruction Fund (2 speeches)
    The COVID pandemic highlighted Australia's vulnerability at the end of global supply chains and put on display the consequences of a decade of coalition government neglect for Australian...
• Shadow Ministry (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    by leave—I advise the Senate that following the resignations of the member for Calare and the member for Aston from the frontbench and the parliament respectively the Hon. Darren Chester MP...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation (10 speeches)
    BIRMINGHAM (—) (): My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer: will superannuation account holders affected by Labor's new doubling of the super tax be able to withdraw funds...
  • Budget (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Can the minister outline to the Senate the challenges facing the budget following a decade of wasteful spending and economic...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, how will the government's new doubling of the super tax treat unrealised capital gains?
  • Climate Change (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Today a report was released by RepuTex, the modellers who modelled the Labor...
  • Rare Earths Mining Industry, Lithium-Ion Battery Industry (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Farrell. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's plans to ensure that Australia adds...
  • Covid-19: Vaccination (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. In the February Senate estimates hearings Adjunct Professor Skerritt, deputy secretary,...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Given that Labor's new doubling of the super tax will see earnings in some superannuation accounts paying twice the...
  • Wages (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. On 21 February the Fair Work Commission said that the 15 per cent increase for aged-care workers should be paid in full from 1 July...
  • Albanese Government (17 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Albanese government is delivering a better future for all Australians...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. How will the new super tax apply to defined-benefit schemes?
  • Australia: Floods (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt. Last February, New South Wales and Queensland faced devastating flooding in one of the costliest and most devastating global...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (25 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Will an increasing number of Australians be subjected to Labor's new doubling of the super tax due to the...
• 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 by all coalition senators today. Another day, another broken promise—after both the Prime Minister and the Treasurer...
  • Wages (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Treasurer (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to wages for...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
    NT (): Senator Roberts, there's 30 seconds remaining that hasn't been used. Would you like to move a motion to take note?
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That: (1) the Senate rejects the Minister's claim of public interest immunity over documents and modelling that would demonstrate the...
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice of intention given on 9 February 2023, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 standing in my name for today proposing a disallowance.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Brown from 6 to 9 March 2023, for personal reasons; (b) Senator Dodson for 9 March 2023, on account...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Parliament: Sittings (5 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 124 before asking that it be taken as a formal motion. The amendment changes the return date from 9 February to 9 March. Leave granted....
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than 5 pm on 9 February 2023, all modelling by the Department of the Treasury in relation to: (a)...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Governor-General Act 1974, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this bill...
  • Governor-General Amendment (Cessation of Allowances in the Public Interest) Bill 2023; 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...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Cost Of Living (10 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 6 March, from Senator McKim: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian Greens propose...
  • Superannuation: Taxation (12 speeches)
    The Senate will now consider the proposal from Senator Hume: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Bunbury Outer Ring Road (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the document. I rise to speak to document 8 listed today, an OPD relating to the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project in Western Australia. This project has been a...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • National Apology to the Stolen Generations: 15th Anniversary (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr Albanese, I table a ministerial statement on the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations together with documents relating to the Closing...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Goods and Services Tax, Interest Rates; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning the GST and home loan interest rates.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Implementation of the National Redress Scheme: Joint Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of a committee.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023, National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023; 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.
  • Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023, National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum 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....
  • Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022; 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.
  • Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    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 Albanese Government...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2022; 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Consumer Data Right) Bill 2022; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    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— This Bill will amend...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, I present the report of the committee on the provisions of the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022, together...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia's Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    As I was saying earlier on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia’s Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022, we outlined the mechanisms to drive these reforms through five key strategic...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia's Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022; In Committee (4 speeches)
    by leave—I move Greens amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1838 together: (1) Schedule 1, item 3, page 4 (after line 10), after subsection 42-1(1), insert: (1A) The strategy must not be...
  • Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia's Economic Accelerator) Bill 2022; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
  • Address-in-Reply (6 speeches)
    I rise to respond to the address of the Governor-General at the opening of this historic formation of the first term of the Albanese government. I hope it might be the first term of several terms...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Greyhound Racing (3 speeches)
    2023 got off to a bad start for greyhounds. It's only March, and there have already been 25 track deaths and 1,963 injuries this year. Over the last weekend of January alone, four dogs were...