Senate debates

Thursday, 30 March 2023

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023; In Committee (98 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 and amendments (1) to (14) on sheet SK147 moved by Senator McAllister. The question is that the amendments be...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given on 29 March 2023 on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1, proposing the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (9 speeches)
    I present the fourth report for 2023 of the Selection of Bills Committee. I seek leave to have the report incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The report read as follows— SELECTION OF...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That general business notice of motion No. 211 be considered during general business today. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator Ruston, move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 September...
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 relating to a committee referral. Leave granted. I, and also on behalf of Senator Lambie, move the motion as amended: That the...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Colbeck, I move: That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 1 December 2023:...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Gallagher, I move: That— (1) On Tuesday, 9 May 2023, the hours of meeting be midday to 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm to adjournment, and the routine of business from 8.30 pm be:...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Ending Poverty in Australia (Antipoverty Commission) Bill 2023; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to establish the Antipoverty Commission, and for related purposes. Question agreed to. I present the bill and move: That this bill...
  • Ending Poverty in Australia (Antipoverty Commission) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I table an explanatory memorandum and I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Australian Federal Police; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 218 relating to an order for the production of documents. Leave granted. I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister...
  • Peters, Mr Brian; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 9 May 2023, the following document: Indonesia: NSW Coroner's Court inquest into the...
  • National Reconstruction Fund; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Brockman, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, by 6 April 2023, in relation to the National...
  • Freedom of Information Commissioner Resignation; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move general business notice of motion No. 221: That the Senate— (a) notes that order for production of documents no. 183, relating to the resignation of the Freedom of Information...
  • Wages (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Birmingham, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 10 May 2022, the Prime Minister (Mr Albanese) told Radio National that he supports people's wages 'not...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum Joint Select Committee, Cost of Living Select Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    PRESIDENT (): The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2023, Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023, Special Recreational Vessels Amendment Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Refining and Improving Our Tax System) Bill 2023, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) 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.
  • Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2023, Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023, Special Recreational Vessels Amendment Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Refining and Improving Our Tax System) Bill 2023, Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That these bills be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speeches read as follows— HEALTH INSURANCE...
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023; 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.
  • Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023; 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— Today I am introducing...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum Joint Select Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    CHISHOLM (—Assistant Minister for Education, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (): by leave—I move: That the Senate...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023; In Committee (21 speeches)
    The committee is considering the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 and amendments (1) to (14) on sheet SK147, moved by Senator McAllister. The question is that the amendments be...
  • Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Enhancing Engagement) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The time allotted for debate has expired. The question now is that this bill be read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
  • Royal Commissions Amendment (Enhancing Engagement) Bill 2023; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Aston By-Election (1 speech)
    Today I wish to put on the record the clear choice the people of Aston face this Saturday in selecting their next member of parliament. If elected on Saturday, the Liberal Party's Roshena...
  • Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (1 speech)
    I rise today to talk about the free trade agreement that Australia has finally been able to seal with the United Kingdom. We heard the welcome news that royal assent was given to legislation to...
  • Domestic and Family Violence, Housing Affordability (1 speech)
    Domestic violence shelters in Queensland are at breaking point. Frontline services are struggling to find space for women and children who are escaping violence. With a 15 per cent rise in DV, it...
  • Western Australia: Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
    You can't get very far in Western Australia unless you travel on a road. So, why is it that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, supported by WA Labor members of the House...
  • Victoria: Capital Grants Program (3 speeches)
    Since my election May 2022 I have had the pleasure of visiting schools around Victoria to see the new facilities and spaces funded by the government's Capital Grants Program. The Capital Grants...
  • Medicinal Cannabis, Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
    Let me give you 25 billion more reasons to legalise cannabis, because, according to data on cannabis use, supplied by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the currently illegal...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    I rise to speak today to call out the hypocrisy of the Labor and Greens parties, who are pursuing a big Australia policy. We'll have more than 600,000 immigrants arrive in the next two years....
  • New South Wales Election, Economy (1 speech)
    Last weekend, New South Wales voted for a Minns Labor government. They also voted to scrap the punitive wage cap that the Liberals and Nationals forced onto essential public sector workers,...
  • Work-Life Balance (1 speech)
    On Monday I introduced the right to disconnect bill in the Senate in response to the public's call for better working time regulation in line with the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (8 speeches)
    This morning, the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 was introduced in the other place. The voice is supposedly about giving First Nations people a say in...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
    As a servant to the many different people who make up our one Queensland community, this Easter I refer to Luke 23 describing governor of Judea Pontius Pilate's trial of Jesus. Under the custom...
  • Tasmania: Housing (2 speeches)
    Tasmania is currently facing a housing and rental crisis. There are over 4,000 people on the public housing waiting list, and Hobart is the most unaffordable city to rent in in the entire...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Labor Government (31 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. How many suburbs chosen as part of your solar battery grant program are in Labor held seats?
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • Australian Political Exchange Council: Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1 speech)
    Order! I draw the attention of honourable senators to the presence in the President's gallery of the Australian Political Exchange's 24th delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. On...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. In the last hour, the Senate has agreed to the government's Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting)...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • Referendum Engagement Group (1 speech)
    I draw to senators' attention members of the Referendum Engagement Group who are in the visitors' gallery. Honourable se nators: Hear, hear!
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (19 speeches)
    How appropriate! My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can you please outline to the Senate what mechanism the Labor Party intends to use for determining a...
  • Assange, Mr Julian Paul (28 speeches)
    My question is to Minister Wong in her capacity representing the Prime Minister. Minister, I'm asking this question on behalf of Australia but also Julian Assange's father, John Shipton, who went...
  • Climate Change: Agriculture (8 speeches)
    I've got a ripper for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. After a decade of inaction on climate thanks to those opposite, the Albanese government is taking decisive action to...
  • Macquarie Point Stadium, Tasmania: Housing (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Senator Watt. With $240 million proposed to be spent by your...
  • Foreign Investment (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. IMPEX is one of the most important foreign investors in Australia. Shortly before question time today INPEX's global CEO,...
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Minister Gallagher. Minister Gallagher, we meet again. Your October 2022 budget included a figure of $77 million that was in the...
  • Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Earlier today the government's Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill was passed with wide support...
  • Energy (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, last week in your absence Minister Farrell was asked to name anywhere in Australia where electricity prices...
• Statement by the President (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Standards (3 speeches)
    I was asked to review the tape in relation to a matter that occurred on Tuesday. I have been asked to review the Hansard of a series of exchanges during a speech by Senator Thorpe on the...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Vocational Education And Training (1 speech)
    In question time on Tuesday 28 March, I took elements of a question asked by Senator Lambie to me on notice. I have written to Senator Lambie to provide a complete answer, and I now table that...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. I'm not sure if the jury was out before Shadow Minister...
  • Labor Government, Energy (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to questions without notice asked today. I want to address two of the questions that were...
  • Assange, Mr Julian Paul (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice asked by Senator Shoebridge today relating to Julian Assange....
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Freedom of Information Commissioner Resignation; Order for the Production of Documents (32 speeches)
    Pursuant to the order agreed to earlier today concerning the Freedom of Information Commissioner, I call the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Senator Watt.
  • Wages; Order for the Production of Documents (21 speeches)
    As I was saying: pursuant to the order agreed to earlier today concerning the national minimum wage, I now call the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I present Delegated legislation monitor No. 4 of 2023, together with the ministerial...
  • Scrutiny of Bills Committee; Scrutiny Digest (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator Dean Smith, I present Scrutiny digest No. 4 of 2023 of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave to...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
    On behalf of the chair of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee, I present additional information received relating to estimates: Community Affairs Legislation Committee— Budget...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    ICCONE (—) (): I present Human rights scrutiny report No. 4 of 2023 for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I seek leave...
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Additional Information (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Economics Legislation Committee, Senator Walsh, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the Housing...
  • Northern Australia Joint Select Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    CICCONE (—) (): I present the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia's First report on the cyclone reinsurance pool, together with accompanying documents.
  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee; Delegated Legislation Monitor (1 speech)
    In respect of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation's Delegated Legislation Monitor: monitor 4 of 2023, I move: That the Senate take note of the report. I would...
  • Economics Legislation Committee; Additional Information (2 speeches)
    I'd like to present additional information received by the Economics Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and related bills.
  • Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the 494th report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, together with executive minutes relating to several reports of the committee.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum Joint Select Committee, Cost of Living Select Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of committees.
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Randwick Barracks Redevelopment (1 speech)
    by leave—I table a non-conforming petition seeking to stop the plans for the redevelopment of the Randwick Barracks site, with a total of 660 signatures.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to speak to the Joint Statutory Committee on Law Enforcement report Examination of the Australian Federal Police annual report 2020-21 and 2021-22. In 2020 the AFP announced the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Goods and Services Tax, Department of Finance: Discretionary Payments, Department of Finance, Department of the Treasury, Department of Social Services; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning the goods and services tax, discretionary payments to the Australian Labor Party, costs relating to parliamentary...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Resources Sector (4 speeches)
    On behalf of the Minister for Resources, Ms Madeline King, I table a ministerial statement on resources.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Iran: Human Rights (2 speeches)
    I move general business notice of motion No. 211: That the Senate— (a) notes the joint statement from 23 groups representing the Iranian-Australian community, welcoming the report by the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till Tuesday, 9 May 2023, at midday, or such other time as may be fixed by the President or, in the event of the President being...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Hogan, Ms Michelle Andrea (1 speech)
    I rise today to pay tribute to a force of the South Australian progressive labour and feminist movement, Michelle Hogan. Michelle died this month, and a loving family and community mourns her...
  • Liberian Association of Queensland, Komatsu Australia (1 speech)
    I rise with two good-news stories. In the first instance, I'd like to pay tribute to my dear friends in the Liberian Association of Queensland, who held a very successful 'Sharing love through...
  • Albanese Government (1 speech)
    The Albanese Labor government has not stopped implementing positive reforms since we formed government. In the past two days, we've witnessed again a commitment to the Australian people to...
  • Women in Sport (1 speech)
    CHANDLER () (): I believe women and girls are entitled to play single-sex sport, and I believe that women and girls are entitled to the privacy and safety of single-sex spaces. These are basic,...