Senate debates

Thursday, 10 August 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)
  • Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Vaccine Indemnity) Bill 2023; Second Reading (7 speeches)
    I would like to acknowledge the people of Australia whom we in this place are elected to represent to the best of our abilities. To a large extent their health and welfare rests in our hands. We...
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023; In Committee (1 speech)
    The committee is currently considering the Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023. Last night a division was called for and deferred on the request...
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to speak on behalf of the coalition on the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023. I am advised that the bill...
  • Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (Disclosure of Information) Bill 2023; Third Reading (3 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.
  • Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak on the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022. The coalition continues to support it. The bill makes...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (9 speeches)
    I present the ninth report of 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)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator McCarthy for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Due to the lack of transparency from both major parties at this point in time, I withdraw notice of motion No. 294 for today only.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business orders of the day as shown on today's Order of Business be considered from 12.15 pm; (b) government business then be called on and considered till not...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (2 speeches)
    I require that the question be put on the postponement of business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Legalise Cannabis Bill 2022; First Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide for the registration of cannabis strains, the regulation of cannabis and the establishment of the Cannabis Australia...
  • Legalise Cannabis Bill 2022; 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 seek leave to have the...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Office of National Intelligence; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, by no later than 5 pm on Thursday, 7 September 2023: (a) any report, analysis or assessment undertaken by...
  • First Nations Australians: Cultural Heritage; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than midday on Monday, 4 September 2023: (a) a list of dates, since 31...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    The Senate will now proceed to a division on the motion moved by Senator Thorpe to the proposed reference to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee relating to Aboriginal land...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Amendment (Administrative Changes) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    It's a delight to be able to speak to the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Amendment (Administrative Changes) Bill 2023, and it's great to be sharing this time with my good friend and...
  • Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Amendment (Administrative Changes) Bill 2023; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    There are no amendments, so I call the minister.
  • Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022; Second Reading (9 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022. This bill brings so much that's needed in the way of change...
  • Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022; In Committee (1 speech)
    I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill. I seek leave to move government amendments (1) to (4) on sheet QL223 together. Leave...
  • Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Amendment (Strengthening Land and Governance Provisions) Bill 2022; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Bill read a third time.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (44 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move: That so much of standing orders be...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • National Health Legislation Amendment (Opioid Dependence Treatment and Maximum Dispensed Quantities) Instrument 2023; Disallowance (1 speech)
    As this is a disallowance motion there is a requirement for senators to be given the opportunity to take over the motion. In accordance with the practice of the Senate this motion is deferred...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Export Control Amendment (Streamlining Administrative Processes) Bill 2022; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise to make a contribution on the Export Control Amendment (Streamlining Administrative Processes) Bill 2022 on behalf of the shadow agriculture minister and as a very proud National and...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (1 speech)
    This is not my first speech. Small businesses across our country are struggling. Rising cost of living is not just limited to households; it affects small businesses just as much, particularly...
  • Sport: Netball (1 speech)
    Following their triumph over England on Monday, I would like to congratulate Australia's Diamonds on becoming Netball World Cup champions for the 12th time. The World Cup win is emblematic of the...
  • Kimba, South Australia (1 speech)
    Sometimes the right thing happens in politics. Today it has at Kimba in South Australia. Today the Labor government has walked away from the mistaken ill-conceived plan to put low and...
  • Tasmania (1 speech)
    We all know that money is one of those things that is always in short supply be it for a household, business or, indeed, government, which is why I want to again reflect on something I asked...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    The gig economy is changing the way we do things in Australia. It has turned our economy on its head. While the convenience that the gig economy has brought is beneficial to many consumers, we...
  • Middle East (3 speeches)
    I rise to condemn the violent occupation of Palestine, the brutality of the colonial power that is Israel and their state-sanctioned murder of the Palestinian people. In 2022, Israeli forces...
  • Great Barrier Reef (1 speech)
    I'd like to talk about bringing people together, today in the Senate. Last week coral reef managers from 15 Pacific nations travelled to Cairns for an important inaugural event. The Great Barrier...
  • Yazidi Massacre: Sinjar (1 speech)
    In August 2014, in Sinjar, which was home to the largest Yazidi community in the world at the time, Daesh—also known as ISIS or Islamic State—murdered at least 5,000 Yazidis. Those...
  • Climate Change (1 speech)
    Former Chief of the Australian Defence Force Admiral Chris Barrie joined me and other parliamentarians this morning, calling on the Australian government to release a declassified version of the...
  • First Nations Australians: Schools (1 speech)
    I rise to condemn the Albanese government, which has axed plans to build two remote boarding schools for some of the most disadvantaged Indigenous students in the country. This makes a mockery of...
  • Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
    As a servant to the many different people in our one Queensland community, it's my duty to ensure that our constituents get a fair go. Customers of the big four Australian banks are not getting a...
  • Natural Disasters: Response and Recovery Planning (1 speech)
    There are three events that burn in the memories of Tasmanians. The first one is the tragedy at Port Arthur in 1996; there's the ship that hit the Derwent Bridge in 1975; and there are the 1967...
  • Ukraine (1 speech)
    Yesterday in this place I called for the introduction of a Ukraine democracy defence lend-lease act. This would more efficiently and more cogently underpin Australia's long-term military and...
  • University Hubs (2 speeches)
    The Universities AccordInterim Report, released last month, has estimated that by 2050 roughly 55 per cent of jobs will require a university degree. That means we need bold ideas right now to...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Nuclear Waste Management (42 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, Senator Farrell. What is the precise process and time line the Albanese Labor government will now apply to determining a...
  • Housing (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. This week is National Homelessness Week, which is putting the spotlight on the need for social housing as a long-term...
  • Aviation Industry (25 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In response to the government's decision to reject a Qatar Airways application for additional flights, the chief...
  • Donations To Political Parties (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Public trust in our democracy is at an all-time low, and the community feel less and less confident that their...
  • Trade with China (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Recently, we have taken some significant and important steps in stabilising our relationship with China and removing some of...
  • Nuclear Waste Management (16 speeches)
    nator THORPE () (): My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Minister Farrell. The federal government have spent $13 million on legal fees alone to try...
  • Aboriginal Land Councils (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Gallagher. Minister, the latest edition of the Northern Land Council's Land Rights News publication...
  • Covid-19: Response (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister Gallagher. Earlier this week I moved a motion asking the government to establish a royal commission to...
  • Health Care (16 speeches)
    MAN () (): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. Today, in a move that speaks volumes about their priorities, the coalition have...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (14 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the notice of motion proposing the disallowance of schedule 2 to the National Health Legislation Amendment (Opioid Dependence Treatment and Maximum...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • National Health Legislation Amendment (Opioid Dependence Treatment and Maximum Dispensed Quantities) Instrument 2023; Disallowance (18 speeches)
    I note that, in accordance with standing order 78(3), Senator Pratt has indicated her objection to a withdrawal of the motion called on earlier today and has had her name put on the motion. At...
• Statements (0 speeches)
  • National Health Legislation Amendment (Opioid Dependence Treatment and Maximum Dispensed Quantities) Instrument 2023 (3 speeches)
    I seek leave to make a statement of no more than five minutes concerning the disallowance of schedule 2 to the National Health Legislation Amendment (Opioid Dependence Treatment and Maximum...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Meeting (24 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023.
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (25 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to all questions without notice asked today. I know we're all very excited about the Matildas at the moment, and everyone has a...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment References Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    I present the report of the Education and Employment References Committee on school refusal, together with accompanying documents, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. Firstly, I...
  • Finance and Public Administration References Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Finance and Public Administration References Committee on its inquiry into the administration of the referendum into an Aboriginal and Torres...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Canavan, I present the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on the Iron Boomerang Project together with the accompanying...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Infrastructure Australia (1 speech)
    I rise to consider the Infrastructure Australia annual report, listed on page 7 of the Notice Paper. This is the last report of Infrastructure Australia on its activities over the period of the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Government Response to Report (1 speech)
    Firstly, I welcome the government's response. This is a topic that has come up in this Senate via a number of motions over a number of years, and I appreciate the fact that we were able to hold...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Nuclear Waste Management (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Ms Madeleine King, I table a ministerial statement on the proposed national radioactive waste facility.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Industry Self-Classification and Other Measures) 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.
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Industry Self-Classification and Other Measures) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I table a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill, and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of a committee.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Unsolved Homicides and Missing Persons Cases (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Northern region of New South Wales (NSW) has an alarming number and cluster of unsolved homicides and missing persons cases, particularly...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Albanese Government (1 speech)
    I think the contributions made here today highlight some of the amazing work that we as senators are able to do. They also demonstrates how we can work together around this chamber in a very...
  • Future Fund (3 speeches)
    I thank Senator Polley for her gracious remarks at the commencement of her contribution with respect to the work we're undertaking on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee....
  • Defence Capability (1 speech)
    I want to take a moment today to talk about something that is becoming increasingly important to Australia—that is, our sovereign capability to support our own defence needs and strategic...
  • Youpla Group Funeral Benefits Program (1 speech)
    There has been a financial regulatory failure that cannot be allowed to be forgotten and that deserves our best heart when it comes to crafting a solution. It concerns the abuse of vulnerable...