Senate debates

Monday, 11 September 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.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 and the Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023 may be taken together for their remaining stages.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Family Law Amendment Bill 2023, Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023; Second Reading (15 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 and the Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023. As we have just decided as the Senate, given the debate will run concurrently...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Coal Exports (1 speech)
    Over the weekend, the Prime Minister went to India and sold Australian jobs out. While there, he told his Indian counterparts that Australia's exports of coal and gas will wane and instead we're...
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan (1 speech)
    The River Murray is the lifeblood of my state of South Australia, and its health is an existential question for my state, because the river's future will determine South Australia's future. The...
  • Swift Parrots (1 speech)
    Last week, on Threatened Species Day, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced a new recovery plan and $1.3 million of funding for the swift parrot. You'd think, with an announcement...
  • Geeveston Community Centre (1 speech)
    I rise today to express my sincere gratitude to the people who work and volunteer in our community centres. I would specifically like to talk about my most recent visit to Geeveston, just south...
  • Education: Funding (1 speech)
    The Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare, has recently said: Australia has a good education system, but it can be a lot better and a lot fairer. I have to say that with this minister I...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
    As a servant to the many different people who make up our one Queensland community it's my job to raise issues that matter to constituents. Minister Plibersek has hijacked the Murray-Darling...
  • Cost of Living (1 speech)
    This is a government addicted to spin. We saw over the weekend Treasurer Jim Chalmers out and about backgrounding media—crowing, in fact—about wage increases. Australians have never...
  • Caravanning (2 speeches)
    This week I was proud to announce my intention to start the parliamentary friends of caravanning group here in Parliament House. This new cross-partisan group, led by me and Scott Buchholz MP,...
  • Human Rights: Iran (2 speeches)
    This Saturday 16 September will mark one year since the tragic death of Iranian woman Jina Mahsa Amini. On 13 September 2022, Jina was visiting Iran's capital, Tehran, from her home town in the...
  • Electric Vehicles (1 speech)
    To all the Australian farmers, miners and tradies out there, I'd like to welcome you to the dystopian world of net zero—a world brought to you by the Liberals, the Nationals, Labor and the...
  • COVID-19: Testing (1 speech)
    In the last Senate estimates, I asked the Therapeutic Goods Administration if they could tell me which part of the coronavirus genomic sequence they used to indicate that someone was positive to...
  • Tasmania: Youth Volunteer Army (1 speech)
    What do the local footy club, agricultural shows and charity op-shops all have in common? They all rely on volunteers to operate. We know that volunteering has been on the decline over the past...
  • Non-Resident Nepali Association (1 speech)
    On 2 September this year I attended the national conference of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, the NRNA, in Parramatta. The NRNA has been established for some time to bring together the...
  • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1 speech)
    Finding a medication that works well for you and stabilises your condition is vital for someone living with a chronic illness. Having access to that medication can literally be life changing....
  • Workplace Relations: Qantas (2 speeches)
    On Wednesday morning, the High Court will hand down its decision on the case of 1,700 Qantas ground staff who were sacked in the middle of the pandemic. Despite the Federal Court twice finding...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Space Industry (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Does the minister believe it was appropriate to deliberately hide from the United States, until the day before its public...
  • ASEAN-Australia Summit, East Asia Summit (8 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong. Can the minister update the Senate on the ASEAN-Australia Summit and the East Asia Summit leaders' meeting held in Jakarta last...
  • Aviation Industry (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Wong: I refer the minister to comments made last week by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local...
  • Uranium (16 speeches)
    I rise to ask a question of the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, Minister Farrell. Just last week, Energy Resources Australia announced their intention to apply for an extension...
  • Employment (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister Representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, since the Albanese Labor government took office 16 months ago, getting wages moving again has been a top...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Special Minister of State, Senator Farrell. The Constitution requires the proposed law to be submitted to the electors so electors can see what they are voting on in a...
  • Wages (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. What was the real wages outcome for the financial year 2022-23?
  • Overthrow of Chilean Government: 50th Anniversary (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Today marks 50 years since the Pinochet regime came to power in Chile. Given the extensive evidence of ASIS support for the coup, will the...
  • Climate Change (20 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. At last year's election, the Australian people resoundingly voted for action on climate...
  • Aviation Industry (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. I refer the minister to comments made last week by the minister for transport, Catherine King, when she said, regarding the...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (4 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I seek an explanation from the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher, as to why the following questions on notice remain...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers To Questions (7 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of all answers to all questions asked by coalition Senators during question time today. Some very good questions were asked today in question time by the...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by the Special Minister of State (Senator Farrell) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait...
  • Overthrow of Chilean Government: 50th Anniversary (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 I asked today relating to the overthrow of the Chilean...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: (a) on Wednesday, 13 September 2023—Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment Bill 2023; and (b) on...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator. I note that no senator has asked for a vote on any postponement.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Makarrata Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Nampijinpa-Price, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) orders for production of documents nos 281 and 282 agreed by the Senate on 7 August 2023, requiring...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Allman-Payne from 11 September to 14 September for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Parole Applications; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 5 pm on 22 September 2023: (a) a breakdown of approved grants of parole since 1 July...
  • Australian Secret Intelligence Service; 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 4.30 pm on 14 September 2023: (a) all diplomatic cables between the Australian Secret Intelligence...
  • Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 326. Leave granted. I amend the motion to change the reporting date to 16 October 2023. I move the motion as amended: That there be...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Space Industry (13 speeches)
    Senator Fawcett has submitted a proposal under standing order 75 today: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for...
  • Economy (8 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator Roberts: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: Australia has...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the NDIS Financial Sustainability Framework.
  • Goods and Services Tax; Order for the Production of Documents (3 speeches)
    I table documents relating to an order for the production of documents concerning goods and services tax revenue distribution.
  • Aviation Industry; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I present a document relating to an order for the production of documents concerning Qatar flight services to Australia.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements, Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters for the memberships of committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023, National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (Consequential Amendments) 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.
  • National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023, National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (Consequential Amendments) 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— NATIONAL...
  • Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Bill 2023, Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment 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.
  • Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Bill 2023, Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment 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— PARLIAMENTARY...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Climate Change Authority (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House proposing the referral of a matter to the Climate Change Authority and requesting the...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Joint Committee; Appointment (2 speeches)
    A message has been received from the House of Representatives forwarding a resolution agreed to by that House proposing a variation to the resolution of appointment of the Joint Standing...
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reference (58 speeches)
    I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 in the terms circulated in the chamber. Leave granted. I amend the motion and move the amended motion: That the following...
  • Economics References Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Senate Economics References Committee, Senator Bragg, I present the report of the committee on compliance with an order for documents concerning the Australian...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I move: That the question be now put.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Family Law Amendment Bill 2023, Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023; Second Reading (13 speeches)
    It was Father's Day the other day. It was a good time to recognise how important dads are for children. It's something I think we sometimes forget. I do think mums are really important...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • European Union-Australia Free Trade Agreement (1 speech)
    It wasn't long ago this nation was referred to as Fortress Australia. It was categorised by high tariffs, trade barriers and limits on international capital investment. While this development...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (1 speech)
    I rise this evening firstly to give my heartfelt thanks to the Queensland Chinese Forum for putting on a wonderful seminar, on Saturday just gone, in relation to the Voice. In particular, I...
  • Northern Rivers: Floods (1 speech)
    I was in the Northern Rivers last month to listen to stories from the front lines from those affected by the floods in February 2022, and I was joined by Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan...
  • Dementia (1 speech)
    I rise to bring the Senate's attention to Dementia Action Week, which takes place from 18 to 24 September. It is a week of action led by Dementia Australia, and this week's theme is Act Now for a...