Senate debates

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Education and Employment References Committee, Implementation of the National Redress Scheme — Joint Committee, Trade and Investment Growth Joint Committee; 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 (10 speeches)
    I move: That, in order to provide for the consideration of the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023, National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment...
• 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; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    Tasmanians are struggling with the burden of rising housing costs. People are being forced to live in vans or are sleeping in the streets or in our parks because they cannot afford to rent or to...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Education (1 speech)
    In 2023 the war on young men and masculinity continues unabated. This was demonstrated by the West Australian newspaper recently when it ran a front-page story entitled 'How we stop this kid...
  • Housing (1 speech)
    This week in parliament is likely to go down as an historic one, as a great leap forward for housing in our country, if we pass the HAFF bills. The Albanese government will deliver the...
  • Queensland: Transport Infrastructure (1 speech)
    Yet again the Queensland Labor government have shown that their solution to growing congestion is—surprise surprise!—another road. Residents of Caloundra are extremely concerned about...
  • Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Voice (1 speech)
    On 14 October, Australians are going to have their say on Labor's Voice, and will need to choose if they enshrine this divisive institution into our Constitution. It's time for Australians to...
  • Road Safety (1 speech)
    Last month I hosted a roundtable on bus safety to discuss ways that we can make bus transport safer across Australia. The Hunter Valley bus crash, tragically, killed 10 innocent people,...
  • Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (1 speech)
    This morning Senator Pocock, Senator Tyrrell and I stood with first responders to ask Minister Burke to split out four elements of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill...
  • Child Safety (1 speech)
    A report in a South Australian newspaper last weekend stated 35 children died from non-medical causes, including accidents. Of those deaths, the cause of 11 is unknown. Fifty-six died from...
  • International Day of Peace (1 speech)
    Next Thursday 21 September, we will mark International Day of Peace. This year's theme, 'Actions for Peace', is a call to action, recognising our individual and collective responsibility to...
  • Whistleblower Protection (1 speech)
    David McBride and Richard Boyle shouldn't be names we all know because the Albanese government is trying to put them in jail; they should be names we speak with respect and admiration as role...
  • Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Voice (1 speech)
    The upcoming referendum has been a great opportunity to engage with Canberrans and those further afield. I've been to Orange and Braidwood, and had great conversations about what the proposed...
  • Discrimination (1 speech)
    The Jewish community in Australia has made a strong and vibrant contribution to what makes our country a wonderful country, whether that be as early settlers or the achievements of people like...
  • Queensland: Operation Hard Yakka (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about tough love in the fight against escalating youth crime in my home state of Queensland. Crime is out of control in Queensland and the Palaszczuk Labor government has been...
  • Swift Parrot (1 speech)
    Last week, on Threatened Species Day, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, announced that the government had on that day released a new recovery plan to boost the long-term survival of the...
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan (1 speech)
    No-one better understands the importance of a healthy Murray-Darling Basin than the farmers and the communities that live along the banks of the rivers. It's our farmers who put on the tables the...
  • Walking Together Workshops (2 speeches)
    I was deeply moved and honoured by my attendance at the Walking Together workshops in the federal seat of Canning over the weekend, and I express my deep gratitude to Youth Off The Streets...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Productivity Commission (23 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Was the Treasurer briefed by Treasury on the policy views of Danielle Wood prior to her appointment as chair of the...
  • Housing Australia Future Fund (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Can the minister update the Senate on how the Albanese Labor government is delivering on its promise to build more...
  • Economy (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Minister, you told the Senate last week that the Albanese government was 'pleased' with the national accounts data...
  • Environment: Swift Parrots (20 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Wong. Last Thursday, on National Threatened Species Day, the minister for the environment issued a...
  • Housing (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Homelessness, Senator Farrell. I keep hearing from constituents and stakeholders across Tasmania about...
  • Whistleblower Protection (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Attorney-General, Minister Watt. Currently, two whistleblowers are on trial for telling the truth about government wrongdoing. David McBride blew...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. In recent weeks, we've seen the public release of COVID-19 vaccine contracts in South Africa, including the Pfizer contract,...
  • Energy (12 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The Tasmanian government has cut a new deal with the federal government on the Marinus Link, a new...
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last month the Albanese government made a historic agreement with states and territories to deliver the...
  • Aviation Industry (10 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...
• Answers to Questions on Notice (0 speeches)
  • Productivity Commission (11 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for the Public Service, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Women (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice...
  • Environment: Swift Parrots (2 speeches)
    ISH-WILSON () (): I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Wong to the question without notice asked by Senator Rice today relating to the swift parrot. I also seek leave...
• 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.
  • Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Continuing ACCC Monitoring of Domestic Airline Competition) Bill 2023; First Reading (1 speech)
    I, and also on behalf of Senator McKenzie, move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and for related purposes. Question agreed...
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Continuing ACCC Monitoring of Domestic Airline Competition) Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I present the 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 speeches incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
  • Ending Native Forest Logging Bill 2023; First Reading (5 speeches)
    I move: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to repeal the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002 and to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,...
  • Ending Native Forest Logging 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 to the bill. Leave granted. I table an explanatory memorandum and seek leave to have the second...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Minister For The Environment And Water; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    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 Thursday, 14 September 2023, a list of dates since 1...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (1 speech)
    I move: That, in respect of the inquiry by the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee into the provisions of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023, the Senate directs...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Aviation Industry; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    On behalf of Senator McKenzie, I seek leave to amend the motion. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by no later than...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Meeting (8 speeches)
    I would like the motion of Senator Davey to be recommitted. I thought we were voting on the amendment and not the substantive motion, so I would ask the Senate to recommit that vote.
  • Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    We're now moving to the first of the deferred votes. I remind senators that, yesterday evening, two votes relating to motions to refer matters to committees were deferred. I understand it suits...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (36 speeches)
    I'm going to the second deferred motion from yesterday, on Senate Ayres's closure motion. Are you seeking the call, Senator Ruston?
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Human Rights: Iran (8 speeches)
    Senator Chandler 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...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (9 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 12 September 2023, from Senator McKim: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the Australian...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Senate Procedure Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Procedure Committee, I present the second report of 2023 of the committee, and I move: That the Senate take note of the report. The report deals with three matters. First,...
  • Public Works Joint Committee, Intelligence and Security Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Public Works Joint Committee, I present the 6th report of 2023. On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present a statement of...
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    I present the government response to the report of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee on biosecurity measures and responses preparedness and seek leave to...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Aviation Industry; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    by leave—I table documents relating to the order for the production of documents concerning Qatar Airways.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) 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.
  • Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) 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— There is a crisis of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference (4 speeches)
    Firstly, I thank the government and that opposition—that's, Senators Chisholm and Ruston—for this opportunity to complete my speech. I'll be jumping more quickly in future. I remind...
• 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; Second Reading (25 speeches)
    I'll continue from where I left off earlier to say that this bill is nothing more than a gambling bill whereby $10 billion will be borrowed and the taxpayer will incur the risk. The Labor Party...