Senate debates

Monday, 27 November 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.
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I give notice of my intention, at the giving of notices this afternoon, to withdraw business of the Senate motion...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I have previously outlined to the Senate details of the government's claim for public interest immunity over documents related to the NDIS Financial Sustainability Framework. I refer senators to...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023; Second Reading (28 speeches)
    Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak on the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023. We have seen this morning the result of the Greens-Labor coalition in government coming...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Fishing Industry (1 speech)
    The prosperity, finances, jobs and food security of Australians are under attack from a government which has proven it will stop at nothing to impose an antifarming agenda. I never thought I'd...
  • Labor Government (1 speech)
    The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, just says no to everything and goes down the political path of fear and division because it's all he knows. The Albanese government is getting on with...
  • Schools (1 speech)
    The cost of living is accelerating across Australia, and we need serious action to directly provide support to people and families, instead of heaping billions on private corporations. Serious...
  • Bowen Community Technology Centre (1 speech)
    Last week I had the great opportunity to travel around the seat of Calare with the member for Maranoa, David Littleproud. I saw lots of interesting things. We went to the small arms factory at...
  • Retail Workers (1 speech)
    Well, the only thing which won't cost any of us a cent at the shops this Christmas is treating retail workers and fast food workers with respect. It costs absolutely nothing to be kind, but we...
  • Prime Minister (1 speech)
    As a servant to the many different people who make up our one Queensland community I started this week with my usual check to see if the Prime Minister is in the country today. He is. Hitting...
  • Economy (1 speech)
    The Labor government have no clue how to manage the economy. In fact, they keep acting like they are still in opposition, seeking to blame everyone in the room and taking no responsibility...
  • Insurance Industry (1 speech)
    I rise to make a contribution and put on the record something important that happened here in the chamber today. I know you, Acting Deputy President Walsh, have had great interest in this matter...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    Last Friday, just a few days ago, after 47 days of one of the most brutal conflicts any of us have witnessed in modern times, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day truce—a truce which is...
  • Energy (1 speech)
    I often hear calls in this place by some to end the subsidies on fossil fuels. I don't disagree with ending subsidies. You know what? I support that call. But I urge those in this place to go one...
  • Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
    Masculinity is under attack, and the war on men is being led by cultural Marxists, the likes of which roam this very chamber, every school, every university and every education department in the...
  • Child Care, Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
    Universal child care will end up making things worse if things keep going the way they're going. It's hard to take away anything else from last week's Productivity Commission report. The gap...
  • Occupied Palestinian Territories (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about Palestine, by sharing some words from Palestinian Australian Dr Samah Sabawi, an award-winning playwright scholar, commentator and poet. The Australian government failed to...
  • Western Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
    I rise today to lay the foundations for the case for a very important infrastructure project for Perth's southern metropolitan region, the Shelley Bridge widening project. Many of you would have...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Hundreds of trucks, good employers and industry transport groups took part in convoys across the country on Saturday, including on the lawns outside this building, urging this chamber to urgently...
  • Housing (2 speeches)
    We have a government that is completely asleep at the wheel: 1,700 construction businesses have entered administration in the last 12 months! This is a government that's pretends it has a housing...
• Ministry (0 speeches)
  • Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
    I advise the chamber that Minister Wong is away for personal reasons.
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • International Relations: Australia and China (10 speeches)
    President, my question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. On 18 November, the defence minister released a statement regarding a 14 November incident in which a...
  • National Security (28 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Given that the High Court struck down the Leader of the Opposition's citizenship cessation laws, which he...
  • Immigration Detention (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Watt. Minister, the government's just tabled in the House the Migration...
  • Cost of Living (8 speeches)
    My question is to the minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Albanese government is taking comprehensive action to tackle cost-of-living pressures. Can the minister outline...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. How many vaccines are subject to an indemnity from the Australian government?
  • Immigration Detention (14 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Your government has today admitted that over 140 detainees, including paedophiles, rapists, murderers and a...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (8 speeches)
    (—) (): My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. It's day 3 of the UN's 16 days of activism campaign for the elimination of violence against women. This year 54 women...
  • Trade (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell. Earlier this month the minister visited the United States for this year's APEC summit in San Francisco. This followed...
  • Economy (15 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Farrell. Core inflation is higher in Australia than in six of the seven G7 countries, and last week the RBA governor said...
  • Aged Care (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. The aged-care royal commission's final report told a shocking story of neglect, inaction and a lack of...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers from ministers to all coalition questions today. It's an interesting thing when we're down here and looking at our responsibilities. The role of the...
  • COVID-19: Vaccination (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice I asked today relating to vaccine indemnities. Senator Gallagher...
  • Immigration Detention, Domestic and Family Violence (2 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the response by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Watt) to a question asked by Senator McKim, and the response by the Minister for...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given this morning, 27 November 2023, on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1...
  • Presentation (1 speech)
    I give notice in general terms under standing order 76(6) of my intention to move a motion on the next day of sitting, relating to the consideration of legislation.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons: (a) Senator Bilyk from 27 November to 30 November 2023; (b) Senators Ciccone and White from...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Postponement (1 speech)
    I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Select Committee on Insurance; Appointment (3 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: (1) That a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee on Insurance, be established to inquire into and report on improving consumer...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Education; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Henderson, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the order for the production of documents no. 371, agreed to by the Senate on 7 November 2023, relating to...
  • Infrastructure: Review; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, by no later than 5 pm on 28 November...
  • Australian Human Rights Commission; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    On behalf of Senator Cash I move general notice business notices of motion Nos 399 and 400 together: GENERAL BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 399 That there be laid on the table by the Minister...
  • Defence Procurement; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: (1) That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, by no later than midday on Thursday, 30 November 2023: (a) the terms of reference of the review...
  • Asylum Seekers; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, by no later than 1 pm on 30 November 2023, the following: (a) the total dollar amount of...
• Regulations and Determinations (0 speeches)
  • Competition and Consumer (Gas Market Code) Regulations 2023; Disallowance (14 speeches)
    WATERS (—) (): At the request of Senator McKim, I move: That the Competition and Consumer (Gas Market Code) Regulations 2023, made under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, be...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • First Nations Australians (18 speeches)
    I inform the Senate that I have received the following letter, dated 27 November 2023, from Senator Thorpe: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency: Following the...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (15 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator McGrath: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: Instead of...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    I present a dissenting report relating to the inquiry by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee into the Defence Capability Assurance and Oversight Bill 2023.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Treasury, Department Of Industry, Science And Resources, Department Of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment And Water, Department Of Education, Department Of Home Affairs; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning multinational corporation tax reform, the Barossa gas project, higher education statistics and immigration detention.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crown References Amendment 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.
  • Crown References Amendment Bill 2023; Second Reading (1 speech)
    BROWN (—) (): 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—...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities 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.
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Support for Small Business and Charities and Other Measures) 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— The Treasury Laws...
  • Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 (29 speeches)
    As I said before I was put into continuation, we have a situation where the Darling/Barka is absolutely choking to death, with not enough water flowing through it, whereas at the same time the...
  • Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023, Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 (3 speeches)
    Today I rise to speak on a matter of significant importance to the public health of Australians, and that is the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023 and a consequential...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Middle East, Australia: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
    I wish today to talk about why language matters, why it's important, and why we, in the Australian parliament, must think extremely carefully about what we say and the images that we present to...
  • Education Standards, Victoria: Protests (1 speech)
    I rise to address the serious issue of indoctrination in our schools. As shadow minister for education, I have said repeatedly that the classroom is for education, not indoctrination or activism....
  • Northern Territory: Gas Industry (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the shameful Middle Arm petrochemical hub that the Labor government is forcing on Territorians. Middle Arm will see a one-thousand-kilometre petrochemical precinct built on the...