Senate debates
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Middle East (12 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to funding for UNRWA, as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to the contingent notice of motion standing in the name of Senator Waters, I move: That so...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Azerbaijan (1 speech)
I rise today, compelled to share with you the harrowing story of a brave journalist who endured untold suffering at the hands of the government of Azerbaijan. This year I had the honour of...
- First Nations Australians (1 speech)
It's been a particularly tough few months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Hearing your life and your community frequently spoken of in terms of deficits and not strengths can...
- Middle East (1 speech)
I'm humbled to soon be tabling in the Senate a petition with nearly 10,000 signatures that calls on the Australian government to save the family of Akram, a Palestinian-born Australian citizen...
- Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
The Order of Australia is a way of recognising the hard work and dedication that so many have provided to the service of our nation. Of those who were recognised in this year's honours, I would...
- Workplace Relations: Food Delivery Industry (1 speech)
On Friday, delivery riders held another peaceful gathering outside the Sydney offices of the multinational gig platform HungryPanda. The organiser of the gathering, Zhuoying Wang, has worked for...
- Tasmania State Election (1 speech)
Tasmania is having a state election. It's the Liberal Party putting their jobs on the line this time. They're going to the election 18 months early—which, by the way, they did last time....
- Lismore Lions Club (1 speech)
In January this year I visited Lismore, in New South Wales. Every time I go to Lismore, I'm struck by the resilience and the camaraderie that characterises this town and the spirit that they've...
- Tasmania State Election (1 speech)
It is election time in Tasmania, and, entirely predictably, the Labor and Liberal parties are spending much of their time demonising minority government. Both the Labor and Liberal leaders have...
- Genetic Testing: Insurance Industry (1 speech)
In Australia, you cannot be discriminated against based on your race, your gender, your sexual orientation or your disability. That would be against the law. However, the law explicitly permits...
- Dunkley By-Election (1 speech)
Today I want to shine a spotlight on an individual who embodies the spirit of dedication, community service and resilience: Nathan Conroy. Nathan has an incredible backstory. His journey is one...
- COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
Today has seen an important victory in the fight for freedom and human rights in Australia. Queensland's Supreme Court today determined that COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed on police and health...
- Western Australia: Nurses (1 speech)
STEELE-JOHN () (): Nurses are the bedrock of our community. They should not have to fight to be paid what they are worth. And they should not be forced to take on many shifts—double or...
- Energy (1 speech)
The recent blackouts experienced in Victoria are a stark example of the vulnerabilities of our power grid. These blackouts are further evidence that the government's Rewiring the Nation policy is...
- Labour Movement Internship (1 speech)
I rise to give recognition to the Labour Movement Internship program, founded by former senator Chris Evans way back in 1996. Chris Evans sustained this program even while he was government...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
On 1 July every Australian worker will get a tax cut, and 84 per cent will get a bigger tax cut under Labor. That's because our government is working hard to ensure that Australian workers earn...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Middle East (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. Media reporting yesterday revealed that Leila Khaled, a pro-Palestinian terrorist who hijacked two planes and...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Republic of Fiji: Parliamentary Delegation (1 speech)
I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Fiji, led by the honourable Speaker. On behalf of all senators, I...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Gender Equality (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. Today the Albanese government delivered on an election promise and published the individual gender pay gaps of Australia's largest...
- Dunkley By-Election (23 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. Does the Prime Minister agree with Labor's candidate in the seat of Dunkley that the referendum result was a...
- Gender Equality (9 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Finance and Women, Senator Gallagher. Today's release of employer-level gender pay gap data by the excellent WGEA is a move that the Greens have long called...
- Housing (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Minister Watt. At the last election Labor promised to help more...
- Commonwealth Grants (10 speeches)
My question is for—
- Biosecurity (10 speeches)
I direct my question to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Watt. Considering the current cost-of-living crisis affecting Australians, can the minister explain the...
- Tasmania: Australian Defence Force Facilities (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Watt. A new $20 million cadet facility in Launceston was promised under the 2017 Launceston City Deal, but seven...
- Taxation (10 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. From 1 July, the Albanese Labor government is delivering a tax cut to every Australian taxpayer which is...
- New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (19 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Gallagher. The auto industry released modelling to show Labor's family car tax on SUVs, four-wheel...
- Taxation (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Minister Watt. The Albanese government went to the election promising to rebuild Australia's manufacturing...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (16 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to all coalition questions without notice asked today. Today, we heard about a deferral and an avoiding of the reality when it...
- Gender Equality (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance and Women, Senator Gallagher, to a question without notice I asked today relating to gender equality. People...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (44 speeches)
by leave—I move: 1) the Senate notes that: a) during Question Time today, Prime Minister Albanese said "what the Senate can do with the support of the Liberals and the Greens is to vote for...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
PRESIDENT (): I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That on Thursday, 29 February 2024, at 3.30 pm, the order of the day proposing the disallowance of instruments made under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 be called on and...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Address by President of the Philippines (1 speech)
I move: That— (a) on Thursday, 29 February 2024, the sitting of the Senate be suspended from 10.10 am till the ringing of the bells, to enable senators to attend an address by His...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
On behalf of Senator Gallagher I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed works be referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings: Crimes Amendment...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Higher Education Loan Program and Australian Taxation Office Payments System; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) order for the production of documents no. 374, agreed to by the Senate on 7 November 2023, relating to the Minister for Education's review of...
- National Security; Order for the Production of Documents (9 speeches)
At the request of Senator Paterson, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 28 February 2024, the...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that in response to orders relating to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Financial Sustainability Framework (orders nos 229, 253 and 315) ministers...
- Legislation Committees; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
At the request of Senator Hume, I move: That— (a) there be laid on the table by each chair of a Senate Legislation Committee, in respect of questions taken on notice in that committee...
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
I, and also on behalf of Senators Birmingham and Paterson, move: That the Senate— (a) notes that on 28 November 2023, the Senate agreed to order for production of documents no. 405, which...
- Digital Transformation Agency; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Hume, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Finance, by no later than 3 pm on Thursday, 29 February 2024, any documents, emails, or other...
- Parliament House: Accessibility; Order for the Production of Documents (5 speeches)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the President of the Senate, by no later than 4.30pm on Wednesday, 28 February 2024, the draft report on the accessibility of Australian Parliament...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Albanese Government (7 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 27 February, from Senator Hanson: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That,...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Albanese Government (11 speeches)
A letter has been received from Senator Liddle: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The Albanese...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Racism (9 speeches)
During the first week of the parliamentary calendar year, I spoke on the issue of antisemitism in my home state of Queensland. I spoke about the fact that I've been approached by members of...
- Pharmaceuticals (1 speech)
Where's the scrutiny on our health authorities? During COVID, drugs were rushed through that would never have been approved on safety and efficacy grounds, such as molnupiravir and remdesivir....
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Last week was a significant occasion in Perth. We hosted the Prime Minister and the cabinet in our wonderful city during an unprecedented heatwave. This month alone, Perth has experienced a...
- Law Enforcement, Royal Australian Navy, Assange, Mr Julian Paul (8 speeches)
One year ago, in front of the Iranian embassy, Hamid Sotounzadeh was violently assaulted by a member of the AFP, when all he was doing was exercising his right to peacefully protest. Just this...
- Environment (2 speeches)
It's most 10 years since I gave my first speech in this place and I talked about my work as an activist on forests and climate and my hopes of what could be achieved in my time in the Senate. I...
- Israel (1 speech)
Like all Australians, I was horrified by the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli families on 7 October 2023. The hostages taken must be released. There is simply no excuse or justification for...
- Racism (1 speech)
This is not my first speech. I want to talk this evening about some of the domestic consequences we're seeing of the conflict that Senator McCarthy just referred to. Regardless of your views on...
- Dementia, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (57 speeches)
I want to put on the record how wonderful the first Parliamentary Friends of Dementia event for 2024 was. Today in this building we heard from wonderful advocates of this terrible disease. Tears...
