Senate debates

Thursday, 29 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.
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day no. 67 (Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2024) be considered at the time for private senators'...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2024; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2024 enables the manufacturing division of the CFMEU, which includes the textile, clothing and footwear...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I move my amendment to the motion for the second reading of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023: At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate: (a) notes...
• Notices (0 speeches)
  • Withdrawal (1 speech)
    Pursuant to notice given on 28 February, on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 2 for six sitting...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Selection of Bills Committee; Report (43 speeches)
    I present the second report of 2024 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)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That— (a) government business order of the day no. 6 (Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024) be considered from 12.15 pm; (b) government business then be called on and...
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Kovacic for today, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Reporting Date (1 speech)
    Thank you. I remind senators that the question may be put on any proposal at the request of any senator.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Basin Officials Committee, Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations Funding Agreements; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    At the request of Senator Davey, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) on 7 February 2024, orders for production of documents nos. 455, 456 and 457, relating to the Murray-Darling...
  • Department of Social Services; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, by no later than 1 pm on 18 March 2024, every version, including any working drafts, of the National...
  • Department of Health and Aged Care; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) order for the production of documents no. 468 (the order), agreed to by the Senate on 27 February 2024 relating to the final report from the...
  • Department of Defence; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, by no later than 1 pm on 29 March 2024, the following: (a) all correspondence since June 2022...
  • Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, by no later than 9.30 am on Monday, 18 March 2024: (a) any correspondence between the Department...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The government thanks senators who have made contributions to this debate on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023. The purpose of the bill is to strengthen the...
  • Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024 will amend the Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978 to increase the passenger movement charge from $60 to $70 from 1 July 2024. The passenger...
  • Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024; Third Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Albanese government has no tolerance for corruption of any kind, whether in the public sector or the private sector. Foreign bribery is corruption and an insidious problem across the world....
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) Bill 2023; In Committee (27 speeches)
    by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (3) on sheet 2042 together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 1), omit "3", substitute "4". (3) Page 2 (after line 11), after clause 3, insert:...
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (Combatting Foreign Bribery) 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 Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    The Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023 amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to make changes to the purpose, governance, oversight and budgetary...
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Tertiary Education (1 speech)
    The Universities Accord report and the National School Reform Agreement make it clear that more needs to be done to help students from our regions finish school and consider studying at...
  • Dunkley By-Election (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the important opportunity for voters in Dunkley this Saturday. This weekend's by-election is a crucial opportunity to elect a true community champion, three-time Frankston...
  • Gladstone Hospital (1 speech)
    Today I rise to speak on behalf of the people of Gladstone around the utter inadequacy of the Queensland health system in our town. Gladstone Hospital is overrun, underfunded and in desperate...
  • Small Business (1 speech)
    It's the private sector and small business, not government, that is the biggest employer of Australians. Australian small businesses employ more than one million people and add $500 billion to...
  • Victoria: Firefighting Volunteers (1 speech)
    I rise in recognition of our hardworking volunteer firefighters who continue to battle the bushfires currently taking place in my home state of Victoria. I know I speak on behalf of all...
  • Parliamentary Sittings (1 speech)
    When this government was elected it said that parliament would be different, that parliament would be more respectful and more family friendly. Apparently, and I am quoting from the minister's...
  • Aged Care (1 speech)
    It has now been 60 days since the Albanese government missed their own deadline to release their aged-care sustainability taskforce report. This important report will inform the ongoing financial...
  • Childhood Literacy: Toast for Kids Charity (1 speech)
    The Toast for Kids Charity is a Tasmanian based organisation whose stated aim is to 'break the cycle of poverty, poor health, social exclusion, and helplessness, through and by supporting...
  • Albanese Government (1 speech)
    Today the Albanese government sent even more Australian troops to the Red Sea as part of a US bombing campaign on Yemen. Make no mistake, Australia has once again followed the US into another...
  • Worldview Foundation (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about Worldview Foundation, a local charity whose mission is to create strong futures for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous people in Canberra are...
  • Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (1 speech)
    Today is the last day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a month that is incredibly important to many Australians and is led by Ovarian Cancer Australia. Ovarian cancer is Australia's deadliest...
  • Migration (1 speech)
    The Albanese government is consciously making houses and rents more expensive. An immigration flood is worsening the housing crisis. New figures show that, instead of slowing down immigration as...
  • Gender Equality (1 speech)
    This week's Workplace Gender Equality Agency wages data shows that Australian women earn on average about 20 per cent less than men in companies with more than 100 staff. Professional services...
  • Ukraine (1 speech)
    I rise to commemorate the recent second anniversary of the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine. I don't know how many people here yesterday heard the Ukrainian ambassador, Vasyl Myroshnychenko,...
  • Alice Springs (3 speeches)
    A lot is happening in Alice Springs. I want to thank the residents of Alice Springs who've been involved with a number of events that are taking place. Most recently, the 31st Imparja Cup was...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Immigration Detention (24 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. A short while ago the Herald Sun reported that a man released by this government following the NZYQ case was...
  • Taxation (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Labor's tax cuts passed the parliament this week, locking in a tax cut for all Australians on 1 July this year. This...
  • Immigration Detention (22 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. A short while ago, the Australian Border Force confirmed that a convicted sex offender who was released...
  • Great Barrier Reef (18 speeches)
    My question is to Senator Gallagher, the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water. There have been some disturbing reports today that the Great Barrier Reef is on the...
  • Taxation (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science, Senator Watt. The Albanese government is committed to building a future made in Australia and delivering secure,...
  • Trade Unions: Women (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women. Friday next week, 8 March, is International Women's Day, a day to celebrate women's achievements. On 28 September last year, Minister, you wrote: …...
  • Immigration Detention (16 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. As we have heard, the Victorian police and the Australian Border Force have issued statements this morning...
  • National Security (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. When will the government name the former Australian politician that ASIO Chief Mike Burgess yesterday referenced...
  • Taxation (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. The amazing nurses, paramedics, physios, podiatrists and other healthcare professionals who...
  • Immigration Detention (33 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Gallagher. Of the 149 hardcore criminals released by the Albanese government, including many rapists and sex offenders, can...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committees (3 speeches)
    Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs for an explanation of why answers have not been provided to question on notice No. 786 asked...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Immigration Detention (5 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to immigration...
  • Great Barrier Reef (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Gallagher to a question without notice I asked today relating to the Great Barrier Reef. I appreciate that being a minister...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Rice, Senator Janet Elizabeth; Censure (15 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the censure of Senator Rice for engaging in unparliamentary and disrespectful conduct during the address by His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos Jr,...
• Budget (0 speeches)
  • Consideration by Estimates Committee (1 speech)
    I present additional information received by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee relating to the following: Budget estimates 2023-24 (Supplementary)—...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Additional Information (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Chair of the Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Senator Sheldon, I present additional information received by the committee on its inquiry into the provisions of the...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Joint Committee; Report (2 speeches)
    I present the first report of the 47th Parliament of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme on general issues concerning the NDIS, and I move: That the Senate...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Government Response to Report (2 speeches)
    I present the government response to the report of the Environment and Communications References Committee on its inquiry into the impacts and management of feral horses in the Australian Alps,...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (4 speeches)
    My comments go to the Export Control Act 2020 report on livestock mortalities during export by sea for the period of 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023. This report provides no encouragement for the...
  • Department of Health and Aged Care (1 speech)
    The annual report of the Department of Health and Aged Care details all the parliamentary committee inquiries that the department participated in last year. One of those inquiries was the inquiry...
  • Department of Health and Aged Care; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the Aged Care Taskforce.
  • Department of Defence; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the Department of Defence and KPMG.
  • Attorney-General's Department; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table a document relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • Department of Finance; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
    I table a document relating to an order for the production of documents concerning the Digital Transformation Agency.
  • Services Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (4 speeches)
    I table documents relating to an order for the production of documents concerning Services Australia.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Joint Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee, Treaties Joint Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    The President has received letters requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2024, Competition and Consumer Amendment (Fair Go for Consumers and Small Business) Bill 2024; 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.
  • Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2024, Competition and Consumer Amendment (Fair Go for Consumers and Small Business) Bill 2024; 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— AUTONOMOUS...
  • Help to Buy Bill 2023, Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) 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.
  • Help to Buy Bill 2023, Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) 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 speech es read as follows— HELP TO BUY...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Taxation (4 speeches)
    At the request of Senator McKenzie, I move: That the Senate expresses its concern at the Albanese Labor Government's announced family car and ute tax that will drive up the cost of new cars by up...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
    I rise to talk about the Albanese Labor government's unwavering support and dedication to vocational education and a robust TAFE system. After smashing our fee-free TAFE targets last year, with...
  • Somali Community Association of Queensland Inc (1 speech)
    I'm absolutely delighted this afternoon to speak about a wonderful event I attended last Friday, hosted by the Somali Community Association of Queensland Inc. Queensland is truly, absolutely...
  • Early Childhood Education, Western Australia: Schools (1 speech)
    This week I had the opportunity to speak with educators from Goodstart Early Learning, who devote themselves to their profession out of profound love for children and are driven by an unwavering...
  • Norfolk Island (1 speech)
    In his recent address welcoming the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea to Australia, our own Prime Minister said: … every Pacific nation, big or small, has the right to shape its own future...