Senate debates
Monday, 25 March 2024
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
As there are no objections, the meeting is authorised.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Israel (19 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to military equipment trade with Israel, as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in the name of Senator Waters, I...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (1 speech)
Today I rise to address the potential impact of the government's proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard on both new car dealers and consumers. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to meet...
- Albanese Government: Economy (1 speech)
The Albanese government is delivering on our commitment of good, secure, well-paid jobs for all Australians. We want more Australians in secure work, and we want them to earn more and to keep...
- Koalas (1 speech)
Last month, horrific footage emerged in South Australia of koalas swinging from falling trees on Kangaroo Island as the forest was being logged. It was harrowing to see these poor koalas clinging...
- Easter (1 speech)
Yesterday I was honoured to attend the Assyrian New Year celebration in Western Sydney, a testament to multicultural Australia. It caused me to pause and reflect, particularly with yesterday...
- Paid Parental Leave: Superannuation (1 speech)
When it comes to paid parental leave, we know that expanding access is good for women, good for their partners, important for their babies and beneficial for our broader economy. It's also a key...
- Easter (1 speech)
In this week before Easter, I'm reminded of an old joke: Pontius Pilate said to Joseph, 'I don't understand, Joseph; you are a wealthy man and you have spent a fortune building a tomb for...
- Northern Territory: Crime (1 speech)
This morning I was disgusted to view footage of a 16-year-old girl being beaten very harshly on the main street of my home town of Alice Springs by a group of women. Those women, I could hear in...
- Religious Discrimination (1 speech)
Today—and I welcome it—Equality Australia launched their groundbreaking report on LGBTIQ+ discrimination in religious schools. The findings, unfortunately, do suggest this type of...
- Great Southern Reef (1 speech)
Australians are very familiar with the Great Barrier Reef and the many challenges it faces in a time of climate emergency, including coral bleaching from warming oceans and marine invasive...
- Religious Discrimination (1 speech)
I always thought that freedom of religion and freedom of association were foundational freedoms beyond interference from government, but, hey, I guess I was wrong. You can imagine my shock when...
- Rees, Ms Suzanne (Sue), OAM (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about my friend Sue Rees, a woman who has spent years creating opportunities for girls and young women in Tasmania. I first met Sue while I was at high school when she...
- Housing, Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
Over 4,500 Tasmanian families are on the waiting list for a home, and they'll wait for almost two years to get one. Wherever you go in Tassie, housing is front of mind for most people. If you're...
- Aukus (1 speech)
Last week I asked Minister Wong about AUKUS. It turns out the mind-boggling 368 billion taxpayer dollars for nuclear submarines doesn't even include the cost of managing and storing nuclear...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending a community meeting in the small rural Victorian town of Dederang, where they are fighting back plans to build two huge battery storage systems...
- Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024 (2 speeches)
I rise to speak this afternoon on the new scourge on our community—that is, vaping. I have mentioned many times in this place how disappointed we are in the Liberals, Nationals and Greens...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. Your colleague Minister Bowen has repeatedly claimed Labor's family car tax is based on the...
- Cost of Living (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. I am aware that Minister Burke has said that boosting and protecting wages is a key...
- Indigenous Protected Areas (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Minister Gallagher. The government's first legislative change following the referendum is the offshore worker...
- Gender Equality (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. I note the minister recently launched Working for women: a strategy for gender equality, which identified a number of areas of focus,...
- Migration (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and the Minister representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional...
- Taxation (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. Last year when asked whether or not the Albanese government would reduce the fuel tax credit for off-road use,...
- Koalas (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Wong. Minister, native forest logging is destroying critical habitat and pushing our endangered...
- Energy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. In this morning's Age newspaper I read that large investors and super funds are increasingly...
- Cybersecurity (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Earlier this month, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would require ByteDance—a...
- Housing (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Senator Farrell. I hear regularly from constituents in my home state of Queensland about the challenges of...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (7 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. What we saw today was more spin from the government in relation...
- Migration (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Watt) to a question without notice I asked today relating to immigration....
- Indigenous Protected Areas (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to offshore gas exploration. During the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That general business order of the day no. 69, Competition and Consumer Amendment (Divestiture Powers) Bill 2024, be considered on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, at the time for private...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Postponement (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the business is postponed.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator McGrath for today for personal reasons; and (b) Senator Reynolds for 25 to 27 March 2024 on account...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Fair and Transparent Elections Bill 2024 (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 499. Leave granted. I amend the short title of the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fair and Transparent Elections) Bill 2024 to read...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Energy (9 speeches)
A letter has been received from Senator Canavan: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: Labor's...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Endangered Species (8 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 25/03/2024, from Senator David Pocock: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- National Library of Australia (2 speeches)
The President has received a letter from the Leader of the Government in the Senate nominating Senator Walsh to be a member of the Council of the National Library of Australia.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- First Speech (0 speeches)
- Ghosh, Senator Varun (2 speeches)
Order! Before I call Senator Ghosh, I remind honourable senators that this is his first speech; therefore, I ask that the usual courtesies be extended to him.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Functional Neurological Disorder (1 speech)
25 March is the awareness day for a neurological condition that many people have never heard of. Until two years ago, I didn't know what functional neurological disorder was myself. But,...
- St John Eye Hospital (1 speech)
I wish to provide senators with an update on the incredible humanitarian work of the St John Eye Hospital in the Holy Land. Senators would be aware from my previous contributions to the Senate of...
- Community Television (1 speech)
One Nation supports the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Television) Bill 2024. Across community television and radio, 17,000 volunteers and almost 1,000 employees generate $250 million...
