Senate debates
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meeting is authorised.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That private senators' bills be considered this week as follows: (a) Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban Gambling Ads) Bill 2024, today; and (b) Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Road Safety, Workplace Relations, Taxation (1 speech)
Peter Dutton, the Leader of the Opposition, is coming after truck drivers this election. Last year, 57 truck drivers tragically lost their lives on our roads. Year after year, road transport is...
- Bureau of Meteorology (1 speech)
On 19 September 2023, the Bureau of Meteorology—who we all lovingly refer to as the BOM, despite their failed attempt at changing their brand during desperate floods—announced that an...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
Soon, people around the country will be going to the polls to vote in our federal election. The Greens think that in a wealthy country like ours everyone should have a liveable climate and be...
- Queensland: Floods, Cost of Living (1 speech)
At the outset I'll say that my thoughts and prayers are with those people in my home state of Queensland who are suffering with the devastating floods hitting the Townsville region and hitting...
- Queensland: Floods (1 speech)
I rise today with a heavy heart to speak about the devastating floods currently impacting communities across north and Far North Queensland. In a matter of days, relentless monsoonal rainfall has...
- Federal Election (3 speeches)
This could be one of the last speeches I deliver before being up for re-election in my home state of Victoria. I grew up in regional Victoria, and I've seen firsthand how policies affect regional...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
In the last almost three years, the Albanese government have faced a global inflation challenge and yet, as a government, we have delivered two budget surpluses, reduced inflation from six per...
- Universities, Public Sector Governance (1 speech)
We need to put an end to the culture of obscene entitlement at the top of our universities and federal bureaucracy. This is what my bills will do. A big shout-out to the former senator Rex...
- Australia's Voice (1 speech)
When I announced Australia's Voice in October last year I was criticised for not releasing a policy platform along with the announcement. I still don't see why. Last Sunday, on Insiders, the...
- Energy (1 speech)
Our energy system is incredibly complex, not just from a technical point of view but also geographically, jurisdictionally and politically—and I say 'politically' not just because each of...
- Banking and Financial Services (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak about the banking and financial sector in this country. Events in the last week have shown why we need systemic structural reform in our banking and insurance sectors....
- Western Australia: Roads (1 speech)
For years motorists in Perth's northern suburbs have been calling for action on one of the state's most dangerous and congested intersections: the junction of Erindale Road and Reid Highway in...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
Labor is building Australia's future. But when it comes to Peter Dutton and the Liberals' plan for Australia—they really do have no idea. They've got one very costly but widely discredited...
- Grocery Prices (1 speech)
I went to Coles in Perth to get some stuff for my lunch last week: $10.90 for a block of cheese, $4.23 for a couple of tomatoes, $3.70 for a cheap lettuce, $3.60 for literally the supermarket...
- Australia (1 speech)
(): When I returned to Canberra earlier in the week, I thought I was coming back to the Australian parliament, but, after reviewing a lot of the contributions this week, particularly...
- South Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
(): Thank you, Acting Deputy President Marielle Smith. I think you'll particularly like this contribution because I will be talking about our shared home state of South Australia....
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
Australians are being scammed out of billions of dollars every year, and the big banks hardly seem to care. When criminals raid our bank accounts and we ask for help, the banks turn their back....
- Bureau of Meteorology (1 speech)
It has been reported last weekend by the Saturday Paper that the Bureau of Meteorology has squandered hundreds of millions of dollars on technological upgrades that should have been spent on...
- Economy (1 speech)
() (): At the start of the year, the price of a passport increased upwards of $400. We already had the world's most expensive passport, but the government wanted to make sure no-one catches up to...
- International Relations: Australia and the United States of America (1 speech)
The Albanese government has been complicit in genocide and timid as a mouse when it comes to calling out Israel's atrocities in Gaza, but even they must denounce and oppose the outrageous Trump...
- Economy (1 speech)
The Australian public should be wary when the government boasts about low unemployment. The reality is a large percentage of new jobs that have been created over the past two years have been...
- Victoria: Werribee By-Election, Victoria: Prahran By-Election (1 speech)
From the Prime Minister to the Premier, Labor has failed Victorians and overseen the decay of the once great state of Victoria. That is why it is critical to vote for Steve Murphy in Werribee and...
- Macquarie Point Stadium (1 speech)
I stand for housing, schools and cheaper power bills. I don't stand for a stadium. That's why I got the federal funding for the Hobart stadium GST free. It puts $220 million back in the state...
- Kerr, Ms Samantha, OAM (1 speech)
I stand with Sam Kerr. What Sam experienced that night is what so many black and brown women experience every single day. She had been locked in a taxi for 20 minutes, unsure of where she was...
- Lyons Electorate: Federal Election (1 speech)
In coming weeks, Australians will have a choice—a choice between the distracted Albanese Labor government, whose reckless spending has left Australians stuck in a cost-of-living crisis, and...
- Calare Electorate: Federal Election (1 speech)
It's a privilege to rise in this chamber to speak in support of Dr Julie Cunningham PhD, who has been endorsed as the Australian Labor candidate for the mighty seat of Calare in the upcoming...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Cost of Living (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. In yet another hit to Australians' hip pockets, working household living costs have increased by a shocking 19.4 per...
- Medicare (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Aged Care today announced the Albanese Labor government's landmark...
- National Security (25 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Yesterday the Prime Minister was asked when he was first advised of the planned mass-casualty terror attack against...
- Medicare (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Last month, Cleanbill released their 2025 Blue report, revealing that all across the country GP bulk-billing...
- Cost of Living (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Senator Gallagher. The Albanese Labor government has prioritised the delivery of cost-of-living relief at every opportunity because we...
- Energy (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Watt. According to many reports and warnings from the industry, Australia is this year likely to...
- Small Business (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, more than 27,000 businesses have gone insolvent since the Albanese government was elected in May 2022. The...
- First Nations Australians: Youth Justice (11 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians. You recently met with state and territory Indigenous affairs ministers about the huge number of unsentenced children being held in...
- Vocational Education and Training (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Skills and Training, Senator Watt. Building Australia's future is about creating a better life for Australians, building more...
- Syria: Human Rights, Australian Defence Force (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong. The country of Syria has been overthrown recently by terrorists formerly associated with ISIS and al-Qaeda. There are...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- National Security (14 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the Prime Minister's failure to be upfront and accountable with the parliament and the Australian people in relation to when he became aware of a planned...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Payman, Senator Fatima (1 speech)
by leave—I inform the Senate that I now sit as a Western Australian senator for Australia's Voice. I also inform the Senate that I should be designated as party whip for the purpose of...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (14 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without noticed asked by Opposition senators today. There are two questions I want to focus on. The first are the...
- Medicare (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care (Senator McCarthy) to a question without notice asked by Senator...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Nullarbor Plain (1 speech)
by leave—I table a non-conforming petition of over 17,000 people celebrating the magnificent natural and cultural heritage values of the Nullarbor Plain, including that it contains the...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
Pursuant to notice given yesterday on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I withdraw business of the Senate notice of motion No. 1 for today, proposing the...
- Presentation (1 speech)
I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing 111 not apply to the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025,...
- Withdrawal (2 speeches)
I withdraw government business notice of motion No. 2, proposing the reference of a public work to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: (a) Senator Brockman for yesterday, for personal reasons; and (b) Senator McDonald for yesterday, for personal...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 733 for today.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (41 speeches)
At the request of Senator Chisholm, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that: (i) the Liberals and Nationals have teamed up with the Greens and One Nation to block: (A) faster environmental...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Attorney-General's Department; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Attorney-General, by no later than 5 pm on 10 February 2025, documents, briefing notes, meeting minutes, or correspondence...
- Department of Education, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Home Affairs; Order for the Production of Documents (8 speeches)
I will now move to general business notices of motion Nos 737 to 740, standing in the name of Senator Henderson.
- National Capital Investment Framework; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Prime Minister, by not later than midday on Tuesday, 11 February 2025: (a) any agreement, memorandum or other document...
- Gambling; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 744 relating to an order for the production of documents. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That the Senate— (a) notes...
- Tourism Australia; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister for Trade and Tourism, by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, copies of all letters, briefing notes, meeting agendas, meeting...
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; Order for the Production of Documents (2 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Duniam, I move: That— (a) the Senate notes that: (i) on 29 November 2024, access to documents was sought in relation to the Nature Positive bills currently before the...
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That the Senate— (a) notes that order for the production of documents no. 701, relating to the report to the Australian Prudential Regulation...
- Department of the Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Bragg, I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer, by no later than 11 am on Thursday, 6 February 2025, any reports or documents...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration (2 speeches)
On behalf of Senator Dean Smith, I move: That, if the Treasury Laws Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024 has not been finally considered by the adjournment on Thursday, 6 February 2025...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Cybersafety (8 speeches)
PRESIDENT (): A letter has been received from Senator Payman: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion:...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Central Australia: Crime and Community Safety (9 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter, dated 5 February 2024, from Senator Nampijinpa Price: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Albanese Government, Pensions and Benefits: Cashless Debit Card (1 speech)
Well, the chaos was immediate when the Albanese government did nothing to stop the alcohol restrictions from being lifted in the Northern Territory in 2022. There was no social impact assessment,...
- Cost of Living (2 speeches)
What people look for when they come to this place is a bit of hope. They also seek the truth. They need to hear the truth because what we do here matters. I actually said those words in the...
- Climate Change, Health Care (1 speech)
I speak today for the increasing number of Australians who have to endure relentless heatwaves, impacting not only their safety and wellbeing but also the capacity of our hospital systems to meet...
- Small Business (5 speeches)
(): Right now, small business in this country is being absolutely smashed. Tasmania has seen a massive increase in small business going under: 64 closed their doors in the first half...
