Senate debates

Monday, 10 February 2025

• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Meeting (1 speech)
    If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme; Order for the Production of Documents (12 speeches)
    The government continues to reiterate its view that it cannot agree with this motion. We do, however, acknowledge the interest in the chamber in continuing to reform the NDIS to get it back on...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (13 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion relating to the consideration of the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025, as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice standing...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading (12 speeches)
    It's clear that the Albanese Labor government loves bureaucracy and waste. It's everywhere you look. Their Future Made in Australia legislation is only going to make the problem worse. We need to...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples: 17th Anniversary (6 speeches)
    As the Minister for Indigenous Australians and also on behalf of the Prime Minister, I table the annual report on Closing the Gap together with accompanying ministerial statements and documents....
• Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
  • Western Australia: Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
    The Labor Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, is trying to rewrite WA's GST history. On the eve of the election, he is out there with state Labor candidates telling people that Labor will...
  • Rinehart, Mrs Georgina Hope, AO, Leader of the Opposition (1 speech)
    What an extraordinary time in Australian politics, because the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dutton, is clearly under the thumb of the richest billionaire in the country, Gina Rinehart. Ms...
  • President of the United States of America (3 speeches)
    It's been less than a month, and already President Trump is turning the rule of law on its head. Mr Trump, of course, is ruling by ignoring laws internationally and domestically. Of course, his...
  • Waste Management and Recycling: Resources Recovery (1 speech)
    It's been a pleasure during this term to serve on the committee chaired by Senator Whish-Wilson that is examining renewables and recycling and the circular economy out there in the world. We're...
  • Universities (1 speech)
    The government's lazy accounting is costing students thousands of dollars. There's a simple fix, but the government just doesn't want to do it. Think about your home loan. Interest is based on...
  • Cost of Living: Health Care (1 speech)
    In listening to everyday Australians across my home state of Queensland, one of our highest concerns is the cost of health care. This Labor government increased the Medicare rebate when they...
  • Australian Constitution (1 speech)
    We've recently heard a lot from Elon Musk about the fact that he's going to implement a DOGE system in the United States to cut down on bureaucratic waste. This particular idea, the need to cut...
  • Aukus (4 speeches)
    Australians, I have good news. At a time when we're being squeezed on our mortgages and in the supermarkets, this news will come as a great relief to everyone. Australia has made its first AUKUS...
  • United States of America: Environment (1 speech)
    Does Donald Trump have a plastic spoon in his brain? As it turns out, very possibly. We know he's been talking a lot about plastic straws lately, so what gives? Donald Trump has said he will...
  • Labor Government (1 speech)
    I want to inform Australians about changes proposed to electoral laws, especially about the gift that Labor is giving itself in the form of compliance funding, courtesy of the Australian...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme, Music Therapy (1 speech)
    Of late, I've been spending time talking to music therapists who operate within my local community and are genuinely very concerned about their future servicing people through the NDIS. Before...
  • Wilson, Cr Digby (1 speech)
    Today I want to introduce to the Parliament of Australia Labor's candidate for the great electorate of Lyne, Councillor Digby Wilson. Digby is a grassroots leader looking to take Lyne into the...
  • New South Wales: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
    It was outstanding to be with the Haymarket Chamber of Commerce on Friday night, as they celebrated the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake. Vincent Lim from the Haymarket Chamber of...
  • Victoria: Firefighters (1 speech)
    ():  Recently, I spent a day in the life of a firefighter at Fire Rescue Victoria's training facility on Wurundjeri country. They say not all heroes wear capes, but now I know they wear...
  • Joyce, Hon. Barnaby (2 speeches)
    I read Paul Sakkal's article in the Sydney Morning Herald with deep concern. The headline read '"Barnaby rule" hides former deputy PM in his seat'. The article said that the Nationals and Mr...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • First Nations Australians (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Minister, while your government was distracted by the Voice, routine business in the portfolio fell away. The...
  • Women's Health (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women and the Minister for Finance, Senator Gallagher. Yesterday, the minister announced an investment of more than half a billion dollars to deliver more...
  • Pensions and Benefits (27 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Labor's hesitancy to end mandatory income management in the Northern Territory became obvious when the member for...
  • Women's Health (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Women and Minister for Finance, Minister Gallagher. I was pleased to see that the Greens-initiated Senate inquiries and the persistent pressure from women...
  • Closing the Gap (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. The Albanese Labor government today released its Closing the Gap annual report and implementation plan. While there is...
  • Education Standards (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, does the mechanism for the mutual recognition of qualifications between India and Australia give equal...
  • Mining Industry (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Wong. According to reports in today's Australian paper, Prime Minister Albanese is planning to tell the Australian...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • Tokataake, the Hon. Willie (1 speech)
    I draw to the attention of honourable senators the presence in the chamber of the Hon. Willie Tokataake, Speaker of the Parliament of Kiribati. On behalf of all senators, I wish you a warm...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Indigenous Australians: Truth-Telling (12 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Today the Prime Minister spoke about learning from the injustices and mistakes of the past in his Closing the Gap...
  • Queensland: Floods (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator McAllister. Over the last week, we have seen ongoing flooding and severe weather impacting communities across North Queensland. I...
  • Australian Public Service (20 speeches)
    My question is for the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, independent analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office has shown that Labor's budget assumes that the...
  • Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. When speaking with workers across my home state of New South Wales, I often hear that the Albanese Labor...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—Earlier today, in debate, I invited the federal opposition to work with the government to make sure that the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025 is passed today...
• Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
  • Answers to Questions (6 speeches)
    I move: That the Senate take note of answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today. Today the opposition asked the government a number of questions...
  • Education Standards (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to my question today relating to education standards. The mechanism for the mutual...
  • Women's Health (1 speech)
    I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to my question today relating to women's health. I asked about the government's healthcare...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (21 speeches)
    I seek leave to move a motion concerning a variation to the hours of meeting and the routine of business. Leave not granted. Pursuant to contingent notice, I move: That so much of the standing...
  • Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
    I move: That general business order of the day no. 83 (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsideration of Decisions) Bill 2024) be considered on Wednesday, 12...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Community Affairs References Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
    I move: That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 26 March 2025: The human cost of experimental child gender treatments in...
  • Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    I move government business notices of motion Nos 1 and 2 together: GOVERNMENT BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 1 That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Consideration of Legislation (2 speeches)
    I move: That, if the Treasury Laws Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2024 has not been finally considered by the adjournment on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, then: (a) the bill be listed as...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I move: That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Treasurer by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 11 February 2025: (a) all correspondence, including letters, emails, instant...
• Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
  • Cost of Living (9 speeches)
    Senator Dean Smith has submitted a proposal under standing order 75: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following...
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Housing (7 speeches)
    A letter has been received from Senator Roberts: Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion: The need for a...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Department of Education, Treasury; Order for the Production of Documents (1 speech)
    I table documents relating to orders for the production of documents concerning the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and meal tax deductions.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings Joint Committee, Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Community Affairs References Committee, Economics Legislation Committee, Economics References Committee, Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, Environment and Communications References Committee, Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, Finance and Public Administration References Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Parliamentary Library Joint Committee, Publications Joint Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    Order! The President has received a letter requesting changes in the membership of various committees.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2024, Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025; 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.
  • Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2024, Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    I present a revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 and move: That these bills be now read a second...
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2024, Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) 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.
  • Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2024, Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) 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 speech es read as follows— COMPETITION AND...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • National Capital and External Territories Joint Committee, Public Accounts and Audit Joint Committee, Public Works Joint Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    The President has received a message from the House of Representatives informing the Senate of changes in the membership of joint committees as follows: Joint Standing Committee on the National...
  • Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference (3 speeches)
    It's not easy to see underneath the waters of Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they're stained by the tannins that flow into Macquarie Harbour. In the main, those...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I remind senators that just before the Senate suspended this morning a division was called on the second reading amendment moved by Senator Cox. We will proceed to that division now.
  • Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024; In Committee (1 speech)
    As we enter the final moments of the committee stage for this part of the evening, I think it's important to recap what we're being asked to support here. Put most simply, Australian industry...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples: 17th Anniversary (6 speeches)
    Australians continue to ask why the vast riches allocated to closing the gap over many years are not producing the intended outcomes. I have been speaking about this, and I've got the report that...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024; In Committee (18 speeches)
    In the earlier part of the committee stage of this bill, I was using the opportunity to put on the record the themes which not just explain but justify the coalition's opposition to this...
  • Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024; Third Reading (1 speech)
    The question is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.
  • Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    Let's be clear: we should all be thanking the Labor Party for us still sitting here at 20 past eight at night when we could have had the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025...
  • Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025; Third Reading (2 speeches)
    As no amendments to the bill have been circulated, I shall call the minister to move the third reading unless any senator requires that the bill be considered in Committee of the Whole.