Senate debates
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That: (1) Today, the hours of meeting be midday to 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm to adjournment, and the routine of business from 8.30 pm be: (a) Budget statement and documents...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (19 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion related to further revelations about the CFMEU's links with organised crime and the consideration of legislation as circulated. Leave not granted. Pursuant to...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Tobacco Regulation (1 speech)
Australia is not an experiment, and its people are not test subjects, but many times we see legislation that, while proposed for some good reasons, looks at things that just don't work in...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
In just a few weeks time Australians will have a clear choice to make about our future in this country: building Australia's future under Labor or going backwards under Mr Dutton and the...
- Television Sports Broadcasts (1 speech)
Watching the football on a Saturday has long been a family staple in many households right across the country. But, of course, thanks to both the Labor Party and the Liberal Party, who last year...
- Bui, Dr Cuong Trong, AM (1 speech)
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon to the Communists. It marks the 50th anniversary of the great exodus of Vietnamese people seeking safety and freedom, many of whom have...
- Cost of Living, Rural and Regional Health Services (4 speeches)
Tonight, our good friend the Treasurer, Mr Jim Chalmers, will hand down Labor's fourth budget and will reaffirm this government's commitment to responsible economic management and a fair go for...
- Tasmania: Fishery Industry (1 speech)
It doesn't seem to matter how many opinion polls the major parties read about their falling popularity. They just don't get the message. Australians don't trust the major parties. They say one...
- Queensland: Natural Disasters (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about an ex. Like many exes, this one left behind a trail of destruction and heartbreak. Yes, I'm talking about Alfred. I want to take this moment to thank the many...
- Cragg, Mr David Keith (Craggy) (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to a Labor true believer, David Cragg, who, sadly, passed away recently. A warrior in social democratic values, 'Craggy', as he was affectionately known, was a fixture...
- Environment (1 speech)
I'd like to do a special shout-out in the Australian Senate today for a very special young man, Spencer Hitchen. Spencer and his family are in Parliament House today. Spencer's been going on a...
- Environmental Legislation (1 speech)
POCOCK () (): This week the major parties are teaming up yet again to ram through bad legislation without any scrutiny. Our laws are again being changed to suit vested interests while the...
- Housing (1 speech)
The Australian dream has long been built on the foundation of homeownership, yet this dream is increasingly slipping out of reach for so many due to Labor's housing crisis, compounded by their...
- Queensland: Parliamentary Representation (1 speech)
This is my last opportunity to speak directly with the Australian people in the 47th Parliament. I thank Queenslanders for the opportunity you've given me on two occasions, in 2016 and 2019, to...
- Homelessness (1 speech)
It is disgraceful that, during a housing and homelessness crisis, Moreton Bay local council, followed closely by Brisbane City Council, announced that they would be evicting homeless people...
- Defence Recruitment (1 speech)
Since my questioning in estimates of the Defence Force about recruitment, I have been overwhelmed by a large number of constituents who have contacted me to say that they have been unable to...
- Leader of the Opposition (2 speeches)
Could the coalition possibly be in more disarray than they are today? You'd think, after nearly a decade of chaos in government and three years in opposition, that they might have developed some...
- Ministry (0 speeches)
- Temporary Arrangements (1 speech)
by leave—I inform the Senate that Senator Gallagher will be absent from question time today, obviously on account of commitments related to the presentation of the budget. In her absence,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. On Thursday last week, at a press conference, the Prime Minister was asked: 'Prime Minister, what did you make of the...
- Cost of Living (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. We know Australians have been facing cost-of-living pressures and that access to affordable health care is a concern....
- Racism (27 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Australian Labor Party posted a meme on their social media platforms on Sunday which is based on a notoriously...
- Environmental Legislation (25 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Minister, is the Prime Minister aware that industrial salmon-farming corporations in Tasmania are responsible for...
- Cost of Living (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. Cost-of-living pressures are top of mind for Australian workers and households. While we are starting to see...
- Energy (26 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Minister McAllister. How many households with an income of $200,000 or more will receive the $150 energy...
- Migration (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Watt. According to ABS data—that's Australian Bureau of Statistics...
- Critical Minerals Industry: Liberty Bell Bay (11 speeches)
My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Science and comes to the financial implosion of Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance. The Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter is...
- Tropical Cyclone Alfred (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator McAllister. Just over three weeks ago, Tropical Cyclone Alfred was bearing down on South-East Queensland and northern New South...
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. On 16 March 2025 there were news media reports in the Age and 60 Minutes of sickening violence and rorts on...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to questions without notice asked by Senators Cash and McKenzie today relating to the...
- Environmental Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice I asked today relating to Australia's environment laws....
- Notices (0 speeches)
- 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 order 111 not apply to various bills, allowing them to be considered during...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Crowley, Hon. Dr Rosemary Anne, AO (7 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death, on 1 March 2025, of the Hon. Dr Rosemary Anne Crowley AO, a senator for the state of South Australia from 1983 to 2002. I call the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Legislation (1 speech)
I move: That general business order of the day No. 64, the Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024, be considered at the time for private senators'...
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Fawcett for today on account of parliamentary business. Question agreed to.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Economy (12 speeches)
Senator Rennick has submitted a proposal under standing order 75 today as shown at item 15 on today's Order of Business: The two major parties have no vision for our children's future. Their...
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- Energy (9 speeches)
I inform the Senate that the President has received the following letter from Senator Scarr: Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Consideration; Tabling (1 speech)
by leave—I table the fifth Islamophobia in Australia report, compiled by the Islamophobia Register Australia and Monash University, as circulated.
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Consideration by Estimates Committees (1 speech)
At the request of the chairs of the respective legislation committees I present additional information relating to estimates. Budget estimates 2024-25—Rural and Regional Affairs and...
- Estimates Committees (1 speech)
At the request of the chairs of the respective legislation committees I present reports in respect of the 2024-25 additional estimates.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Education (1 speech)
by leave—I present to the Senate a petition relating to saving students from toxic culture, with 20,326 signatures. Copies of this petition have been provided to the whips.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Budget (0 speeches)
- Statement and Documents (1 speech)
I table the budget statement for 2025-26 and other documents listed on the Dynamic Red: The Budget 2025-26—Statement by the Treasurer (Dr Chalmers), dated 25 March 2025. Budget...
- Proposed Expenditure (1 speech)
I table particulars of proposed and certain proposed expenditure for 2025-26: Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026. Particulars of certain proposed...
- Portfolio Budget Statements (1 speech)
I table portfolio budget statements for 2025-26 for the Department of the Senate, the Parliamentary Budget Office and the Department of Parliamentary Services.
- Portfolio Budget Statements, Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (1 speech)
I table the portfolio budget statements for portfolios and executive departments as listed on the Dynamic Red: The list read as follows— Estimates of proposed expenditure for...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
Tonight, as a Labor government, we have handed down our fourth budget. This is a responsible budget that helps with the cost of living and, most importantly, builds Australia's future. This...
- Budget (1 speech)
Tonight the government faced a test. Tonight's budget was a test to see if Labor could deliver a budget for the next five years, not for the next five weeks or so, and they have undoubtedly...
- COVID-19: Response (1 speech)
It's now five years since COVID fear gripped this nation, and we can't forget. People were left to die alone in hospital beds, with their families prohibited from visiting them, and funerals were...
- Valedictory (1 speech)
This might be my last opportunity to address this chamber. I'm an optimist, generally, so I had hoped to make my valedictory speech after the election, perhaps even from the seat I sat in when I...
- Budget (1 speech)
In this budget, the Albanese government has again completely failed refugees. The Labor Party went to the last election with a national platform saying that they would increase the humanitarian...
- Archer, Councillor Elsia, OAM, Albanese Government (1 speech)
I begin this evening on a positive note by paying tribute to my friend and an absolute stalwart of the Kimberley, Elsia Archer. The Kimberley, in the far north-west of Western Australia, is a...
- Budget, Pauline Hanson's One Nation (1 speech)
This budget that we've just had delivered is a mockery of governance that seeks to make Australians reliant on government handouts, ensuring power is no longer vested in us, the people, but...
- Budget, Queensland: Community Organisations, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chinese Museum of Queensland, Wang, Mr Jimmy (4 speeches)
The Treasurer has brought down his budget, and I say to the people of Australia: all you need to do is go to page 63 of Budget Paper No. 1 and have a look at the reconciliation of general...
- Media Ownership (3 speeches)
There has never been a more important time than now for strong public interest journalism. There's never been a more important time than now for journalism to be free of commercial and political...
