Senate Speech – Take Note – Mixed Messages
Well, perhaps one of the most damning facts of all is that the level of consumer confidence in this country is at its lowest point in 50 years. That is truly a damning statistic, because one of the fundamental obligations of the federal government is to provide confidence to the Australian people—confidence to employ their […]
Senate Speech – Take Note – Fuel Supply
think one of the best tests of whether this Labor Government is handling this crisis appropriately is to look at consumer confidence and the confidence of the Australian people. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level in 50 years—its lowest point since 1972. The Australian people have lost confidence, and that, perhaps more than anything […]
Senate Speech – Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
I must say that the there are some deeply troubling aspects in this bill. I start at the front, in terms of the objective. The legislation proposes a national tertiary education objective that is meant to guide the ATEC in the performance of every function and exercise of every power. Let me read this objective. […]
Senate Speech – Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
I associate myself, in particular, with the last remark Senator Shoebridge made in relation to our last Senate estimates hearing with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Senator David Pocock participated in that estimates hearing as well. I wholeheartedly agree that there are a number of fundamental issues in relation to how, in particular, the Department […]
Senate Speech – Waste Management and Recycling
My question is also to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The ABC has reported that waste industry leaders across Australia, including the Waste Recycling Industry Association in my home state of Queensland, have warned Minister Bowen that hospitals, aged-care homes, supermarkets and households depend on continuous waste removal and that public health […]
Senate Speech – Fuel Shortage Motion
Acting Deputy President and I will read the motion for those who are listening to the debate and those who are here to listen, the need for the Albanese Labor government to stop blaming others and take responsibility for fuel supply disruptions and rising prices by explaining how fuel will be delivered to Australians despite […]
Senate Speech – Women in Parliament, Endometriosis, Veterans & Nowruz Celebrations
Deputy President, I should say at the outset that, in terms of the Coalition and women representing the Coalition in this place, one of the reasons Senator Mulholland was able to make the cheap crack she just made is that so many of the women serving the Coalition in the Senate are on the front […]
Senate Speech – National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Queensland) Inc & Doomadgee Future Planning Project
Before I begin with my prepared remarks, I would like to compliment Senator Tyrrell on that fine contribution. I think all fair minded people in Australia would welcome that contribution. I congratulate the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia (Queensland) Inc.; its president, Tony Stevenson OAM; all of the members of the executive; and their wonderful […]
Senate Speech – Fuel Shortages
What the Australian people expect from their government is an ability to answer reasonable questions from the opposition in Senate question time and, in a measured and considered way, outline to the Australian people what they’re actually doing. And yet what we’ve seen from government senators in this take-note period has been simply attacks on […]
Senate Speech – Aged Care
I’d like to associate myself with Senator Green’s remarks. I couldn’t agree more with the observations that she made. I’m rising to speak this evening in relation to this thing called the integrated assessment tool, which is being used by the Commonwealth government to determine home support eligibility. I am becoming increasingly concerned about reports […]