Senate Speech – Department of the Treasury
On the attendance, if I could, this is a continuation of a disturbing culture of secrecy we continue to see from the Albanese Labor government. Don’t just take my word for it. The Centre for Public Integrity released a report card on the Albanese Labor government’s failure to be appropriately transparent. The first point they […]
Senate Question Time – Questions from Scarr to Watt – Immigration Targets
Thank you, President. My question is the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Senator Watt. Net Overseas Migration for the year up to 31 March 2025 was 315,900, which is 46% higher than the 10-year average before the covid nineteen pandemic. That is 34% higher than the long-term assumption used by the Centre for Population […]
Senate Speech – Oakleigh Glendi & Economy
I was delighted on Sunday to attend the Oakleigh Glendi in Melbourne with the opposition leader the Hon. Sussan Ley MP and our wonderful Greek Australian community. Held over two days the festival attracted an extraordinary 40,000 attendees. I pay tribute to all of the organisers, sponsors and volunteers. I’d like to pay special tribute […]
Senate Speech – Take Note – Migration
I asked a number of very simple questions for which it’s reasonable to expect the government has an answer. I asked the government what its short-, medium- and long-term targets are for permanent migration and net overseas migration. I asked these questions in the context of great concern in the Australian community around levels of […]
Senate Speech – Order for the Production of Documents – Social Media Ban
I, too, rise to register my concern in relation to the response of the government to the orders which were passed by this Senate, by our institution, to seek these important documents. This is a policy area of great concern to many Australians, and my office is receiving a lot of contact in relation to […]
Senate Speech – Racial Discrimination Act 1975: 50th Anniversary
It’s a great honour and privilege to contribute to this recognition of the passage of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, and, in doing so, I acknowledge that the Liberal Party of Australia supported the passage of this act. I would like to quote from one of my boyhood heroes, someone who means a great deal […]
Senate Speech – Melbourne Failed Attack
Earlier this year, a 27-year-old woman was killed in her home in Melbourne after a failed attack by gangs involved in the illegal tobacco trade targeted and burned down the wrong house. Will no further lives be lost, businesses be firebombed and robberies occur now that this disruption group is finally in place? Senator WATT […]
Senate Speech – Illicit Tobacco
As a senator from the beautiful state of Queensland, my question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Minister Watt. The Illicit Tobacco National Disruption Group was finally established to combat the explosion in criminal activity, including in my home state of Queensland, surrounding the illegal tobacco trade in Australia. The […]
Senate Speech – CMFEU
I’m very pleased to rise in support of this motion. At the outset, I’d like to address some of the arguments that were made by Senator Tony Sheldon. I have a lot of respect for Senator Tony Sheldon. I have a lot of respect for his advocacy for workers in the Transport Workers’ Union when […]
Senate Speech – Sudan
My thoughts this evening are with the Sudanese Australian community, with the horrifying reports of the massacre of more than 2,000 civilians by the Rapid Support Forces group in the famine stricken town of El Fasher in Sudan. The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale have been monitoring the awful situation in Sudan at the moment, […]