Senate Summary for 13/02/2025

Senate Session Overview (February 13, 2025)

Opening Proceedings

• Chaired by President Senator Sue Lines at 09:00, included acknowledgment of country and prayers (page 0).
• Clerk tabled documents as listed on Dynamic Red, noted in Senate Journals (page 1).

Key Legislative Discussion

• Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Amendment (Consideration of UNDRIP) Bill 2023
• Advocacy by Lidia Thorpe: Independent Senator for Victoria emphasized Indigenous rights and UNDRIP considerations during the bill’s second reading (page 1). Criticized the Labor Party for insufficient action against Indigenous issues and called for cross-party support.
• Response from ALP: Senator Lisa Darmanin reiterated Labor’s commitment to UNDRIP principles, especially related to the Closing the Gap initiative (page 2).
• Support from Senator Dorinda Cox: Commended Thorpe and argued for a broadened human rights definition within Australia, criticizing delays on Indigenous affairs (page 4).

Legislative Motions and Government Stance

• Government dismissed calls to amend the bill for UNDRIP consideration, citing existing frameworks as sufficient (page 6).
• Lidia Thorpe’s Continued Advocacy: Called for stronger legal protections for Indigenous Australians (page 6).

Voting Outcomes

• The Senate faced divisions on motions related to UNDRIP support, reflecting a complex political landscape influenced by crossbench voices (page 6-9).

Additional Legislative Discussions

• Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and Workplace Gender Equality Amendment Bills were tabled amidst appeals for renewable energy and gender equality measures, especially in light of living cost pressures (page 10-14).
• Government emphasized policies aimed at closing the social gap while opposing what they perceived as economic destabilization advocated by the opposition (page 15-20).

Right to Protest Bill 2025

• Introduced to protect the right to protest in line with international covenants, criticizing state-level restrictions (page 29). Concerns raised about democratic engagement and accountability from both Labor and Greens policies (page 29).

Gambling Regulation Discussion

• A report discussed gambling’s economic impact and associated harms, revealing Australians spent $244.3 billion on gambling in 2022-2023 (page 32). Public distress over issues like animal cruelty in racing highlighted concerns around institutional integrity regarding funding (page 32).

Ongoing Legislative Procedural Matters

• Procedural Motion by Senator Steph Hodgins-May allowed expedited consideration of the Early Childhood Education and Care Bill (page 35).
• Senator Katy Gallagher attempted to include gender equality targets in the motion but was denied, with a narrow vote against the motion to suspend standing orders (page 35).

Legislative Divisions and Conflicts

• Multiple divisions showcased sharp divisions on superannuation amendments, with votes displaying contentious political discourse (page 39-43).
• Ongoing discussions about public health legislation related to engineered stone and further debates on energy infrastructure were noted (page 44-45).

Conclusion and Commitments

• The session concluded with remarks on the Veterans’ Entitlements Bill, indicating continued legislative support for enhancements to care arrangements for veterans (page 48).