Senate Summary for 30/07/2025

Session Overview

The Senate of Australia convened on July 30, 2025, with The Hon. Sue Lines presiding. Various topics were covered, including legislative discussions and meetings.

Tabling of Documents

• The Clerk of the Senate tabled documents fulfilling statutory requirements, with full details available in the Journals of the Senate. (Page 1)

Committee Meetings Announcement

Several committee meetings were announced:
– Community Affairs References Committee: Inquiry into aged care service delivery.
– Corporations and Financial Services Joint Statutory Committee: Meeting scheduled for July 31.
– Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committees: Meeting on the same day.
– Private briefing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee. (Page 1)

Consideration of Legislation

• Senator Katy Gallagher (ALP) moved to consider the Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024, which passed for discussion as a private senator’s bill. (Page 1)

Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024

• The bill concerns housing investments linked to the CFMEU through the Cbus superannuation fund.
• Senator Karen Grogan (ALP) emphasized the government’s plans to tackle the housing crisis. (Page 3)
• Senator Malcolm Roberts (PHON) criticized the bill for its association with the CFMEU, calling for market-based solutions instead. (Page 3)
• Senator Maria Kovacic (LP) raised concerns about union ties to the superannuation fund, indicating the need for better governmental accountability. (Page 4)
• Senator Cash (LP) endorsed a separate bill from Senator Bragg, highlighting failures of the government’s housing strategy. (Page 6)

Opposition Views

• Liberal Party senators expressed skepticism about Labor’s housing policies, citing failures in housing stock delivery.
• Senator Duniam called for reforms over ineffective headline policies. (Page 10)

Debate on Universities Accord Bill

Discussions on the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 included:
– Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens) proposed amending to eliminate student debt indexation, discussing fairness in educational funding. (Page 11)
– Government senators defended reforms aimed at alleviating student debt and sustaining the HECS system. (Pages 22-24)

Amendments and Proposed Reforms

• Amendments covered capping indexation and enhancing transparency in student debt management. (Page 33)
• Many proposed amendments were defeated in the Senate, reflecting ongoing debates regarding educational funding. (Page 33)

Closure on Proceedings

The session concluded with personal tributes and a commitment to advancing housing and education reforms. (Page 33)

Personal Tributes and Provincial Matters

• A tribute on page 35 honored Jimmy, a community member dedicated to veterans.
• Senator Dean Smith criticized the Albanese government’s impact on Western Australia’s livestock producers regarding cattle and sheep export markets. (Page 35)

Environmental and Humanitarian Issues

• Senator Peter Whish-Wilson discussed the Middle East and advocated for a humanitarian approach in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Page 38)
• Senator Jana Stewart addressed historical injustices against Aboriginal people and the urgency for treaty reforms. (Page 39)
• Senator Tammy Tyrrell raised concerns over NDIS funding cuts affecting rural health providers. (Page 40)

Housing and Economic Critiques

• Senators criticized the government’s handling of housing and economic policies, focusing on rising homelessness and affordability issues. (Pages 49-57)

Other Key Discussions

• Renewables and energy transitions, particularly concerning coal workers, were highlighted. (Page 41)
• Indigenous issues and accountability regarding governmental harms to Aboriginal people were major discussion points. (Page 42)

Procedural Matters and Legislative Introductions

• Senator David Pocock (IND) introduced the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Communications) Bill 2025, targeting misinformation in political advertising. (Page 68-69)
• Senator Lidia Thorpe called for government action against humanitarian crises in Gaza. (Page 81-82)

Energy Policy Debates

• Rising energy costs were debated extensively, with various senators acknowledging the impact on households and advocating for realistic energy policies. (Pages 93-96)

Early Childhood Education Bill

• The Early Childhood Education and Care (Strengthening Regulation of Early Education) Bill 2025 was discussed, aiming to enhance safety and quality in childcare settings post-scandals. (Pages 98-109)

Adjournment

The session concluded with tributes recognizing contributions from community members, including a tribute to Ramon Frederico for his support to the Vietnamese community. (Page 110)