RECENTLY

While New South Wales has been experiencing severe heatwaves and bushfires, the Treasurer has been laughing while passing coal along the Government frontbench.

RECENTLY

Minister Frydenberg has been left exposed and the government's assault on renewables in tatters after testimony by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) before the Senate Select Committee on the Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World.

Jenny recently celebrated Christmas with Labor party members and supporters in Banks, Gilmore, Cowper, Bennelong, Berowra, Bradfield and North Sydney. 

This week marks the four year anniversary of the Greens voting for a motion to disallow the Murray Darling Basin Plan, in a political marriage of convenience with Bob Katter. In 2012 Senator Hanson-Young described the Plan as a ‘dud’ but voted in support of it this week. 

More than a week ago Labor made the public observation that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is dead. We did so on the back of the very public statements by President-elect Trump that he remains opposed to the trade deal. 

I rise to speak about the relationship between Australia and our close neighbour and friend, Timor-Leste.

I’d like to start by acknowledging that we meet on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people. I pay my respects to their elders, past and present. I would like to acknowledge the family of Mavis Robertson – it is a great honour to give the address which bears her name.

Before turning to the substance of the bill, I would like to take a moment to look at the path it has taken to get here. When the Prime Minister used this bill is a trigger for a double dissolution election, he talked about how important and urgent the bill was. That is not borne out in any way by the path that the bill has taken. 

The One Nation family holiday to the Great Barrier Reef is a joke. It is hilarious that Senator Roberts, who is so keen to insist on—so keen to demand—empirical evidence from others, is happy to conclude that the Reef is healthy based on a single dive. Now, where was that dive?