Senator Jenny McAllister will introduce a Private Senator’s Bill to strengthen the oversight arrangements for Australia’s intelligence and security agencies.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
CAPITAL HILL WITH JANE NORMAN
MONDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2020

SUBJECTS: Climate change, Labor’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, Intelligence oversight.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP INTERVIEW
SYDNEY
SATURDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2020
 
SUBJECTS: Support for Chinese-Australian community; coronavirus.

The beginning of each year can be a difficult time financially. All the expense of Christmas might be behind us, but for many families the school year brings a whole new set of challenges. The cost of school uniforms, shoes, and backpacks on top of mounting utility bills and rent can feel overwhelming.

Labor has initiated a Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media, to inquire into and report on the risk posed to Australia’s democracy by foreign interference through social media platforms – including Facebook, Twitter and WeChat. The rise of ‘fake news’ and misinformation campaigns present a very real and present danger to democracy not only in Australia, but across the globe. We must protect our democracy from malicious foreign actors.  

Vulnerable consumers will be better protected under proposed legislation set to be introduced into Federal Parliament today. The legislation, to be brought forward by Senators Griff and McAllister, will amend the National Consumer Credit Protection Act (2009) to toughen laws around payday loans and consumer leases to protect Australian families. Almost one million households are now utilising payday loan schemes, leaving many struggling financially due to high fees and interest rates of up to 400 per cent.

The Government has confirmed that on-the-ground drought assistance for farmers over the next four years is just $2.6 billion.

Yesterday was the first day of estimates for the new Government. Three years, three terms in how are they going with accountability? Well not very well.

Yesterday, along with Senator Pratt I lodged a Motion for debate in the Senate, declaring that Australia has a climate emergency and the Government must act. Now, that motion reflects the motion lodged by my colleague Mark Butler over in the House of Representative and it reflects our very serious concern about the Government’s complete failure to deal in any serious way with the great challenge of climate change.

Women in Australia currently retire with almost 50% less superannuation than men and 23% of women retire with no superannuation savings at all. Women in retirement are more likely to face poverty, housing stress and homelessness. Despite this, the Government has failed to specifically include women in the Terms of Reference of their Retirement Income Review.