Matters of Public Importance – Budget – 10 May 2017

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (18:44): I would like to start by heartily congratulating the Prime Minister, the Treasurer, the finance minister and their staff, who have put this 2017-18 budget together. I believe it delivers a responsible, fair and appropriate budget in the circumstances. Our first responsibility in this place, which seems to be forgotten by…

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Statement by Senators – 15 February 2017

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (12:49): In late January this year, as a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I was privileged to participate in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference on the Rule of Law and Human Rights, which was held in Westminster. Mr Graham Perrett, the member for Moreton and the deputy chair of…

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Matters of Public Importance – 13 February 2017

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (16:33): I too rise to speak on this matter of public importance. There are two main points that I would like to discuss today. The first is the nature of the arrangements in Western Australia, about which there has been a lot of misinformation today; the second is the gross disrespect shown…

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Take Note – 1 December 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (15:13): I too rise to take note. I would like to join in the spirit of those opposite in this taking note and take the opportunity to thank many people. First of all, again my behalf, a very deep and profound thank you to the Clerk, Dr Rosemary Laing, for her…

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Disability Services – 30 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (13:20): As we all prepare in this place to return home to spend Christmas with our family and friends, I ask all in this chamber and, in fact, all Australians to consider the plight of over 6,200 younger Australians who will spend this Christmas living in an aged-care facility and not…

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Attorney-General – 28 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (15:08): What absolute hypocrisy and much ado about nothing from those opposite. I listened very carefully to the Attorney-General this morning and clearly, unlike those opposite, I have actually read the material that the Attorney-General has tabled. As a Western Australian who has had more than a passing interest in looking…

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Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013, Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 – 28 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (13:44): I too rise today to speak on the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013. When I worked in the Army I worked for General David Morrison, the Chief of Army. One of the things he said that got a lot of publicity has stuck with me: ‘The standard…

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Racial Discrimination Act 1975 – 23 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (13:43): Today, I rise again in this place to speak on what I believe is an essential pillar of our democracy—that is, freedom of expression. Free speech underpins every successful modern democracy. In fact, there is no greater democratic value or individual freedom more prized or oft cited in the modern…

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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Report – 23 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (16:50): I move: That the Senate take note of the report. In particular, I want to discuss the Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016 which the ninth report considered. Reports in the media last night and today that government members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights are…

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Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016 – 22 November 2016

Senator REYNOLDS (Western Australia) (18:58): I too rise to speak about this disallowance motion on the Legal Services Amendment (Solicitor-General Opinions) Direction 2016. As I said previously in this place, I think the inquiry that was conducted into this matter and the majority report shames all of us in this chamber. Despite what those opposite…

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