Senator McKENZIE (Victoria) (18:12): I rise tonight to speak on the report from the Select Committee on Australia's Food Processing sector, for which the government response was handed down this week. As a representative of rural and regional Australia, it was a pleasure to work on this select committee with Senator Colbeck, Senator Xenophon and…
DetailsSenator McKENZIE (Victoria) (16:33): I rise to speak on this matter of public importance. A vote for the state Coalition Government on Saturday in Victoria will deliver strong environmental policies to address climate change and safeguard natural resources in Victoria. What we have before us is proof from the Greens that they struggle to understand…
DetailsSenator McKENZIE (Victoria) (17:26): I am very proud to rise to speak to the government's response to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee report Teaching and Learning—Maximising our investment in Australian schools. I was one of the senators, with Senator Back and others, who contributed to this report. As Senator Back's contribution…
DetailsSenator McKENZIE (Victoria) (17:48): The hypocrisy! The level of debt that was left and the assumptions underpinning those from the other side who have spoken on this particular MPI are absolutely breathtaking. The assumption is that we on this side do not appreciate public broadcasters and do not appreciate the substantial contribution that a public…
DetailsNearly two months ago, I addressed the Senate on why a trade deal with China was so important to our farmers, and I am absolutely thrilled to be standing here tonight to say that the Abbott-Truss government has once again delivered. The signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement yesterday concludes a powerful trifecta of…
DetailsSenator McKENZIE (Victoria) (20:50): Here we are re-prosecuting the rhetoric once again, with the Labor Party and the Greens trotting out their familiar lines. The Coalition believes that every child in this nation is entitled to a great education no matter which school they go to or where they live, which is exactly why the…
DetailsSenator McKENZIE (Victoria) (01:36): It gives me great pleasure to rise tonight to participate in the adjournment debate. This fortnight, government senators have worked very hard to demonstrate to the public the co-dependent relationship between the ALP opposition and the union movement. We have hoped to highlight the abuse of the rule of law, of…
DetailsI rise very proudly tonight to speak to the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014. I also rise to speak as the chair of the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee. We conducted a very comprehensive inquiry into this piece of legislation. There were over 169 submissions and four days of hearings, and…
DetailsTonight I rise to make to make some comments on how the government's higher education reform will expand opportunities for regional students. As Sam Seaborn famously said, 'Education is the silver bullet.' It is critical for our economic and social wellbeing as a nation. I am concerned and frustrated that the benefits have been in…
DetailsI only have a limited amount of time available to me, but I do recognise that government procurement is an attractive option as a solution to shoring up local manufacturers. I understand that. Australian manufacturers would love to have something like the Buy American Act, just as Australian farmers would like our own version of…
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