Parliament

I, and also on behalf of Senators Di Natale and O'Neill, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with deep concern the findings of the:

   (i) Charles Sturt University's report Islamophobia in Australia 2019, which shows:

      (A) between 2016 and 2017, 349 incidents of anti-Muslim racism reported to the lslamophobia register,

      (B) severe attacks requiring hospitalisation more than doubled from 2% to 5%,

The Greens have made it very clear that we oppose this bill. We don't like this bill at all. That's because this bill is a clear attack on workers and on unions and their members. This bill is a political and ideological attack on unions and their members and also the ability for unions and their members to work for the good of working people and for a fair and just society for everyone. This bill is anti-democratic, and that's why the Greens strongly oppose this bill.

I rise to take note of the report on the feasibility of a National Horse Traceability Register for all horses, and I want to start by saying how excited I am that we are at the point of unanimous recommendations from Liberal, Labor and Nationals—and, of course, the Greens—that we need a National Horse Traceability Register in Australia. As the report shows, there are so many benefits that will come from having this register. To think that we don't even know how many horses there are in Australia at the moment really is an eye-opener.

I table a nonconforming petition relating to truth in election advertising, and I seek leave to make a short statement.

The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Fawcett ): Leave is granted for one minute.

I, and also on behalf of Senator Ayres, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans,

   (ii) according to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 125 million people around the world continue to be exposed to asbestos at work, including in Australia's neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, and the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos,

   (iii) Australia is a founding member of the Asian Development Bank,

I rise on behalf of the Greens to speak to the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019. The Greens strongly oppose this bill. This bill is nothing but a politically motivated attack on unions. It's laughable that the words 'ensuring integrity' form part of the name of the bill when we know that there is not an ounce of integrity in this government and their intentions with this bill. There is not a skerrick of integrity in you lot, and you have proven that again today by disrupting the business of the Senate, and for what?

'We are mothers, wives and daughters, and we deserve to feel safe wherever we go.' Those are Rana Elasmar's words. Last week she was with friends in a cafe in Sydney when a man approached their table. He shouted racist vitriol at her, punched her and then stomped on her head. She was the target of racist violence, as so many other Muslim women have been. The footage of the attack is absolutely sickening. Even those who do not know what it is to live life in constant, lingering fear of racist violence and abuse could not be unmoved by the brutal inhumanity of the attacker's hate.

Thank you, Mr President. Early childhood education and care play an important role in children's development and do support families with young children. It doesn't matter what you earn, where you live and how much you work or study, your child should get the education and care that they need. Universal access to early childhood education should be extended to all three-year-olds and four-year-olds on an ongoing basis.

Senator Faruqi: To move—That the Senate—

(a) notes that on 17 October 2019, 7.30 revealed that:

(i) horses bred for racing, and subject to interstate trade, are being sent to knackeries and abattoirs to be slaughtered,

(ii) the horse racing industry produced more than 14,000 foals in the last financial year,

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 238 standing in my name for today, relating to Kashmir, be taken as a formal motion.

The PRESIDENT: Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal? There is, Senator Faruqi.

Senator FARUQI: In lieu of suspending standing orders, I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute.