Parliament

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

   (i) the COVID-19 crisis has further exposed existing inequalities in our broken housing system,

   (ii) renters across Australia face eviction as COVID-19 related eviction bans come to an end across states and territories, and

   (iii) as the economic crisis continues, more people are at risk of homelessness than ever before;

(b) calls on the Government to:

   (i) increase funding for emergency housing,

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) more than 100 greyhounds have been killed at racing tracks across Australia so far this year,

   (ii) more than 3,000 injuries have been suffered by greyhounds at racing tracks across Australia so far this year, and

   (iii) unlike other sports, greyhound and horse racing was allowed to continue during COVID-19 in all states and territories where it usually operates, with the exception of Tasmania;

(b) recognises that greyhound racing is an inherently dangerous and cruel 'sport'; and

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) between World War 2 and the 1970s, the average unemployment rate was 2%, and

   (ii) since the 1980s, 5% unemployment has been considered 'full employment' by most governments, even though it means hundreds of thousands more people either have no work or not enough work; and

(b) considers that:

   (i) 'full employment' should mean what most people think it means, namely that everyone who wants a job can get one, and

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answer given by Senator Ruston to a question without notice asked by Senator Faruqi today relating to animal welfare and live exports.

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (14:41): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management. In 2018, Minister Littleproud said he was shocked and gutted by footage of thousands of suffering sheep being cooked alive aboard the live export ship Awassi Express. All of Australia was shocked and appalled by this unspeakable cruelty to animals which has been going on for decades.

There has been a lot of public discussion in the last few weeks about racism in our society. This has largely resulted from the massive antiracist Black Lives Matter protests that have been held across the world. As I said in the Senate last week, these are long-overdue conversations taking place about the way that racism operates in our society, not just in its interpersonal, everyday, so-called 'casual' forms but also through systems, structures and institutions.

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales) (17:10): I move:

That the following bill be introduced: a Bill for an Act to amend the Fair Work Act 2009, and for related purposes.

Question agreed to.

Senator FARUQI: I present the bill and move:

That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

Second Reading

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) on 2 June 2020 the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment denied live exporter Rural Export and Trading (WA) Pty Ltd RETWA an exemption to new rules which prohibit the export of sheep by sea to the Middle East during the northern summer,

   (ii) on 13 June 2020, the Department back-flipped on this decision, granting an exemption to allow approximately 50,000 sheep to be exported;

 I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 674 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

Senator FARUQI: I move the motion as amended:

That—

(1) There be laid on the table by 7.20 pm on 17 June 2020:

Let's be clear. The live export industry is based on animal cruelty, on animal misery, on blood soaked supply chains, but this government do not give a damn. They have just given an exemption for 50,000 sheep to be sent off to the extreme heat of the northern summer where they will face immense heat stress and they will be at risk of death. You make a mockery of your own rules. You should be ashamed. You don't care about animal welfare. The so-called independence of the department of agriculture is a farce. It's a joke. Ban live export. Shut it down!