SENATOR DEAN SMITH SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMPETITION, CHARITIES AND TREASURY LIBERAL SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA ADDRESS TO THE PHILANTHROPY AUSTRALIA ‘PHILANTHROPY MEETS PARLIAMENT’ SUMMIT Parliament House, Canberra 24 October 2023 Opening remarks Good morning, I begin by acknowledging Philanthropy Australia co-chairs Amanda Miller and Lisa George, and CEO Jack Heath – and, of course, the…
Senator Dean Smith Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Tuesday 8 August 2023 Old Parliament House, Canberra Opening remarks I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. And I extend the Coalition’s appreciation…
Introduction I rise to speak on the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) Bill 2023. I come to this debate from a unique position. As a new Senator in 2012, I led a small group of Coalition Senators to successfully argue against the Gillard Labor Government’s proposal to recognise local government in the…
Addressing the military coup in Myanmar remains one of my top priorities and I’m committed to ensuring the Australian Government’s response reflects the seriousness of the situation. A Senate Estimates hearing was an important opportunity to raise issues and questions with Foreign Minister Marise Payne and her officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and…
Estimates hearings are a chance for Senate Committees to ask questions about how the Government is spending taxpayers’ money. I asked an Australian Tax Office representative for an update on a tax scam that affected WA’s Kimberley. It’s alleged more than $20 million was falsely claimed through the scam, which was first brought to my…
The fight to restore democracy in Myanmar will not be in vain. A petition against the military coup, signed by hundreds of affected people, has been given voice in the Australian Parliament. Speaking in the Senate, I assured the people of Myanmar – and Burmese communities here and around the world – that we share…
The National Redress Scheme is delivering real results for survivors of institutional child sex abuse, but we must never stop improving it. In the Senate, I spoke about the special attention that must be paid to two groups in 2021 – the “Fairbridge kids” and Indigenous survivors. I also shared the important insights picked up…
Congratulations again to RSL Wanneroo Sub-branch on their new clubrooms and exciting plans for the future! It was a privilege to share the news in Parliament and pay tribute to the great work its members are doing in our community.
Derby District High School students and teachers were being failed by the WA Labor Government – with crumbling asbestos buildings and insufficient toilets and showers. Here’s what I had to say about it in Parliament.
WA’s job-creating businesses need to be supported and encouraged, not bound in red tape and subjected to attacks from activist groups! I took the opportunity in Parliament to talk about the negative experiences of fertiliser producer Yara Pilbara, which operates a significant plant in the region. Our State’s mining and resources sector has been a…