I rise today to speak in support of this Bill that supports Australia’s wine producers and the integrity of their product.

I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Recovering Unpaid Superannuation) Bill 2019.

The Coalition Government have a strong record on supporting the small businesses that employ Australians. It is in our blood.

On this side of the Chamber, we believe that Australia’s science, research and innovation system benefits our national interest, through generating economic opportunity, and by improving the life of its citizens.

Science, research and innovation can support innovative businesses when linked with higher education, by providing the ideas, technologies, knowledge and skills that are necessary for innovation and value creation.

Yesterday, I rose in this place to express our condolences to those who suffered loss in the recent devastating bushfires, and to thank those who have worked so hard to combat them.

It was not the time for partisan debate nor expressing outrage on the circumstances surrounding such tragedy, but rather a time for sombre reflection, rolling up our sleeves, or both.

I too rise today to express my condolences on the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the recent fires right across Australia but, particularly in my home state of Victoria.

In this place, I offer my heartfelt grief for all of those who have lost loved ones, friends, livelihoods and homes.

I rise to make a statement on the parlous state of energy supply in Victoria.

My once great state is now facing a high probability of electricity blackouts this summer due to the failures of the Andrews government.

I rise to speak on the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019, also known as the medevac repeal legislation, and to express my emphatic support for the passing of this necessary bill.

I rise to take note of the answer given in question time. As I said in my first speech earlier this year, we are the party of good government. Of that, there can be no doubt.

Good government means good governance, and that means good stewardship of public moneys—something those on the other side know little about.

I, too, thank Senator Gallagher for this opportunity to speak on this timely matter of public importance relating to the coalition's government's support for regional and rural Australia. One thing is extremely clear: the coalition government backs regional Australia. We don't just want our regions to succeed; we want them to thrive. Just like my beloved Collingwood Magpies, we as coalition senators stand side by side with our farmers and small businesses in regional Australia.

I rise tonight to join my colleagues in supporting the Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019, which is currently before the Senate. As some in here would know, I've spent much of my career in and around the energy market. It's clear that we need to bring some sense and some knowledge to this debate, and I hope to do that now.

I rise to take note of answers in question time that highlight the government's positive plan for a strong economy that creates more jobs for Australia. As Minister Cormann has stated in question time today, the fundamentals of the Australian economy remain sound. We have a AAA credit rating, record labour market participation and welfare dependency at its lowest level in three decades.

I rise to support the Treasury Laws Amendment (Ending Grandfathered Conflicted Remuneration) Bill 2019. This bill amends the Corporations Act to end the payment of grandfathered conflicted remuneration to financial advisers.

Equal representation of women in leadership roles across the corporate sector and in public life is a matter of public importance and one that is very important to me. I'm glad to be standing in this place to speak on this topic today. This is an issue affecting young women and girls, because our parliament should be directly reflective of the wider Australian society. Today I welcomed a young woman, Lescinska Fernandez, into my office as part of Jasiri Australia's Girls Takeover Parliament.

Our oceans are choking with plastic and other waste, yet conversations within our community are repetitive, and action needs to move at a quicker pace. Single-use plastics are everywhere. Plastic bags carry our groceries and single-use plastic bottles stack our shelves in our supermarkets despite there being clear alternatives like aluminium and glass. From the comfort of our home, images flash on our television screens of marine wildlife washing up having been tangled in or having ingested a single-use plastic item.

I rise to speak on this matter of public importance. I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue, as it gives those of us on this side of the chamber another opportunity to highlight the coalition government's positive plan for infrastructure. The federal government has delivered a record $100 billion national infrastructure pipeline, which includes $10 billion committed per year over the forward estimates. In the last budget the coalition government also increased support for transport infrastructure by about a third.

I rise to speak on my first address-in-reply to the Governor-General's speech. I note it was also the first speech to this chamber of the new Governor-General, His Excellency the Hon. David Hurley. I congratulate him on his appointment. He comes with a distinguished career of military service to his country—namely, as a former chief of defence forces. Of course, he will be familiar to his current role, having been a governor of New South Wales. I wish the Governor-General and his wife, Linda, well.

We've heard a lot about jobs in relation to this motion. What the senator should be taking note of is that wages have increased across the economy by 2.3 per cent in the past year. So, while the inflation rate is only 1.6 per cent, wages are going up in very real terms. As the senator should know, wages can only go up when conditions are set that way. And, with the headwinds we're facing, our economy is very well set to perform better than all others.

 I note that, while this is the first time I rise to speak in the chamber, this is not my official first speech. I want to thank the Senate for allowing me to speak on a tragic event in advance of my first speech. I rise to raise awareness of an issue of significance in light of a recent tragedy, and I thank the Senate for indulgence to speak on this important matter.