James Paterson

Latest speeches

1. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 17 September 2026

   • Defence Force Discipline Amendment Bill No.1: Royal Commission justice reforms

     “Thank you, Acting Deputy President, excuse me. I rise to speak on the Defence Force Discipline Amendment (Implementation and Related Measures) Number 1 Bill. The opposition will be supporting this bill. We do so because we recognise both the importance…”

     Watch from 1:33:35

2. Senate Chamber (part 2 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 10 September 2026

   • Government gas reservation policy: Ghosh & Ayres Q&A

     “Thank you, President. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. At Senate estimates on 26 May this year, infrastructure department officials disclosed that they obtained the list of invitation-only projects for funding under the Major…”

     Watch from 25:51

3. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 20 August 2026

   • ASIO Bill: McKim vs Minister: surveillance state and government defence

     “Thanks, Chair. In the abundance of being helpful to assist Senator McKim so he has the time to reflect on this, we've a Royal Commission right now into antisemitism. Standing up in this chamber and accusing other people of being…”

     Watch from 4:17:22

4. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 11 August 2026

   • Question Time: Pacific treaties and regional engagement

     “Thank you, Minister. Senator Paterson. Thank you, Madam President. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Andrew Greene at the Nightly has reported today that the Japanese government was surprised to see confidential correspondence to…”

     Watch from 2:21:35

   • Question Time: Pacific treaties and regional engagement

     “Thank you, Minister. Senator Paterson, first supplementary. Thank you, President. Will the government launch an investigation into how confidential correspondence from one of our closest and most important partners to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was leaked to…”

     Watch from 2:23:21

5. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 30 June 2026

   • Two‑minute statements: One Nation positions and regional, Pacific issues

     “Thanks, president. My question is to the minister representing the prime minister, senator Wong. When did the prime minister first become aware that Labor's tax legislation would impose what has become known as the widow's tax?”

     Watch from 2:10:08

   • Question Time 1: ‘widow’s tax’ and Labor cost‑of‑living message

     “Thanks, president. The minister's reflections on the opposition are interesting but not directly relevant to a 22 word question.”

     Watch from 2:11:12

   • Question Time 1: ‘widow’s tax’ and Labor cost‑of‑living message

     “All good. Thank you. My question, once the prime minister became aware that his legislation contained a widow's tax, what action did he take to prevent the parliament from legislating it? Sorry, president. On on direct relevance, I said... I…”

     Watch from 2:13:32

6. Senate Chamber (part 1 of 2) · Australian Parliament · 23 June 2026

   • Transition to Question Time and CGT startup rules

     “Thank you, president. My question is to the minister representing the prime minister, senator Wong. The government's consultation paper on arrangements for innovative startups proposes one set of capital gains tax rules for small businesses and another set of rules…”

     Watch from 2:10:05

   • Transition to Question Time and CGT startup rules

     “On direct relevance, how the coalition may or may not vote on an upcoming piece of legislation is not relevant to a question. Thank you, senator difference between a small business and an innovative business?”

     Watch from 2:11:41

   • Transition to Question Time and CGT startup rules

     “you for So perhaps we'll work it out after the legislation has passed. The consultation paper refers to concepts such as innovation, commercialization, scalability, and growth potential. Who will determine whether businesses satisfies those tests, and what objective criteria will…”

     Watch from 2:13:16