Senator Kim Carr

Statement

Senator Kim Carr

Labor Senator for Victoria

27 March 2022

I have decided not to seek endorsement for a place on the Labor Party’s Victorian Senate ticket at the coming federal election. When my current term ends on June 30, it will bring to an end my time as a senator, which began in April 1993, when I filled a casual vacancy created by the retirement of John Button.

Being given the responsibility of representing the people of Victoria in the Senate on behalf of the Labor Party has been an immense honour and privilege. The Labor Party’s mission to create a fairer Australia never ends and while I would have liked to have continued to pursue it in the Parliament, issues with my health have made that inadvisable.  In light of recent tragic developments, and following determined urgings from my children, I concluded that it was time for me to reassess my priorities.

The Senate has today established an inquiry into Australia’s administrative review system.

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee has been tasked to report by 31 March 2022 on the performance and integrity of Australia’s administrative review system, with particular reference to:

• the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, including the selection process for members;
• the importance of transparency and parliamentary accountability in the context of Australia’s administrative review system;
• whether the Administrative Review Council, which was discontinued in 2015, ought to be re-established; and
• any related matters.

Parliamentary processes must be strengthened to rebuild public trust in Australia’s democratic system, a Senate committee has found.
 
The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee tabled the report of its inquiry into Nationhood, National Identity and Democracy last night.
 
It is not a typical report by a Senate committee. The report’s recommendations take action to strengthen public trust in democracy.   

SENATOR THE HON KIM CARR  

CHAIR SENATE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS REFERENCES COMMITTEE

SENATOR FOR VICTORIA

SENATOR AMANDA STOKER   

DEPUTY CHAIR SENATE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS REFERENCES COMMITTEE

SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND

INQUIRY INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN

The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee References Committee would like to reject media reports that the committee has not discharge its responsibility to the Parliament and the public in a recent inquiry into domestic violence.   

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has called, irresponsibly and without offering any evidence, for Australian scientists to cease collaboration in virus research with their overseas colleagues.

Senator Henderson was responding to media reports that Chinese scientists from the Wuhan Virology Institute had earlier worked at CSIRO’s laboratories in Geelong.

But her demand would not only mean ending collaboration with China. CSIRO collaborates with a range of countries in virology and other areas of medical research.

The closure of the iconic Holden brand and General Motors’ withdrawal from Australia is as a direct result of the Coalition goading the company to end manufacturing in 2014. 

The automotive shut down has been a catastrophe, brought about by Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey, but the Prime Minister Scott Morrison had a seat at the Cabinet table.

They showed no regard for the consequences of their actions, and still don’t.

I will not renominate to be part of the next Labor Shadow Ministry.

I have spoken to Anthony Albanese and told him that I wish him well and the new leadership team every success. Millions of Australians rely on Labor and Labour movement, and I am confident that Labor can regroup and win the next election.

A Shorten Labor Government has announced it will invest $5 million to help establish a Digital Skills Centre of Excellence.
 
This election will be a choice between a united Shorten Labor Government which will give Australians the training they need to get the jobs of the future, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.
 
Labor will work with state or territory governments as an equal partner to support the development of the Centre.

A Shorten Labor Government will invest $25 million to upgrade the Burnie Port, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs across regional Tasmania.
 
We need real change – because more of the same isn’t good enough.

Today the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews MP, finally announced “changes” that would allow Australian complementary medicine manufacturers to continue to use the Australian Made logo.
 
The announcement comes as the Morrison Government is about to cross the threshold from unofficial nightwatchman government to official caretaker government.