Helen Polley
Australian Labor Party Senator for TAS
Currently sitting
Photo: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Seat and party history (1)
- Australian Labor Party - TAS (Senate) - 1 Jul 2005 to present
- Seat and party records: OpenAustralia member data.
Contact
Office: (03) 6331 2599
'The Charles', Suite 101, 287 Charles Street, Launceston TAS 7250
Office details: Parliament of Australia, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
Contact details on aph.gov.au Profile on OpenAustraliaThese counts cover what is on this site only. They do not measure electorate work or committee work.
Compared with other members
Helen Polley compared with all 76 sitting senators.
Questions asked in Question Time
Higher than 66% of senators- This member
- 14
- Average
- 10.4
- Median
- 10
Debates spoken in
Lower than 58% of senators- This member
- 35
- Average
- 44.8
- Median
- 40
Votes cast
Higher than 79% of senators- This member
- 994
- Average
- 743.0
- Median
- 730
Share of divisions voted in
Higher than 75% of senators- This member
- 89%
- Average
- 69%
- Median
- 69%
Read these with care
- The median is the middle member: half did more, half did less. It is less affected by a few very active members than the average.
- Ministers answer questions rather than ask them, and the presiding officers rarely vote, so their patterns differ.
- Government backbenchers are often given arranged "Dorothy Dixer" questions, which raises their question counts.
- Votes only record ayes and noes, so a missed vote cannot be told apart from a pair (an agreed absence).
- Counts cover only what is on this site, and do not measure electorate or committee work. New members have less history.
Question Time
Question from Helen Polley
The senator asked how the gas reservation reform would deliver affordable gas and support long-term industrial futures. In supplementary questions, she asked why the government prioritised this approach and whether the policy would increase gas supply and lower electricity prices, citing a previous speech by a senator.
Background: The government announced a plan to reserve domestic gas for Australian households and industry first.
Answer from Tim Ayres
The minister stated the plan reserves gas for Australians and industry, strengthening the economy and supporting the energy transition. He argued that opposing gas reservation is incompatible with supporting manufacturing and blue-collar jobs. He confirmed that the policy would increase gas supply and lower electricity and gas prices, noting that Senator Hanson had previously supported this view before changing her position.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the government is delivering change through greater access to TAFE. She requested an update on free TAFE figures and asked about programs to keep workers in industries like early childhood education.
Background: National TAFE Day was being celebrated, recognizing the role of TAFE in training workers.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister reported over 850,000 free TAFE enrolments, including 236,000 in care sector courses and 78,000 in construction. He noted that course completions had grown to over 275,000. Regarding retention, he highlighted the Key Apprenticeship Program, which encourages apprentices to complete their training in housing construction. He criticized the coalition for opposing free TAFE and suggested they could benefit from retraining.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the government is working with industry and international partners to build sovereign critical minerals capabilities and secure supply chains.
Background: Australia holds significant deposits of critical minerals essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Answer from Don Farrell
The minister highlighted the US investment of over half a billion dollars in the Sunrise Energy Metals scandium project near Dubbo, which will create about 100 construction and 60 ongoing jobs. He mentioned the production tax credit starting July 2027 and the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, which enabled a final investment decision for the Arafura Rare Earths project. He emphasized collaboration with trusted partners to diversify global supply.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how new health investments would deliver change for Australians. She later asked about investments in treatments and the threats to these investments.
Background: The member asked about government investments in the health system to make it more affordable and accessible.
Answer from Jenny McAllister
The minister stated that the government was delivering a record $220 billion to the public health system, including $5.1 billion for Tasmania over five years. She highlighted the permanence of 137 Medicare urgent care clinics, which had served three million Australians. The minister noted the expansion of the pneumococcal vaccine program for those over 65 and the addition of cheaper medicines to the PBS, including long-acting insulin and anaphylaxis treatment, capped at $25. She identified the opposition's history of cuts to Medicare and public hospitals, and One Nation's commitment to abolish the TGA, as threats to public health.
Question from Helen Polley
The senator asked for an update on the government's progress in delivering tax reforms. She sought details on how these reforms would assist workers, businesses, and first home buyers.
Background: The Prime Minister announced progress on tax reforms aimed at helping working Australians and first home buyers.
Answer from Penny Wong
The minister outlined three goals of the tax reforms: aligning tax treatment for income from work and other sources, helping Australians enter the property market, and improving productivity through investment and innovation. She stated the reforms would cut taxes for more than 13 million workers, support 75,000 additional homeowners, and deliver $3.8 billion in measures lowering taxes for businesses and startups. She also noted a reduction in compliance costs by $540 million annually. In response to supplementary questions, she confirmed that 2.7 million active small businesses, representing 98 per cent of all active businesses, would be eligible for capital gains tax concessions. She warned that the opposition parties were likely to block these reforms.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the government's budget supported Australians facing cost-of-living pressures and delivered for all citizens. She further inquired about the budget's contribution to fiscal repair and why this task was important.
Background: The question sought to highlight the government's responsible budget approach amidst global oil shocks and inflationary pressures.
Answer from Katy Gallagher
The minister outlined the budget's five-part economic strategy, including fuel security, assistance with living expenses, productivity, tax reform, and responsible management. She noted a new $250 Working Australians Tax Offset for 13.3 million workers from late 2027, bringing total tax cuts to up to $2,816 for the average worker by 2028. The minister stated the budget was $44.9 billion stronger than the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook and included $63.8 billion in savings, contributing to almost $180 billion in total savings since the government took office.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked for an update on the new powers granted to Export Finance Australia to underwrite imports and how these would help secure fuel supply.
Background: National Cabinet met to coordinate future planning and action regarding disrupted global energy market supply chains.
Answer from Tim Ayres
The minister confirmed that legislation to enable Export Finance Australia to underwrite extra fuel and fertiliser cargoes would be introduced. This measure aimed to de-risk private-sector shipments and address regional shortages without replacing domestic market operations. He also noted the government's intervention to keep the Dyno Nobel Phosphate Hill facility operating as a domestic fertiliser producer.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked for an update on domestic fuel supply and government actions to protect businesses and households. She also asked why some buyers were being rationed and why refineries had closed since 2014.
Background: Global energy market volatility continued due to the Middle East conflict.
Answer from Tim Ayres
The minister confirmed that the National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee found no shortage of supply, with stocks of 1.56 billion litres of petrol, 802 million litres of jet fuel, and 2.97 billion litres of diesel. He attributed rationing to spikes in consumer purchasing behaviour. Regarding refinery closures, he blamed the previous government for neglecting national interest and cited Geoscience Australia's finding that conventional oil reserves are depleting faster than new discoveries are made.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the Albanese Labor government was delivering on its commitments to the Australian people regarding cost-of-living pressures, healthcare, and childcare.
Background: The member sought to highlight the government's focus on cost-of-living, Medicare, and childcare.
Answer from Penny Wong
The minister outlined recent achievements, including a $25 billion agreement for public hospitals, PBS medicine caps at $25, and free health advice via 1800MEDICARE. She mentioned childcare subsidies for three days per week and international diplomatic efforts in Timor-Leste and Indonesia. In response to supplementary questions about education, she cited the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, providing $161.2 billion over 10 years for public schools. She contrasted the government's focus on delivery with the opposition's internal divisions.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the government was helping more Australians get lower-cost medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Background: The member highlighted previous cost-of-living relief through Medicare strengthening and PBS medicine cost cuts.
Answer from Jenny McAllister
The minister detailed the cheaper medicines bill, which would cap PBS prescription costs at $25 from next year, saving over $200 million annually. She noted that costs for pensioners and concession card holders would be frozen at $7.70 until 2030. Additionally, she highlighted the listing of new treatments for breast cancer and rare kidney disease, and the inclusion of new contraceptive pills on the PBS for the first time in 30 years.
Question from Helen Polley
The member requested a summary of the main conclusions in the commissioner's report and the way it would guide the next stage of the national plan. She asked for specifics on quantifiable improvements for women and children.
Background: The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner's yearly report was tabled, highlighting ongoing issues despite government investment.
Answer from Katy Gallagher
The minister acknowledged the report's recommendations and highlighted over $4 billion in investment since 2022. She mentioned the permanent leaving violence payment, perpetrator response programs, and an audit of Commonwealth systems. She noted the report would guide the development of the second action plan.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked how the government would fund bulk-billing, lower-cost medicines, and urgent care clinics to help Australians with healthcare costs. She framed the question around the government's priority of addressing financial pressures on families.
Background: The member sought to highlight the government's efforts to alleviate cost-of-living pressures through healthcare investments.
Answer from Jenny McAllister
The minister outlined that the government delivered $3.5 billion in 2023 to restore bulk-billing access for 11 million patients. She announced an $812 billion investment in Medicare starting 1 November 2025, aiming for nine out of 10 GP visits to be bulk-billed by 2030. She also noted the expansion of Medicare urgent care clinics, with 87 delivered against a promise of 50, and a reduction in the maximum PBS script cost to $25, saving over $200 million annually.
Question from Helen Polley
The senator asked what steps the government took to oppose applications to scrap penalty rates and what measures a re-elected government would implement to protect wages.
Background: Before the election, retailers and other industries sought to eliminate penalty rates for staff on incomes under $60,000, which could cut annual pay by as much as $5,000.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister highlighted previous workplace reforms that improved wage growth and gender equality. He stated that the government intervened in current cases to block employers from trading away penalty rates for lower-paid workers. Legislation to protect these rates was introduced by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. The minister emphasised that penalty rates are vital for vulnerable workers, including women, part-time employees, and young people.
Question from Helen Polley
The member asked why closing loopholes in the workplace relations system is important and how the government's policies are helping workers earn more.
Background: One year had passed since the second tranche of the Closing Loopholes legislation passed parliament.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister stated that the legislation has improved work-life balance, job security, and conditions, including a right to disconnect and better pay standards for gig workers. He claimed that four out of five new jobs created in the parliamentary term were in the private sector. He argued that pay and employment had risen while inflation and industrial action had fallen. He criticized the opposition for planning to repeal these protections and for prioritizing big business over workers.
Other Parliamentary Activity
-
Private Health Insurance
Senate · Thursday 17 September 2026 · Take Note Debate
Opened this debate
-
Migration
Senate · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Online Safety Amendment (Strengthening Enforcement for the Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 8 September 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Tobacco Control
Senate · Monday 7 September 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Wednesday 19 August 2026 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Senior Australians
Senate · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 29 June 2026 · Second Reading
Responded as minister
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Thursday 25 June 2026 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 30 March 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Monday 30 March 2026 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
Senate · Thursday 26 March 2026 · Limitation of Debate
Contributed to this debate
-
Fuel Security
Senate · Wednesday 11 March 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 10 March 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Economy, Wages and Salaries
Senate · Wednesday 4 March 2026 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Thursday 5 February 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Monday 24 November 2025 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Housing
Senate · Wednesday 5 November 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025, Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 3 November 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Fair Work Amendment (Baby Priya's) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 3 November 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Thursday 4 September 2025 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Aged Care
Senate · Tuesday 2 September 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Cost of Living
Senate · Monday 1 September 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 1 September 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 26 August 2025 · Second Reading
Opened this debate
-
Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 25 August 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Cost of Living
Senate · Monday 25 August 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Responded as minister
-
Answers to Questions
Senate · Thursday 31 July 2025 · Take Note Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 29 July 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Thursday 24 July 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
His Holiness Pope Francis
Senate · Tuesday 22 July 2025 · Condolence
Contributed to this debate
-
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025; Second Reading
Senate · Wednesday 26 March 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Energy
Senate · Tuesday 25 March 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Albanese Government
Senate · Tuesday 11 February 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
- Votes recorded
- 994
- Aye votes (29.4%)
- 292
- No votes (70.6%)
- 702
Showing the latest 50 votes.
-
Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Second Read
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 21, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Second Read
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 13, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026; Second Read
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 13, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 30, Noes 24 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Corruption in the Construction Industry Select Committee; Appointment
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 21 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Selection of Bills Committee; Report
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 12, Noes 28 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Healthcare With...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 33, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Healthcare With...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Personal Information and Privacy; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 30, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Maritime Industry; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Climate Change; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Census; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 30 · Failed
VOTED NO -
ASECA Judicial Seminar; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 12, Noes 28 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Middle East; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 13, Noes 27 · Failed
VOTED NO -
North to East Australia Pipeline; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 18, Noes 25 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Artificial Intelligence Joint Select Committee; Appointment
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 25 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Artificial Intelligence Joint Select Committee; Appointment
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 26 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Improved Native Forest Management; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 26, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 27, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Middle East
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 32, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Economy
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Trade Unions; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 33, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Consideration of Legislation
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Executive Remuneration; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 26 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 21, Noes 33 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Red Lines Package Omnibus Bill 2026; First Reading
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 39, Noes 14 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Artificial Intelligence
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account)...
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 25, Noes 36 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 25, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Water
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 24 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Cost of Living
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Digital Seller Underperformance Policy; Order for the Production of Documents
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 32, Noes 18 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Health Care; Order for the Production of Documents
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 28 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Intergenerational Trust Fund for the People of the Republic of Nauru; Order f...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account)...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 24, Noes 35 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account)...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 12, Noes 25 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026; Th...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 18 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2026; Se...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 18 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; In Committee
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 21, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; In Committee
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 22 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Consideration of Legislation
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 19, Noes 33 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Artificial Intelligence
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 14, Noes 24 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Carbon Farming Initiative--Improved Forest Management in Multiple-use Public ...
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 27, Noes 34 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO
About this page
This page tracks Helen Polley's parliamentary activity: questions asked and answered in Question Time, debates spoken in, and votes in divisions. Summaries are in reported speech, not transcripts; each one links to the official record.