Sean Bell
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party Senator for NSW
Currently sitting
Seat and party history (1)
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party - NSW (Senate) - 18 Sep 2025 to present
- Seat and party records: OpenAustralia member data.
Contact
Office: (02) 8289 9160
Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices, Suite 8, Level 21, 1 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
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
Sean Bell compared with all 76 sitting senators.
Questions asked in Question Time
Same as the median- This member
- 10
- Average
- 10.4
- Median
- 10
Debates spoken in
Lower than 71% of senators- This member
- 30
- Average
- 44.8
- Median
- 40
Votes cast
Lower than 51% of senators- This member
- 702
- Average
- 743.0
- Median
- 730
Share of divisions voted in
Higher than 64% of senators- This member
- 82%
- 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 Sean Bell
The senator asked whether the government would adopt One Nation's policy to end visa hopping and refuse student visas for low-quality courses.
Background: One Nation proposed stopping visa hopping and low-quality student courses, citing support from economic expert Professor Robert Breunig.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister stated that the government was considering changes to the migration system but would not adopt One Nation's policies, arguing they would cause a recession and staff shortages in hospitals and aged care. He noted that net overseas migration had fallen by 45 per cent in the previous four years. The minister emphasized that the government's approach aimed to balance migration reduction with economic needs, rejecting suggestions that would harm the economy or turn Australians against each other.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked why the government continued to accept migration from countries deemed too dangerous for Australians to visit. He cited specific countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, and asked why the government did not adopt One Nation's security test for migration.
Background: One Nation called for stopping migration from countries where DFAT advises against travel due to terrorism, crime, or unrest.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister stated that migration policies are based on security agency advice and involve strong vetting processes. He criticized One Nation for selectively applying restrictions and copying policies from other parts of the world, suggesting their approach was divisive rather than protective. He noted that the previous restriction on Iranian visas was an immediate response to specific events, not a blanket ban. The minister affirmed that the Labor government would not take policy advice from One Nation, contrasting their approach with the government's focus on protecting Australians while encouraging beneficial migration.
Question from Sean Bell
The senator asked if the government's budget is designed to tax innovation and aspiration to fund spending. He followed up by asking where capital will go if the government makes investment in businesses and shares less attractive. Finally, he asked the minister to name a single productive industry that will not be taxed higher.
Background: Senator Bell claimed Labor's tax agenda punishes investment and productivity. He asked if the budget is designed to fuel spending by taxing innovation.
Answer from Katy Gallagher
The minister rejected the claim, stating the government has done more for productivity than any recent administration. She explained that tax reforms aim to create neutral tax settings so investment decisions are based on productivity rather than tax concessions. She noted that $3.8 billion is invested in business through R&D incentives and venture capital arrangements. She stated that the reforms ensure wage earners are not taxed more than asset owners, creating a fairer system across all industries.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked what the government was doing to stop fuel failures from driving up the cost of PVC pipes and other building materials. He later asked if the government would back a GST exemption on building materials and when it would scrap net zero targets.
Background: The member claimed fuel failures were driving up prices of building materials like PVC pipes by up to 35 per cent.
Answer from Tim Ayres
The minister attributed fuel challenges to the Iranian government's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, not government failure. He acknowledged that prices for PVC piping were rising but stated there were no immediate shortages. He highlighted the government's minimum stockholding obligation, which was larger than it had been for 15 years. He rejected the call for a GST exemption and defended the government's energy security approach, noting that Australia had reduced from six to two refineries under the previous government. He dismissed the link between net zero policies and the current supply issues.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked if the Prime Minister had confidence in the Energy Minister's management and why farmers were not prioritized for diesel. He further questioned why the fuel security system had broken down and compared fuel supply to toilet paper sovereignty.
Background: The member criticized the government's fuel security management, citing shortages in regional areas and the impact on farmers, while questioning the Prime Minister's confidence in the Energy Minister.
Answer from Penny Wong
The minister defended the government's record, highlighting the establishment of domestic fuel reserves and minimum stockholding obligations, contrasting this with the previous government's decision to store reserves in Texas. She reiterated that fuel imports were unchanged and that regional issues were due to demand patterns. She criticized the One Nation party for being silent on previous failures and for voting against energy relief measures, labeling their complaints as hypocritical.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked why the government permitted foreign-owned vacant properties to remain without police oversight or penalties during the housing crisis.
Background: One Nation claimed there were 50,000 foreign-owned ghost homes and that 83 per cent of foreign owners were not lodging vacancy reports.
Answer from Katy Gallagher
The minister stated that foreign buyers were banned from purchasing existing homes. She cited ATO data showing foreign investors accounted for 0.8 per cent of transactions in 2023-24. In response to supplementary questions, she noted that 688 compliance investigations were identified, with 141 breaches found and 66 resulting in divestment. She challenged the opposition to support housing supply measures instead of focusing on foreign ownership.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked when the Prime Minister would admit that failing to identify radical Islamic extremism as the cause of the Bondi attack increased the likelihood of future incidents.
Background: The member claimed the Prime Minister had failed to acknowledge radical Islamic extremism as the driving ideology behind the Bondi attack, arguing this refusal allowed the threat to spread.
Answer from Penny Wong
The minister stated that the Prime Minister and others had clearly identified the attack as antisemitic and inspired by ISIS, which she described as a radical perversion of Islam. She criticised the member's party for voting against legislation to crack down on hate groups and cancel visas for those spreading hate. The minister argued that the member's position was inconsistent, as his party opposed laws designed to protect against hatred while calling for stronger action. She dismissed the final question about resignation as not a serious response.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked why the government relied on importing migrants to fill skills gaps rather than investing in a domestic workforce, and whether it would adopt policies to end net zero targets to redirect workers to housing and infrastructure.
Background: The member cited reports of a skilled worker shortage and argued that high migration levels were exacerbating infrastructure and housing crises.
Answer from Malarndirri McCarthy
The minister highlighted government efforts to create 3,000 jobs in remote Australia, including ranger positions. She defended the government's migration stance and criticized the opposition for opposing infrastructure and housing development. Regarding net zero, she emphasized the need for climate action and responsible management of climate impacts, rejecting the suggestion to abandon net zero targets.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked why more action had not been taken to remove illegal immigrants, citing housing crises and overwhelmed services. He asked when serious removals would begin and why the government allowed so many to remain.
Background: The member cited estimates of up to 200,000 people living unlawfully in Australia. He linked this to housing and service pressures.
Answer from Murray Watt
The minister questioned the accuracy of the figures cited. He reiterated that net overseas migration had fallen for six quarters and was below Treasury forecasts. He criticized One Nation for linking migration to housing while voting against government housing investments. He did not provide a timeline for removals or address the specific number of people living unlawfully.
Question from Sean Bell
The member asked why the government continued to claim its net zero energy transition was working when power bills were rising. He questioned the impact of these policies on households and businesses.
Background: Electricity bills had risen significantly, with inflation spiking, leading to criticism of the government's net zero policies.
Answer from Tim Ayres
The minister argued that policy uncertainty under the previous government led to higher prices. He stated the current government was modernizing the energy system to serve industry and households. He rejected the notion that net zero was the cause of price hikes, blaming previous inaction.
Other Parliamentary Activity
-
Migration
Senate · Wednesday 16 September 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Migration
Senate · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · Take Note Debate
Opened this debate
-
Cost of Living
Senate · Monday 14 September 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Thursday 10 September 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Protecting Australians from Foreign Terrorist Fighters Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Thursday 10 September 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Wednesday 19 August 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Taxation; Order for the Production of Documents
Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
National Security; Order for the Production of Documents
Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate
-
Migration
Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · Take Note Debate
Opened this debate
-
International Relations: Australia and Japan; Order for the Production of Documents
Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · General Debate
Opened this debate
-
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 1) Bill 2026; In Committee
Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · In Committee
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
National Security
Senate · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Grocery Prices
Senate · Thursday 2 July 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Cost of Living
Senate · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Opened this debate
-
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: mixed
-
Data Centres
Senate · Tuesday 30 June 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Taxation
Senate · Monday 29 June 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Budget
Senate · Monday 29 June 2026 · Take Note Debate
Opened this debate
-
Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 22 June 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Strategic Reserve) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 31 March 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Monday 30 March 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: mixed
-
Fuel
Senate · Monday 23 March 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Fuel Security
Senate · Wednesday 11 March 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Freedom of Speech
Senate · Thursday 5 March 2026 · General Debate
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Cost of Living
Senate · Tuesday 3 February 2026 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026; Second Reading
Senate · Tuesday 20 January 2026 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
-
Bondi Beach: Attack
Senate · Monday 19 January 2026 · Condolence
Contributed to this debate
-
Plebiscite (Future Migration Level) Bill 2018; Second Reading
Senate · Wednesday 26 November 2025 · Second Reading
Contributed to this debate · Position: support
-
Bell, Senator Sean
Senate · Wednesday 26 November 2025 · First Speech
Contributed to this debate
-
Energy
Senate · Monday 24 November 2025 · Matter of Public Importance
Contributed to this debate · Position: oppose
- Votes recorded
- 702
- Aye votes (67.2%)
- 472
- No votes (32.8%)
- 230
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 AYE -
Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 30, Noes 24 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Corruption in the Construction Industry Select Committee; Appointment
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee; Reference
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 21 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Healthcare With...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 33, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Veterans' Healthcare With...
17 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Migration
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 19, Noes 30 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Manufacturing Industry
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 20, Noes 27 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Personal Information and Privacy; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 30, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Maritime Industry; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Climate Change; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 23 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Census; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 30 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
North to East Australia Pipeline; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 18, Noes 25 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Artificial Intelligence Joint Select Committee; Appointment
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 25 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Artificial Intelligence Joint Select Committee; Appointment
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 26 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Improved Native Forest Management; Order for the Production of Documents
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 26, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 27, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Middle East
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 32, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED NO -
A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Amendment (No Jab No Pay Repeal) Bill 20...
16 Sep 2026 · Ayes 6, Noes 34 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Economy
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Australian Federal Police; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Trade Unions; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 33, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Consideration of Legislation
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Cybersafety Legislation; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Executive Remuneration; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 17, Noes 26 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Waste Management and Recycling; Order for the Production of Documents
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 34, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Environment and Communications References Committee; Reference
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 21, Noes 33 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
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 AYE -
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account)...
15 Sep 2026 · Ayes 25, Noes 36 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 25, Noes 31 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Water
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 16, Noes 24 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Cost of Living
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Digital Seller Underperformance Policy; Order for the Production of Documents
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 32, Noes 18 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Health Care; Order for the Production of Documents
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 23, Noes 28 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Intergenerational Trust Fund for the People of the Republic of Nauru; Order f...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee; Reference
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 19 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account)...
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 24, Noes 35 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; In Committee
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 21, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; In Committee
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 31, Noes 22 · Passed
VOTED NO -
Consideration of Legislation
14 Sep 2026 · Ayes 19, Noes 33 · Failed
VOTED NO -
Carbon Farming Initiative--Improved Forest Management in Multiple-use Public ...
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 27, Noes 34 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 22, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Statute Update Bill 2026; Limitation of Debate
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 35, Noes 20 · Passed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; Second Reading
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 6, Noes 32 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; Second Reading
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 4, Noes 34 · Failed
VOTED AYE -
Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2026; Second Reading
10 Sep 2026 · Ayes 4, Noes 34 · Failed
VOTED AYE
About this page
This page tracks Sean Bell'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.