House debates
Monday, 11 September 2006
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the annual report of committee activities 2005-06. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper....
- Migration Committee; Report (3 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, I present the committee’s report, entitled Negotiating the maze: review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition, upgrading...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Migration Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That the following order of the day be referred to the Main Committee for debate: Parliamentary Joint Committee—Negotiating the maze: review of arrangements for overseas skills...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Hawkesbury-Nepean River System (9 speeches)
I move: That the House: (1)recognises the vital importance of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system for Sydney’s population and the New South Wales economy;(2)expresses its concern at the...
- International Day of Peace (7 speeches)
I move: That this House:(1)notes that, on 7 September 2001, the United Nations General Assembly declared that the International Day of Peace should be observed annually on the fixed date of...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- RAAF Base Williams (1 speech)
Tomorrow, civilian users of the Point Cook RAAF base in my electorate will be evicted from the hangars and associated buildings that they occupy. Four bellman hangars are operated by civilian...
- Small Business (1 speech)
On 22 August I was fortunate to work alongside the owners of the Living Planet Garden Centre, Paul Maait and his wife, located on Windsor Road at Riverstone. I was there as part of the Australian...
- Network Ten (1 speech)
Perhaps one might have expected nothing better from the network that brought us Big Brother Uncut, but on Saturday night Channel 10 broadcast the so-called documentary 911: In Plane Site, which...
- Green Corps (1 speech)
Darwin’s Walk in Wentworth Falls is a Blue Mountains landmark named after Charles Darwin, who travelled its path in search of the waterfall there in 1836. This very scenic walk continues to...
- Prospect Electorate: Pemulwuy Postbox (1 speech)
Today I want to bring the attention of the House to the campaign for a postbox at Pemulwuy in my electorate. Pemulwuy is a new estate, and it is estimated that by 2008 it will have 5,500...
- Energy (1 speech)
The current debate on Australia’s energy needs is an opportunity for a meaningful discussion, including considering the viability of subsidies and what they can mean to everyday power...
- Medicare (1 speech)
Following the government’s announcement of an electronic claiming system for Medicare, I wrote to Medicare Australia, which is an agency of the federal government, seeking an assurance of...
- Mona Russell (1 speech)
Last week on Tuesday I had the pleasure of spending half an hour or so—as it was a sitting day—with Mona Russell, who had turned 100 two days before. There is a group down in...
- German Immigrants (1 speech)
Yesterday I attended the dedication of a plaque and memorial at the Grovedale Cemetery. This was a very moving occasion, which was organised by the Grovedale Rotary Club. It celebrated the...
- Housing (3 speeches)
I want to put on the record the fine work of the ALP Family Watch Task Force, which has been travelling round the country. I make particular reference to the chair, Catherine King. We have been...
- Cross-Media Ownership Rules (2 speeches)
David Crowe reports in today’s Australian Financial Review in an article entitled ‘Media bills on fast track to approval’ that Senator Helen Coonan, the Minister for...
- United States of America: Terrorist Attacks (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
I seek the indulgence of the House to make a few remarks to mark the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack in the United States. This fifth anniversary is an occasion for both remembrance and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Interest Rates (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that new figures produced by the Reserve Bank from last week’s June quarter national accounts show a new record 9.1 per...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister outline to the House why Australian workers are able to access more jobs, higher wages and a better standard of living...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. On behalf of the House I...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister and follows the question he has just answered on what is fair and what is a decent thing in the workplace. I refer the Prime Minister to the fact that...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon. Lord Falconer of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister update the House on how the government’s workplace relations reform is benefiting Australian...
- Afghanistan (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister inform the House of the latest developments in the battle to defeat terrorism in Afghanistan? Would the minister...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of the Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs of the National People’s Congress of China. On behalf of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his repeated defence in this place of the Cowra Abattoir and its owner, who, under the government’s industrial relations...
- Defence (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. Would the minister update the House on measures taken by the Defence Force to enhance Australia’s security.
- Interest Rates (10 speeches)
Has the Prime Minister seen reports in the Sun-Herald on 10 September on the sharp increase in mortgage repossessions in New South Wales since interest rates started to climb in 2002? Did the...
- National Security (7 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Attorney-General. How will the recent government initiatives increase Australia’s security against terrorist attacks?
- Housing (12 speeches)
My question is directed to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister seen predictions of the impact of new land releases on house prices by Mr Alan Moran, the Prime Minister’s preferred...
- Agricultural Exports (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Would the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade update the House on the performance of Australian agricultural...
- Interest Rates (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister heard other comments from the Reserve Bank governor, Ian Macfarlane, on ABC radio last night where he said he was...
- Health (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister advise the House of recent measures taken by the government to improve Australians’ general health and...
- Climate Change (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister seen the April 2006 report released by the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change, comprising Westpac, Origin Energy,...
- Workplace Relations (7 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism. Would the minister inform the House how the government’s Work Choices reforms have encouraged greater flexibility...
- Climate Change (11 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Does the minister recall dismissing Al Gore’s climate change documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, as ‘just...
- Superannuation (3 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. Given the strong retirement policies that are key to meeting the challenge of an ageing population, would the...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Mr Peter Brock AM (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, given that just last week we quite appropriately acknowledged the tragic passing of Queenslander Steve Irwin, I am wondering whether we will be doing the same for the equally tragic...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (17 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (6 speeches)
Mr Speaker, in relation to the Prime Minister adding to an answer from the member for Lilley’s question—
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Clerk: Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows and copies will be referred to the appropriate ministers:
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Petitions (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, am I to assume because the Clerk has not announced any responses to petitions that the government has made no responses to petitions?
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Housing (13 speeches)
I move: That the House acknowledges that: (1)the cost of housing in Australia is often more than double what it should be;(2)the high cost is mainly due to the huge increase in the price of land...
- Organ Donation (8 speeches)
I move: That the House: (1)notes with concern the low rate of organ donation in Australia;(2)acknowledges the plight of the more than 1,700 Australians currently on the organ transplant waiting...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Question proposed: That grievances be noted.
- Disability Services (1 speech)
Today I want to draw attention to the needs of people with disabilities, particularly those with a developmental disability, and their families and carers. My observations suggest that these...
- National Security (7 speeches)
Today, as has been noted by many in this House and elsewhere, marks the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. It is almost four years since the 2002 Bali...
- Interest Rates (1 speech)
Today I want to put on the record my thoughts about the current debate surrounding housing affordability and interest rates. As I travel around the country with the Labor Party’s Family...
- Water (1 speech)
Often in this place we debate matters of urgency—things that affect our constituency here and now. Then there are times when we have an eye to the long-term future of this country. That is...
- Opinion Polls (1 speech)
The issue I wish to raise in today’s grievance debate is the manner in which the media in Australia cover opinion polls on voting intentions and related issues. I raise it not for its...
- Narranga Primary School (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, I grieve for the children of Narranga Primary School in Coffs Harbour in my electorate who are the victims of the bizarre priorities and financial management—or, more properly,...
- Port Kembla Steelworks (1 speech)
I grieve today about the state of manufacturing in Australia. On 29 June BlueScope Steel in my electorate announced that it would be closing its Port Kembla tin mill and ceasing production of tin...
- Bass Electorate: Employment (2 speeches)
I rise to bring to the attention of the House and all members the need for a number of economic and community development initiatives in my community of Northern Tasmania. There has been a great...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (Mutual Recognition with New Zealand) Bill 2005 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that the bill be considered immediately. Bill agreed to.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006; Tax Laws Amendment (Repeal of Inoperative Provisions) Bill 2006; Privacy Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Independent Contractors Bill 2006; Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (31 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 August, on motion by Mr Andrews: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Mr Stephen Smith moved by way of amendment: That all words after “That”...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.00 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Mr Peter Brock AM (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the sad occasion of the death of Peter Brock, Australia’s ‘King of the Mountain’ and motor racing icon. He was killed last Friday while competing in the...
- Greenway Electorate: Rural Landholders (1 speech)
As a proud and caring Australian, I am appalled at the treatment of rural landholders in the Riverstone and Marsden Park areas in my electorate. These people—and there are many of them,...
- Australian Muslim Community (1 speech)
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington which tragically claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent American citizens. Whilst a lot...
- Mr Aaron Cadd (1 speech)
I would like to draw the attention of the House to a young constituent of mine named Aaron Cadd. Aaron is an apprentice master builder living in Swan Hill. Last month he was able to lay claim to...
- Ansett Australia (1 speech)
Tomorrow is 12 September 2006. It is the fifth anniversary of the collapse of a great airline that we had in Australia. It has been five years since the biggest industrial relations disaster...
- Port Wakefield (1 speech)
I rise to draw the attention of the House to a community in the electorate of Wakefield, the community of Port Wakefield. Port Wakefield is in the north of the electorate of Wakefield and most...
- Media Ownership (2 speeches)
I want to repeat what I said just before question time today—that is, I am absolutely horrified that the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has said on behalf...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (7 speeches)
The following notices were given:
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Energy Initiatives (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 September, on motion by Mr Abbott: That the House take note of the following document: Energy Initiatives—Ministerial Statement, 14 August 2006.
- Local Government (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 6 September, on motion by Mr Lloyd: That this House:(1)recognises that local government is part of the governance of Australia, serving communities through locally elected...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Before calling the honourable member for Barker, I inform the Main Committee that we have present in the gallery the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Alan Haselhurst. On behalf of the...
- Local Government (0 speeches)
- (25 speeches)
Debate resumed.
