House debates
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
- Welcome to Senators (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I invite members and senators to take their seats. On behalf of the House I welcome, as guests, the President of the Senate and honourable senators to this sitting of the House of Representatives...
- Address by the Prime Minister of Canada (0 speeches)
- (9 speeches)
The Rt Hon. Stephen Harper having been announced and escorted into the chamber—
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs will be absent from question time today. He is attending the RSL National Congress in Melbourne. The Minister for Defence will...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Federal Election (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that APEC has concluded and given that three years ago we were already two weeks into an election campaign, will the Prime Minister set an election date...
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister advise the House how last week’s successful APEC leaders summit in Sydney has advanced Australia’s national interest?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from Indonesia led by the Deputy Speaker, Dr Fatwa. On behalf of the House, I extend a...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, isn’t it the case that Australia will not have full voting rights at all sessions of the UN climate change summit in Bali in December...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer inform the House of recent economic data? What does this indicate about the strength of the Australian economy?
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the statement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of 19 April that an aspirational target—and I quote: … is code for a political...
- Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Would the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how the government is improving health care for...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is directed to the Prime Minister. I refer to the analysis released last week from environmental consultants Cambria which showed that Australia is forgoing $3.8 billion a year in...
- Iraq (8 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister update the House on the situation in Iraq? Is he aware of other approaches?
- Medicare (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister update the House on how the government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare is delivering more...
- Iraq (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer and to the report of General David Petraeus to the United States congress overnight in which he said: Force...
- Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister update the House on how the government’s workplace reforms are helping all working...
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Trade. Would the minister advise the House of the outcomes of last week’s APEC trade ministers’ meeting? What was achieved and how will it...
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, former political staffer and student union boss. I refer to the minister’s statement from 2 September: You only have a...
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Would the minister update the House on the benefits flowing to Australia’s resource sector following last...
- Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s statement last night concerning Work Choices, where the Prime Minister said that Work Choices: ... was a big change but...
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. Would the minister outline to the House outcomes from the recent APEC meeting that will further strengthen the ANZUS alliance and...
- Equine Influenza (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Is the minister aware that in North Queensland all horse related community functions have been stopped—all riding in...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Questions in Writing (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek your assistance under standing order 105(b) in relation to questions outstanding on the Notice Paper for more than 60 days. I refer to question nos 6042 and 6043 to the...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 6 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 6 of 2007-08 entitled Performance audit: Australia’s preparedness for a human influenza pandemic, Department of Health and Ageing and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Documents are tabled as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and I move: That the House take note of the...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (27 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Kingsford Smith proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The...
- Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008; Water Bill 2007; Water (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007; Apec Public Holiday Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Northern Territory National Emergency Response) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Northern Territory National Emergency Response and Other Measures) Bill 2007; Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007; Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Welfare Payment Reform) Bill 2007; Aviation Legislation Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Bill 2007; Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007; Customs Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007; Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment (Cosmetics) Bill 2007; National Health Amendment (National HPV Vaccination Program Register) Bill 2007; Water Bill 2007; Water (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007; Apec Public Holiday Bill 2007; International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from the Governor-General reported informing the House of assent to the bills.
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this 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. 2) 2007 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this 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.
- Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Ohs) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this 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.
- Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Legislation Amendment (Child Disability Assistance) Bill 2007; Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2007; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Discretionary Mutual Funds and Direct Offshore Foreign Insurers) Bill 2007; Corporations (National Guarantee Fund Levies) Amendment Bill 2007; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Simplifying Regulation and Review) Bill 2007; Superannuation Legislation Amendment Bill 2007; Australian Postal Corporation Amendment (Quarantine Inspection and Other Measures) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. Question agreed to.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Mr Harold Weir (2 speeches)
As joint chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library, I wish to offer my condolences on the passing of Mr Harold Weir. I rise to give my thanks for the very significant...
- Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Democratic Plebiscites) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (45 speeches)
Debate resumed from 16 August, on motion by Mr Nairn: That this bill be now read a second time.
- 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.
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I advise the House that the Deputy Speaker has fixed Wednesday, 12 September at 11.30 am as the time for the next meeting of the Main Committee, unless an alternative day or hour is fixed.
- Higher Education Endowment Fund Bill 2007; Higher Education Endowment Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 16 August, on motion by Ms Julie Bishop: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.00 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Gorton Electorate (5 speeches)
Tonight I want to raise concerns I have about the way in which the government has failed to address concerns of residents in the electorate of Gorton. I too am concerned about the paucity of...
- Medicare Benefits Schedule (1 speech)
The federal budget handed down on 8 May this year provided $291.3 million over the next four years for the inclusion of two new attendance items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule from 1 November...
- Ballarat Electorate: Community Projects (1 speech)
I would like to acknowledge three fantastic projects within my electorate: firstly, the team at the Trentham Neighbourhood House, who have been working for several years now to expand their...
- Hasluck Electorate: Crime (1 speech)
I wish to speak tonight about hoons, crime, vandalism and graffiti: law and order, and crime, in my electorate and across Western Australia—and probably across Australia. Vandals, youth at...
- Shortland Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
Earlier this year, I was approached by two constituents who live in the Caves Beach area of the Shortland electorate who were having problems with their television, radio and mobile phone...
- Crime (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about the number of people who come up and speak to me at the train stations and shopping centres, and the feedback through survey forms, about issues such as footpaths,...
- Belmont Medicare Office (2 speeches)
In the short time that is remaining, I would like to put on the record my absolute disgust at the facts that (a) one of the first acts of the Howard government was to close the Belmont Medicare...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
The following notices were given:
