House debates
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
- Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I seek leave of the House to move a motion to enable order of the day No. 6, private members’ business, relating to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 to be called on...
- Health Insurance Amendment (90 Day Pay Doctor Cheque Scheme) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to allow specialists and consultant physicians access to the 90 Day Pay Doctor Cheque Scheme...
- Quarantine Amendment (National Health Security) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to introduce the Quarantine Amendment (National Health Security) Bill 2008. This is the second bill to come before the parliament to...
- Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (International Agreements and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Griffin. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
—I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to present legislation that further improves the operation of Australia’s repatriation system. This is in line with the...
- Military Memorials of National Significance Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Griffin. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. It is my great pleasure to present legislation that will further honour those Australians who have suffered as prisoners of war and recognise the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
- Interstate Road Transport Charge Amendment Bill 2008; Road Transport Charges (Australian Capital Territory) Repeal Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (26 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Mr Albanese: 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.
- Road Transport Charges (Australian Capital Territory) Repeal Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (0 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill 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.
- Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Senate Message (10 speeches)
Bill returned from the Senate with amendments. Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately. Senate’s amendments— (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3...
- Workplace Relations (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (1 speech)
I ask leave of the House to move the following motion: That this House agrees that:(1)at the last election the Australian people voted for the end of Work Choices, which has hurt working families...
- Motion (20 speeches)
I move: That this House agrees that:(1)at the last election the Australian people voted for the end of Work Choices, which has hurt working families by allowing pay and conditions to be ripped...
- Dissent from Ruling (0 speeches)
- (90 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I move: That the Deputy Speaker’s ruling be dissented from. I will speak to this motion now, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is unprecedented for a government to move such a...
- Workplace Relations (0 speeches)
- Motion (7 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Howard Government (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (11 speeches)
I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Deputy Leader of the Opposition from moving immediately that the House acknowledges that under the Howard...
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Communications Fund) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 March, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Beijing AustChina Technology (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister advise the House of his relationship with Beijing AustChina Technology, including their sponsorship of his round-the-world trip in...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House of the impact of the abolition of Australian workplace agreements on working families?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon a former Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, the Hon. John Murray and Mrs Maureen Murray. On behalf of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Beijing AustChina Technology (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he has met Mr Ian Tang, Chief Executive Officer of Beijing AustChina Technology in the last few months? Prime Minister,...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Social Inclusion. Is the minister aware of support for the reintroduction of...
- 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 the Republic of Lithuania. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm welcome to...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Beijing AustChina Technology (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Will the minister confirm that he was accompanied by a staff member on his five trips to China that were paid for by...
- Discretionary Grants (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. What steps is the government taking to improve the management of discretionary grants? How will improving the grants system help in...
- Beijing AustChina Technology (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the Treasurer’s disclosure of two trips totalling eight days in 2006 and 2007 paid for by Beijing AustChina Technology. Given the failure of the...
- Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Can the minister outline any current support for Work Choices from...
- Beijing AustChina Technology (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the minister’s disclosure of vehicle transport, meals and hospitality paid for by Beijing AustChina Technology when he visited...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer explain what the government is doing to make sure working families are looked after as we begin tackling climate change?
- Beijing AustChina Technology (2 speeches)
Will the Prime Minister provide details to this House of all meetings and conversations that have occurred since the election between his ministers and Beijing AustChina Technology, including...
- Defence (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister please outline to the House the changes to the Defence leadership team? What will be their new priorities and what new measures will...
- Beijing AustChina Technology (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, representing the Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law. Can the Minister for Finance and Deregulation confirm that the...
- Council of Australian Governments (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the progress relating to the Council of Australian Governments?
- Beijing AustChina Technology (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, do you think there is anything unusual about the Labor Party accepting $170,000 in donations, 16 trips for himself, members of his...
- Housing Affordability (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women. Will the minister inform the House of the progress made in the COAG Housing Working Group to address housing...
- Prime Ministerial Travel (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the Prime Minister has already spent 10 days overseas in his first four months in office and is due to leave for an 18-day trip, including four days in...
- Welfare Reform (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the government’s election commitments to develop a...
- Prime Ministerial Travel (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the concerns held in Japan for a strong relationship with Australia, will the Prime Minister consider dropping one of his four days in China during his...
- Wheat (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Minister, what is the greatest threat to certainty that is facing wheat growers with this year’s harvests?
- Beijing AustChina Technology (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister recall referring to Mr Ian Tang, the chief executive of Beijing AustChina Technology, as his ‘Chinese controller’? The PM...
- Energy (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy. Minister, will you inform the House about the work of the Ministerial Council on Energy and, in particular, the progress of the rollout of...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (13 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Question Time (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I refer you to House of Representatives Practice and note that it states that, in relation to answers to questions, it has been a tradition of this place that question time goes for a...
- Standing Orders (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I refer you to standing order 128, which makes it clear that those members who call for a division: … must not leave the area of Members’ seats and they must vote with...
- Department of Parliamentary Services (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I am pleased to announce that Mr Alan Thompson has accepted an offer to take up the position of Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services. Mr Thompson has extensive leadership and...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Documents are presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (35 speeches)
I have received a letter from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The dramatic collapse in...
- Lands Acquisition Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Cross-Border Insolvency Bill 2008; Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Assessments and Advertising) Bill 2008; Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Review of Prudential Decisions) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. I indicate to the House that the Chief Opposition Whip supports this motion. Question agreed to.
- Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Bill 2008 (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.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Tradex Scheme Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment, appropriation message having been reported; 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.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Communications Fund) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Infrastructure Australia Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Senate Message (4 speeches)
Bill returned from the Senate with amendments. Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately. Senate’s amendments— (1) Clause 5, page 4 (lines 18 and 19), omit subclause...
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Communications Fund) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question put.
- Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Emergency Response Consolidation) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 21 February, on motion by Ms Plibersek: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 7.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Education (1 speech)
I rise in the House tonight to bring to the House’s attention a matter of great importance to the people of Aston. John F Kennedy once said: All of us do not have equal talent, but all of...
- Petition: Iraq (2 speeches)
I rise to table a petition that was presented to me by Marie Bromley, a representative of the Southside Peace Group in my electorate. This week, 20 March, tomorrow, marks the fifth anniversary of...
- Warringah Electorate: Brookvale Oval (1 speech)
I rise tonight to celebrate one of the great landmarks of my electorate, Brookvale Oval, which is the home of the Sea Eagles rugby league team and has been for more than 60 years. Brookvale Oval...
- Alcohol Abuse (1 speech)
I welcome the announcement by the federal Labor government of a national strategy to tackle the epidemic of binge drinking which is afflicting young Australians. Many of us have had drunken...
- Water (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak again of the devastating impact of declining water access and quality on the Narrung Peninsula and to call for this area to be declared a national disaster zone. Not only...
- Disability: Employment (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I rise tonight to bring to the attention of the House a business case for employing people with disabilities in Australia and my belief about what makes businesses successful....
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (8 speeches)
The following notices were given:
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Maranoa Electorate: Darling Downs (1 speech)
I rise today to stress the importance of agriculture in this current mining boom. Firstly, let me make it clear that I am certainly not opposed to the mining of coal and I am well aware of the...
- Bombing of Darwin (1 speech)
I rise today to put on record a significant event at which I had the privilege of representing the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon. Alan Griffin, in Darwin last month. The event was...
- Fisher Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
Each year since 2000 I have hosted the Fisher community Australia Day awards, which aim to give recognition to those residents of Fisher who make significant personal sacrifices to do good things...
- Bushfires (1 speech)
As most people are aware, there has been a significant heatwave in South Australia. A heatwave sees an increase in the threat of bushfire and last week there was a significant bushfire in the...
- Leukemia Foundation (1 speech)
I would like to draw the House’s attention to a story of bravery and compassion that has touched my local community in Stirling. Frazer McLennan, who is a year 7 student at Yokine Primary...
- Macular Degeneration (1 speech)
During the 2007 election campaign I received—as did, I understand, a number of my colleagues—a number of representations from constituents on the matter of low vision aids and...
- New South Wales Life Saving Surf Championships (1 speech)
The shire is well known for its achievements in sport. I wish to inform the House of the successes that the Bate Bay surf clubs in my electorate of Cook have had in the recent 2008 New South...
- Rotary Police Officer of the Year (1 speech)
I would like to draw the attention of the House to the fact that Leading Senior Constable Leanne Drewe was declared the 2008 Macarthur Rotary Police Officer of the Year at the presentation night...
- Youngcare (1 speech)
This morning two residents of my electorate of Mitchell have set off on a 300-kilometre walk from the steps of Parliament House to Parramatta Stadium in Sydney to raise awareness of the plight of...
- Robertson Electorate: Mobile Phone Services (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about a petition I have received from residents of the Mangrove Mountain area in relation to their telephone service. Residents of the Central Coast of New South Wales,...
- Bombing of Darwin (2 speeches)
by leave—I table the names of the wharf workers who were killed on that day in Darwin.
- Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (7 speeches)
Debate resumed from 13 February, on motion by Mr Martin Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Tradex Scheme Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 21 February 2008, on motion by Dr Emerson: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Mr Hale: That the address be agreed to.
