House debates
Monday, 26 May 2008
- Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 May, on motion by Mr Swan: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Consideration in Detail (2 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question put.
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009; Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 May, on motion by Mr Swan: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Sport and Minister for Youth will be absent from question time today. The Minister for Health and Ageing will answer questions regarding sport and the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (20 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his Adelaide declaration, ‘We have done as much as we physically can to provide additional help to Australian...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Praful Patel, the Indian Minister for Civil Aviation. On behalf of the House I extend to him a very warm welcome.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Fuel Prices (16 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, since he came to office, petrol has increased in price by more than 13c a litre? How can the Prime Minister assert in...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon His Excellency Dr Nam Viyaketh, Minister for Industry and Commerce from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. On behalf...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Fuel Prices (8 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a national FuelWatch scheme on 15 April and his statement that the scheme would bring...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the risks of inflation from irresponsible budgeting?
- Fuel Prices (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to his failure to answer the previous question and I put this question: is the Prime Minister aware of evidence that independent fuel...
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Is the government prepared to examine further options for reducing spending? Will the minister outline the government’s view on...
- Fuel Prices (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree that even if the arguments in favour of FuelWatch had some validity, working families such as those in Western Sydney would...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I indicate to the House that there are a number of former members in the gallery, amongst them Graham Edwards, the former member for Cowan, and John Langmore, the former member for Fraser. If...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Teachers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Social Inclusion. What is the government’s response to the Business...
- Fuel Prices (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister recall the following interview on 16 January 2007 with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell: MITCHELL: Would you at least remove the GST...
- Alcopops (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the Minister for Health and Ageing inform the House of any new research on the alcopops industry?
- Child Abuse (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The minister is aware of allegations of child rape by truck drivers of Aboriginal girls as young...
- Burma (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister please provide an update to the House on Australian and international efforts to assist Burma in the wake of Cyclone Nargis?
- Fuel Prices (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister really committed to cutting the GST on fuel excise or is he expecting Australian motorists to wait another 18 months while yet another...
- Workplace Relations (12 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister update the House on the progress of award modernisation, which is important to the creation of a...
- Taxation (7 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his media release just 13 days ago announcing the terms of reference for the review of taxation where he unequivocally excluded the GST...
- National Sorry Day (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the significance of National Sorry Day in closing the gap...
- Budget (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the $2.5 billion tax grab from gas field condensate announced in the budget. What consultation did the government undertake...
- Kirribilli House (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House of the government’s plans to offer the use of Kirribilli House to national charities for fundraising events?
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Presentation of Documents (7 speeches)
My question relates to the previous question time on Thursday, 15 May. I would like to ask how you were advised that the document which the Prime Minister was quoting from—which I had...
- Parliament House: Members Car Park (2 speeches)
From the day that I was elected to this place, I was under the understanding that the members car park of the House of Representatives was specifically for members of parliament. Today, three...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Illegal Fishing (3 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer provided to the House on the last sitting day, 15 May.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 34 and 35 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit reports for 2007-08 entitled Audit report No. 34, Administration of the Pathology Quality and Outlays Memorandum of Understanding: Department of Health...
- 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.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Homelessness (2 speeches)
by leave—I rise to speak to the government’s green paper on homelessness entitled Which way home? A new approach to homelessness. After 17 years of continuous economic growth, it is...
- Mrs Doreen Washington (7 speeches)
by leave—On Saturday, I as the Minister for Ageing had the honour and privilege to represent the Prime Minister at a celebration for a very special Australian. It was the 110th birthday...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Swan. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. These amendments increase the luxury car tax rate from 25 per cent to 33 per cent to apply on and from 1 July 2008. The government recognises...
- A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Swan. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill imposes luxury car tax to the extent that it is neither a duty of customs nor a duty of excise. The bill also alters the applicable...
- A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Swan. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill operates to impose luxury car tax to the extent that it is a duty of customs. As a consequence the bill increases the luxury car...
- A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Swan. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill imposes luxury car tax to the extent that it is a duty of excise. As a result of the increase in the luxury car tax rate this bill...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Private Members’ Motions (1 speech)
In accordance with standing order 41(h), and the recommendations of the whips adopted by the House on 14 May 2008, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has been...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I present petitions in accordance with standing order 207.
- Responses (1 speech)
The Clerk: Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Responses; Immigration (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 17 March 2008, concerning a petition dealing with aspects of Australia’s immigration policy. As noted in the petition, the majority of...
- Responses; Mesothelioma (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 17 March 2008 referring the petition about treatment for mesothelioma sufferers through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Medicines are listed...
- Responses; Centrelink (0 speeches)
Dear Ms Irwin Thank you for your letter of 17 March 2008 in relation to a petition from Mr Matthew Kool about dissatisfaction in Centrelink service provision, in particular, the Morwell...
- Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) 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.
- Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bills 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.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Membership (1 speech)
Mr Speaker has received a message from the Senate informing the House that Senator Forshaw has been appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
- Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation Amendment (One-Off Payments and Other Budget Measures) Bill 2008; Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bill and acquainting the House that the Senate has agreed to the bill as amended by the House at the request of the Senate and without further requests.
- Statute Law Revision Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill received from the Senate, and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
- Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Board and Other Measures) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill received from the Senate, and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence from 26 May 2008 to 4 September be given to Ms King for maternity purposes. Question agreed to.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That, unless otherwise ordered, at the commencement of the Main Committee meeting tomorrow, the first item of business shall be Members’ statements, each for no...
- Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment (1999 Montreal Convention and Other Measures) Bill 2008; Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2008; Health Insurance Amendment (90 Day Pay Doctor Cheque Scheme) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. I indicate to the House that these measures enjoy the support of the Chief Opposition Whip, the honourable...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009; Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2007-2008; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (32 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 May, on motion by Mr Swan: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Traveston Crossing Dam (9 speeches)
I move: That the House:(1)notes that:(a)the Queensland Government will soon deliver an environmental impact assessment of its proposed Traveston Crossing Dam to the Federal Minister for the...
- Budget (22 speeches)
I move: That the House:(1)congratulates the Government on bringing down a budget that:(a)begins tackling Australia’s 16 year high inflation rate and puts downward pressure on interest rates...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- International Human Rights (1 speech)
The rains that come to Rwanda every April are a chilling reminder of the evil season of genocide that occurred at this time of year, 14 years ago. More than 800,000 people were murdered in 100...
- Western Melbourne (1 speech)
My electorate of Maribyrnong is in Melbourne’s west. Before I talk a little further about that, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that the member for Dawson has turned 49 today...
- Ryan Electorate: Kenmore Bypass (3 speeches)
Tonight I want to speak very loud and clear as the federal member for Ryan and to highlight to the people of Ryan, and particularly to the residents of Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Moggill, Bellbowrie...
- Tibet (1 speech)
According to the Sydney Morning Herald today, Australian officials were stunned by a presentation from a senior Chinese policymaker who was talking about the situation in Tibet. This senior...
- Cowper Electorate: Community Projects (1 speech)
I rise in the House tonight to bring to the attention of the wider community the small rural community of Valla, which has been left high and dry with the announcement by the Minister for...
- Kingston Electorate: Australia 2020 Summit (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to provide the House with a summary of some of the dynamic and exciting discussions that were held in my electorate, the electorate of Kingston, as part of the 2020 Summit process....
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 15 May, on motion by Mr Hale: That the Address be agreed to.
- Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (7 speeches)
Debate resumed from 20 March, on motion by Mr Crean: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Pilots and Escort Drivers (1 speech)
Last week I met with Ron Trigwell, Secretary of the Western Australian Pilots and Escort Drivers Association, where I was made aware of a number of issues confronting that industry. There are...
- Hasluck Electorate: Edney Primary School (1 speech)
I rise tonight to congratulate the year 7 students at Edney Primary School. Last week I was delighted to be invited to address three classes of year 7 students in the library. I spoke about my...
- Forrest Electorate: Protection of the Environment Award (1 speech)
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the town of Walpole, 420 kilometres south of Perth, with a population of just 500 people. The Walpole Tidy Towns Committee has been awarded the...
- Blair Electorate: Ipswich Central Business District Revitalisation (1 speech)
In parliament today I want to commend the Rudd Labor government for inserting $10 million into the Ipswich CBD revitalisation. This is the first major commitment by a federal government to the...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
I would like to highlight the importance of the aged-care industry. The aged-care industry is one of the largest industries in my electorate. With the exception of local government, it would be...
- Page Electorate: Casino Poultry Club and Italian Community (1 speech)
Yesterday two significant events took place in Page. I got to visit one—the annual all breeds show of the Casino Poultry Club Inc. at the Casino Showgrounds. Regretfully, I had to give my...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I wish to speak on behalf of all the pensioners, and especially seniors, who have contacted my office in the past few months to explain that they are finding it increasingly hard to cope...
- Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (1 speech)
This week is Macular Degeneration Awareness Week. The aim of the Macular Degeneration Foundation campaign this year is to highlight the importance of having your eyes checked and, in particular,...
- Commercial Ready Program (2 speeches)
I rise to express my outrage at the axing of the Commercial Ready program by this financially and small-business illiterate government. The program was originally instituted by the Howard...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Workplace Factors (7 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Gibbons: That the House:(1)notes the need for Australian businesses to be globally competitive in order to sustain economic prosperity after the current resources...
- Microfinance (6 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Wood: That the House:(1)notes that:(a)microfinance has proven to be a particularly effective and sustainable means of eradicating poverty;(b)microfinance...
- Ovarian Cancer (7 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion byMs Owens: That the House notes:(1)that Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week will be held from 24 February to 2 March 2008;(2)that ovarian cancer is the sixth most common...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Question proposed: That grievances be noted.
- Dunkley Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
My congratulations to my friend and colleague the member for Flinders and others who have just spoken on the very important area of ovarian cancer. It is an interesting segue into what I would...
- Hasluck Electorate: Brickworks (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise tonight to talk about the development of a brickworks on Perth airport land. It is interesting because this is probably an issue on which I and the former Liberal member for Hasluck,...
- Barker Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
I rise today to raise an issue which is very important in the electorate of Barker, which I have the honour to represent. Many people across this nation of ours but especially those in the...
- Young Australians (1 speech)
I sympathise with the member for Barker. Indeed, I did visit his electorate a number of years ago and I know he cares very deeply about his community. Tonight I want to talk about our...
- Ms Annie Donaldson (3 speeches)
I rise tonight to pay tribute to a wonderful Australian woman, Annie Donaldson. She was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer—a death sentence for a lot of people—about 15 or more years...
- South Africa: HIV-AIDS (2 speeches)
I support the words of the previous speaker. I know how she feels because I recently lost a very dear friend under similar circumstances. In April I went to the IPU conference in South Africa....
