House debates
Thursday, 26 June 2008
- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting 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 purpose of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2008 is to make a number of minor amendments to the National...
- Appropriations Legislation: Additional Information (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
On indulgence, I seek to make a correction to the record. On 18 June 2008 in the Main Committee during consideration in detail of the appropriations of the Department of Finance and Deregulation...
- Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Tanner. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 primarily amends the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (the FMA Act) to...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (14 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Albanese. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech, 1 comment)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Australia’s aviation security system has a number of layers to ensure the travelling public and the aviation industry are safe and able to...
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (International Airline Licences and Carriers’ Liability Insurance) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Albanese. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Aviation Legislation Amendment (International Airline Licences and Carriers’ Liability Insurance) Bill 2008 will improve and modernise...
- Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Bowen. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends various taxation laws to implement a range of improvements to Australia’s tax laws. Schedule 1 provides relief from...
- Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Bowen. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction and overview This is a bill to amend the Trade Practices Act 1974, to improve its ability to promote competition and fair...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee’s report entitled Report 91: Treaties tabled on 12 March 2008. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee’s report, incorporating dissenting reports, Report 410: Tax administration, together with evidence...
- Privileges and Members’ Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
As required by resolutions of the House I table copies of notifications of alterations of interests and a statement of registrable interests received during the period 17 March to 25 June 2008.
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report from the Publications Committee sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Copies of the report are being placed on the table. Report—by...
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (32 speeches)
Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr Garrett: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (6 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, on indulgence: it is anticipated that the House of Representatives will be able to rise at the scheduled time tonight. That is dependent on some events in the Senate over the...
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be absent from question time today. The Minister for Trade will answer questions on his behalf.
- Valedictory (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I rise on indulgence. Today we note the retirement of 14 senators from the parliament: from the government, Senator George Campbell, Senator Linda Kirk and Senator Ruth Webber; from...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Tuesday the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government said that an emissions-trading scheme must include the...
- Climate Change (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline the need for an approach to climate change that recognises the need to tackle our future challenges rather than an approach...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery today Mr Alan Thompson, the new Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services. Whilst this is not his first visit here, it is...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Fuel Prices (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister stop watching the price of petrol go up and start doing something about it?
- Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House the importance of getting the economics of the emissions-trading scheme right and what the government is doing to ensure...
- Grocery Prices (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that the Assistant Treasurer has admitted to the West Australian that the government’s ‘grocery watch’ will do nothing to reduce...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Will the minister update the House on the latest information on the effects of climate change on agriculture? What are the...
- Economy (12 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister stop watching consumer and small business confidence collapse and when he is going to do something about it?
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General inform the House of the implications of climate change for national security?
- Housing Affordability (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister stop watching household costs such as rent and child care go up and when is he going to do something about it?
- Child Protection (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. What is the government doing to improve child protection?
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the level of strikes and industrial disputes across Australia has increased sixfold since this government came to office, when will the Prime...
- Same-Sex Relationships (2 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General update the House on steps to remove discrimination in Commonwealth laws against Australians in same-sex relationships and their...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister stop watching pensioners and Australians on fixed incomes struggle to meet day-to-day bills and start doing something for these...
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the progress of important inflation-fighting measures in the Senate?
- Rudd Government (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (6 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion condemning the Prime Minister and his government for seven months of watching, committees, inaction and indecision. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Why is consistent economic management important in the fight against high inflation and interest rates? Also, why is it crucial that...
- Battle for Australia (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Will the minister please inform the House of what the government has done to meet its commitment to recognise the Battle for Australia?
- Veterans (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Minister, why is it that you signed a letter, dated 6 June 2008 and addressed to me as the member for Sturt, in which you advised me of...
- Council of Australian Governments (36 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House the future reform agenda the government is pursuing through the Council of Australian Governments?
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Question Time (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to the fact that today in question time, and indeed for most of this week, almost without exception when the Prime Minister has been at the dispatch box he has...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Reports: Government Responses (4 speeches)
For the information of honourable members, I present a schedule of outstanding government responses to reports of House of Representatives and joint committees, incorporating reports tabled and...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 45 of 2007-08 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 45 of 2007-08 entitled Specific purpose payments: general recurrent grants for government schools: Department of Education, Employment 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.
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence be given to every member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting. Question agreed to.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Equine Influenza Inquiry (1 speech)
by leave—On Thursday, 12 June 2008, I tabled the report of the equine influenza inquiry, conducted by the Hon. Ian Callinan AC, and released a detailed government response. Today I am...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Equine Influenza (1 speech)
Unfortunately there was not enough time for me to respond to the minister’s statement, so I apologise to those members who had hoped to contribute to the adjournment debate whose time is...
- Gilad Shalit (1 speech)
A year ago, I spoke from the steps of the Melbourne GPO to a rally of 300 people. The rally was called to mark the first anniversary of the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, and to...
- Rudd Government (1 speech)
I rise this evening to talk about the way in which the Rudd Labor government’s policies are having a profound and negative impact on small businesses and the tourism sector on the Gold...
- International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (1 speech)
I note that today is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. As former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan said in 1998: This is a day on which we pay our respects...
- Canning Electorate: Shire of Waroona (1 speech)
I again raise in this place the issue of the redevelopment of the Preston Beach Caravan Park in my electorate. I do so because recent events are such that the Shire of Waroona has written to Mrs...
- Death Penalty (1 speech)
A few weeks ago I informed the House that, along with my wife, Bernadette, I met with Lee and Christine Rush, the parents of Scott Rush. Scott, as many will know, is currently on death row in...
- Gilmore Electorate: 805 Squadron (2 speeches)
Today in my electorate of Gilmore was the decommissioning of 805 Squadron and its Seasprites. It was an emotive time especially for the men and women who worked so hard on this project and their...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Mr John William Archer (1 speech)
I rise today to honour one of Australia’s many unspoken heroes, a veteran of the Second World War, a respected community member and, perhaps most importantly, a loving husband and father....
- Hindmarsh Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to organisations within the federal electorate of Hindmarsh, cornerstones of our community that continue their exemplary work for their members, for their constituency and...
- Cowan Electorate: Warwick Senior High School (1 speech)
On Tuesday I had a great moment—it was a highlight of my parliamentary time so far—with the visit by a group of teachers and students from the Warwick Senior High School. It was a...
- Dawson Electorate (1 speech)
I wish to put on record my thanks to the Prime Minister and the federal cabinet for making the decision to visit Mackay this Sunday, 29 June. They will be holding a cabinet meeting and public...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
At this point in time I would like to say ‘jambo’. I welcome our guests from the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya who are visiting us in the Main Committee today. Thank you...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Forrest Electorate: Gas Supply (1 speech)
The current gas crisis in Western Australia is taking a significant toll on small to medium enterprises, especially those located in my electorate of Forrest, in the south-west of Western...
- Bass Electorate: St Giles Society (1 speech)
Can there be a more worthwhile use of federal funding than looking after our children? I would argue not, and it is for this reason that I would like to take this opportunity to inform the House...
- Dunkley Electorate: Carer Payments (6 speeches)
On behalf of and through the vivid experience of the Frankston family of Ray and Lyn Jones and their three children, I call for the Rudd government to amend the current law that limits the...
- Fremantle Electorate: Homelessness (1 speech)
In Cockburn in my electorate only a few weeks ago, a ranger asked a homeless man to move on from the place on the beach where he had been sleeping. I am very sorry to say that early the next...
- Mitchell Electorate: Kokoda Track Trek (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a matter of ongoing interest to my electorate in relation to Papua New Guinea and the Kokoda Track. This year I have met with many concerned residents from my electorate who...
- Casey Electorate: Vietnam Veterans (2 speeches)
It is fantastic to be here in this chamber today contributing to the members’ constituency statements. I would like to commend the Chief Government Whip and also the Leader of the House for...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
- Groom Electorate: Exceptional Circumstances (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about an all too familiar topic, and one which I think unites both sides of the House: the issue of drought and the assistance that is provided to farmers as a result of...
- Bass Electorate: CHOOSE Cafe (1 speech)
I had the absolute pleasure of opening a new cafe in Launceston on 11 June called CHOOSE Cafe. Let me first say how delighted I am that the partnership that exists between Choice Employment and...
- Commercial Ready Program (1 speech)
I rise today to criticise the Rudd government’s decision to axe the Commercial Ready program. Commercial Ready was a valuable program established under the previous coalition government. It...
- National Families Week (1 speech)
On Sunday, I will be holding my second family fun day at Belmont, on the foreshores of Lake Macquarie. Last year’s family fun day was an outstanding success. It was a beautiful day. There...
- Fisher Electorate: Sunshine Coast Infrastructure (1 speech)
The Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, and it is little wonder because we have a lifestyle and climate that are the envy of people right around our country and...
- Oxley Electorate: Spirituality; Oxley Electorate: Multiculturalism (3 speeches)
I want to take a few moments of the House’s time today to talk about something that people may not know about, or perhaps would not intuitively understand, with regard to my seat of Oxley....
- Flinders Electorate: Mornington Peninsula Planning (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to rise in response to events on the Mornington Peninsula within my electorate of Flinders and to set out a three-point plan to protect the peninsula. This is in...
- Petition: Federal Funding; Makin Electorate: KD Dance Centre (1 speech)
Can I begin by congratulating the member for Oxley on his appointment as a chief of the Samoan people. I think it is a very distinguished honour and I wish him well in that regard. On Monday...
- Mr Jonathan Cox (1 speech)
On 13 February this year, parliament apologised to the stolen generations of Indigenous Australians. On this morning speeches were made, yet for all of the words said, none resonated more closely...
- Petrie Electorate: Transport (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the importance of an integrated approach to the transport issues in my electorate of Petrie. With the electorate of Petrie stretching from Stafford Heights all the way...
- Fuel Prices (1 speech)
I raised an issue in question time yesterday with the Prime Minister in relation to fuel taxation, particularly in relation to the emissions trading system that is going to be implemented in...
- Lindsay Electorate (1 speech)
I rise today to take note of some significant milestones reached by a number of local community groups in my electorate. I am very proud to offer my congratulations to Castlereagh Public School...
- Red Nose Day (1 speech)
Red Nose Day is held annually on the last Friday in June and is the major fundraiser for SIDS. Tomorrow is Red Nose Day’s 21st birthday. I hope I can speak for all parliamentarians to wish...
- Australian Masters Games (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House that we are now just 238 days from the commencement of one of the most important sporting events in the nation’s calendar—the 12th Australian Masters Games....
- Age Pension (1 speech)
I rise today to discuss the Rudd government’s lack of focus towards the plight of age pensioners in Australia. All across Australia, senior citizens are making a valuable contribution to...
- Petition: Climate Change (1 speech)
Today I wish to table a petition that has been certified by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions. It was sent to this place through me by Janet Cavanagh, Secretary of the...
- Grey Electorate: GP Plus Emergency Hospitals (1 speech)
I would like again to draw the attention of the parliament to the all-out attack on rural and regional communities in South Australia by the state government’s plan to downgrade 43 country...
- Human Rights (1 speech)
I wish to speak on the importance of human rights and the Rudd Labor government’s commitment to the protection of human rights since it was elected in November 2007. We should recall that...
- Sri Lanka (1 speech)
On many occasions over the past 10 years I have raised on behalf of the people that I represent in this place the issue of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Today I again voice my concerns in the...
