House debates
Thursday, 4 September 2008
- Safe Work Australia Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill, explanatory memorandum and—by leave—Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety presented by Ms Gillard. Bill read a...
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to introduce a bill to establish Safe Work Australia as an independent national body whose role will be to improve occupational...
- Safe Work Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Gillard. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I also introduce this morning into the parliament the Safe Work Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill. The bill will repeal...
- Australian Research Council Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Gillard. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Australian Research Council Amendment Bill amends the Australian Research Council Act to increase the funding limits in the special...
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008....
- First Home Saver Accounts (Further Provisions) 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. Rising house prices and higher interest rates over the last three years have increased financial pressures on households and made it harder to...
- First Home Saver Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition 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 First Home Saver Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition Bill 2008 is the second bill in the package to finalise the government’s...
- Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Laurie Ferguson. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008 amends the Migration Act 1958 by introducing a series of changes that will operate to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
- 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...
- Privileges and Members’ Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report from the Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests concerning an application from Professor David Flint for the publication of a response to a reference made in...
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee’s report entitled Report 93: Treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2008. Ordered that the report be made a...
- 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...
- Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 (0 speeches)
- (0 speeches)
Debate resumed from 1 September.
- Second Reading (8 speeches)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 is an omnibus bill that will make amendments across the Migration Act 1958, the Australian...
- 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.
- Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation Amendment (Schooling Requirements) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (29 speeches)
Debate resumed from 3 September, on motion by Ms Gillard: 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.
- Auslink (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 28 August, on motion by Mr Albanese: 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 as she is attending the Paralympics in Beijing. The Minister for Health and Ageing...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Could the minister please update the House on the status of the nine Australian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and the overall status of operations on...
- Economy (32 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House why responsible economic management is needed for Australia’s future?
- 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 Ireland led by the Chairman of the Dáil Éireann, the Hon. John...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the progress of the changes to the luxury car tax and implications for the budget surplus?
- Workplace Relations (36 speeches, 2 comments)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer the minister to the ABS industrial disputes data released today, indicating an 800 per cent increase in the number...
- Infrastructure (28 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Has the minister received any representations from members regarding infrastructure funding?
- Economy (2 speeches)
I have a very serious question that I ask on behalf of working families and I address it to the Prime Minister of this country. Prime Minister, during a recent trip from Cootamundra to the New...
- Education (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion. Will the minister please inform the House of the government’s progress in delivering...
- Taxation (34 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his last answer, where he emphasised the importance of honouring pre-election tax commitments. Given that this budget increased...
- Budget (22 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answers today and to table 2 in Budget Paper No. 1. I ask the Prime Minister: isn’t it a fact that...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Jennifer Rankine, South Australian Minister for Families and Communities, Housing and Disability Services. On behalf...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister explain the benefits of the government’s decision to raise the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds?
- Fuel Prices (19 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer him to the comments in today’s Launceston Examiner by the Tasmanian premier that he will be lobbying hard for a cut in fuel excise. Will the...
- Murray-Darling River System (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the government’s response to the crisis in the Murray-Darling Basin and outline any other responses?
- Taxation (5 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, why would any responsible economic manager put new taxes on vehicles that are used extensively by farmers and tourism operators already struggling in a...
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Talks (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade. Will the minister update the House on the free trade talks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and New Zealand?
- Taxation (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Tourism. Minister, how will the Rudd government’s $1 billion of new tourism taxes affect the job security of 483,000 Australians who work in our tourism...
- Homelessness (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women. Is the minister aware of figures released today on homelessness from the 2006 census? What action is the...
- Economy (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister advise the House of the forecast increase in the price of gas and electricity in Western Australia as a result of the...
- Organ Donation (22 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the progress of implementation of the government’s world’s best practice national reform package for...
- Organ Donation (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, on indulgence, this is one of the initiatives of the government which the opposition strongly supports and commends, and has been very supportive of publicly. I join with the Prime...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Question Time (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, given that this is quite likely the lengthiest question time in the history of the Commonwealth parliament, could I ask what your preferred timetable is for the Procedure Committee to...
- Quorums (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I refer you to standing order 54, which says, inter alia: The Speaker shall take the Chair and, if a quorum of 30 Members is present, read prayers. If a quorum is not present standing...
- Question Time (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, as a passionate devotee of organ transplants, I would like to ask you whether it was appropriate this afternoon, at the last question on the last hour on the last sitting day of the...
- Quorums (10 speeches)
Mr Speaker, given that the Prime Minister sought in question time and numerous other places today to highlight the fact that there was a senator missing from a vote in the Senate, and given that...
- Question Time (8 speeches)
Mr Speaker, given the number of opportunities afforded to the opposition to raise questions with you, is it the case that there were 31 points of order and one protest made during question time...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Economy (10 speeches)
by leave—There have been a lot of economic numbers in the last week or so and a lot of debate and commentary about our economic circumstances. So I do think it is appropriate now to give...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the House do now adjourn.
- Fadden Electorate: Helensvale; Bravehearts (1 speech)
I rise to support the plan to build an AFL stadium at Helensvale in my electorate as the home ground for the 17th AFL franchise team, which will come to the Gold Coast. I also rise to call on the...
- Kingston Electorate: Public Transport (1 speech)
I rise today to raise an issue that is very important in my electorate, and that is the issue of public transport in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. There are many new homes being built in my...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (1 speech)
I rise today to discuss the Rudd government’s climate change legislation and, in particular, its plan for an emissions trading scheme in Australia and the effect it will have on my...
- Tourism (2 speeches)
On 5 June this year, the Qantas group made an announcement that would reverberate through tropical North Queensland communities. A significant reduction in international flights between Cairns...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Swan Electorate: Schools Funding (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak about the poor treatment of schools in my electorate by the Carpenter government in Western Australia over the last two parliaments. In particular, I want to give examples...
- Lowe Electorate: Meals on Wheels Volunteers (1 speech)
I wish to pay tribute to the work of volunteers, in particular those who work for Meals on Wheels. Last Wednesday was National Meals on Wheels Day. Meals on Wheels was established 55 years ago,...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Before I call the next member, I would like to welcome Colonel Theo Tawiah, the Marshal of the Parliament of Ghana to the Main Committee. Thank you for sitting in today.
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Tangney Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I was stunned by the Prime Minister’s talk last week of what he laughingly called a ‘revolution’ in education, given that the ALP is closing schools in my electorate without...
- Newcastle Electorate (1 speech)
Like all cities, the city I represent, Newcastle, is indeed a unique place. But, interestingly, our demographics reveal that we are quite reflective of the typical Australian communities where...
- Petition: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I present to the House a petition with 489 signatures regarding the lack of mobile phone coverage at Walker Flat, a thriving community on the Murray River. Just about every adult who lives in...
- Gorton Electorate: Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
A few weeks ago, on a large vacant block in an industrial estate in my electorate, I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Kevin Kennedy, the General Manager of Gippsland Group...
- McMillan Electorate: Environment (1 speech)
Like the member for Gorton—and it is good to see in this place a minister caring about his community—I know that love of a geographic area. I grew up near Koo-Wee-Rup Swamp, with...
- Corangamite Electorate: Alcohol Abuse (1 speech)
I would like to make a statement on the issue of alcohol and binge drinking, particularly among young people. I want to start by pointing out some figures released by the Australian Institute of...
- Cook Electorate: Shire 2020+ Youth Summit (1 speech)
I am pleased to report to the House on the Shire 2020+ Youth Summit held in my electorate on 18 July in partnership with the member for Hughes at the local retirement village of Waterbrook at...
- Dental Health (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak on behalf of my constituents in Hindmarsh on the need for a Commonwealth Dental Health Program in this nation. It is a big need, and especially in my electorate of...
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 27 August, on motion by Mr Bowen: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
- Forrest Electorate: Wine and Truffle Co. (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Wine and Truffle Co. located at Hazel Hill Estate, near Manjimup, in my electorate of Forrest. Just over 10 years ago 25 Australian investors had a...
- Postal Services: Jewellstown Plaza (1 speech)
On 30 March this year I raised in this House the issue of a post office for the Jewellstown Plaza. This has involved a long campaign, one that has gone on over a number of years. It has had...
- Fisher Electorate (3 speeches)
At the outset I would like to thank my friend the honourable member for Flinders for his accommodation of me. My contribution in this debate will be somewhat shorter than usual as I have to speak...
- Wakefield Electorate: Trail Bikes (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the issue of the illegal riding of trail bikes and monkey bikes in various parts of Wakefield, particularly in the northern suburbs, where I live, around Salisbury North, and...
- Flinders Electorate: Phillip Island (1 speech)
I want to raise three issues in relation to the people and the development of Phillip Island, in my electorate of Flinders. Phillip Island, of course, is a magnificent tourism site. It is the...
- Forgotten Australians (1 speech)
This Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day, a day when those of us with fathers can show our appreciation for the role that our fathers have played in our lives and the love they have given us....
- Zimbabwe (1 speech)
I rise in the parliament to raise a very important issue this morning. As you would know, Madam Deputy Speaker, the confronting nature of the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe has gripped the soul...
- Franklin Electorate: Ministerial Visit (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about a recent visit to my electorate of Franklin by my colleague the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services. The member for Maribyrnong...
- Education (1 speech)
Today I would like to speak about the Rudd government’s commitment to an education revolution. We have heard much about how only Labor makes a connection between education and the future of...
- Mobile Phone Services (1 speech)
I rise today to speak of an issue that I feel very strongly about: premium SMSs and their impact on the Australian community and our Australian youth. SMS messaging is a great service—if...
- Age Pension (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on behalf of older Gippslanders who are struggling to make ends meet on the single age pension. I also seek to highlight my concern that the federal government is paralysed...
- Bendigo Electorate: Community Radio (1 speech)
I would like to draw the House’s attention to the potential loss of a valuable radio broadcasting asset in my electorate of Bendigo. The new government has adopted the policy of its...
- Economy (1 speech)
Another day, another tranche of job losses under Mr Rudd’s rudderless economy. Another Gold Coast boat builder has fallen victim to the slowing Australian economy, with Coomera based...
- Mr Patrick ‘Paddy’ Koppman; Mrs Trish Spillane (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to two members of my local community who passed away recently, both of whom I knew very well and respected. They were both champions of my local community. Mr Patrick...
- Drought; Research and Development (1 speech)
I express my deep concern about the impact that both state and federal government decisions are having on my electorate of Mallee. There are three issues I want to address. The first is water....
- Braddon Electorate: Local Infrastructure (1 speech)
Unlike my friend the member for Forrest opposite, my glass is half full rather than half empty. I am very pleased today to be able to announce that a future constituent of mine in the Braddon...
- Hinkler Electorate: Vietnam Veterans Day (1 speech)
On Monday, 18 August, there were two major Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations in my electorate—one at Bundaberg and one at Hervey Bay. I attended the latter. After a march from the RSL,...
- Adoption (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on what I believe is a very important issue not only for me personally but also for the state of Queensland. Firstly I will give a little bit of history. In my maiden speech...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Today I would like to raise the issue of the Murray-Darling system. A number of mixed messages are coming from the current government. I would like to place on record, as I have before, some...
- United States of America (2 speeches)
I have the honour of being the Chair of the Australia-US Parliamentary Friendship Group. I want to reflect on our relationship with the great country of the United States as it moves towards its...
- Aboriginal Suicide Rate (3 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, may I join you in acknowledging the Rotary sponsored students who are here in Parliament House for the week. I hope they are enjoying this experience.
- Ms Lois Roberts (1 speech)
I want to talk about a local woman, a friend of mine, who died in 1999. Her name was Lois Martha Roberts. Lois was tragically and brutally murdered. I am going to quote something that I have said...
- Green Corps (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a matter that is close to my heart—a program that I have been a strong advocate of, and extremely proud of, throughout my time in parliament—Green Corps. Green...
- Fremantle Electorate: Rottnest Island (1 speech)
Every member of this house has an electorate rich in history and in character, and I would like to draw members’ attention to a unique part of the Fremantle electorate, Rottnest Island....
- Diabetes (1 speech)
It is a privilege to have a second opportunity to say a few words. I would like to talk about diabetes. Well before this century reaches its halfway mark, the global affliction of diabetes will...
- Newcastle City Council: Elections (2 speeches)
I want to draw attention to the fact that before we return to parliament, in just over a week, local government elections will be held in New South Wales. The election in Newcastle is very...
