House debates
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition (0 speeches)
- (7 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I have a serious issue to raise with you, and I feel it is best that it be raised at the first possible opportunity. Yesterday in the House, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition took...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Private Members’ Business; Report (1 speech)
I present the report of the recommendations of the whips relating to committee and delegation reports and private members’ business on Monday, 13 October 2008. Copies of the report have...
- Education Legislation 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 Education Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 is complementary to the Schools Assistance Bill 2008, which I will also be introducing today. This...
- Schools Assistance 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. This government came to office with a promise to bring an education revolution to Australia. Throughout this year, that is what we have been...
- National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Plibersek. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill establishes the Australian government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme. The National Rental Affordability Scheme is a key...
- National Rental Affordability Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Plibersek. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The National Rental Affordability Scheme is designed to encourage large-scale investment in affordable housing. The scheme offers tax and cash...
- Social Security Legislation Amendment (Employment Services Reform) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Brendan O’Connor. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction The main purpose of the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Employment Services Reform) Bill 2008 is to encourage participation...
- National Measurement Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Dr Emerson. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The National Measurement Amendment Bill 2008 is a bill to amend the National Measurement Act 1960. This legislation will establish a single trade...
- Dairy Adjustment Levy Termination Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Burke. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Dairy Adjustment Levy Termination Bill 2008 will amend the Dairy Produce Act 1986 to finalise the Dairy Structural Adjustment Program. The...
- Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws — General Law Reform) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 23 September, on motion by Mr McClelland: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Ms Ley moved by way of amendment: That all words after “That” be...
- 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.
- Migration Amendment (Notification Review) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (16 speeches)
Debate resumed from 4 September, on motion by Mr Laurie Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
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 agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Senate Message (5 speeches)
Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation for requested amendments announced. Bill returned from the Senate with requested amendments. Ordered that the requested amendments be...
- A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Customs) Amendment Bill 2008; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — Excise) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Auslink (National Land Transport) 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. Question 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) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 17 September, on motion by Mr Bowen: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Acting Prime Minister to the Treasurer’s comments in this place yesterday: … there is a need for very substantial action when...
- Economy (5 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Acting Prime Minister outline the need for responsible economic management to see Australia through these difficult global economic times?
- 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 Cook Islands led by the Speaker of the Parliament, the Hon. Mapu Taia. On...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Acting Prime Minister. Now that internal government documents reveal that the government considered and rejected a $30 a week increase in the base rate of the...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House the conclusions of today’s International Monetary Fund assessment of Australia’s economy and financial...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Does the government believe that over 70,000 veterans who fought for our country and 700 widow B pensioners whose husbands made the...
- Economy (26 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. What challenges face the Australian financial services sector? Does the current situation present any opportunities for the sector, and what is the...
- Medicare Levy Surcharge (16 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Why are changes to the Medicare levy surcharge thresholds necessary?
- Trade (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade. What do the Mortimer report and the report of the International Monetary Fund tell us about Australia’s trade performance? Is the minister aware of...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the recent $5 billion in profits this quarter of Australia’s big four banks, which is an increase of more than 15 per cent. How...
- Taxation (7 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Why is the government preparing to slug farm employees, harvesting and other contractors who are already battling the drought, and hardworking doctors and vets...
- National Police Remembrance Day (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister inform the House about the upcoming National Police Remembrance Day?
- Taxation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Why is an X-type Jaguar excluded from Labor’s increased luxury car tax but a Toyota Landcruiser for a shearer is not?
- Joint Strike Fighter (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister update the House on the procurement of the joint strike fighter? Why is it important for the government to consider this acquisition...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy. Can the minister confirm that he personally has been told of investment projects that have already been lost to Australia because of the...
- Housing Affordability (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women. How will the government’s election policy to deliver new first home saver accounts help young Australians...
- Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Given that this week Australia is hosting in Canberra the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, set up in 2003,...
- Economy (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Will the minister advise the House on the importance of the government’s...
- Online Safety (31 speeches)
Mr Speaker, in advance, can I apologise for my voice. My question is to the Minister for Youth and Minister for Sport. Minister, I refer to the tragic incident that unfolded in Finland yesterday...
- Australian Technical Colleges (7 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Acting Prime Minister update the House on the latest developments around the Australian technical colleges?
- Fuel Prices (4 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Is the minister aware that Google now offers a free petrol price tracker site which allows motorists to search for the cheapest petrol in a given area?...
- Employment (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation. How is the government improving employment services for job seekers and how will this address Australia’s skills shortage?
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Economy (11 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Question Time (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, during question time the Treasurer, in answer to a question from the Leader of the Nationals, said that the coalition introduced a luxury car tax. According to the Senate Standing...
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Earlier today the Leader of the House raised with me the Hansard record of a personal explanation made by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. House of Representatives Practice states: Control...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, are you aware that House of Representatives Practice indicates that, certainly for personal explanations, there is a much higher standard of accuracy expected? It goes back to the...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 4 of 2008-09 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 4 of 2008-09 entitled Performance audit: the business partnership agreement between the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace...
- 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)
- Pensions and Benefits (33 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for McPherson proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The urgent need for the...
- First Home Saver Accounts (Further Provisions) Amendment Bill 2008; First Home Saver Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed.
- 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, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (15 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Mr Griffin: 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.
- Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Legislation (3 speeches)
I am delighted to speak in the House tonight and continue the theme that my good friend the member for Fadden has been speaking on—that is, the policy ineptitude of the Labor government. I...
- Budget (5 speeches)
I think there is one thing that the member for Ryan will not be telling his electorate—that is, this evening in the Senate the coalition voted against changes to the Medicare surcharge levy...
- Fadden Electorate: Dental Health (1 speech)
Just three weeks ago I received an inquiry from a pensioner living within the mighty electorate Fadden who had a raft of medical issues. This gentleman is an insulin dependent chronic diabetic....
- Longman Electorate: Burpengary State School (1 speech)
How interesting it was to hear one speaker in the adjournment debate criticise the government for not providing their pension increases while the next speaker on that side tells the story of two...
- Telstra (1 speech)
I wish to raise the issue of broadband and Telstra. Improving broadband access is high on my list of priorities, and this is an issue over which Telstra and I have had a tortured past. While...
- Road Safety (2 speeches)
I rise today to make a heartfelt plea to road users in the Northern Territory to take more care. The Northern Territory road toll is currently at 58, compared to 35 at the same time last year....
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
The following notices were given:
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Legislation (1 speech)
Yesterday in the House of Representatives the Labor government voted against the proposal by the coalition to increase the single age pension by some $30. Single age pensioners in this country...
- Australian Women's Land Army (1 speech)
In the last two months there has been much recognition and commemoration of the men and women who served and sacrificed themselves to defend our nation during World War II. I would like this...
- Evangelical Soccer Association (1 speech)
On Saturday I attended the closing ceremony of the Evangelical Soccer Association of Western Australia. The association was created in the year 2000 as a way that young Christians could enjoy and...
- Deakin Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
Yesterday I had the privilege of receiving a delegation from the Whitehorse City Council—known to you as well, Madam Deputy Speaker Burke—led by the mayor, John Koutros, and the CEO,...
- Age Pension (1 speech)
I rise this morning to add my voice to the chorus of voices coming from the National and Liberal parties this week on behalf of pensioners, particularly the pensioners in my electorate of...
- Blaxland Electorate: Bankstown Children’s Festival (1 speech)
On the weekend, 15,000 people converged on Paul Keating Park to celebrate the 10th annual Bankstown Children’s Festival. The children’s festival helps to build a cohesive society,...
- Barker Electorate: Radio and Television Services (1 speech)
I note the member for Blaxland talking about the Paul Keating Park. Parks are good; I have only had a road named after me, and roads get you somewhere! So they are both good. I draw the attention...
- Coeliac Disease (1 speech)
At one of my recent regular Saturday morning street corner meetings I had the great pleasure of meeting Ms Eunice Kermode. Ms Kermode is one of the Coeliac Society of South Australia’s most...
- Murray Electorate: Goulburn Valley Vietnam Veterans Association (1 speech)
I want to pay tribute to the Goulburn Valley Vietnam Veterans Association, who are in a part of Australia which has had one of the worst droughts on record for over five years. On Saturday night...
- Isaacs Electorate: National Secondary School Computer Fund (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak about the National Secondary School Computer Fund and, in particular, the benefits that this policy has provided in my electorate. This is part of the broader education...
- Auslink (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (8 speeches)
Debate resumed from 23 September, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (29 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Mr Rudd: That this bill be now read a second time.
