House debates
Monday, 13 October 2008
- 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 24 September 2008, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has...
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008; Aviation Legislation Amendment (International Airline Licences and Carriers’ Liability Insurance) Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Datum) Bill 2008; Higher Education Support Amendment (Removal of the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements and National Governance Protocols Requirements and Other Matters) Bill 2008; Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 3) Bill 2008; First Home Saver Accounts (Further Provisions) Amendment Bill 2008; First Home Saver Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition 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; a New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition — General) Amendment Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax) Bill 2008; International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008; Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Annual Charges) Bill 2008; Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Assent (0 speeches)
Messages from the Governor-General reported informing the House of assent to the bills.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Excise Legislation Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008; Excise Tariff Amendment (Condensate) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills as amended by the House at the request of the Senate.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Political Contributions and Gifts) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (0 speeches)
Consideration resumed from 25 September. 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.
- Financial Transaction Reports Amendment (Transitional Arrangements) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (7 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 September, on motion by Mr Debus: 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.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill (No. 2) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 25 September, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Bali Bombings Anniversary (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek to make a statement on indulgence.
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Bali Bombings Anniversary; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That further statements by indulgence on the sixth anniversary of the Bali bombings be referred to the Main Committee. Question agreed to.
- Private David Fisher (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek your permission to make a further statement on indulgence.
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Private David Fisher; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That further statements by indulgence on the return to Australia of the remains of Private David Fisher be referred to the Main Committee. Question agreed to.
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House the Treasurer will be absent from question time today as he is attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington. The Minister...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to yesterday’s announcement of measures by the Prime Minister to which the opposition immediately offered bipartisan support, and in...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have in the gallery today the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rohitha Bogollagama. On behalf of the House, I convey to him a very warm welcome.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline recent developments in the global financial crisis and the government’s response?
- Small Business (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. Will the minister advise the House of the current situation on the availability of finance for...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s answers to my previous questions. Is the Prime Minister then ruling out entirely any additional prudential...
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Given the global economic environment, will the minister detail...
- Banking (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that Australia’s big four banks collectively have over $90 billion in exposure to credit default swaps. In exchange for its promise...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. What steps is the government taking to ensure that future infrastructure decisions are...
- Taxation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree with the International Monetary Fund’s latest World economic outlook that the best fiscal stimulus is to give tax cuts or...
- Medicare Levy Surcharge (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister please explain to the House the impact on Australian households of the opposition blocking changes to the Medicare levy...
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the IMF’s statement that providing cash to individuals is the best fiscal stimulus and given the Prime Minister’s own statements just now...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that this government inherited from the previous coalition government no net government debt, a reserve in the Future Fund of over $50 billion and a...
- Inpex LNG Processing Plant (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and the Minister for Tourism. Will the minister inform the House about the benefits to Australia arising from the Inpex proposal to build a...
- Economy (4 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the IMF World economic outlook released last week. Will the Prime Minister abandon the tax increases in his budget, which are...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the global financial situation, what action will the government be taking to maintain Australia’s hard-earned reputation as a reliable trading...
- Budget (3 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Treasurer. Can the Acting Treasurer outline the importance of passing the government’s budget bills, particularly given the global financial uncertainty?
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (8 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 6 of 2008-09 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 6 of 2008-09 entitled Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Southern Ocean—Australian Customs Service. Ordered that the...
- 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)
- Sydney Airport: East-West Runway (2 speeches)
by leave—On 27 November 2007, just three days after the federal election on 24 November, Sydney Airport announced that work on the runway end safety area on the western end of the east-west...
- Indigenous Aged Care (2 speeches)
by leave—Members of this chamber will recall that on 22 September the Australian government announced details of a plan to improve the long-term quality of Indigenous aged care. That plan...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill (No. 2) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Dairy Adjustment Levy Termination Bill 2008; Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) 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. Question agreed to.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Bill (No. 2) 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
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.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Statements (1 speech)
I have the opportunity to speak on petitions tonight. The new House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions can report to the House that the changes made at the beginning of 2008 to...
- Presentation (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions, and in accordance with standing order 207, I present the following petitions:
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Moorabbin Public Golf Course (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin I refer to your letter seeking my comments regarding the terms of the petition for the Moorabbin Golf Course. I understand that representatives from Kingston City Council recently...
- Swan Electorate: Medicare Office (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 25 June 2008 to the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, on behalf of petitioners, about the waiting times at the Booragoon...
- Pensions and Benefits (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter of 25 June 2008 about a petition submitted by the Moreland Senior Citizens Action Group seeking a change in the indexation of pensions to 30 per cent of...
- Australia Post: Services (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Australia Post - petition request for a postal outlet in North Tamworth Thank you for your letter dated 4 September 2008 concerning a petition submitted for the Committee’s...
- Sri Lanka (0 speeches)
Dear Mrs Irwin Thank you for your letter dated 4 September 2008 on behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions, concerning a petition on human rights in Sri Lanka. Australia remains concerned...
- Statements (2 speeches)
I am pleased to have the opportunity tonight, as Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Petitions, to say a few words about the work of the committee and the way in which petitions are now...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Drought (6 speeches)
—I move: That the House:(1)recognise the seriousness of the drought situation across rural Australia; and(2)calls on the Government to:(a)recognise the need for long term commitment...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Big Heads Shaved for Cancer (1 speech)
I rise tonight to give warning that after the events in my electorate of Paterson last Friday I am a dramatically changed man—changed from both the outside and the inside. As you can...
- Anti-Poverty Week (1 speech)
This week is Anti-Poverty Week. Poverty cuts short the lives of more than 20,000 people around the world every single day. These deaths happen everywhere, all the time. They are not sparked by a...
- Gold Coast (1 speech)
I rise this evening to talk about a matter of great importance to my constituents on the Gold Coast and to Gold Coasters more generally, and that is the Gold Coast rapid transit project. The Gold...
- Wakefield Electorate (3 speeches)
On the Sunday before last I had the great pleasure of going to the SANFL grand final and watching the Central Districts Football Club, the Bulldogs, play Glenelg. Centrals have played in the last...
- Maranoa Electorate: Berghofer Family (1 speech)
I rise today to call on the Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, to apologise to the Berghofer family in my electorate of Maranoa. I should provide the House with a brief explanation as to why...
- Diabetes (1 speech)
The annual Walk to Cure Diabetes was held yesterday, Sunday, 12 October, in my electorate, as it is being held on a variety of dates this month in many, many locations around the country....
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The following notice was given:
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Melbourne Cup Day (1 speech)
With Melbourne Cup Day fast approaching, it is timely that the issue of having a truly national public holiday has again come to the forefront. In February 2006 I prepared a private members...
- Postal Services at Jewellstown Plaza (2 speeches)
I have raised in this chamber on a number of occasions the need for a post office at Jewells. I have already tabled nearly 2,000 signatures and I have here nearly 1,000 more signatures which I...
- Swan Electorate: Belmont Little Athletics Centre (1 speech)
On Saturday morning I had the pleasure of attending the Belmont Little Athletics Centre opening day at the Gerry Archer Athletics Track in Cloverdale, within my electorate of Swan. In its 39th...
- Mr Andrew Chin (1 speech)
I note that Mr Andrew Chin has recently retired after 35 years of service at the Parliamentary Library. I first met Andrew during one of the first sitting weeks of the new parliament. Since then,...
- Cowan Electorate: Little Athletics (1 speech)
On Saturday, 11 October I attended the Kingsway Little Athletics Centre for the opening of their season. I have the highest regard for the concept of Little Athletics. We in Western Australia...
- Down Syndrome Awareness Week (1 speech)
To mark Down Syndrome Awareness Week, I want to talk about what is going on in my electorate of Page. We are lucky to have such an active, artistic community and a wonderful service organisation...
- Parkes Electorate: Coonamble Skate Park (1 speech)
I would like to speak tonight about a special event that happened in my electorate of Parkes last week and that was the opening of a skate park in the town of Coonamble. Coonamble is a reasonably...
- Lindsay Electorate: St Marys Spring Festival (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the success of the 2008 St Marys Spring Festival which took place in St Marys last Saturday. In its 33rd year, the festival was scheduled to be held on 6 September but was...
- Fuel Prices (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to inform the House of the absolute malfunction of fuel pricing in regional South Australia and, in particular, the regional city of Whyalla, and the apparent impotency or...
- Poverty (2 speeches)
Members will be aware that this week Micah Challenge, a global alliance of churches and Christian groups, are holding a Voices for Justice event in Canberra as part of the campaign in support of...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Poverty (13 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Owens: That the House:(1)notes:(a)that 12-18 October marks Anti-Poverty Week with the United Nations declaring Friday 17 October as International Anti-Poverty...
- Tourism Industry (3 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Ciobo: That the House:(1)condemns the Government for abandoning the tourism industry in a time of need;(2)notes the negative impact that the Government’s...
- Kokoda Track Campaign (4 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mrs Moylan: That the House:(1)recognises the importance of the Kokoda Track campaign in World War II in stopping the overland Japanese advance to Port Moresby,...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 22 September.
- Economy (1 speech)
I rise to draw the attention of the chamber to what is happening to local business across the nation. The global economic crisis is having an impact, but the bigger impact is a crisis of...
- Peacekeeping Memorials (1 speech)
Tonight I want to speak a little about a concern that I have. I am probably not so much aggrieved by specifics other than my concern and frustration for the memory of veterans in our community....
- Apprenticeships; Identity Fraud (1 speech)
Tonight during the grievance debate I would like to talk about two issues. One is relevant to my electorate of Farrer, and that concerns apprentices and apprenticeships. The other is related to...
- Mental Health Week (1 speech)
Last week I was afforded the honour of opening Participate 08, a health and wellbeing expo in Launceston which was part of Mental Health Week. The expo focused on mental health promotion,...
- Mallee Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
The grievance debate provides an opportunity for a member of the House of Representatives to advise the House of the state of their division. Grievance debate is an appropriate name because there...
- Bali Nine (1 speech)
This evening I would like to talk about an issue which I have been involved with now for some time. Earlier this year I met two people at a party in the Northern Territory—Christine and Lee...
- Mallee Electorate: Woomelang (2 speeches)
by leave—I would like to continue my previous remarks by finishing with a positive story about Woomelang, a small township on the Sunraysia Highway in the eastern Mallee that lost their...
