House debates
Thursday, 19 March 2009
- Alcopops (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the Minister for Health and Ageing:(1)introduce legislation to validate the collection of additional excise on premixed ready to drink alcoholic...
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (33 speeches)
I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Dickson moving immediately—That the Minister for Health and Ageing:(1)introduce...
- Customs Tariff Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009; Excise Tariff Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate informing the House of the following resolution agreed to by the Senate: That, if further legislation to validate the collection of the revenue so far under these...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent notice of motion No. 27, private members’ business, being called on immediately...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 (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 government is determined to deliver its election promises in Forward with Fairness in full and on time. The Fair Work Bill 2008,...
- Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business and General Business Tax Break) Bill 2009 (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. This bill introduces the small business and general business tax break—a key part of the government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan....
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mrs Elliot, for Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill represents the next step in the government’s move to introduce much needed amendments to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Many of...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That notices 3 to 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Martin Ferguson. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the act) to address the minor policy and technical issues identified...
- Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety Levies) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Martin Ferguson. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety Levies) Act 2003 to remove references to the pipeline safety...
- Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2009 (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. The Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Supervision and Enforcement) Bill 2009 introduces measures to regulate the non-operating...
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2009 (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 gives the force of law to two taxation agreements, with the British Virgin Islands and the Isle of Man. The agreements were signed in...
- Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 2) Bill 2009 (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 ensures there are no...
- International Monetary Agreements Amendment Bill 2009 (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. The purpose of this bill is to simplify the process for Australia to accept agreed amendments to the articles of agreement of the International...
- Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2009 (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. This bill implements an important reform to the Commonwealth Evidence Act 1995 by amending the existing privilege provisions which are available...
- Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Bill 2009 (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. Introduction The Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Bill 2009 contains a range of measures relating to the Commonwealth’s...
- Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 (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. The Native Title Amendment Bill 2009 will make amendments to the Native Title Act 1993 that will contribute to broader, more flexible and...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- 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...
- 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...
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report from the House of Repreentatives Standing Committee on Publications sitting in conference with the Senate Standing Committee on Publications of the Senate. Copies of the...
- Communications Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, I present the committee’s report entitled Phoning home: inquiry into international mobile roaming, together...
- Communications Committee; Referral to the Main Committee (1 speech)
I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Main Committee for debate. Question agreed to.
- Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee’s report entitled Report 100: treaties tabled on 25 June 2008. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary...
- Treaties Committee; Report: Referral to the Main Committee (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Main Committee for debate. Question agreed to.
- Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (19 speeches)
Debate resumed from 18 March, on motion by Ms Kate Ellis: 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.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Privileges and Members' Interests Committee; Report (1 speech)
As required by resolutions of the House I present copies of notifications of alterations of interests and statements of registrable interests received during the period 4 December 2008 to 18...
- Reserve Bank Amendment (Enhanced Independence) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (2 speeches)
Debate resumed from 12 March, on motion by Mr McClelland: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Business (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) and standing order 33 (limit on business after 10 p.m.) be suspended for this sitting. For the benefit of...
- Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- 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 representing me at the ICC Women’s World Cup on Jane McGrath Day in...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Mr William George Burns (1 speech)
I inform the House of the death, on Monday, 16 March 2009, of William George Burns, a member of this House for the division of Isaacs from 1977 to 1980. As a mark of respect to the memory of...
- Corporal Mathew Ricky Andrew Hopkins (2 speeches)
I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death on 16 March 2009 of Corporal Mathew Hopkins, while on combat operations in Afghanistan, place on record its appreciation of his service...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why has the Prime Minister wasted $23 billion on his cash splashes before checking that the government has the funds to pay for important infrastructure...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of the Rural and Regional Committee of the Parliament of Victoria. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Victorian Bushfires (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the joint Commonwealth-Victorian efforts on the Victorian...
- Automotive Industry (8 speeches)
I ask my question of the Treasurer. I refer to the Australian Bureau of Statistics motor vehicle sales data today that shows a fall in car sales in February. This means car sales have fallen...
- Economy (19 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House developments in the international economy and how the Australian government is taking decisive action to cushion...
- Alcopops (17 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What are the consequences of the Liberals’ decision to block the government’s action on alcopops?
- Economy (9 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the Treasurer’s suggestion that the Vision luxury apartment project in Brisbane, which proposes selling 110 apartments in the current environment...
- Workplace Relations (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline the importance of a fair and balanced industrial relations system and the need to ensure that any unfair industrial relations...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the fact that the Australian government is now borrowing money from investors at up to 6½ per cent per annum, government guaranteed for four...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Social Inclusion. Would the Deputy Prime Minister detail the protections...
- Employment (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the evidence that has emerged this week that the Prime Minister’s flawed emissions trading scheme will destroy thousands of jobs across...
- Prime Minister (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (9 speeches)
I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition moving immediately—That this House censures the Prime Minister for his...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. I refer the Deputy Prime Minister to a recent...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that the costs of implementing his second stimulus package will total $227 million? Can he also confirm that advertising and...
- Agriculture (10 speeches)
My question—
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister guarantee that the government will not remove concessions on superannuation in the budget?
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer inform the House of the importance of the government’s plan to support jobs and cushion the impact of the global...
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister guarantee all Australians that the government will not increase existing taxes or impose any new taxes, increased fees, charges or...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline for the House the impact of the government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan on Australian schools and any threats to the...
- MS Barbara; Belcher (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Speaker, on indulgence, for the benefit of all members and particularly those who have served in the previous government, they may be familiar with Ms Barbara Belcher, who worked in the...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Corporal Mathew Ricky Andrew Hopkins (1 speech)
I present a copy of the Prime Minister’s motion of condolence in connection with the death of Corporal Mathew Ricky Andrew Hopkins. I move: That the House take note of the document. Debate...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Corporal Mathew Ricky Andrew Hopkins; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the resumption of debate on the copy of the Prime Minister’s motion of condolence in connection with the death of Corporal Mathew Ricky Andrew Hopkins be...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Anzac Day (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
On indulgence: I wish to make some brief comments with respect to Anzac Day 2009. I thought I would take this opportunity, given that it is the last sitting day prior to Anzac Day this year, to...
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 26 of 2008-09 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 26 of 2008-09 entitled performance audit: rural and remote health workforce capacity—the contribution made by programs administered by...
- 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 and I move: That the House take note of...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Export Industry Jobs (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker has received a letter from the honourable member for Wide Bay proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
- Social Security Amendment (Liquid Assets Waiting Period) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Customs Legislation Amendment (Name Change) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (11 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.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- An Australian Soldier (3 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I make a statement to the House on indulgence concerning the death of an Australian soldier. This has been a tragic week for Australia and for the Australian Defence Force. I was...
- Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Senate Message (4 speeches)
Bill returned from the Senate with an amendment. Ordered that the amendment be considered immediately. Senate’s amendment— (1) Page 2 (after line 11), after clause...
- Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 27 November 2008, on motion by Mr Garrett: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Fair Work Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Consideration of Senate Message (23 speeches)
Bill returned from the Senate with amendments. Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately. Senate’s amendments— Agreements (1) Clause 193, page 182...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
to move— That the House:(1)recognises the importance of sound urban planning for the long term future of our towns and cities;(2)acknowledges that:(a)planning new communities and...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Petition: Pensioners (1 speech)
I have received a petition from the Bundaberg Pensioners League to the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives. The petition draws the attention of the House to the following...
- Capricornia Electorate: Electronic Funds Transfer (1 speech)
I want to raise an issue that has come to my attention in my electorate concerning a constituent called Cheryl Daly. On 18 February this year, Cheryl went to a Rock Building Society ATM on the...
- Gilmore Electorate: Slice of Life Australia (1 speech)
Slice of Life Australia is a Shoalhaven based not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide supported employment in hospitality for people with disabilities. I would like to read their...
- Shortland Electorate: Prostate Research Centre (1 speech)
Last Friday, I attended the official opening of the Hunter prostate research centre. As we all know, prostate cancer is a cancer that affects men. One in 1,000 men in their 40s will be diagnosed...
- Petition: Fernlea House (1 speech)
I rise to present a petition, as approved by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions. The petition read as follows— TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE...
- Mr Les Wilson (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the hardworking Mayor of the Shire of Carpentaria, in the Gulf Country of North Queensland, Councillor Les Wilson, who sadly lost his nine-month battle with cancer...
- Petition: Pensioners (1 speech)
Today I would like to present a petition to this House in support of older Australians. This petition, which I have with me this morning, has been signed by 7,090 older Australians. It is in...
- Neighbourhood Centres (1 speech)
I raise an issue of importance to local neighbourhood centres, which provide vital social welfare services in my electorate and indeed in communities around Australia. I should point out that...
- Casey Electorate: Victorian Bushfires (3 speeches)
In the horror of the recent bushfires in outer suburban Melbourne and regional Victoria, we have seen a wonderful community spirit and great volunteerism. We have seen it at so many levels, most...
- Deakin Electorate: Prue Ward (2 speeches)
I rise today to tell an inspirational story about a woman I met a few weeks ago, when the Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, came to visit my electorate to hold a...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
- South Australian State Aquatic Centre (1 speech)
I have spoken previously about the poor quality of road infrastructure in Adelaide. I would like to speak today about the poor quality of sporting infrastructure in Adelaide. It is one of the...
- Kingston Electorate: Fleurieu Peninsula (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on an issue of great importance, and also a key primary production sector in the electorate of Kingston, and that is the growing olives and olive oil. This is not often...
- Mr Ronald Conway (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to a great Australian, Ronald Conway, who died this week in Melbourne and who wrote Australia’s best-selling work of serious social criticism after Donald...
- Robertson Electorate: Central Coast Mariners (1 speech)
I rise with pleasure this morning to pay tribute to the Central Coast Mariners, a team I certainly strongly support on the Central Coast and a team that has become very much a community icon....
- Sturt Electorate: Jobs Forum (1 speech)
Today I wish to speak about the jobs forum that was held in my electorate on Friday, 6 March. We held it at St John’s Lutheran Church hall, at Dernancourt, in the north-east of my...
- Kokoda Trail (1 speech)
Prime Minister John Curtin told this place in 1942: Today as in 1915 men are dying so that the nation may live. There will come a new dawn, bringing with it peace and freedom for the peoples of...
- Gippsland Lakes (1 speech)
I commend the member for Blaxland for his courage and wish him well on his journey. I rise to highlight community concerns in relation to the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes and...
- Petition: Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
Today I rise to present a petition that has been accepted by the Petitions Committee. It gives me great pleasure to do so. The petition was orchestrated by the Uniting Church in Australia Synod...
- Mitchell Electorate: Hills Community Aid and Information Service (1 speech)
I rise today to praise the ongoing work of the Hills Community Aid and Information Service, based within my electorate of Mitchell. The Hills Community Aid and Information Service is a...
- Economy (1 speech)
Right around the world we face the worst economic upheaval since the Great Depression. What started as a problem with the subprime market in the US soon became a credit crisis infecting...
- Civil Liberties (1 speech, 3 comments)
We Australians are an easygoing people, and that is both a blessing and a curse—a blessing for the relaxed manner this engenders and a curse for the apathy which results. It is that apathy...
- Police Force (1 speech)
Many times in this House I have stood to acknowledge the pivotal role the police play in our communities and to offer my sincere support for the difficult and often dangerous jobs that they...
- Electorate of Cowper: Television Reception (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the very important issue of television reception. It seems incredible that, in the 21st century, the TV reception in many areas in my electorate is just not up to...
- Corangamite Electorate: Spring Creek Development (1 speech)
I rise to speak in this adjournment debate on a very pressing issue of concern to my electorate—particularly the community in which I live, the coastal town of Torquay. Late last year the...
- Anzac Day (1 speech)
I am cognisant that this may well be the last sitting day, short of sitting again tomorrow, prior to the budget of 12 May, and therefore the last sitting day before we as a nation commemorate...
- Nation Building and Jobs Plan (1 speech)
The Rudd government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan will deliver the biggest investment in schools Australia has ever seen. Building the Education Revolution is about ensuring schools have...
- Cowan Electorate: Yellagonga Regional Park (1 speech)
Yellagonga Regional Park is currently one of eight regional parks within the Perth metropolitan region. It is located about 20 kilometres north of Perth City and six kilometres from the Indian...
- Braddon Electorate: Ten Days on the Island Project (1 speech)
On the weekend past I had the great privilege of being able to launch the beginning of Ten Days on the Island in Tasmania in a project called Trust, which essentially was a partnership between...
- Employment (1 speech)
I rise with pleasure, following the member for Braddon, to speak today in this adjournment debate on a very serious issue affecting my electorate, my state of South Australia and our...
- Small Business; Gold Coast (1 speech)
While I understand the concerns of the member for Mayo, a lot of what small business needs in this country is encouragement. I want to talk about the encouragement which the government is putting...
- Petition: Redevelopment of Commonwealth Land; Ryan Electorate: Traffic (3 speeches)
I am pleased to speak in the House of Representatives as the member for Ryan and to raise a couple of important local issues from the Ryan electorate, because they are of deep concern to the...
- Shortland Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I rise in the House to raise the issue of Mr and Mrs Hiles, constituents of mine who have become extremely frustrated by a telecommunications issue that has been running since August 2007; my...
- Christmas Island Pipistrelle (1 speech)
I want to talk about the imminent extinction of a critically endangered animal species—that is, the Christmas Island pipistrelle, which is one of Australia’s smallest bats. If we...
- North East Tasmanian Innovation and Investment Fund (1 speech)
Last year when the Tonganah sawmill in Scottsdale in north-east Tasmania closed down, this government stood ready to respond—not in a way which would simply brush issues such as...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
Members will be aware that I am a committed campaigner for the elderly in my electorate of Swan. I spend plenty of time in my electorate talking to older people and the organisations that...
- Australian Electoral Commission (1 speech)
Yesterday at a public hearing the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters heard dramatic information from the refreshing new head of the Australian Electoral Commission, Mr Killesteyn. His...
- Transport (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak on the need for an integrated transport system around this country. At the moment, and this is the way it has stood for such a long period of time, we have various forms of...
- Alcopops (1 speech)
It is important for every member of parliament to put on the public record their position regarding our responsibility to give a very strong message to all communities across this country that we...
- Economy; Dunkley Electorate: Transport (1 speech)
In my last opportunity before the May budget, I urge the Rudd government, in its search for savings, not to squib out of its responsibility to provide a pension increase for Australia’s...
- Alcopops (7 speeches)
by leave—In rising to speak again in this debate I would first like to compliment the member for Newcastle on her fine contribution to the debate, raising the issue of alcopops and the...
