House debates
Monday, 18 October 2010
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the Selection Committee’s report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members’ business on Monday, 18 October 2010. In accordance...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- Private Members’ Motions (1 speech)
In accordance with standing order 41(g), and the determinations of the Selection Committee, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has been given by the members for Cook, Page,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
I have received three messages from the Senate informing the House of the appointment of senators to certain joint committees. As the list of appointments is a lengthy one, I do not propose to...
- Registrar of Members’ Interests (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to inform the House that, in accordance with resolution 3 of the House of Representatives, relating to the registration of members’ interests, I have appointed Mr David Elder, Deputy...
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (2 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Wilkie.
- Commission of Inquiry into the Building the Education Revolution Program Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (2 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Pyne.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That consideration of private Members’ business, notice No. 3, be postponed until the next sitting.
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Australia’s Future Tax System Review (19 speeches)
I move: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)Australia’s Future Tax System Review (the ‘Henry Review’) made a large number of recommendations in relation to the system of...
- Food Labelling (10 speeches)
I move: That this House:(1)notes significant community concern regarding the clarity, simplicity and accuracy of food labelling, including labelling identifying the:(a)origin of the...
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (9 speeches)
Debate resumed from 30 September, on the proposed address-in-reply to the speech of Her Excellency the Governor-General— May it please Your Excellency: We, the House of Representatives of...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Mornington Peninsula Beaches (1 speech)
This season, before summer, it is time for a peninsula beach recovery plan. What we have seen over the last year and a half is the erosion, damage and destruction of many of the great beaches of...
- Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
On 8 September I attended the official opening of the new multipurpose hall and resource centre at the Kilcoy State School in the Somerset region. On 15 September I was at the Mount Kilcoy State...
- Kingsway Christian College (1 speech)
I would like to mention Kingsway Christian College today. During the election campaign I had the honour of attending a couple of sessions with their senior students to talk about their...
- Liu Xiaobo (1 speech)
Today I want to put on the record my delight at the Nobel committee’s decision to award the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo for his non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in...
- Taxation (1 speech)
It has been for almost a year that the coalition has been calling on the Labor government to be clear about its intentions regarding more than two million independent contractors. These...
- Liu Xiaobo (1 speech)
I join the member for Fremantle in congratulating the great Chinese intellectual, Professor of Literature Liu Xiaobo, on his award of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel committee has given this...
- Swan Electorate: Millen Primary School (1 speech)
On 22 September 2010, I attended the Millen Primary School, in my electorate of Swan. The purpose of the visit was to present a certificate to the school as it is in the running to be named the...
- Toongabbie Legal Centre (1 speech)
I rise to commend to the House the excellent work of the Toongabbie Legal Centre. The Toongabbie Legal Centre is an outstanding organisation, with deep roots in the community and run to the...
- Grey Electorate: Cancer Project (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to inform the House about a small community in my electorate called Blyth, just 15 minutes to the west of the Clare Valley. Blyth is a small town with an enormous heart....
- Petrie Electorate: Arethusa College (2 speeches)
I rise to talk about the NAB Schools First Awards program. The awards have just been announced for 2010 and this is the second year that the program has been running. I am pleased that Arethusa...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I inform the House that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be absent from question time today and tomorrow as he is attending the canonisation of St Mary MacKillop at the Vatican. He is...
- ST Mary of the Cross (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
On indulgence: this is a great opportunity to remark in this House about the events of yesterday in Rome where Mary MacKillop was made a saint by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope’s...
- Dame Joan Sutherland (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
On indulgence: I ask leave of the House to make some remarks on the passing of Dame Joan Sutherland. She was of course La Stupenda, the ‘voice of the century’, ‘our Joan’,...
- Main Committee (0 speeches)
- St Mary of the Cross; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That further statements by leave on the canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop be referred to the Main Committee. Question agreed to.
- Dame Joan Sutherland; Reference (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That further statements by leave on the death of Dame Joan Sutherland be referred to the Main Committee. Question agreed to.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
This question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the 106 illegal boats that have so far arrived this year. I further refer the Prime Minister to today’s announcement of...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the state of the global economy and what it means for the government’s reform agenda?
- Murray-Darling Basin (16 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister stand by her pre-election commitment to adopt the Murray-Darling Basin plan, sight unseen, in its entirety and without regard to...
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government building a modern, prosperous economy? How have these reforms been received?
- Murray-Darling Basin (6 speeches)
My question is also to the Prime Minister. I ask the Prime Minister why the government did not require the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to undertake a proper social and economic study as a part...
- Carbon Disclosure Project (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Minister, would you update the House on any implications of the release of the Carbon Disclosure Project’s annual...
- Murray-Darling Basin (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Why is the expenditure on major water-saving infrastructure and on-farm efficiency $400 million...
- Delhi Commonwealth Games (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare and Minister for the Status of Women, representing the Minister for Sport. Will the minister update the House on the...
- Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. I refer to the Murray-Darling Basin plan, which suggests effective cuts of 71 per cent to...
- Health Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What is the government doing to ensure we have an adequate number of highly trained health professionals well distributed across the country?
- Afghanistan (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Given that one of the oft-stated rationales for our involvement in Afghanistan is the propping up of the Karzai government, is the government concerned...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. How are the major nation-building infrastructure projects progressing, particularly those in South Australia and Western Australia?
- Murray-Darling Basin (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Is water reform the responsibility of the government or is it the responsibility of the...
- Military Discipline (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister advise the House on the creation of the position of Director of Military Prosecutions? Why is the independence of the Director of...
- Home Insulation Program (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Friday the Prime Minister conceded that the government’s insulation scheme had become ‘a mess’. In that context, why did the government...
- Carers (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. What is the government doing to recognise, support and celebrate the work of Australia’s carers?
- Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 12 of 2010-11 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 12 of 2010-11 entitled Home Insulation Program. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.
- 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...
- Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence from 18 October to 25 November 2010 be given to Ms Plibersek on the ground of maternity leave. On behalf of all members, I congratulate her on the birth of her son....
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Economy (2 speeches)
by leave—I make this ministerial statement relating to the global and domestic economies. International Update Two years ago this government participated in a historic crisis meeting of the...
- National Security (2 speeches)
I wish to update the House on the outcomes of the largest counterterrorism exercise conducted to date in Australia, Exercise Mercury 10. The threat of terrorist attack remains a major security...
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (9 speeches)
Debate resumed on the proposed address-in-reply to the speech of Her Excellency the Governor-General— May it please Your Excellency: We, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of...
- National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (12 speeches)
Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Tax Laws Amendment (Confidentiality of Taxpayer Information) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Mr Shorten: That this bill be now read a second time.
- National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010; Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment Bill 2010; National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Bill 2010; Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the following bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration:International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010;Protection of the Sea...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Youth Allowance (13 speeches)
I move: That this House:(1)requires the Government:(a)urgently to introduce legislation to reinstate the former workplace participation criteria for independent youth allowance, to apply to...
- Gene Patents (12 speeches)
I move: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)on 6 September 2010 the ABC’s Four Corners program screened a story entitled ‘Body Corporate’, highlighting growing community and...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the House do now adjourn.
- Mental Health (1 speech, 1 comment)
On the weekend marking International Mental Health Day, 10 October, the Weekend Australian, in its Inquirer section, ran two interesting articles on mental health in Australia. Authors Patrick...
- Electorate of Blair: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I want to talk tonight about the bridges of Blair and three in particular. On 7 September I was pleased to be present at the opening of Pointings Bridge, which was constructed by the Somerset...
- Malu Sara Tragedy (1 speech)
Friday just passed—15 October—marked the fifth anniversary of the tragic sinking of the Malu Sara in the Torres Strait, where five Torres Strait Islanders lost their lives: Wilfred...
- Ms Heather Weston; Doveton and Eumemmerring Neighbourhood Renewal (1 speech)
I rise tonight to pay tribute to two local success stories from Doveton, a great suburb in my electorate. One is an individual who embodies what it means to be a resident of Doveton. Another is a...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
Roads are the single most vital piece of infrastructure for regional Australia, and for individuals and businesses alike roads are essential to the everyday functioning of our region. For Calare...
- Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk a little about school infrastructure and, in particular, the Building the Education Revolution. Much of this debate has become dominated by some of the headlines, the...
- Serrated Tussock (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a threat to Australia’s agricultural sustainability. That threat is the rapid and uncontrollable spread of noxious weeds, in particular Nasella trichotoma, or serrated...
- Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
On Friday, 15 October I attended the two public consultation sessions held by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in Renmark seeking community feedback on the authority’s guide to the Basin...
- Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (1 speech)
Tonight I wish to speak of enviro-nazis in the WA Department of Environment and Conservation, DEC, and how their lack of scientific rigour and simple bloody-mindedness threatens to destroy the...
- Chisholm Electorate: Clayton Road (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about an issue of huge concern to my electorate—traffic congestion on and around Clayton Road. There is a desperate need for something to be done about the traffic...
- Middle East (1 speech)
Last Thursday the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, travelled to southern Lebanon in a show of support for the terrorist organisation Hezbollah. The President stood within four kilometres...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Taxation (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak on an issue of concern to my constituents of Higgins, the issue of Labor government secrecy. My constituents are concerned that Labor government secrecy is increasing the...
- Mr Phil Tolhurst (1 speech)
It is with great sadness that I rise today to speak about a great community servant who is no longer with us. Phil Tolhurst served the Liverpool City Council for more than 10 years before...
- Forrest Electorate: Tassell Park Wines (3 speeches)
I rise to once again ask the government to respond to a situation facing a winery in my electorate of Forrest as a result of the Labor government’s award modernisation. Ian and Patricia...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Ascot Park Bowling Club (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to and to congratulate the Ascot Park Bowling Club within the electorate of Hindmarsh. Yesterday I had great pleasure in attending the 50-year anniversary of the...
- Gilmore Electorate: Dunn and Lewis Memorial in Ulladulla (1 speech)
Recently I was privileged to have been invited to attend the opening of stage 1 of the Dunn and Lewis Memorial in Ulladulla. It was constructed as a memorial to two young mates who died in the...
- Werriwa Electorate: 24-Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the Macarthur region community on its activity over the weekend in regard to the 24-Hour Fight Against Cancer. My attendance there in support of Fred Borg and his committee...
- Ryan Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
I want to place on record my congratulations to Brisbane City Council and the lord mayor, Campbell Newman, on their broadband announcement last week. This will provide all Brisbane residents and...
- Moreton Electorare: Moorooka Community Hub (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House about a major piece of community infrastructure that the Gillard Labor government is delivering in the Moreton electorate. We are partnering with the state and local...
- Cowan Electorate: Postal Services (1 speech)
Although Australia Post does not need any more bad news these days, I would like to raise the issue of the approach of Australia Post to services within postcode 6065, which goes from Wanneroo...
- Page Electorate: Clarence River (2 speeches)
I have a message on behalf of my community in Page that I want to give to the parliament and everybody who is going to be involved in the Murray-Darling Basin plan and debate. The message from my...
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (23 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Morrison: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugees Convention) states that ‘contracting States shall...
- Page Electorate: Telstra (10 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Saffin: That this House:(1)notes with grave concern:(a)Telstra’s stated proposal to close its Business Call Centre in Grafton, with the loss of 108 local...
- Special Disability Trusts (7 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mrs Moylan: That this House:(1)acknowledges the work of carers, and in particular ageing parents caring for profoundly disabled dependents;(2)recognises that ageing...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Overseas Trained Doctors (33 speeches, 1 comment)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Bruce Scott: That this House calls for:(1)an inquiry into the role of Australia’s medical and surgical colleges in the registration process of medical...
- Forestry Industry (9 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Adams: That this House:(1)recognises that the forestry industry is an important part of the Australian economy but is currently in crisis;(2)understands that it is...
- National Stroke Awareness Week (6 speeches)
Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Hall: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)National Stroke Awareness Week was 13 to 19 September;(b)sixty thousand people will suffer a stroke this year, that is, one...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Debate resumed from 27 September.
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
My grievance tonight is about an issue that was once central to government policy and widely accepted across mainstream politics but has now been relegated to a marginal and contentious place in...
- Multiculturalism; St Mary of the Cross; Hospitals (2 speeches)
The speech of the member for Calwell on multiculturalism would be very well received by thousands of people across Victoria. I represent part of the Latrobe Valley and grew up in Koo Wee Rup with...
- Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise to speak on the subject of the Murray-Darling Basin and the changes that have been evident for some years now, are evident today and will inevitably continue in one form or another into...
- Swan Electorate: Canning Bridge Precinct Development (2 speeches)
I note the member for Hindmarsh was speaking about taking the time to listen, making sure that everyone has a chance to put something forward, and that is what I rise to speak about. I rise to...
- Newcastle City Centre Renewal (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to raise a grievance about the development of the Hunter region. The Hunter region is home to nearly 600,000 people. We are a region of opportunity, a region of growth and a region...
