House debates
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
- Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (15 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion to suspend so much of standing and sessional orders as would prevent the member for Cook from having notice No. 21, private members’ business standing in the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
I have received messages from the Senate informing the House of the appointment of senators to certain joint committees. Copies of the messages are on the chamber table and details will be...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Mental Health; Consideration of Senate Message (2 speeches)
I have received a message from the Senate transmitting a resolution agreed to by the Senate on 26 October 2010 relating to mental health. Copies of the message have been placed on the table for...
- Federal Financial Relations Amendment (National Health and Hospitals Network) Bill 2010 (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 Federal Financial Relations Amendment (National Health and Hospitals Network) Bill 2010 will implement the key financial elements of the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That consideration of government business notice No. 2, Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2010 (No. 2) (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with section 10B of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the House approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Amendment Determination 2010 (No. 2) made on...
- Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net - Midwives) Amendment Determination 2010 (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with section 10B of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the House approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net—Midwives) Amendment Determination 2010...
- Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010 (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. I am pleased to introduce the Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010. This bill includes the legislative measures...
- National Health and Hospitals Network Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (10 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 October, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Mr Dutton moved by way of amendment: That all the 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.
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (13 speeches)
Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Great Barrier Reef: Project Catalyst (1 speech)
Sugar cane growers in the Mackay-Whitsunday region and their partners—the local natural resource management organisation Reef Catchments, Coca-Cola and WWF—have been recognised for...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
I call on the government and all members to support the declaration that the Melbourne to Gladstone inland railway become a project of national significance and to intervene to provide the...
- Ovarian Cancer (3 speeches)
This month I was honoured to be asked to be an ambassador for Frocktober Canberra 2010. Frocktober encourages Canberra women to don a frock during October to raise awareness about the symptoms of...
- Flinders Electorate: Infrastructure Charge (1 speech)
May I firstly congratulate the member for Canberra on her initiative in relation to ovarian cancer. It is a good, important, solid initiative with support from all members of this House. I want...
- Tan Kien Ly (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about a man who I have come to consider a close friend and ally. Tan Kien Ly, or TK as he is known to many of us in the local community, is an active member of the...
- Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices (1 speech)
Last night I attended the 2010 Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices right here in Parliament House. These awards recognise and celebrate the achievement...
- Turkey: Republic Day (1 speech)
I rise to celebrate with the Australian-Turkish community and congratulate them on the 87th anniversary of the Turkish republic’s national day on 29 October. Republic Day in Turkey...
- Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
The Rochester irrigators, who are along the Campaspe River in northern Victoria, suffered from shocking drought impacts and had no water allocation for about four years. So, with great sadness...
- Professor Berni Einoder AM (1 speech)
I would like to congratulate Professor Berni Einoder AM, who has been honoured with a rare life membership of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. He received his award at the...
- Kalamunda Schoolies Timor-Leste Project (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the Kalamunda schoolies Timor-Leste project. It provides year 12 school leavers with an alternative to what has become known as Schoolies Week or Leavers Week. The project...
- Australian Youth Climate Coalition (2 speeches)
I would like to talk today about the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Australia’s largest youth-run organisation with 56,000 members. Three of those members came to see me this week,...
- Tragedies in Indonesia (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
Members would be aware that early on the morning of 26 October a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra caused a tsunami in and around the Mentawai Islands. Of course, this news would...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I point out to the Prime Minister that over the past year electricity costs are up 12.4 per cent, water and sewerage costs are up 12.8 per cent, gas is up...
- Economic Reform (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is bipartisanship important in ensuring enduring benefits from economic reform?
- Electricity Prices (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to analysis that shows that in five years time electricity bills will reach up to $10,000 a year for families if a carbon tax is...
- Broadband (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is restructuring the telecommunications sector important in delivering the National Broadband Network so that every Australian business and household can...
- Electricity Prices (9 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Given today’s inflation data show that households are already under pressure from massive increases in the costs of electricity, gas, water, health, child...
- Banking (21 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the importance of sensible policies to support competition in the banking sector and the government’s views on recent...
- Health Reform (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What is the scale of quality and safety problems in our health system? What health reforms is the government proposing to improve the safety...
- Banking (9 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his bank account switching package, which came into place on 1 November 2008. How many Australians have switched banks as a result of...
- Carbon Farming Initiative (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Will the Minister update the House on the government’s election commitment to establish the Carbon Farming Initiative?
- Banking (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. With the NAB’s announcement today of a $4.2 billion profit, following the Commonwealth Bank’s huge $5.6 billion profit posted earlier this year, will...
- Indonesian Tsunami (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. What is the Australian government’s response to the tsunami that struck off the coast of West Sumatra, including the safety of...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer the minister to Mr Laurie Oakes’s revelation last night that he opposed the Prime Minister’s East Timor detention centre...
- Women in the Workplace (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare and Minister for the Status of Women. What practical steps is the government taking to assure greater representation of...
- Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. I refer the minister to the Premier of South Australia’s criticism of the Woodside detention centre yesterday in the South...
- Freedom of Information (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Justice and Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information. Minister, how is the government improving Australia’s freedom...
- Murray-Darling Basin (8 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In Mildura today thousands of people gathered to protest at the mess this government...
- Economy (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade. Can the minister advise the House of his engagement with countries in our region and explain why economic reform is essential to Australia’s trade...
- Cleaner Car Rebate Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Can the minister confirm that, in trying to avert further program delivery debacles, the...
- Economy (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts, representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Use of Mobile Telephones (0 speeches)
- Statement by the Speaker (1 speech)
I wish to make a short statement on the use of mobile phones in the chamber. Earlier this year a matter of privilege was raised concerning the apparent use of a mobile phone to take a photograph...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report No. 4 (1 speech)
I present the Selection Committee’s Report No. 4 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 15 November 2010. The...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, as Leader of the House I very much welcome your statement to the House about the use of electronic equipment in an inappropriate fashion. Documents are presented as listed in the...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Economy (11 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for North Sydney proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
- Autonomous Sanctions Bill 2010 (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. Bill agreed to.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010 (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. Bill agreed to.
- Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2010 Measures No. 1) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee with an unresolved question, appropriation message having been reported; certified copy of the bill and schedule of the unresolved question presented. Ordered...
- 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.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That orders of the day Nos 3 to 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (4 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 October, 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...
- Higher Education Support Amendment (Fee-Help Loan Fee) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the Higher Education Support Amendment (FEE-HELP Loan Fee) Bill 2010 be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. Question agreed to.
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! It being 7.00 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Consideration in Detail (4 speeches)
Consideration 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.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the House do now adjourn.
- Apprenticeships (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on the topic of apprenticeships. Looming skills shortages persist despite numerous efforts by successive governments to increase apprenticeship incentives. Particularly in...
- Burma; Palestine (1 speech)
I rise to speak about two international matters that concern the community in Australia. The first one is to do with Burma. On Sunday I attended an event in Sydney organised to mark 15 cumulative...
- Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
The government believes that a tax is the answer to every problem. There is an issue with binge drinking, so they introduce an alcopops tax. There is a climate problem, so they propose a carbon...
- Ipswich Region Community Church Day of Honour (1 speech)
Last Sunday, along with my wife, Carolyn, and our daughters, Alex and Jacqui, I attended Ipswich Region Community Church’s day of honour. It is the 10th anniversary of the day of honour,...
- Dunkley Electorate: Frankston (1 speech)
In the few minutes available to me tonight, I would like to talk about one of the great Southern Hemisphere cities of Australia, and that is Frankston. It is a community that runs through my...
- Moreton Electorate: Seniors (1 speech)
There are more than 17,000 seniors in my electorate, and we know from current trends and reports like the Intergenerational Report that the number of seniors is going to continue to grow. That is...
- Grey Electorate: Road Conditions on the Birdsville Track (1 speech)
I have brought to the attention of this House on a couple of occasions the very big rains we have had in the north of the state and the complications that these have caused for the Birdsville...
- Makin Electorate: Greek Community (1 speech)
On Saturday 10 October I attend the Greek Festival in Salisbury. Next Sunday I will be attending the St Dimitrios Greek Parish Festival at the St Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Salisbury as I...
- Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the history of Australia in relation to our drinking of alcohol. We had a currency of rum in the 1700s and ever since then we have had quite an affection for alcohol....
- Canberra Electorate: Telstra Awards (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to acknowledge the achievements of five Canberra businesswomen who recently took out Telstra ACT businesswomen awards. The private sector in Canberra makes up about 50 per...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
I spoke earlier today, during my 90-second statement, about the importance of having a Melbourne to Gladstone inland rail project declared a project of national significance. I cannot stress...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
The following notices were given:
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Stirling Electorate: Neighbourhood Watch (1 speech)
I would like to talk about an organisation that is very important to me and one that has in the past had a great presence in the Stirling community, a presence that I hope to help re-establish in...
- Calwell Electorate: Radio 3ZZZ (1 speech)
Today I rise to talk about Australia’s largest multilingual institution, which reaches people and places both locally and internationally. It is an institution that has the ability to build...
- Macarthur Electorate: 24-Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur (1 speech)
On 16 October I had the pleasure of attending the 24-Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur at Campbelltown sports stadium. Over 1,200 people from the community turned up to support those who have...
- Parramatta Electorate: Merrylands Baptist Church (1 speech)
I rise to recognise the Merrylands Baptist Church community for their outstanding contribution to the cause of global justice and poverty reduction. The church has a very active and successful...
- Grey Electorate: Bedford Industries (1 speech)
I would like to place on the record the tremendous contribution Bedford Industries are making to people with disabilities in South Australia generally and in my electorate of Grey particularly....
- Deakin Electorate: Building the Education Revolution (1 speech)
Last Friday, 22 October, I had the great honour of officially opening the new multipurpose hall at Blackburn Primary School in my electorate of Deakin. Sue Henderson, the school principal; Peter...
- Dunkley Electorate: Small Businesses (4 speeches)
People ask me what happened to my foot, and I say that these are the wounds from trying to kick-start this government’s interest in small business! I will persist in that effort today, as I...
- Corio Electorate: Youth Leadership Awards (1 speech)
This year at the end of term 4 it will be my pleasure as the member for Corio to again present outstanding leadership awards to students in primary and secondary schools across the Corio...
- Bradfield Electorate: San Run for Life (2 speeches)
I rise to report to the House on the 10th running of the San Run for Life held on Sunday, 17 October. The first thing I want to report to the House is the performance of one entrant: P Fletcher,...
- Page Electorate (2 speeches)
I want to do a bit of a regional round-up for my seat of Page. I have been to a number of BER openings, and there will be many more coming up in the near future, particularly one at Alstonville...
- THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT (2010 MEASURES; No. 1) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (5 speeches)
Debate resumed from 30 September, on motion by Ms King: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Consideration in Detail (10 speeches)
Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
- Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Weekly Payments) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (4 speeches, 3 comments)
Debate resumed from 21 October, on motion by Mr Snowdon: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (7 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 October, on motion by Mr Stephen Smith: That the House take note of the document.
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (15 speeches, 1 comment)
Before I suspend the sitting of the Main Committee, I would like to recognise Major Anastasia Roberts of the British Army, who is in the gallery today. She is part of an Australian Defence Force...
- Business (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That order of the day No. 7, private members business, be returned to the House for further consideration. Question agreed to.
