House debates
Monday, 28 May 2012
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
Last week I spoke about the six principles of petitioning which underpinned the House Procedure Committee’s review of the petitions process and which led in 2008 to changes to the standing...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
In accordance with standing order 41(g), and the recommendations of the Selection Committee, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has been given by the honourable members for...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Newstart Allowance (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) resolves that Newstart payments are too low and should increase by $50 per week; and (2) calls on the government to find an appropriate savings measure to fund this...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
The Speaker has received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip nominating members to be supplementary members of the Standing Committee on Economics for the purpose of the committee’s...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Charity Golf Day (1 speech)
On Friday I took part in the Wollondilly Shire Council's Mayoral Charity Golf Day in Picton. The golf day raised a considerable amount of money, which will be used to buy iPads for children to...
- International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (1 speech)
I rise to note that tomorrow, 29 May, is the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. On this day at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General conducts a wreath-laying...
- Brookfield Show (1 speech)
I recently enjoyed attending the annual Brookfield Show—a wonderful event that brings a whole community together. At the official opening on Saturday evening I had the honour of announcing...
- Sparks and Spanners Program (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate all involved in the Sparks and Spanners automotive program in my electorate of Bass. I recently had the pleasure of launching the Sparks and Spanners automotive...
- Pacific Island Workers Scheme (1 speech)
Today I would like to talk about the Pacific Island Workers Scheme. It is in my area, especially around Emerald and the 2PHfarmswhere they employ up to 500 workers per year. It is a mix of...
- Cullen, Ms Ningali (1 speech)
In this National Reconciliation Week and after National Sorry day on Saturday, it is with great sadness that I speak today about the extraordinary life of Ningali Audrey Cullen who passed away on...
- Murray Darling Basin (1 speech)
Twelve thousand people who turned out at a community meeting at Griffith last December and just under 12,000 submissions from right across Australia do not seem to matter much to the...
- Ipswich Performance Space (1 speech)
Since the Baptist congregation at the Top of Town in Brisbane Street in Ipswich relocated some years ago to Brassall, the old Ipswich Baptist Church site, owned by the Ipswich City Council and...
- Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
I have a letter with me today that was sent to me last week from a worker at Energy Brix in my electorate. The letter writer is Angelo Gaudiano and he sent the letter also to Minister Ferguson....
- Small Business (2 speeches)
I thank the Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Brendan O'Connor, who recently visited my electorate to meet with small business, and I acknowledge the Redcliffe City Chamber of Commerce who...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Manufacturing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer her to the announcement today that more than 2,000 jobs are to be cut at air-conditioning and refrigeration company Hastie on top of thousands of...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government helping pensioners and families make ends meet as part of the budget and carbon price household assistance?
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. I refer to the government's announcement on Friday that a deal has been struck with Gina Rinehart through an enterprise migration...
- Pensions and Benefits (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disabilities Reform. Minister, how is the government rolling out its household assistance...
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. When did the minister first inform the Prime Minister or her office that a decision with respect to the enterprise migration...
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in south-eastern states in recent months, especially in manufacturing, due in large part...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I want to welcome to the gallery this afternoon the former member for Canberra, Annette Ellis, and thank her for the calming effect she seems to be having on the chamber today. Honourable...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. What is the government doing to assist pensioners with cost-of-living pressures?
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. I refer to the agreement struck with Gina Rinehart to employ 1,700 overseas workers at the Roy Hill project in...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the Minister for Industry and Innovation. Will the minister update the House on the design and delivery of the...
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer to the agreement struck with Gina Rinehart to employ 1,700 overseas workers at the Roy Hill project in Western...
- Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Will the minister update the House on the latest information from the Murray-Darling Basin...
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (5 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his essay in The Monthly magazine where he commented that now was the time to 'fight a pitched battle against the influence of vested...
- Shipping (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the Minister advise the House of the government's efforts to revitalise the Australian shipping industry? What are the...
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (20 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister know about the enterprise migration agreement offered to Gina Rinehart when she made this statement to the House last Thursday: 'If...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister Assisting for Deregulation. How is the government getting the budget back to surplus and, at the same time, helping Australian pensioners...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I acknowledge the presence in the gallery today of the Rt. Hon. Yvette Cooper, from the British House of Commons. I hope you enjoy your visit. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister inform union officials last week that she did not support the Roy Hill agreement and had not been informed about it?
- Mature Age Workers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation and Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare. How is the government supporting Australians of all ages to find work and stay in work...
- Enterprise Migration Agreements (5 speeches)
I have a question for the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister support the whole of the Roy Hill agreement? Does she support the agreement lock, stock and barrel, including the employment of...
- Square Kilometre Array Project (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Science. How will Australia benefit from the decision to jointly locate the Square Kilometre Array radiotelescope in Australia, New...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
A documents is presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the document will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and I move: That the House take note of...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (6 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Afghanistan (2 speeches)
On indulgence, on a matter on which I have given the member for Fadden some notice, members will be aware of a number of allegations raised in News Limited papers today about the repatriation and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Human Rights: Vietnam (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) there are increasing reports of gross human rights violations in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) including evidence of continued house...
- Ministerial Conduct (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) endorses the draft code of conduct at Appendix 5 of the report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests, Draft...
- Human Rights: Bahrain (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) on 15 February 2012, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, called for a genuine, all-inclusive and meaningful dialogue that meets the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Presgrave, Mr Ross Anthony (1 speech)
I rise tonight to inform the House of the death of a great Australian, Ross Anthony Presgrave, of Forster. Born in Sydney on 16 July 1937, Ross passed away on 23 April 2012 at the John Hunter...
- Mongolia: Human Rights (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a matter of human rights in a country a long way from Australia but of deep concern still to members of the international community. I speak here of the country of Mongolia....
- Giese, Mrs Nancy, AO, OBE, MBE (1 speech)
I rise tonight to pay tribute to Nancy Giese AO, OBE, MBE, a truly remarkable Territorian who died earlier this month in Darwin aged 90. I agree with my friend the former Northern Territory...
- Media (1 speech)
The relationship between government and the media is always close but rarely sycophantic. That is why regulation of Australia's media industry is always a controversial topic; you need only look...
- Juvenile Diabetes (1 speech)
Since the early formation of the bipartisan Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group in the parliament just over a decade ago, it has advocated for strong national policy initiatives for people with...
- Bowel Cancer (1 speech)
Bowel Cancer Week falls in the week of 3 to 9 June, so I raise the issue of bowel cancer tonight in this parliament. Australia has one of the highest bowel cancer rates in the world. It is the...
- Cycling (1 speech)
We all know that the best compliments are those that come from third parties and independent minds. That is why I was so pleased to read the latest issue of Ride magazine and its article about...
- Bullying (1 speech)
I rise in the House tonight to speak on the issue of bullying. Rueben Cunningham, a constituent in my electorate, contacted my office earlier this year with a plea for help. His daughter, Chloe,...
- Private Health Insurance (1 speech)
One of the very bad decisions that this government has made—amongst many bad decisions—has been the means-testing of the private health insurance rebate. I remember in 1983, when we...
- Humphreys, Mr Laurie (1 speech)
Both the member for Swan and I made brief statements last week in remembrance of Laurie Humphreys, a very significant and special resident of the city of Cockburn within my electorate of...
- Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about the 2012 Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards. In 2009 I initiated the Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards to recognise, reward and encourage careers...
- National Indigenous Youth Parliament (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to speak tonight about the National Indigenous Youth Parliament, which I presided over on Saturday afternoon at Old Parliament House. The event coincided with National...
- Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
The New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, has slammed the revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan, saying that it has not given due consideration to any of the issues...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Calare Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the trials and tribulations experienced by small businesses in my electorate of Calare. Unfortunately, thanks to this Labor government they have more trials and...
- Osuch-Helsham, Ms Nicole (1 speech)
During the 2010 election campaign, one of the suburbs I doorknocked was Harrison. I sent out a letter letting residents know I would be in the area and inviting people to contact me if they had...
- Mitchell Electorate: Hills Relay for Life 2012 (1 speech)
It is a privilege to follow the member for Fraser and his fine speech about Nicole by commending my own community for their efforts in raising money for cancer through the Hills Relay for Life in...
- Oxley Electorate: Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge (1 speech)
It is with great pleasure I thank a whole range of people that helped with the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Challenge yesterday, Sunday 27 May. It is a ride I initiated and this was our 11th year. All of...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
This week marks the first anniversary of the extraordinary Four Corners program about the cruelty being meted out routinely to Australian cattle exported to Indonesian slaughterhouses. The...
- Corio Electorate: Mineral Springs (1 speech)
Recently I met the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association. They spoke to me about the old mineral springs site from which Clifton Springs gets its name. This site represents a...
- Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club (1 speech)
On Saturday I attended the annual awards night for the Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club and I would like to congratulate the club award recipients. They are: Jim Purdon, president of the club...
- Volunteers Week (1 speech)
Today I would like to talk about the importance of volunteers in local communities. Volunteers Week was a perfect opportunity to celebrate all that is good about our community but particularly to...
- Wright Electorate: Rathdowney State School and Boonah Show (1 speech)
I rise to inform the chamber of some wonderful communities that are getting on with the job in my electorate. I have an electorate of just on 8,000 square kilometres, ranging from Robina on the...
- Shortland Electorate: Seniors Forum (2 speeches)
On Friday I held my annual seniors forum, a seniors information day, at the Halekulani Bowling Club in the Central Coast part of my electorate. Firstly, I would like to thank Halekulani Bowling...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- World No Tobacco Day (10 speeches)
Thank you for assisting this morning, Mr Deputy Speaker, so that I can give this speech. This motion is a very important motion. It is one that I am very proud of because it draws attention to...
- Gambling (4 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker Rishworth, I know this is an issue that is close to your heart as well, and you have expressed your concerns on problem gambling many times before in the House. This is a...
- Aviation (7 speeches)
Our concern with the European Union ETS's application of a tax on international flights is about fairness and about effectiveness. Let me begin with the issue of fairness. If a new entrant were...
- National Year of Reading (4 speeches)
This year, 2012, is the National Year of Reading, and I have been given the honour of being appointed one of 24 national reading ambassadors. There are also a number of state and territory ones....
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- National Year of Reading (6 speeches)
I speak in support of the motion of the member for Lyons, and in doing so I acknowledge the fact that if you have not acquired good, strong reading and writing skills it can affect you throughout...
- Renewable Energy (10 speeches)
The Parkes electorate is an ideal place for the generation of solar energy. It has been identified as having the ideal amount of sunshine as a location for this. Indeed, a good number of my...
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (6 speeches)
I moved this motion to raise awareness about the significant impact that autism spectrum disorders have on the lives of individuals diagnosed with this condition as well as the lives of parents...
- Motorcycle Safety (10 speeches)
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion, as motorcycling is a great sport and a great means of transport. Motorcyclists come from all walks of life, and motorcycling is increasing in...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Mobile Phone Services (1 speech)
I rise tonight to highlight the government's neglect of mobile communications in regional Australia. As I talk to people in regional Australia about communications problems that matter to them,...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
I am aggrieved at the attitude of the federal coalition parties in Canberra and to the attitude of the state LNP government in Queensland with respect to disabilities and disability services. For...
- Australian Technical Colleges (1 speech)
I rise tonight to raise a longstanding grievance about Australian technical colleges. This government is failing to address the nation's skill shortages. The reason I rise tonight is that the...
- Newcastle Electorate (1 speech)
It is with great pleasure and pride that I rise tonight to share with the House the fabulous news that funding to my electorate of Newcastle from the federal Labor government now exceeds $2...
- Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
I rise tonight on the grievance debate with an issue that is relevant to this very day. The event today is a symptom of our economy—and this is what links us to my grievance...
- Hindmarsh Electorate (2 speeches)
I am very pleased to be able to speak tonight in the grievance debate. I suppose that the grievance debate offers us members an opportunity to talk about the good things that are happening in our...
