House debates
Monday, 20 August 2012
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
The following ministerial responses to petitions have been received:
- Statements (1 speech)
As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, over the winter recess there has been continual petitioning activity, with petitioners forwarding their petitions to the committee for consideration in the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
by leave—On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I rise to present this statement and discharge the committee's obligation to report on the Customs Amendment...
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's fourth report of 2012 and referrals made in 2012 relating to the proposed integrated fit-out of new...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That orders of the day Nos 4 and 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme Augmentation (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure of representing the federal government at the opening of the $10 million Winnaleah Irrigation Scheme Augmentation, the fourth in a suite of projects completed under...
- Fisheries (1 speech)
I rise to highlight the plight of the Australian seafood industry, which is set to become the latest victim of this inept Labor government and its desperation to remain in power through yet...
- Organ Donation (1 speech)
I am incredibly proud of corporate Canberra for its recent efforts in promoting organ donor awareness. A firm in my electorate, KazarSlaven, take their social conscience seriously. Led by Henry...
- Mulholland, Gunner Jack (1 speech)
It is with regret that I rise today to advise the House of passing of Gunner Jack Mulholland, who sadly passed away over the weekend aged 92. Jack was one of the last surviving Darwin defenders....
- Robertson Electorate: Excellence in Business Awards (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge and celebrate the Central Coast Business Excellence Awards 2012, which were held in my electorate, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, last Saturday night. I want to...
- Aged-Care Reform (1 speech)
I rise to highlight huge concerns in the aged-care sector about this government's so-called reform package. I have had the opportunity to meet with aged-care providers in my electorate, and to...
- International Development Assistance (1 speech)
I received a letter from Pastor Louise Shanks from the Lakes Baptist Church at Gorokan. They are involved in a program with TEAR Australia, where TEAR stands for transformation, empowerment,...
- Brisbane Ekka (1 speech)
For 10 days every August, the country meets the city at the Brisbane Ekka. Each year, Scouts Queensland, based in Auchenflower in my electorate of Ryan, participate in the Ekka's fruit display...
- Petition: Public Holidays (1 speech)
I present to the House a petition on public holidays which has been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. The petition read as follows— To the Honourable The Speaker and Members...
- Vietnam Veterans Day (1 speech)
It was with great pride that I attended the Vietnam Veterans service on Sunday at Anzac Park in Townsville. The ranks may be thinning and they may be getting a little bit tired, but when the RSM...
- Youth Services (2 speeches)
I recently attended Beacon events at schools in my electorate of Bass. Beacon is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at providing brighter and positive futures for our youth. The schools involved...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business will be absent from question time this week for personal reasons. The Minister for...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (12 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister guarantee a surplus of at least $1.5 billion this financial year and higher over the forward estimates, as promised in the budget...
- Education Funding (4 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask briefly for your indulgence. In 1968, Peter Norman made a bold stand for racial equality, which will be honoured in a motion in the House tonight. His sister Elaine,...
- Carbon Pricing (13 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer her to the letter I have here from Australian Country Choice. It indicates that the company is now paying a carbon charge of an extra 38 per cent for...
- Education (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. It follows on from the question posed to the Prime Minister earlier. What approach will the government take and...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the member for Hughes, I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Carbon Pricing (17 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that Ingleburn High School in Western Sydney has been hit with a carbon tax hike of $450 for just one month, with a teacher...
- Tuggerah Lakes (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In 2007 I secured $20 million funding for five years for the important work of rejuvenating...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the current strength of our economy and why it is important to keep investing in skills and infrastructure to keep the...
- Carbon Pricing (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement of Pat Italiano, owner of Essendon Fruit Supply, in the electorate of Maribyrnong, who said, with regard to the...
- Infrastructure (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the minister update the House on the government's record investments in nation-building infrastructure? How are these helping...
- Carbon Pricing (28 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to Geoffrey Thompson Holdings, an apple and pear grower and cool-store operator in my electorate, whose latest electricity bills...
- Marine Sanctuaries (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Will the minister update the House on the government's plan to create national parks in...
- Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to this electricity bill from Michael Fahey in my electorate that clearly states that the carbon tax has increased his cheapest...
- Regional Development Australia Fund (10 speeches)
My question is to Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development, Local Government and the Arts. How is the government supporting communities across Australia through the regional...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (8 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
A document is presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the document will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. I move: That the House take note of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (6 speeches)
I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Chiapas Declaration (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the inaugural international parliamentary conference on ‘Parliaments, minorities and Indigenous peoples: effective participation in...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Marriage Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
I am pleased to speak on the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012. This private member's bill seeks to amend the Marriage Act 1961. Item 1 of schedule 1 will amend the current legal definition of...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Carbon Pricing; Report from Federation Chamber (24 speeches, 2 comments)
I rise tonight to again speak out in support of locals who are being hit hard by the carbon tax. Last week marked the shameful anniversary oftwo years since our Prime Minister misled...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The member for Barker draws my attention to the presence on the floor of Craig Whittaker, British MP for Calder Valley, originally from Whyalla in South Australia. I welcome him to the floor of...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Carbon Pricing; Report from Federation Chamber (1 speech)
The member for Moreton said that the carbon tax was bang on the money. It certainly has been bang on the money in Dawson. In the three major sectors—agriculture, tourism and mining—it...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Lonmin Platinum Mine, South Africa (1 speech)
I hope you will join with me today in roundly condemning the massacre which occurred at the Lonmin Platinum Mine in Marikana, South Africa over the weekend. I care—not because they are from...
- Kingston Electorate: Telecommunications Infrastructure (1 speech)
I rise tonight to raise an issue that many constituents in my electorate have brought to my attention: their lack of voice when it comes to planning laws around where to put telecommunications...
- Swan Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
I rise to speak to the House on a campaign I am running in my electorate of Swan for the establishment of an artistic gymnastics academy in Queens Park. Australia has a proud sporting history; I...
- Meals on Wheels (1 speech)
I rise in the House today to celebrate National Meals on Wheels Day, which this year falls on the 29 August. This annual celebration recognises the work of 78,700 volunteers at over 740 branches...
- Telstra Business Awards (3 speeches)
I rise to congratulate four small businesses within my North Sydney electorate for their achievement in being named finalists in the 2012 Australian Telstra Business Awards. Telstra has been...
- Robertson Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
I am always proud to stand in this place and speak about the great investment that this Labor government is delivering in the regions across the country, but nothing gives me more pleasure than...
- Public Transport: Kings Cross (1 speech)
I have the privilege of representing the communities of Kings Cross, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Darlinghurst in my electorate of Wentworth. The degree of drunkenness and violence in the...
- News Limited (1 speech)
Last Thursday I addressed the House to congratulate that great Australian Dick Smith for being game to stand up to the Murdoch press, and others in big business, and actually admit that perpetual...
- Child Care (1 speech)
I rise tonight to recognise and salute Southern Grampians Shire Council family day care educator Joyce Tonissen, who has been named a regional winner in the Family Day Care Australia Educator of...
- China (1 speech)
In the weeks before parliament resumed, Australians heard a cacophony of advocates urging the US to get used to the reality of China becoming the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific. Professor...
- School Funding (3 speeches)
When Julia Gillard finally announces her new school funding policy in a few weeks time, it would be the first time in eight years that Labor have put forward an alternative funding plan. Their...
- Macedonia (1 speech)
():I suspect I am one of only a few members of this parliament who can take a 25-hour trip by plane to a country on the other side of the world, walk down the main street of a town in the south...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Yarra Ranges Relay for Life (1 speech)
I rise in this House to speak about the great efforts of those organising the Yarra Ranges Relay for Life. The Relay for Life will take place from Saturday, 10 November through the night until...
- Australian Fisheries, FV Margiris (1 speech)
I want to follow up on the speech I made on fisheries legislation relating to the inquiry I am currently undertaking on the role of science in the future of fisheries and aquaculture. This has...
- Northern Territory Election (1 speech)
With only five days until to Northern Territory election, the Henderson Labor team are becoming as desperate as the Gillard Labor government and will do anything and say anything to stay in...
- Macarthur Electorate: Lifeline Annual Volunteer Dinner (1 speech)
Last Saturday I had the honour of attending the Lifeline Macarthur Annual Volunteer Dinner at the Campbelltown RSL Club. It was the sixth consecutive time I have attended this important event,...
- Riverina Electorate: Altina Wildlife Park (1 speech)
I had the rare honour yesterday of officially opening a new lion enclosure at what is a truly remarkable wildlife park in the Riverina. Altina Wildlife Park near Darlington Point, a little more...
- Ballarat Electorate: Ballarat Avenue of Honour, Norman, Mr Peter (1 speech)
One of my favourite images of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour is the original footage of the opening of the Arch of Victory in 1920 by Edward, the Prince of Wales. This footage shows Ballarat in...
- Youth With a Mission (1 speech)
I recently had the opportunity to join my colleague the member for Herbert, Mr Ewen Jones, to support the relaunch of the YWAM medical ship Pacific Link, which is doing significant work to help...
- Clark, Professor Graeme (1 speech)
Today I rise to pay tribute to a constituent in my electorate of Jagajaga who has perhaps done as much in the field of medicine as any other in this country. I am speaking of Professor Graeme...
- Swan Chamber of Commerce (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the new initiative underway from the Swan Chamber of Commerce in Midland in the north of my electorate of Hasluck. Already well known in Perth for its tireless advocacy...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: CCTV Project (2 speeches)
Today I rise to thank all the residents of Glenelg and surrounding areas who recently took the time to sign a petition organised by the Glenelg Neighbourhood Watch and Glenelg police station to...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Independent News Media (6 speeches)
An independent news media plays an essential role in maintaining the individual freedoms we enjoy in a democratic society. But participatory democracy only works if citizens have sufficient and...
- Carbon Pricing (19 speeches, 2 comments)
I appreciate the opportunity to debate this very important motion. Just because the carbon tax was introduced on 1 July it would be an absolute folly to think this government has addressed all of...
- Australia-Serbia Relations (4 speeches)
I wish to speak about Australia's relationship with the Republic of Serbia and the contribution that people of Serbian origin make to our vibrant multicultural community. Serbia's good...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (12 speeches)
I rise this evening to support the motion moved by the member for Dawson which recognises the proposal for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. This scheme is a once-in-a-generation landmark...
- Norman, Mr Peter (8 speeches)
Iconic images emerge from every Olympic Games: golden girl Betty Cuthbert taking home three gold medals in Melbourne, Kieran Perkins's stunning performance from lane 8 in Atlanta, Cathy Freeman...
- Education Funding (5 speeches)
Victorians are forming a clear picture of what the Baillieu government means for their kids' education. Vote Liberal and you are effectively writing off the education system. After the Leader of...
- Haemochromatosis (5 speeches)
Haemochromatosis Awareness Week was held last week, between 13 and 19 August, to raise awareness of a common but little-known disorder. Haemochromatosis is a disorder that many people may not be...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Reserve Bank of Australia (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about one of our most important and revered institutions, the Reserve Bank of Australia. This coming Friday the bank's governor and deputy governor will appear before the...
- Age Pension (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about the appalling clawback of pension increases perpetrated by the Victorian Liberal government through cuts to the energy concession for Victorian pensioners. This is...
- Homelessness (1 speech)
While so many Australians struggle to afford the rising costs of living that affect their most basic comforts, such as heating their homes, tens of thousands of Australians do not even have a...
- Homelessness, Melbourne: City Planning (1 speech)
I have much to say this evening on the topic of the growth boundaries of Melbourne, but I think I will spare a moment to begin my contribution by remarking that members will know that the federal...
- Resources Sector (1 speech)
Our resources sector has been swimming along in what have become increasingly rough waters. We have just experienced what could possibly be the biggest boom in mining that our country has ever...
- Rail Infrastructure (2 speeches)
Despite the fact that we celebrated the end of the Howard government almost five years ago, the consequences of incompetent and destructive decisions of that bad government still linger. In...
