House debates
Thursday, 13 September 2012
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
I have received messages from the Senate acquainting the House of the appointment of Senators Ruston and Sinodinos as participating members of the Joint Standing Committee on the National...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- National Business Names Registration System (1 speech)
Sadly, it is my melancholy duty to advise the chamber and small businesses in Australia that yet another Labor broken promise is being inflicted on the engine room of the Australian economy. In...
- Centacare (1 speech)
I rise in the House today to commend the excellent work that Centacare is doing in George Town in my electorate. Centacare Tasmania Family Services have been active in the state since 1960. They...
- Southern Districts Rebels (1 speech)
I am sure the member for Hughes and the member for Barton will join me in congratulating the Southern Districts Rebels, who will take part in their first grand final appearance in the Sydney...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
The O'Farrell government will cut funding for non-government schools in New South Wales by $66.7 million, or eight per cent of the 2012 total. The cut to the state's Catholic system will be $24.5...
- R U OK? Day (1 speech)
Mental health care is an issue that affects everybody, stretching across generations and across socioeconomic groups. In my electorate-wide survey, mental health care consistently ranks as one of...
- Canberra Raiders (1 speech)
A few months ago the mighty green machine, otherwise known as the Canberra Raiders, was written off by armchair critics and some sporting commentators. Yet this Saturday night the Canberra...
- Mannoun, Councillor Ned, Southern Districts Rugby Union Club (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate my good friend Ned Mannoun, who less than three hours ago was officially declared the new Mayor of Liverpool. Liverpool is our fourth oldest settlement after Sydney,...
- Millennium Development Goals (1 speech)
I met recently with Jenny Dundas, a local constituent of mine, and her colleagues from the Baptist World Aid program, Catalyst. Catalyst is a program that empowers small community groups to speak...
- North Queensland Cowboys (1 speech)
Before the Canberra Raiders take on Souths, the mighty Cowboys will carry the weight of the nation as they go in against bloody Manly Warringah. It will be the mighty North Queensland Cowboys. We...
- Kingsland, Sir Richard (2 speeches)
Sir Richard Kingsland passed away at Calvary John James Hospital after a short illness on Monday, the 27th. Like many of my constituents, his was a life of public service. His wartime service was...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Gillard Government (5 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I remind the Acting Prime Minister that there have been seven changes to the carbon tax it was promised would never be introduced, five versions of...
- Economy (22 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline why it is important to invest in reforms to keep our economy strong?
- Schools (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister please outline the importance of government making the right choices to support school students...
- Health and Medical Research (10 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Government members: Oh! Don't be so disappointed in him; he will give it a go. I refer to Labor's claim that it will bring the budget back to surplus this...
- Fisheries (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Minister, with the fisheries hat on, do you acknowledge the precautionary principle is already...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and Minister for Disability Reform. How will a National Disability Insurance Scheme support people with a...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I am reliably informed that we have representatives from the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors in the gallery today. I welcome them to the House. I am not sure what you call a collective of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (6 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. If the Treasurer disagrees with the $120 billion figure for his black hole, does he also disagree with the Director of Budget Policy and Forecasting at...
- Suicide (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing,
- Broadband (11 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I reminded him that in January 2011 the NBN Co. took over responsibility for broadband in new housing estates. Will he confirm that by June 2012, 18 months later,...
- Syria (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Will the minister update the House on the number of refugees fleeing escalating violence in Syria? Minister, what is the Australian...
- Budget (14 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Treasurer to the Prime Minister's statement in response to caller Wazza on Darwin radio in June that he could save on power costs by...
- Community Services and Family Payments (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Community Services, Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, and Minister for the Status of Women. How is the government supporting...
- Carbon Pricing (14 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer the Acting Prime Minister to this newsletter from Lithgow Workers Club, which states: 'The bill for the month of July reflected an increase of...
- Workplace Stress (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Will the minister update the House on the latest research about the...
- Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Acting Prime Minister, I refer you to this letter and power bill from Ernest and Marjorie Clark in my electorate, which shows that their off-peak...
- Queensland Government (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness. Will the minister inform the House of the impacts of the Queensland government's budget on the competitiveness of Queensland businesses?
- Privilege (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, during the course of question time we witnessed the Acting Prime Minister read from a document. We asked expressly for the document to be tabled. You asked the Acting Prime...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- House of Representatives Practice (2 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, can I also ask you to refer to the Speaker the practice of the Leader of the House when an opposition member seeks leave to table a document relevant to the question and is...
- Privilege (6 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, with respect to the matter raised by the member for North Sydney, I would ask you whether you would consider asking him to authenticate the photograph and to provide the...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (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. Debate adjourned.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present report No. 65 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of bills. The report will be printed in today’s Hansard and the items accorded priority for debate will be...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Budget (25 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 urgent need for...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Order! It being 4.30pm I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence for the remainder of the current period of sittings be given to Mr L. D. T. Ferguson on the ground of parliamentary business overseas. Question agreed to. House...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Centrelink (1 speech)
I rise to raise the issue of excessive waiting times in my constituents' experience when attempting to phone Centrelink. The issue affects a huge proportion of my electorate, particularly elderly...
- Grayndler Electorate: Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards (1 speech)
Just over a week ago, I had the honour of meeting Justin Kwon, a year 5 student at St Vincents Primary School in Ashfield. Justin's passion for prose saw him take out a top spot in the Dorothea...
- Centrelink (1 speech)
Very inspiring, the last presentation. But today I want to raise a very important issue relating to injury compensation payments and subsequent Centrelink payments. My Hinkler electorate office...
- Fowler Electorate: Young Adults Disabled Association (1 speech)
I rise this morning to talk about the wonderful work of the Young Adults Disabled Association, better known as YADA. YADA is a charitable organisation that provides a range of recreational and...
- Longman Electorate: Dragons Abreast Bribie Island (1 speech)
I rise today to share information about the great work of one of the local community groups in my electorate. Dragons Abreast Bribie Island is a group of ladies who regularly get together to...
- Corio Electorate: Reading Recovery (1 speech)
As a parent who knows the utter joy of hearing one's child read their first tentative words from the page of a book, I also very much understand the importance of catching early those children...
- R U OK? Day (1 speech)
Today is R U OK? Day. I want to encourage all parliamentarians to speak up and ask the important questions. Often we do not stop to think of the people around us and check that they are actually...
- Radioactive Waste (1 speech)
I rise to express my outrage at the very poor treatment that the residents of Western Sydney are receiving from the New South Wales Liberals. We have seen in the last couple of days these...
- Macquarie Electorate: Blue Mountains Cancer Help (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about a fantastic not-for-profit organisation in my electorate. Blue Mountains Cancer Help is an organisation that is dedicated to supporting people diagnosed with cancer in...
- Conservative Policies (2 speeches)
Euripides said: 'Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.' Surveying the conservative movement in Australia these last weeks, one recognises the truth of that ancient wisdom. The...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Rackett, Mr David (1 speech)
I note before my remarks that I am following the condolence motion for Lance Corporal Mervyn John McDonald and Private Nathanael John Aubrey Galagher. I would like to identify with the remarks...
- Housing (1 speech)
The issues of housing availability, affordability and access present critical challenges in Australia, and these are issues on which I have spoken a number of times, particularly with respect to...
- Swan Electorate: National Broadband Network (3 speeches)
Last week the member for Wentworth and I went on a broadband policy tour of my electorate of Swan to meet residents and businesses. We felt a bit like David Attenborough looking for a wild...
- Bass Electorate: Sporting Achievements (2 speeches)
I rise in the chamber to recognise and congratulate two outstanding athletes in my electorate of Bass: one who is a world champion and one who will be a world champion. These individuals have...
- New South Wales Government: School Funding (3 speeches)
This morning I am teaming up with the member for Shortland to express on behalf of the Hunter community collective concerns about the impact of the decision by Barry O'Farrell, Premier of New...
- Gippsland Electorate: Gippsland Lakes and Catchments (1 speech)
I appreciate the opportunity to update the House this morning on activities within my electorate to protect and enhance the environment of the Gippsland Lakes. I have spoken several times about...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
I rise to join with my colleague the member for Hunter in expressing disgust at the New South Wales government's decision to withdraw funding for education in New South Wales. I also call on the...
- Dunkley Electorate: Law Enforcement (1 speech)
I rise to talk about something that has been a key issue for me in representing the Dunkley community for well over a decade and a half—that is, the issue of local community safety. We have...
- Education: Gonski Report (1 speech)
It was with a great deal of pleasure that last Friday, 7 September, I was invited to Oberon High School in the Belmont suburb in my electorate to meet with the principal, Timothy McMahon, AEU...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Dr Edward Koch Foundation (1 speech)
I rise in this Suicide Prevention Week to highlight the work of a very worthwhile organisation in Cairns, the Dr Edward Koch Foundation. Since 1996 this non-profit organisation has been involved...
- Active Travel for Sustainable Cities (1 speech)
I put on the record my thanks to all the participants last night of the Active Travel for Sustainable Cities parliamentary dinner. I particularly want to say thank you to the Cycling Promotion...
- Superannuation Funds (1 speech)
I have spoken before in this place about the role of the union movement in the governance of superannuation funds, as a consequence of the so-called 'equal representation model' introduced by the...
- Early Childhood Learning (1 speech)
As a parent of two young boys, I am a high user of early childhood centres. I remember with great fondness taking my then one-year-old to day care on the back of a bike. These days I tend to drop...
