House debates

Monday, 29 October 2012

• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Motions; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    In accordance with standing order 41(g) and the determination of the Selection Committee, I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has been given by the honourable members for...
• Petitions (0 speeches)
  • Responses (1 speech)
    ) ( ): Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
  • Statements (3 speeches)
    Madam Speaker, firstly, on behalf of the Petitions Committee I wish to congratulate you on your appointment to the office of Speaker and thank you for your valued contribution as a member of the...
• Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Regional Australia Committee Delegation to Canada and Mongolia, Statement (3 speeches)
    by leave—On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regional Australia, I wish to make a statement on the committee's visit to Canada and Mongolia as part of our inquiry into the use of fly-in...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's report entitled Australia's overseas representation: punching below our weight. In...
  • Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report and Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
  • Infrastructure and Communications Committee (2 speeches)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications I wish to make a statement concerning the committee's inquiry into IT pricing in Australia in order to update the House on...
  • Gambling Reform Committee; Report (5 speeches)
    On behalf of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform, I present the committee's report, incorporating additional comments, entitled The prevention and treatment of problem gambling,...
  • Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Fair Indexation of Military Superannuation Entitlements Bill 2012; First Reading (2 speeches, 1 comment)
    War comes on very unpredictably. There was a man called Chamberlain who walked into the British parliament and announced, 'We don't have anything to worry about because we have peace in our...
  • National Electricity Bill 2012; First Reading (2 speeches)
    I have just handed over the largest private member's bill ever presented to this Commonwealth parliament. The bill invites the parliament to end the greatest market failure in Australia...
  • Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Bill 2012; First Reading (2 speeches)
    The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Bill 2012 aims to strengthen public integrity by encouraging and facilitating the disclosure of corruption, maladministration and other...
  • Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012; First Reading (2 speeches)
    The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012 contains amendments to legislation to facilitate the introduction of the Public Interest Disclosure...
• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Disability Services (9 speeches)
    I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the rates of employment for people with disability in Australia is significantly less than people without disability; (2) commends the efforts taken...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Judges and Governors-General Legislation Amendment (Family Law) Bill 2012, Social Security Legislation Amendment (Fair Incentives to Work) Bill 2012, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development) Bill 2012; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the Law Enforcement Integrity Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I seek leave to make a statement on the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious Drugs, Identity Crime and Other Measures)...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012, Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012; Second Reading (8 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the government's Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012 and Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012....
  • Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    Thank you, Deputy Speaker Rishworth. Acknowledging your own position, I note that former South Australian minister Gordon Bilney has just passed away. He was known to me. His is a sad loss for...
• Statements by Members (0 speeches)
  • Macarthur Electorate: Juvenile Diabetes (1 speech)
    It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak about a very brave young man from my electorate who is raising money and awareness for juvenile diabetes. Will Cullen, from Harrington Park, is...
  • Bass Electorate (1 speech)
    Recently I had the opportunity to host Nicola Roxon, Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management, in Launceston. The minister and I met with representatives from the Launceston City...
  • O'Connor Electorate: Australia Post (1 speech)
    I rise today to express my absolute frustration that the community of Denmark has not been able to access an additional postbox. This seems like a very simple issue; however, despite my lobbying...
  • Greenway Electorate: Community Forum (1 speech)
    I rise to mention the community forum held on 23 October in Riverstone in my electorate and to commend the initiative of local residents for participating in what was a very insightful and...
  • Government Spending (1 speech)
    Last month, my electoral office received the most beautiful glossy colour brochure printed on the most high-quality A3 paper—all at the taxpayers' expense—of the human anatomy from...
  • World Stroke Day (1 speech)
    Today is World Stroke Day, highlighting that one in six people world wide will have a stroke at some stage during their lives. Each year, an estimated 60,000 strokes occur in Australia, with...
  • Vermont Secondary College: 50th Anniversary (1 speech)
    On Saturday 13 October I was invited to the Vermont Secondary College in the redistributed part of my electorate of Deakin to mark the 50th anniversary of its establishment. Originally called...
  • Digital Radio Project (1 speech)
    I was recently contacted by senior executives of the Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ 102.1 FM. They raised a concern regarding funding for the community radio sector's Digital Radio...
  • Telstra Business Awards (2 speeches)
    The Telstra Women in Business Award is a very significant acknowledgment of businesswomen who are leaders, innovators and mentors. These awards recognise women who have been inspirational or...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Smith, Corporal Scott James; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the resumption of debate on the Prime Minister's motion of condolence in connection with the death of Corporal Scott James Smith be referred to the Federation Chamber....
• Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
  • United Nations Security Council; Reference to Federation Chamber (3 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That further statements on Australia's seat on the United Nations Security Chamber be referred to the Federation Chamber. Mr Pyne interjecting— Do you want to come?
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I table, for the information of the House, a revised ministry list reflecting a recent change to the ministry. The change is the appointment of Dr Emerson as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Carbon Pricing (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that power prices have now risen 90 per cent under the Labor government, including 15 per cent in the last quarter, the...
  • Asian Century (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister advise the House on the opportunities for Australia flowing from the shift of economic weight to Asia? What is the government's plan...
  • Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her many statements in this House and elsewhere that she has always been in favour of pricing carbon. How does the Prime...
  • Asian Century (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House the importance of keeping our economy strong to take full advantage of the opportunities of the Asian century?
  • Carbon Pricing (4 speeches)
    My question is also to the Treasurer. Does the Treasurer agree with Dr David Gruen, Executive Director of the Macroeconomic Group of the Treasury Department—his own department—that a...
  • Coal Seam Gas (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Minister, given that the clear objective of the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas...
  • Asian Century (12 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Asian Century Policy. Congratulations to my neighbour on this recent appointment.
  • Union Funds (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her press conference on 23 August where she answered questions regarding the establishment of a slush fund for the re-election...
  • Asian Century (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister outline the role of our schools and schoolchildren in helping Australia take advantage of the...
  • Asylum Seekers (19 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that almost 6,200 asylum seekers have arrived in the first three months of this financial year, four times more than budgeted. Is...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, how is the government getting on with the job of securing the future of the Murray-Darling Basin?
  • Budget (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to her failure to answer a question from the Leader of the Opposition. I ask her again: does the Prime Minister stand by her promise to deliver a...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (5 speeches)
    My question is to the minister for water. Following on from the Prime Minister's earlier answer, what are the implications of the government's announcement for the future health of the...
• Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
  • Question Time (2 speeches)
    Madam Speaker, I have a question to you. There was an agreement that the House would continue with question time until 10 minutes past three. The Prime Minister has just called an end to question...
• Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
  • (10 speeches)
    I wish to make a personal explanation.
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Service Commissioner Report 2011-12; Presentation (1 speech)
    I present the Annual Report of the Parliamentary Service Commission 2011-12.
  • Access to Committee Documents; Presentation (1 speech)
    Pursuant to the resolution of the Senate on 6 September 1984 and the House of Representatives on 11 October 1984, I present a report on access to committee documents.
• Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
  • Report No. 8 of 2012-13 (1 speech)
    I present the Auditor-General's Performance Audit report No. 8 of 2012-13 entitled Australian government coordination arrangements for Indigenous programs: Department of Families, Housing,...
• 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 and I move: That the House take note of...
• Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • A Viable Future for Australia's Pulp and Paper Industry (2 speeches)
    by leave—The purpose of this statement is to: The pulp and paper industry makes an important social, environmental and economic contribution to this country. It produces a diverse range of...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Clean Building Managed Investment Trust) Bill 2012, Personal Liability for Corporate Fault Reform Bill 2012; Report from Committee (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services I present the committee's advisory reports on the committee's inquiries into the Tax Laws Amendment (Clean...
  • Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012, Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I would first of all like to thank those members who have contributed to this debate. Schedule 1 of the Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill...
  • Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012, Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012; Consideration in Detail (5 speeches)
    by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2), as circulated in my name, together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 5), omit the table item. (2) Schedule 2, page 8 (line 1) to page 37 (line 36),...
  • Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012, Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012; 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.
  • Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012; 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.
  • Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012; Second Reading (18 speeches)
    The Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012 is an incredibly important bill. This is not the first time that I have raised in this House the...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the time and arrangements for the sitting tomorrow, Tuesday, 30 October 2012, be as follows: (1) The House, at its rising, adjourn until tomorrow at 11 a.m.; (2)...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Integrity Legislation Amendment Bill 2012; 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.
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Derivative Transactions) Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    The Corporations Legislation Amendment (Derivative Transactions) Bill 2012 has been brought before the House to provide a legislative framework to meet Australia's G20 obligations in relation to...
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Derivative Transactions) Bill 2012; Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
    I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill and ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) and (2) as circulated together. Leave granted. I move government...
  • Corporations Legislation Amendment (Derivative Transactions) Bill 2012; 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.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No. 5) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    The Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No. 5) Bill 2012 was introduced about six weeks ago by the Assistant Treasurer. I will run through each of the schedules and I understand that following my...
  • Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I, too, rise tonight to speak on the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 and in support of the amendment introduced by my colleague the member for Calare. There has been a lot of attention...
• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Victims of Terrorism (12 speeches)
    I move the motion relating to the victims of terrorism overseas in the terms in which it appears on the Notice Paper: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) since the devastating terrorist attacks...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Members of Parliament: Families (1 speech)
    It is indeed an honour to stand here in this House as a federal member of parliament; it gives me the opportunity to represent my electorate on so many issues. But each member's family pays an...
  • Victorian Cooperative on Children's Services for Ethnic Groups (1 speech)
    Today I would like to share with the House a number of projects and activities that are taking place in my electorate that are aimed at improving very much the lives of families, and in...
  • Bali: Terrorist Attacks (1 speech)
    It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since that infamous day of 12 October 2002, when 88 Australians lost their lives. The Bali bombing was a reprehensible and treacherous act against...
  • Vietnam: Human Rights (1 speech)
    For the majority of the Vietnamese people, last September was an exciting month of celebrations. The streets of Vietnam lit up as people celebrated the lead-up to the Mid Autumn Festival....
  • Cancer (1 speech)
    Cancer is a word which causes fear and heartache for millions of Australians. Everyone in this place represents people who have suffered from cancer. Some members have direct experience of...
  • Blair Electorate: Performing Arts Centres (1 speech)
    It was my privilege and pleasure recently to open the new arts and cultural hub known as Studio 188, in the old Baptist Church at the Top of Town in the city of Ipswich, in the heart of the...
  • Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
    The state has many roles. It is a regulator, a revenue raiser and a provider of services to those most in need. But above all else, the first and most important duty of government is to protect...
  • Baby Bonus and Family Tax Benefit (1 speech)
    I endorse and support the remarks of the member for Kooyong. An article by Susie O'Brien entitled 'Don't use welfare benefits as birth control' in yesterday's Sunday Herald Sun discussed but,...
  • Higher Education (2 speeches)
    Our higher education sector is set for a massive transformation whether we like it or not. Just as the newspaper and retailing industries are facing huge disruptions due to the internet so too...
  • Economy (1 speech)
    These are reasonably good times today but that does not guarantee good times tomorrow. Our country is succeeding and achieving in spite of not because of Labor. Our economy has overtaken Spain to...
  • Day for Daniel (1 speech)
    Allow me to take this opportunity, Madam Speaker, to congratulate you upon your election to high office. I also thank the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Member for Griffith, for giving me his...
  • Ballarat Electorate: VCE Exams (1 speech)
    I commend the member for Fisher for his words. I cannot imagine the incredible strength and courage of the Morcombe family. Having seen them many times on television talking about that course, I...
• Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
  • McPherson Electorate: Community Groups (1 speech)
    Since my election in 2010, I have had the privilege to meet a variety of community groups and their members. There are hundreds of community groups throughout my electorate of McPherson, and each...
  • City of Greater Geelong Council Elections (1 speech)
    Thank you. I applaud the member for McPherson for her speech, as my grandfather retired to the Gold Coast and was a very keen bowler. That very much speaks to my memories of childhood. Today is a...
  • Wright Electorate: Murphys and Mates Charity Rugby League Match (1 speech)
    On the weekend, I had the great privilege of playing two full games of Rugby League for the Murphys Creek Maulers. An honourable member: How do you feel? I am very sore. I can inform to the House...
  • La Trobe Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
    I am pleased to be able to update the House on the activities of three schools within my electorate that I have been fortunate enough to visit in recent weeks and months. The first is Maranatha...
  • Bennelong Electorate: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
    I rise to highlight the variety of cultural events that have recently taken place in my electorate of Bennelong. On many occasions I have stood in this place to promote the active Chinese and...
  • Shortland Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
    Last Thursday a jobs expo was held in Lake Macquarie. I was very fortunate to have the expo held in Shortland electorate. It was a fantastic event. Firstly, I would like to put on record my...
  • Flynn Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
    The Central Highlands region of Flynn is incredibly diverse. Whilst the region has become known in recent years as being the epicentre of the mining industry boom, other industries from...
  • Braddon Electorate: RESULTS Burnie (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, congratulations on your appointment. That was terrific. Rohan Church, Anna Norris, James Correy and Alexandra Frain are members of the RESULTS Burnie committee, which...
  • Wannon Electorate: Portland Men's Shed (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, can I join the member for Braddon in acknowledging you and congratulating you for your ascension to the throne of Deputy Speaker in the parliament. It is an honour which...
  • McEwen Electorate: Mount William Axe Quarry and Sunbury Earthen Rings (2 speeches)
    Last week I attended a very significant local event, and one that I believe is actually very significant in Australia's history. It was a special occasion to be able to participate in the...
• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Government Investment in Research (6 speeches)
    The science and research community have been holding their breath recently. Numerous programs were paused as the government looked around for ways to achieve a politically motivated surplus. This...
  • Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament (3 speeches)
    There is a deep disillusionment among many parts of the Australian community at the moment that currently wishes a pox on all our houses. Recently, I attended the triennial conference of the...
  • Penalty Rates (10 speeches)
    I am very pleased to be able to speak in this quite timely debate on the importance of penalty rates in our society, particularly for low paid workers. It gives all members of the House an...
  • Indigenous Servicemen and Servicewomen (8 speeches)
    by leave—I move That: Paragraph 2 (e) omit"400" and substitute "1,000" and omit "between 3,000 and 6,000" and substitute "at least 3,000".
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Law Enforcement Integrity Legislation Amendment Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I rise to speak on the Law Enforcement Integrity Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Crimes Act 1914, the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002, the...
• Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Penpraze, Sapper Jordan Ronald (10 speeches)
    It is with a very and genuinely heavy heart that I speak to give the condolences of the people of Flinders to the family of Sapper Jordan Ronald Penpraze. Jordan was 22 years of age when he...
  • Bali Bombing: 10th Anniversary (11 speeches)
    I rise to make a brief contribution to the motion on the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings. I have been in this parliament for nearly 14 years representing two electorates and, without a...
• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Indigenous Servicemen and Servicewomen (11 speeches)
    I rise to honour the service and sacrifices of those Indigenous Australians who served us in past conflicts. In 1985 I was in year 10 at Rockhampton Grammar School and the school sergeant was a...
  • Asylum Seekers: Sri Lanka (8 speeches)
    Without doubt, one of the few things that nearly everyone in this place agrees upon is that the arrival of asylum seekers by sea presents a massive and unacceptable risk to both those making the...
  • British Pensions (3 speeches)
    This motion on the indexation of British pensions is in essence about fairness. This motion recognises the significant impact of the British government's refusal to index British pensions that...
  • Meals on Wheels (6 speeches)
    by leave, I move: That the motion be amended to read—That the House: (1) acknowledges the significant community contribution Meals on Wheels Australia has made to the most vulnerable in our...
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month (5 speeches)
    Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Currently 36 women in Australia are diagnosed with...
• Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
  • Border Protection (1 speech)
    Mr Deputy Speaker, I take this opportunity to officially congratulate you on your honoured position in a very unusual situation and I think we are all very thankful that you have been able to...
  • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
    In September this year I travelled to New Zealand under the auspices of the 2012 New Zealand Committee Exchange Program as part of a delegation from the Joint Committee on the National Broadband...
  • Forde Electorate: Young Voice of Forde (1 speech)
    To follow on from the kind words by the member for Barker earlier, I too congratulate you, Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, on your elevation to the deputy speakership. I have the pleasure tonight of...
  • Renewable Energy Target (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to reflect on the Climate Change Authority's draft recommendations on the Renewable Energy Target. The Renewable Energy Target, of course, seeks to deliver on the government's...
  • Australian Political Ideologies (3 speeches)
    I would like to take this opportunity to speak on matters that do challenge our country. I do a lot of door-knocking and I see on the streets of Cowan the evidence of what makes this country a...