House debates

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013 proposes minor amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the...
  • Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today I introduce the Australian Capital Territory (Self Government) Act Amendment Bill 2013. The purpose of this bill is to amend the Australian...
  • Royal Commissions Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. In January this year, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General issued Letters Patent appointing six commissioners who...
  • Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill introduces changes to the baby bonus announced in the 2012-13 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These changes will maintain support...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Reform of Self Managed Superannuation Funds Supervisory Levy Arrangements) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Reform of Self Managed Superannuation Funds Supervisory Levy Arrangements) Bill 2013 implements the...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    This parliament is the gathering place of our nation's representatives, but we stand on land that was from time immemorial the gathering place of the Ngunawal people. So I speak here today, as I...
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition 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.
  • Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Finance) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    ): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Finance) Bill 2013 will amend the financial arrangements of the Export Finance and...
  • Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The changes proposed in this bill, the Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2013, deliver on the recent Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (Countering Tax Avoidance and Multinational Profit Shifting) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends the income tax law to protect the integrity of Australia’s income tax system. These reforms come forward at a time of...
  • Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2013 Measures No. 1) Bill 2013; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends various taxation laws to implement a range of improvements to Australia’s tax laws. Schedule 1 exempts the interest paid...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights I present the committee's second report of 2013 entitled Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights...
  • Regional Australia Committee; Report (4 speeches)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regional Australia, I present the committee's report, incorporating a dissenting report, entitled Cancer of the bush or salvation for our cities?: Fly-in...
  • Regional Australia Committee; Report and Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Amendment Bill 2013; 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.
  • Completion of Kakadu National Park (Koongarra Project Area Repeal) Bill 2013; Second Reading (9 speeches, 3 comments)
    On a day on which this House historically has unanimously passed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012, it is a great honour and appropriate for this House to...
  • Completion of Kakadu National Park (Koongarra Project Area Repeal) Bill 2013; 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.
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012; Second Reading (6 speeches)
    In continuing my remarks on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012, I especially mention and commend principal Cam Wright and his team at the Modbury Special School, a reception to...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Federation Chamber hours of meeting for this sitting being extended until approximately...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012; Second Reading (5 speeches)
    I rise today to add my support to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012. The introduction of this bill follows a report by the Productivity Commission in 2011 recommending that...
• Statements by Members (0 speeches)
  • Chen, Professor Nian-Shing (1 speech)
    Deputy Speaker Scott, I recently had the opportunity to meet Professor Nian-Shing Chen of the National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan. Professor Chen is currently a visiting professor at the...
  • Murray, Ms Jenny (1 speech)
    I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words in tribute to a constituent of mine, Jenny Murray, who lost her battle with cancer earlier this year. Jenny was a stalwart of the Southern...
  • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
    Today the first shipment of live buffalo since the new animal welfare requirements came into force will leave Darwin. This is a huge relief for the entire Territory community who have been...
  • Uranium (1 speech)
    Since coming to office less than two years ago, New South Wales Premier O'Farrell and the Liberal-National Party government have exceeded even the most pessimistic predictions of those who warned...
  • Trade (1 speech)
    It does not take the coalition to tell the Australian public that the Labor Party has had a bad couple of weeks. They know all too well. Labor Vice President, Tony Sheldon, called his New South...
  • Leader of the Opposition (1 speech)
    'The statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth are those carefully prepared, scripted remarks.' These are the words of the member for Warringah in 2010 during an interview on...
  • Private Health Insurance (1 speech)
    I would like to express my deep concern about the government's proposals to cut the private health insurance rebate once again. This is a rebate which 70 per cent of constituents in my electorate...
  • Canberra Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
    Once again, a Canberra sporting team has made history and shown the rest of Australia that we can beat the best that other capital cities have to offer. I was reminded this week that it all began...
  • Defence: Budget Cuts (2 speeches)
    () (): Earlier this morning I did an interview with Joel Fitzgibbon, the member for Hunter, and he belled the cat on the cuts on defence spending on your side. He had the guts to tell the...
  • Robertson Electorate: Health Services (2 speeches)
    I would like to take to take this opportunity to put on the record the considerable development in my electorate that is going ahead and the $55 million of infrastructure that is being put in...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (9 speeches)
    ) ( 14 ): My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind her of her declaration at the start of this term that, 'Every time we announce something we properly account for it and we properly fund...
  • United States of America, Global Economy (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. The President of the United States has today outlined the approach he is taking to challenges facing both the global and United States economies. How is the...
  • Mining (13 speeches)
    I refer the Treasurer to his 14 December 2010 press conference where he was questioned as to whether it was an error to credit all state royalties under the heads of agreement signed with mining...
  • Economy (7 speeches)
    My question is also to the Treasurer. Treasurer, in the face of global uncertainty over the past few years, how has Australia acted to protect jobs and growth in our economy? Why is it important...
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Treasurer. It is without notice, so he will not know this question is coming.
  • Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Is the minister aware of the progress being made by Inverell based meat processing company Bindaree Beef in relation to...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from the European Parliament. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm welcome to...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Can the minister update the House on the state on the state of Australia's mining sector following the...
  • Economy (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Industry and Innovation. What are the practical benefits to the economy of the government's industry...
  • Prime Minister (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that, when the member for Griffith was ousted, the Prime Minister said that his removal was necessary because the government had...
  • Work and Family (5 speeches, 1 comment)
    My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Will the minister outline for the House the government's latest plans...
  • Minerals Resource Rent Tax (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister of the statement by the member for Denison this morning: 'The government is being dishonest. In its estimates late last year it...
  • Afghanistan, North Korea (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Amongst recent developments in global security, we have just heard President Obama's State of the Union address—specifically, his remarks with regard...
  • Mining Tax (8 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the comments made yesterday by the Chief Government Whip that her mining tax is untidy, inefficient and unsustainable, in...
  • Afghanistan (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister please update the House on the transition in Uruzgan province following President Obama's State of the Union address?
  • National Broadband Network (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind her that only last week she told a gathering of ALP candidates: 'We cannot roll out the services that we want unless we have the National Broadband...
  • Employment (3 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare and Minister for Employment Participation. Will the minister update the House on how the government is implementing targeted...
• Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
  • Speaker's Panel (1 speech)
    Pursuant to standing order 17, I lay on the table my warrant revoking the nominations of the honourable members for Petrie and Wills to be members of the Speaker’s panel.
• 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 Proceedingsand I move: That the House take note...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees.
• Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
  • (5 speeches)
    Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Minerals Resource and Rent Tax (21 speeches)
    I have received a letter from the honourable the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Warringah, proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading (2 speeches)
    In rising to speak to the Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2013, I do so in the background that we previously passed through this House—and indeed it has been passed into law—an...
  • 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.
  • Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013; Second Reading (10 speeches)
    I am genuinely delighted to have the opportunity to debate this bill. It gives me and other members of the opposition an opportunity to highlight the problems that the Labor Party has had with...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    I seek leave of the House to move a motion relating to the time and order of business for the meeting of the Federation Chamber tomorrow. Leave granted. I move: That so much of the standing and...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    I rise to speak in support of the Customs Amendment (Anti-Dumping Commission) Bill 2013, and I welcome its introduction into the House. Dumping is becoming a major problem for Australian...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Macarthur Electorate: Australia Day Honours (1 speech)
    ( Today I would like to acknowledge eight very special Macarthur residents who were acknowledged in this year's Australia Day honours list. Tanyia Harris, Michael Scarce, Dr John Schwarz and his...
  • Media Ownership (1 speech)
    ( I rise in the House tonight to mourn the loss of media diversity in Australia. More and more, we seem to have a concentration of ownership of media outlets—and that presents a real danger...
  • Hunter Syndrome (2 speeches)
    I would like to raise an issue relating to the health of a five year old boy, Christian Dierkx, and the distress this government is causing to Christian's parents, Rob and Michelle. There are two...
  • Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the United Kingdom and Poland (1 speech)
    I would like to take the opportunity in this adjournment debate to continue some comments I was making on the tabling of a report of the parliamentary delegation last year to the UK and Poland. I...
  • Australian Democracy (1 speech)
    I rise on this momentous day marking the fifth anniversary of the national apology to our stolen generations to reflect on the responsibility of our federal parliament to be a standard-bearer for...
  • Corruption (1 speech)
    It has been a tough fortnight in sport as well is in the political arena. Last week, the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Jason Clare, hauled the boss of every major sport to Canberra to...
  • Macquarie Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
    I recently held a community forum at Colo Heights to discuss mobile phone coverage and other telecommunications challenges facing residents of that community. The community of Colo heights is...
  • Shortland Electorate: Better Futures Local Solutions (1 speech)
    I would like to share with the House the outstanding success of the Better Futures Local Solutions program in the Wyong part of the Shortland electorate. The Wyong Shire is one of 10 regions in...
  • Mental Health (1 speech)
    I rise tonight to speak on an issue that is very close to my heart. The mental health of our young people is something that cannot be neglected and we need to be proactive in the very early...
  • Robertson Electorate: National Broadband Network (1 speech)
    It is very important to note the great work that is being done in the member for Leichhardt's electorate; it is very important to look after our young people. But people should remember that it...
  • Gillard Labor Government (1 speech)
    There is little disagreement with the proposition that the Labor government under successive prime ministers, Rudd and Gillard, have mismanaged the economy: record budget deficits, including the...
  • Education Funding (1 speech)
    Speaking of the future, if we actually want Australia to succeed in the future in the 21st century, nothing is more important or more critical than ensuring that our kids have the best...
• Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
  • Cowper Electorate: Headspace (1 speech)
    I take this opportunity to draw attention to the great work done by Headspace around the country and in particular in my electorate. It was an initiative of the Howard government and, to the...
  • Corio Electorate: North Geelong Secondary College (1 speech)
    On Saturday week Geelong will hold one of the largest street parties in Australia, Pako Festa. It is our annual celebration of cultural diversity. In the midst of the many cultural groups that...
  • Higgins Electorate: Railway Level Crossings (1 speech)
    I was very surprised at recent media reports eliciting the fact that the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and the local member, Bill Shorten, have suddenly discovered the need for...
  • Petrie Electorate: Emergency Workers (1 speech)
    I rise this morning to put on the record the tremendous efforts of emergency workers in Moreton Bay and volunteer members of the QF3 Redcliffe Coast Guard during and after the damaging storms,...
  • Bowman Electorate: Queensland Floods (1 speech)
    There were a range of emergency responses all around the nation to help the people of Bundaberg in central Queensland during the floods of early this year. My area of Redland, being one that had...
  • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
    This week Animals Australia announced they have lodged a second complaint with the government regarding Australian sheep being cruelly butchered at the notorious Al Rai livestock market in...
  • Private Health Insurance Rebate (1 speech)
    I rise to express my concern about the proposed cuts to the private health insurance rebate. Private health insurance is very important in my electorate—70 per cent of my residents take out...
  • Fraser Electorate: GP Superclinic (1 speech)
    On Monday I had the pleasure of turning the first sod for a GP superclinic in my electorate of Fraser. Located at the University of Canberra campus in Bruce, the superclinic is one of 48 such...
  • Mitchell Electorate: National Office of Cystic Fibrosis (1 speech)
    In late November 2012, I was honoured to open and welcome the new National Office of Cystic Fibrosis Australia into the electorate of Mitchell and the Norwest Business Park. It was fantastic to...
  • Ballarat Electorate: Ballan (2 speeches)
    I want to talk briefly this morning about a fantastic town in my electorate which, like many towns, is within easy striking distance of the major metropolitan city of Melbourne and the regional...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2012-2013, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2012-2013; Second Reading (44 speeches)
    According to the boringly repetitive pronouncements of the opposition, climate change is either a myth concocted by the government to destroy our country or is a mysterious natural process that...