House debates
Monday, 24 June 2013
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Parlview (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Department of Parliamentary Services has today released its innovative broadcast services, Parlview, onto the APH website. Parlview enables users to watch, pause,...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
Speaker, today is expected to be the last announcement of petitions and ministerial responses that I will make on behalf of the Petitions Committee during this parliament. And, as expected, we...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea (2 speeches)
I present the report of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea, 8 April to 13 April 2013. From 8 to 13 April this year I was privileged to lead the Parliamentary Delegation...
- Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I present the committee's report, entitled Troubled waters: inquiry into the arrangements surrounding crimes committed at...
- Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry I present the following reports together with the minutes of proceedings and...
- Health and Ageing Committee; Report and Reference to Federation Chamber (6 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, I present the committee's report entitled Thinking ahead: Report on the inquiry into dementia: early diagnosis and intervention, together...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report (5 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's report titled Trading Lives: Modern-day Human Trafficking, the report of the inquiry...
- 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.
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Delegation to Indonesia and Timor-Leste (2 speeches)
I present reports of the delegation of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade to Timor-Leste and Indonesia. I present this report as leader of the delegation and not...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Renewable Fuel Bill 2013; First Reading (4 speeches)
The rest of the world has moved to ethanol, and once again Australia is wildly out of step with the rest of the world. I hold up here, and I am quite happy to table, a map which shows all the...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Education and Employment Committee (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Education and Employment I wish to make a statement on the current committee inquiry into the role of the technical and further education system and its...
- Regional Australia Committee (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Regional Australia I wish to make a statement concerning the committee's inquiries. This is the first parliament that has had a committee totally devoted to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the third report for 2013 relating to referrals made May 2013. In accordance with standing order 39(f) the report was...
- Law Enforcement Committee (1 speech)
() (): On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, I present the committee's report entitled, Integrity of overseas Commonwealth law...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (10 speeches)
The chance to make a valedictory speech is a rare opportunity for a member of parliament and one I know that I should be embracing and enjoying. As the time has approached, I was finding it...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Boer War Memorial (1 speech)
As a member of parliament I regularly receive many petitions. However, 7 May, I must confess, was the first time that a petition was delivered to me on horseback. My colleague Senator Ronaldson,...
- Ponting, Mr Ricky (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge and pay tribute to the career of Ricky Ponting, who announced his retirement from cricket last Thursday. From humble beginnings in Mowbray in my electorate, Ricky rose...
- Hospitals (3 speeches)
Today is a rather auspicious day. It is the third anniversary of when the Prime Minister was installed by the faceless men, after having knifed Kevin Rudd in this place. As those think about this...
- Canberra Electorate: Economy (3 speeches)
BIS Shrapnel, the business research and forecasting firm, recently released its 2013-15 report on regional building in Australia. The report confirms my worst fears for Canberra. It confirms that...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation will be absent from question time today for personal reasons. The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Gillard Government (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind her that three years ago this very day she promised a strong and responsible government, a budget surplus, a community consensus on climate change,...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government is building a stronger and smarter economy and creating a fairer future for Australia?
- Carbon Pricing (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that three years ago today she promised to establish a community consensus before any carbon price and later announced a citizens...
- Education Funding (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the National Plan for School Improvement and what will this mean to schools in my electorate and across Tasmania?
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister of her promise three years ago today that the budget would be back in surplus in 2013. Given that her government has presided...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In the last seven weeks, inter alia, Holden, Fairfax, Ford, Telstra and SPC have announced nearly 4,000 job closures with Simplot and SPC threatening another...
- Education Funding (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister outline what the consequences are for schools and students in Victoria and Queensland if these...
- Migration (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that three years ago today she promised to restore strong management of our borders. Since then there have been 38,340 illegal...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How have Australia's economic strengths helped us come through the worst global economic conditions in 80 years? How will investments in education, jobs and...
- Gillard Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that she promised to preside over a government that was 'more open, more accountable and more transparent'. Why then has the...
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Financial Services and Superannuation. Minister, how is the government delivering on its plan to build a stronger...
- Gillard Government (11 speeches)
My question to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that three years ago today she promised to lead a strong and responsible government. Given that she has presided over an Australia...
- Tasmanian Forestry (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Could the minister please advise the House on action the government has taken to support jobs...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (14 speeches)
I seek leave to make a personal explanation.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 51 of 2012-13 (1 speech)
I present Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 51 of 2012-13 entitled Performance audit: Management of the Australian Taxation Office's property portfolio: Australian Taxation Office. Ordered...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (6 speeches)
I wish to make a personal explanation.
- 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 Hansard.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (4 speeches, 1 comment)
I rise today heavy of heart to address the House for the final time, to reflect on my career, to give thanks to all who have helped me along the way and to say goodbye to colleagues, many of whom...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Broadcasting Legislation Committee; Report (1 speech)
From this side of the House and on indulgence, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the member for Mallee on his valedictory speech. I know that I can sincerely say that the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Human Rights: Vietnam (2 speeches)
In the few minutes available to me, let me reiterate how this issues arises. A motion was moved by my colleague the member for Fowler, I believe, on Vietnam and political prisoners in Vietnam. It...
- Protection of National Parks (1 speech, 1 comment)
I move: That this House: (1) notes with concern the lifting of restrictions, by State governments, on activities that present biodiversity and environmental risks to designated conservation parks...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent: (1) the time and order of business for Tuesday, 25 June 2013 being as follows:...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Protection of National Parks (7 speeches, 2 comments)
I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this important motion, because it allows me the chance to discuss a range of natural resource management issues that are important to my community; in...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Wests Sports Council Presentation Night (1 speech)
Wests Leagues Club recently celebrated 15 years of supporting local sport at the annual Wests Sports Council presentation night. The presentation acknowledged sporting achievements of junior,...
- Cross River Rail Project (1 speech)
I rise this evening to speak about one of the most important infrastructure projects for the future of Brisbane, Cross River Rail. Earlier this year the Queensland Liberal National Party state...
- Wright Electorate: Farmers (1 speech)
I rise to speak on behalf of the Australian farmer who under extraordinary circumstances is doing it incredibly tough. The other reason I rise is to play my role in trying to educate the...
- Electorate of Holt: Indian Community (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to talk about a very important community living in my federal electorate of Holt, a community which adds immense richness and vibrancy to my electorate. One of the privileges of...
- Retail Sector and Online Competition (1 speech)
I appreciate the opportunity to rise tonight to raise an ongoing concern in my electorate of Gippsland relating to employment opportunities for young people particularly in the retail sector. I...
- Labor Party Reforms (1 speech)
The federal Labor government has had some remarkable achievements since 2007, many of which have gone unreported in the media or been needlessly criticised by those sitting opposite. The...
- Class of 2010 (1 speech)
Earlier today I joined members from across the political divide as we celebrated our shared membership of an auspicious group—the class of 2010. Thirty-two members make up the class of...
- Tasmanian Forests Agreement (1 speech)
Over the weekend, the federal environment minister announced another milestone in the delivering of the historical Tasmanian Forests Agreement—the retirement of the peeler billet supply...
- Project NOW (1 speech)
It was an honour for me to attend the recent official sod-turning by Premier Campbell Newman for Project NOW's Moonyah women's recovery centre in Brisbane. The first women's-only recovery centre...
- Corio Electorate: Bike Safe (1 speech)
In the last two weeks, I have met with Mr Barton van Laar, the President of Bike Safe in Geelong. Barton has spoken to me of a very disturbing fact which exists in Geelong today. Of the 30...
- Hasluck Electorate: Community Safety (1 speech)
Community safety is one of the most important issues raised with me. Members of my community want to feel safe in their own house and in their own street, in their own neighbourhood and when they...
- Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (1 speech)
Some may know that the federal electorate of Reid, my electorate, has one of the highest proportions of people of Middle Eastern background and also one of the highest proportions of people of...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Longman Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
I rise today to inform the House of a great project I launched last week to benefit volunteerism in my local community. It is called Do Something Near You! We all know what a huge contribution...
- Blair Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I was pleased to see the front page of The Queensland Times today talk about the NBN rolling out jobs, with the nationwide NBN rollout boosting Ipswich jobs as well as internet access speeds. I...
- Western Sydney Homeless Connect (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise today to speak about an outstanding initiative happening in Western Sydney, with the announcement of the Western Sydney Homeless Connect operating as a fully fledged not-for-profit...
- Food Labelling (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise the steps taken by this government to ensure accurate country of origin labelling. Australia is a proud nation that produces many products and much produce, and we...
- Mayo Electorate: Mount Barker Christmas Pageant (1 speech)
I rise today to raise a very matter in my electorate, particularly relating to Mount Barker. That is the Mount Barker Christmas Pageant. The Mount Barker Christmas Pageant is the second biggest...
- Fraser Electorate: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
In my first speech in this place I spoke about my maternal grandparents—a boilermaker and a teacher—who lived by the credo that if there was a spare room in the house it should be...
- Pacific Partnership 2013 (1 speech)
I recently had the privilege of joining the Pacific Partnership 2013 in its annual US-sponsored humanitarian and civic assistance mission, which is aimed at strengthening international...
- Nurses (1 speech)
I have been strongly supporting the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association campaign for better nurse-patient ratios in rural New South Wales. Nurses in Casino, Grafton and Lismore,...
- Bennelong Electorate: Korean Community (1 speech)
I rise to discuss racism and, in particular, to draw attention to experiences of the Korean community in my electorate of Bennelong. A few months ago, a Sydney man, Mr Kim, and his Korean aunt...
- Makin Electorate: Live Theatre (2 speeches)
A couple of weeks ago, I watched a live theatre production by the Tea Tree Players at their theatre in Surrey Downs in the Makin electorate. The production was called I Bet Your Life. It was a...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Natural Gas (4 speeches)
Gas is a major source of energy in Australia. It provides 20 per cent of our energy consumption. Australia has abundant reserves of gas. Our proven reserves of coal seam gas and conventional gas...
- Australian Embassy in Hungary (8 speeches)
This motion was moved by my colleague and neighbour Peter Slipper, the member for Fisher. It is something that we both feel very strongly about. We are in total agreement on this issue. There are...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 3, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Baird, Corporal Cameron, MG (10 speeches)
I rise to pay my respects following the passing of Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird MG following his tragic death in Afghanistan. Corporal Baird is Australia's 40th death following our decision to...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Cybersafety (11 speeches)
I rise to commend the motion of the member for Forrest on cyber-safety and to speak in support of it. As the motion states, cyberbullying and inadequate cybersafety pose a significant threat to...
- Rare Diseases (6 speeches)
Rare diseases are life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases with an estimated prevalence of one in 2,000. In Australia, 10 per cent of our population is directly affected by one or...
- International Cleaners Day (4 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that 15 June is International Cleaners Day, recognising cleaners all over the world for their work and efforts; (2) recognises the: (a) importance and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Flynn Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
The unstable and dysfunctional nature of the current Labor government has driven many people to despair over the state of the Australian parliament. Many people in my electorate of Flynn have...
- Australian Chinese Community (2 speeches)
I rise this evening to grieve for the Chinese community in Greenway and the wider Chinese community in Australia, who have been harshly and unfairly treated at various stages throughout our...
- Australian Public Service (1 speech)
I rise to point out the lack of vision on the part of the coalition, particularly in relation to its rhetoric regarding our public service, our civil society and the demonisation of...
- Australian Labor Party (1 speech)
The litany of failure that haunts this Labor government will not be buried with another dethronement. The Labor Party believe it right that the cup of power be the preserve of their grubby...
- 43rd Parliament (4 speeches)
I rise tonight to provide clarity for those who might have questions about the 43rd Parliament—questions about agreements reached at the start, questions about its work, questions about...
