House debates

Monday, 18 November 2013

  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • White Ribbon Day (4 speeches)
      I rise today to address an issue which is one of the most serious and distressing that our community faces. That is violence against women, and particularly, domestic violence. As members of the...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the Selection Committee report of the determination made pursuant for a resolution of the House on 14 November 2013 relating to private members' business on Monday, 18 November 2013....
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • White Ribbon Day (1 speech)
      I wish to associate myself strongly with the powerful words of the members for Fowler and McMillan, with which I am in complete agreement. I am one of the Male Parliamentarians for the...
  • Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
    • Speaker's Panel (1 speech)
      Pursuant to standing order 17, I lay on the table my warrant nominating the honourable members for McMillan, Moore and Pearce to be members of the Speaker's panel to assist the chair when...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • White Ribbon Day (6 speeches)
      I rise in the House to talk about the importance of 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the white ribbon campaign. Please indulge me as I share a...
    • East Timor (5 speeches)
      (11: I move the motion relating to East Timorese support of Australian troops: That this House: (1) notes that in East Timor between December 1941 and January 1943, 700 Australian troops engaged...
    • Typhoon Haiyan (7 speeches)
      I seek leave to amend my private member's motion relating to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, to reflect the fact that the Australian government, commendably, has increased its aid from $10...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (16 speeches)
      I move: That, in respect of the proceedings on the Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013, the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Carbon Tax...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Pride of Australia Awards (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate a very deserved Australian, Natalie Cook, who won the Pride of Australia medal in the national Pride of Australia awards on the weekend. She along with her husband...
    • Electorate of Swan: Twins (1 speech)
      On Friday 25 October an extraordinary event took place in my electorate of Swan when Australia's oldest living identical twins, Flora Maude Barrett of Victoria Park and Winifred Joyce Hopes of...
    • Throsby Electorate: Billy Cart Derby (1 speech)
      It has been 25 years since the last billy cart thundered down Wentworth Street, Port Kembla, in my electorate in a once-annual billy cart derby. The iconic event was relaunched last year thanks...
    • Ryan Electorate: Community Service Awards (1 speech)
      I was delighted to once again present the Ryan Community Service Awards as a way of recognising and celebrating the tireless work of individuals and groups in the community. Narelle Bird is an...
    • Kingsford Smith Electorate: Community Art (1 speech)
      The South Maroubra Village Green Art Show is a wonderful community art event in Kingsford Smith. It showcases the talent and promotes local artists in painting and photography. It was held on...
    • World Prematurity Day (1 speech)
      Yesterday, 17 November, we marked World Prematurity Day. Every year around the world 15 million babies are born too soon and, sadly, one million of these babies do not make it. I am glad to be...
    • Shop Small (1 speech)
      This month, November, is Shop Small month, a month that encourages us all to find small local businesses and to support them in whatever way we can. It is something I do a great deal but, last...
    • F1 in Schools (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and recognise the achievements of several Australian schools, including Brighton Secondary School, in the F1 in Schools challenge. It is the...
    • Nyanda State High School (1 speech)
      I rise on behalf of my constituents to raise an issue concerning the closure of Nyanda State High School. I was saddened to hear, on 17 September, that the Minister for Education, Training and...
    • Surf-Lifesaving (2 speeches)
      Across Australia surf-lifesaving clubs have started their seasons. In Gippsland we started last weekend with our junior program called Nippers. I would like to congratulate all the young...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time this week. The Treasurer will answer questions on behalf of...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Automotive Industry (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Car workers Gary and Anthony are sitting in the gallery today. Like 250,000 other automotive workers, they want to see a strong industry. I also refer to the...
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House what impact the scrapping of the carbon tax will have on electricity prices, particularly for the families and...
    • Human Rights: Torture (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's comments deploring torture at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka where he then added: 'We accept that...
    • Carbon Pricing: Sugar Industry (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I refer the minister to the report of Queensland cane growers that shows the carbon tax will cost the sugar industry in Queensland $20 million over...
    • Child Care (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Can the minister rule out childcare changes to the family assistance act prior to the Productivity Commission review being completed? And...
    • Indonesia (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. There were media reports emerging this morning that Australia has tapped the personal phone of the Indonesian President. Prime Minister, is this true? Is...
    • Mining Tax (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. What would be the effect on debt, deficit and growth from the abolition of the mining tax? How will it build a stronger economy, particularly for the families and...
    • Child Care (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Given that the minister said yesterday that every dollar in the childcare system is up for review and, yes, the rebate is on the table,...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration. Will the minister outline the latest steps the government has taken with regard to working with the government of Sri Lanka to deny people...
    • Child Care (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Minister, in light of your previous answer, do you promise that your government will not means test the childcare rebate?
    • Education (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minster for Education. I refer the minister to comments made by the principal of Ocean Road Primary School, a newly independent public school, Mr Dean Finlay. The principal...
    • Child Care (18 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Prime Minister. The member for Farrer has repeatedly refused to inoculate the childcare rebate, in payments from the Productivity Commission recommendations, in her...
    • National Broadband Network (36 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications. I remind the minister that 19.6 per cent of households in Corangamite do not have access to the internet at home, and that a key impediment to...
    • Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Small Business. I remind the minister that the draft food and grocery industry code of conduct has been released today. Will the minister outline how the...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. How much money do you currently have allocated for the purposes of boat buybacks in Indonesia?
    • Road Infrastructure (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Is the minister aware that congestion on Parramatta Road has reduced average traffic speeds to just 21...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Given the minister's failure to answer my previous question about the allocation of money available for buying back...
    • Employment (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Employment. Is the minister aware that the unemployment rate in Tasmania is the highest in the nation? How will the government support unemployed job...
    • Asylum Seekers (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister, given the minister for immigration's less than clear answers to the last two questions. Put simply, Prime Minister: has the government abandoned the boat...
    • Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice. As the minister would be aware, the issue of outlaw motorcycle gangs is of great concern to my electorate of La Trobe, as it is in Victoria generally....
    • Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How many boats has the government bought and how much money has the government set aside to purchase these boats?
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Budget Office; Presentation (1 speech)
      Pursuant to section 65 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, I present the annual report of the Parliamentary Budget Office for 2013. Ordered that the document be made a parliamentary paper.
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      Speaker, I wish to give a personal explanation.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Documents are presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (10 speeches)
      Having spoken about that future, I must also thank those who have made my return to parliament possible. Key to my re-election is my greatest and most loyal supporter, my partner Lara Swift. With...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Fraser Electorate: Hackett and Watson 50th Birthday Celebrations (1 speech)
      Suburbia is an oft maligned word in Australia, but our suburban communities here in the ACT are something to be proud of. As part of the Canberra centenary, Canberra has been celebrating the...
    • Australian War Memorial (1 speech, 1 comment)
      I would like to make comments on the proposal to take a chisel to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider just down the road from here to obliterate the words 'Known Unto God' and replace them with some...
    • Parramatta Electorate: Building Multicultural Communities Program (1 speech)
      Earlier this year, I was pleased to announce funding to 12 great local organisations under the Building Multicultural Communities Program. The funding was given to improve facilities and to help...
    • Clontarf Foundation (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to bring to the attention of the House a wonderful organisation that operates around Australia—the Clontarf Foundation. Clontarf was started in Western Australia...
    • Learn Earn Legend Program (1 speech)
      The Learn Earn Legend Program was an initiative of the former Labor government aimed at encouraging young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to stay at school, to study to get a...
    • Reid, Mrs Isobel Louise (1 speech)
      Madam Speaker, may I congratulate you on your speakership. On indulgence, I rise tonight to ask this parliament to reflect on and to admire the life of Isobel Louise Reid, a woman of brightness,...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Ross, Mr David John (1 speech)
      Last Friday I attended the funeral in Katherine of David John Ross—or 'Wewak'—a man I was proud to call a friend for over 30 years. The funeral service with close to 1,000 mourners...
    • Food Labelling (1 speech)
      Through no fault of their own, our food manufacturing industry has all but been destroyed by the flood of cheap imports snapped up by the supermarkets—the big duopoly in...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      I am putting my support towards the establishment of a headspace outpost in Lake Macquarie. There is currently a headspace office situated in Newcastle and one situated in Maitland. Lake...
    • Waite Agricultural Research Institute (1 speech)
      Wheat is Australia's second largest export and all the indications are that 2013 will be a bumper harvest. I want to take this opportunity to remember one of the individuals whose generosity has...
    • Reg Geary House Nursing Home (1 speech)
      I stand with regard to the proposed closure of Reg Geary House by the Victorian state government. Reg Geary House is a high-care nursing home in Melton, within my electorate of Gorton. On 25...
    • Carnegie Primary School (1 speech)
      On Saturday night I was delighted to join parents, friends, teachers and past alumni of Carnegie Primary School to help celebrate their 125th anniversary year. Carnegie Primary School was...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (1 speech)
      The Prime Minister and the Attorney-General, loudly cheered on by News Limited and the conservative think tank IPA, are planning to repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. This...
    • Abbot Point (1 speech)
      In November 2011, a collection of extreme Green groups, many of which are subsidised by the Australian taxpayer, produced a report called 'Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom'. In that...
    • AusAID (1 speech)
      Government is about choices and those choices tell us a lot about people's values. A top priority of this government is to give a $4 billion tax cut to mining billionaires. The beneficiaries will...
    • Cowan Challenge (1 speech)
      On Friday, 8 November I held my sixth annual interschool mixed basketball competition for primary school students named the Cowan Challenge. The Cowan Challenge is an initiative I created to...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Doctor Who: 50th anniversary (6 speeches)
      Firstly, thank you Mr Deputy Speaker for calling on me to bring a prop. For the purposes of the Hansard: I am wearing a large Tom Baker scarf. I also thank the member for Mitchell and the members...
    • Goods and Services Tax (11 speeches)
      I was most disturbed to learn that, on 30 October, the Australian Taxation Office brought down a draft ruling to impose a 30 per cent GST on the site rental of people in relocatable home parks....
    • Postcodes (7 speeches)
      With your indulgence, Deputy Speaker, may I say how delightful it is to see you as Deputy Speaker. I just have an amendment to paragraph (3), and I formally seek leave of the Federation Chamber...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Thomson, the Hon. David Scott MC (1 speech)
      The Hon. David Scott Thomson MC was born on 21 November 1924 in Sale, Victoria. In 1942 David Thomson enlisted in the Australian Army and trained at the Royal Military College Duntroon, beginning...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Member for Griffith (18 speeches)
      I was hosting a dinner for the Indonesian vice-president when the member for Griffith and former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced his retirement from parliamentary life. So I regret that I...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Shortland Electorate: Government Programs (1 speech)
      It has been nearly three months since the federal election. Prior to that election, as a member of parliament and as a candidate in the election, I raised concern about the possibility of...
    • Health: Sport and Recreation (1 speech)
      Prior to entering public life, I was in the business of developing multi-activity sport and recreation clubs—some were very successful and some were very public failures. My first meeting...
    • Member for Griffith, Organ and Tissue Donation, Canberra Electorate (1 speech)
      Just following on from the discussion before this debate, I would like to add my congratulations and thanks to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Kevin achieved an incredible amount in his time as...
    • Microalgae Technology (2 speeches)
      Madam Deputy Speaker Griggs, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your new role. Ryan is blessed with many outstanding research facilities. I recently had the opportunity to meet...
    • Racism (3 speeches)
      Thank you, Deputy Speaker, and it is a pleasure to appear in front of you in this capacity for the first time: congratulations on your appointment.
    • Australia Post (2 speeches)
      Congratulations to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, on your high position. The member for Moreton is a survivor. He has battled it out in a marginal seat and he is in their caucus room now to keep...

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What are Debates?

Debates in the House of Representatives are an opportunity for members from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.

And sometimes to shout at each other.