House debates
Monday, 24 February 2014
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Islam; Statements (1 speech)
In December last year I had a brief opportunity as Chair of the House Petitions Committee to present petitions and ministerial responses received since the end of last parliament. Today I am...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Regional Development Australia Fund (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) funds were allocated for Regional Development Australia Funding (RDAF) Round 5 in the 2013-14 budget; (b) RDAF Round...
- Great Ocean Road (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Government is delivering on its $25 million election commitment to upgrade the Great Ocean Road; (b) this commitment has been matched by another...
- Privilege (0 speeches)
- (2 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I raise a matter of privilege about whether the then member for Dobell, Mr Craig Thomson, deliberately misled the House in a statement he made to the House on 21 May 2012. Madam...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (4 speeches)
I only have a little bit of time left because the Labor Party decided that it was going to shut me down. I wanted to say a big thankyou to the people of Solomon for re-electing me. They can be...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Lions House (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate Lions House on the opening of their new home at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. I was delighted to be able to attend the official opening by His Excellency the...
- Black Saturday Cruise (1 speech)
As all members of the House would be aware, we have just had the fifth anniversary of the tragic Black Saturday fires in Victoria and there have been a number of memorial services for those...
- Problem Gambling (1 speech)
Next month residents of the City of Whittlesea will be taking up the challenge to 'March Away from Gambling'. Local neighbourhood houses and community groups have banded together to run a series...
- Touched by Olivia Foundation (1 speech)
In November 2006, John and Justine Perkins tragically lost their baby daughter Olivia, at just eight months old, to a rare illness. As a father of three children, I cannot begin to imagine what...
- International Mother Language Day (1 speech)
Friday, 21 February was International Mother Language Day, an international day commemorated by UNESCO in 1999 and selected no doubt because of the history of 21 February in the fight to speak...
- Drought (1 speech)
I would like to draw the attention of the House to the dire situation facing farmers in Queensland and New South Wales. While some rain had fallen over the weekend on very parched land, there are...
- Morrison, Mr Brendon (1 speech)
It is with great sadness that I am again using the opportunity of a member's statement to pay tribute to a much loved and tireless member of the ACT Labor Party lost too soon. Brendon Morrison, a...
- Bushfires: Belair National Park (1 speech)
Two weeks ago, on a catastrophic fire day, bushfires broke out in Belair National Park, 800 hectares of natural bushland, in my electorate. I would first like to congratulate the emergency...
- Blair Electorate: Unemployment (1 speech)
The front page of last Saturday's The Queensland Times revealed the very disturbing news that the unemployment rate in Ipswich is at its highest level in the last 15 years. The Ipswich...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Fundraising (1 speech)
I was recently proud to attend and support a heart-warming fundraising event in my electorate of Hindmarsh. West Beach Surf Life Saving Club held their second annual Pink Swim, raising around...
- Kingston Electorate: Rail (1 speech)
Sunday was a good day for the people in my electorate. On Sunday the first electric trains rolled off the Seaford Rail Extension. This was a great project that was supported by federal and state...
- Swan Electorate: West Coast Eagles (1 speech)
I advise the House that on 12 February I co-hosted 'An evening with the West Coast Eagles' with the member for Curtin in Parliament House. We helped organise the event to raise awareness and...
- Fremantle Tales (1 speech)
It was my pleasure on the Saturday before last to launch a book called Fremantle Tales by author Ian Darroch at the old Woodman Point Quarantine Station in my electorate. As a work of...
- Axonal Neuropathy (1 speech)
I would like to share with the House some of the lyrics from local musician and rap artist Nathan Tessman. These are his words from Fly Away: Some days in my life wanted to spread my wings and...
- Greenway Electorate: Access (1 speech)
I rise to update the House about my local community's campaign to improve access at Pendle Hill and Toongabbie train stations. Despite the New South Wales Liberal government's promise to...
- Durack Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
On 6 and 7 February I had the pleasure of hosting Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development the Hon. Jamie Briggs and Minister for Finance Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann in...
- Braddon Electorate: Mr Trevor Kingston (1 speech)
In my electorate throughout the north-west coast, west coast and King Island communities there is example after example of tireless volunteers making our community what it is. It is an honour for...
- Port Kembla Copper Stack (1 speech)
Last Thursday the Illawarra community witnessed the fall of an icon. At 11.13 am the 200 metre tall Port Kembla copper stack—a figure which had dominated the industrial skyline of the...
- Lyons Electorate: Mr Robert George Loone (2 speeches)
I publicly acknowledge one of my community stalwarts who is genuinely a person who could claim a life well spent. So many people turned up to Robert George Loone's funeral at Deloraine in...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Members Sworn (1 speech)
I have received the return to the writ which I issued on 6 January 2014 for the election of a member to serve for the electoral division of Griffith, in the state of Queensland, to fill the...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time this week while he participates in the ministerial discussions as part of the trans-Pacific...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Employment (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On 19 February, the Prime Minister said he was shocked at the job losses—shocked about Toyota, shocked about Holden, shocked about Alcoa. Prime...
- Carbon Pricing, Economy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the impact that the carbon tax is having on the Australian economy? How will scrapping the carbon tax support...
- Employment (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the Abbott government was elected, thousands of jobs have been lost: at Toyota, Holden, Forge in Western Australia, Alcoa in Geelong and Rio Tinto in...
- G20 Meeting (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the outcomes of the G20 finance ministers' meeting held in Sydney this weekend? How will the outcomes of the meeting affect growth and jobs?
- Pensions and Benefits (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Treasurer's comments on budget cuts, 'All options are on the table.' Considering the Prime Minister's election promise that there would be 'no...
- National Broadband Network (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Minister, my office is being contacted almost daily by constituents who are being stuffed around by the NBN rollout in Tasmania. One pressing...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the challenges ahead to address Australia's debt and deficit levels? What are the alternative approaches to the management of these...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise the House that we have visiting us today the Hon. Mr John Baird, PC MP, Canadian Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr Michael Small, the High Commissioner of Canada, and Mr John...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Last Tuesday, the minister cautioned 'people to be very wary of unsubstantiated reports that may be put into the public...
- Regional Aviation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. How will the government's policies assist regional aviation and the jobs that it supports?
- Asylum Seekers (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. In light of the minister's previous answer, precisely at what time and on which day was the minister first advised that the...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. I refer the minister to the statement of the managing director of Adelaide Brighton, Mr Mark Chellew, who said: The removal of the carbon tax...
- Asylum Seekers (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. In the minister's previous answer, the minister has said that he first received information on Tuesday questioning the...
- Fiji (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on her recent official visit to Fiji, and the government's approach to Fiji?
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Minister, who is the person on Manus Island in charge of the detention facility? Prior to the death of Mr Reza Berati, how...
- Donations to Political Parties (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Minister representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister inform the House what funds the Health Services Union, a registered...
- Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the conflict of interest involving Senator Nash's former chief of staff and to the statement of the Prime Minister's own department at Senate...
- Education (5 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. I refer the minister to this morning's report that shows one in five young people aged 15 to 24 in west and north-west...
- Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (12 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer where he has admitted that he was aware of the conflict of interest prior to the appointment...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister inform the House how many days it has been since the last illegal boat arrived? What factors...
- Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer to his previous answer. I refer to the Statement of Ministerial Standards that requires ministers to ensure their decisions are unaffected by bias...
- GP Superclinics (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. I refer the minister to the Emerald GP superclinic in my electorate which was promised more than three years ago. It is still not open and still has not...
- Ministerial Staff: Code of Conduct (12 speeches)
My question is again to the Prime Minister. I refer to his statement: I am determined to ensure that as far as the new Coalition government in Canberra is concerned, not only is it clean and fair...
- Broadband (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. What is the government doing to deliver fast broadband to Australian businesses and families who cannot access broadband after six years of Labor?
- Register of Members' Interests (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to inform the House that, following a competitive selection process, Ms Claressa Surtees has been appointed Deputy Clerk of the House. I am sure that members look forward to working with...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip nominating a member to be a supplementary member of the Standing Committee on Economics for the purpose of the committee's inquiry into the...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 20 of 2013-14 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Audit No. 20 2013-14 entitled Performance audit: management of the central movement alert list—follow-on audit: Department of Immigration and Border...
- 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.
- Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948, Mr Ruddock be appointed a trustee to serve on the Parliamentary Retiring...
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Privilege (1 speech)
Earlier today the honourable member for Dobell raised as a matter of privilege that, in a statement to the House on 21 May 2012, the former member for Dobell Mr Craig Thomson deliberately misled...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (21 speeches)
I thank the House for the opportunity to make some remarks in the address-in-reply. It is always an honour to be elected to this parliament. To be re-elected for the sixth time is a huge honour...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- McPherson Electorate: Varsity College (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to report to the House on a fantastic local success story in my electorate of McPherson. Just a few hundred metres from my electorate office is Varsity College, one of the...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
I rise to make a contribution to the debate about Australia's asylum seeker policy. There is a lot that I could talk about this evening. I could talk about...
- Petrie Electorate: Employment (1 speech, 1 comment)
I rise tonight to talk about a matter of the utmost importance in the Petrie electorate, and that is the issue of unemployment. This was the No. 1 issue raised with me by business owners,...
- Electorate of Charlton: Volunteer Awards (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to draw the attention of the House to some of the remarkable volunteers in Charlton who give so much to our community. In particular I wish to acknowledge:...
- Electorate of Maranoa: Coal Seam Gas Mining and Sewage Disposal (1 speech)
I rise tonight to place on the public record the concerns of residents in my electorate of Maranoa particularly in my own home town district of Roma. The rapid expansion of the coal seam gas...
- Copyright (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to note the Australian Law Reform Commission's final report on its inquiry into the Copyright Act, commissioned by the previous Labor government, entitled Copyright and the digital...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Kingston Electorate: Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
I rise today on the matter of live animal exports, which is deeply concerning to many in my community in the seat of Kingston. Over some time now we have seen quite sickening and very distressing...
- Deakin Electorate: Community Infrastructure (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to rise today to speak about three important sporting projects benefiting my constituents in the electorate of Deakin. As part of the coalition government, I am...
- Isaacs Electorate: St Louis de Montfort's Primary School (1 speech)
I rise to commend St Louis de Montfort's Primary School in Aspendale for the wonderful environmental-learning opportunities they are providing students through their 'sustainability precinct'...
- Dawson Electorate: My Whitsunday (1 speech)
I am most fortunate to have in my electorate perhaps Australia's best holiday destination, the Whitsundays. What truly makes the Whitsundays such a great place is not just the beautiful waters,...
- Greenway Electorate: Quakers Hill Nursing Home (1 speech)
I rise to update the House on the redevelopment of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home, located in my electorate, which, as members would remember, burnt down in November 2011—tragically taking...
- Casey Electorate: Defence (1 speech)
A little over 100 years ago, five months ahead of the outbreak of World War I, an important historical event occurred in the heart of the electorate of Casey in the towns of Lilydale and...
- Parramatta Electorate: Rath Yatra Festival (1 speech)
I often say about my electorate of Parramatta that we have the world in us. When Australia opened its doors at the end of the White Australia policy back in the seventies the world came in. I...
- Lyne Electorate: Awards (1 speech)
I rise to bring to the attention of the House, and to congratulate, Citizens of the Year in the Lyne electorate. I recognised them in my Australia Day speech but I would like to formally mention...
- Swan Electorate: Fringe Benefits Tax (1 speech)
The policies of the previous government caused plenty of problems for industry across Australia. But one of the worst cases of the damage happened in its dying days with Kevin Rudd's announcement...
- Shortland Electorate: Human Services (2 speeches, 1 comment)
Last week I was visited by management officers from the Department of Human Services in my electorate. They advised me that there was a plan—and this plan is well down the path of coming to...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Diabetes (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that diabetes is a serious health concern with an estimated 382 million people worldwide living with diabetes; (2) recognises that: (a) 8 per cent of...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Syria (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon; (b) former Labor Government's contribution of $100.8 million to humanitarian assistance; and...
- Defence Expenditure (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that Defence is a critical responsibility of the Australian Government, which: (a) requires substantial investment in order to ensure Australia's military...
- Education Funding (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the importance of investing in education and ensuring that Australia remains competitive by providing quality education to all Australian children...
- Kurdistan (3 speeches)
by leave—I move: That this House notes that: (1) March 2013 marked the 25th anniversary of the genocidal chemical attack by the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Halabja in the...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Corangamite Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
I rise to address recent developments on the jobs front in my electorate of Corangamite, in the Geelong region. Sadly, Alcoa announced last week that it would close its Point Henry smelter in...
- Pink Stumps Day (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the many groups that support the McGrath Foundation through Pink Stumps Day. Pink Stumps Day is the biggest community based fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation and...
- Dobell Electorate: Lakes Grammar (1 speech)
I would like to inform the House of work undertaken by students at Lakes Grammar, in my electorate, to support Ronald McDonald House. The opportunity class at Lakes Grammar, an Anglican school,...
- New South Wales Election: Seat of Swansea (1 speech, 1 comment)
I would like to congratulate Yasmin Catley on her preselection to be the Labor Party candidate in the state election in the seat of Swansea. Yasmin is an outstanding woman who has many, many...
- Page Electorate: ABC Heywire (1 speech)
I recently had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Erin Riggall, from my electorate of Page, who was a winner in the ABC Heywire competition. In this job you see a lot of people every day,...
- Braddon Electorate: Mount Lyell Copper Mine (1 speech)
On 11 December 2013 I informed the House of the tragic deaths of two west coast locals in a mining accident, Mr Craig Gleeson and Mr Alistair Lucas. It is with great sadness today that I inform...
- Lalor Electorate: Committee for Wyndham (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise a group in my electorate that has recently celebrated its 16th anniversary. The Committee for Wyndham is an incorporated, civic membership based group that works...
- Lindsay Electorate: School-to-Work Forum (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate Schools Industry Partnership and Penrith council for their great work. On Wednesday of last week we held a school-to-work forum. In attendance were key businesses...
- Blair Electorate: Local Sporting Champions (1 speech)
The former federal Labor government introduced the Local Sporting Champions program in 2008 to provide funding assistance to young men and women to participate in national or state sporting...
- Ryan Electorate: Community Service (1 speech)
Last week, I was honoured to present a Ryan community service award to Kenmore local Lisa Johnson. The Ryan community service awards encourage and acknowledge the excellent and tireless work of...
- Bendigo Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
) ( ): Funding for Infrastructure Australia has always been a partnership between state and federal governments, yet since the election of the Victorian coalition government the Ravenswood...
- Lyons Electorate: Literary Festival (1 speech)
The small northern Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield in my electorate of Lyons, after 12 months of preparation, will launch its inaugural Festival of Golden Words on 14 March. Organisers are already...
- Shortland Electorate: Surf Clubs (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to pay credit to all the surf clubs in the Shortland electorate. We are just coming towards the end of a very hot summer season when many residents flocked...
- Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to congratulate and pay tribute to a former constituent of mine, Matt Haanappel. I have got to know Matt fairly well in the last couple of years. He was recognised on...
- Human Rights: Cambodia (1 speech)
I rise today in the House to raise concerns with respect to human rights violations which have been reported to be occurring in Cambodia. Honourable members would know that the Australian...
- Robertson Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to give an update on how the coalition's growth plan for the Central Coast is already delivering in my electorate of Robertson. We are providing $100,000 to Gosford City Council for the...
- Parramatta Electorate: Islamic Sciences & Research Academy of Australia (1 speech)
On Saturday night, ISRA returned to Parramatta for one of its forums. ISRA is the Islamic Sciences & Research Academy of Australia, based at Charles Sturt University, which comes to...
- Victoria Park Motor Vehicle Trading Hub (2 speeches)
I wish to continue with my remarks from my speech this morning on the impact of the previous government's FBT announcement on the Victoria Park motor vehicle trading hub, by making some further...
- Marion Mall Walkers (1 speech)
In 2001 a group formed to walk in the mornings at the Westfield Marion shopping centre. Last Monday they held their 13th birthday. Although, due to the sitting of the federal parliament I was...
- Scullin Electorate: Wattle Glen Primary School (1 speech)
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Wattle Glen Primary School and meeting the principal, Gerard Fay. Wattle Glen is a great school, you would be well aware, and is the heart of a wonderful...
- Wright Electorate: Scouts (1 speech)
Over the weekend within the electorate of Wright there was a special presentation of the Australian Scout Medallion to two young members of the Greenbank scout movement. Gemma Wallace and Sarah...
- Morrison, Mr Brendon (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to Brendon Morrison, a life member of the ACT Labor Party, who unexpectedly passed away last week. Brendon was a regular fixture at so many of our community events. He was...
- Moore Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I wish to place on record the inadequacy of access to conventional broadband internet and ADSL services to a number of households in the older suburbs within my electorate of Moore, including...
- Calwell Electorate: Broadmeadows Superclinic (1 speech)
On Friday it was my very great pleasure, in my electorate, to do the sod-turning for the new superclinic that will be built in Broadmeadows by Dianella Community Health. This superclinic is a...
- Higgins Medal Recipients (1 speech)
In order to recognise the importance of leadership from the earliest of ages, in February 2011 I established the Higgins Medal in schools within my electorate to celebrate and recognise young and...
- Fraser Electorate: Active After-School Communities Program (1 speech)
In the electorate of Fraser, the Active After-School Communities Program is a terrific way of keeping young people engaged with sport. In 2014, a number of schools in my electorate have joined...
- Petrie Electorate: Woody Point Pharmacy (1 speech)
I would like to highlight the achievements of a local small business within the Petrie electorate, Woody Point Pharmacy. Woody Point Pharmacy is a locally owned and operated business that has...
- Lalor Electorate: Point Cook Relay For Life (2 speeches)
Today I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Point Cook Relay For Life committee, who, on Saturday, 16 November, hosted their annual event in my electorate. I had the great privilege to...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Middle East (3 speeches)
In light of the statement by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, on 16 January 2014 declaring the launch of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,...
- Economy (1 speech)
Recently, we Australians have been told that we are in a period of economic transition. A series of blows to our national economic spirit have left some saying it is the end of us and of life as...
- Sovereign Wealth Funds (1 speech, 1 comment)
We are losing the war. And by we, I mean the politically left-of-centre; I mean the Labor Party and other social democratic parties around the world, I mean the trade unions, and I mean the...
- Wannon Electorate: Deputy Prime Minister (1 speech)
I rise to talk about a visit that the Deputy Prime Minister made to my electorate on Friday. It was a significant visit for three reasons. I would like to place on the record my thanks to the...
- 2013 Federal Election (1 speech)
Members will remember the view so fulsomely expressed by the Murdoch press and others in the lead up to the last federal election that Labor faced obliteration in Western Sydney. Let us look at...
- Small Business (2 speeches)
When it comes to red tape and bureaucracy there are few who could beat the Taliban. Let us go back to the late 1990s, when the Taliban overran the war ravaged Afghan capital of Kabul. The...
