House debates
Monday, 17 March 2014
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I wish to make a statement on the committee's round table on drones and privacy. Although drones have the potential to add...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Naval Shipbuilding Industry (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the proud naval shipbuilding history of Australia; (2) notes that: (a) the ability to build and maintain naval ships is essential to our national defence...
- Ukraine (6 speeches)
I seek leave to amend the private member's motion relating to Ukraine in the terms circulated to honourable members. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That this House: (1) expresses...
- Australian Aid to Pacific Nations (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) importance of the Australian aid program to sustainable economic and social development and poverty alleviation for Pacific nations; (b) contribution...
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (8 speeches)
I use this opportunity of the address-in-reply to highlight some important issues that my area of Redlands has fought for over the last decade, in particular, the acknowledgement that our unique...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Lymphoedema (1 speech)
For the past 10 years, I have been the proud patron of the Lymphoedema Association of Queensland. Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling that occurs usually in the arms and legs when the body's...
- Leukaemia (1 speech)
Last week I lost a friend to leukaemia. The Secretary of the Australian Services Union, Ms Kath Nelson, lost her battle with leukaemia at the age of 43. I want to give my condolences to her...
- Great Eastern Highway (1 speech)
On Friday, 14 March I was very pleased to join the Minister for Transport the Hon. Warren Truss and the Western Australian Premier the Hon. Colin Barnett in announcing a $67.1 million upgrade to...
- St Patrick's Day (1 speech)
Today, on this St Patrick's Day, I would like to say 'Slainte' to all the Irish men and women in Australia. This is a day when many millions of Australians celebrate their Irish ancestry in a...
- International Women's Day: Meroogal Awards (1 speech)
Today we celebrate St Patrick's Day. Two weeks ago Gilmore celebrated International Women's Day with a small gathering of women and their families for the Meroogal Awards. Women deserve more than...
- Macauley, Mrs Christine (Kris) (1 speech)
) ( ): I rise today to acknowledge an exceptional Canberra businesswoman, Christine Macauley. Last month Kris was inducted into the Australian Businesswomen's Network Hall of Fame. This hall of...
- Longford (1 speech)
There are few towns in Australia which can celebrate 200 years since their first settlement. A few weeks ago I joined just such a celebration at Longford, a major town in the northern part of my...
- International Women's Day: The Deli Women & Children’s Centre (1 speech)
On 12 March I was fortunate to join former Premier of New South Wales Kristina Keneally at the International Women's Day celebration at The Deli Women's and Children's Centre in Eastlakes in our...
- Talarico, Mrs Margaret Elizabeth (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute and bid farewell to a remarkable lady, Margaret Elizabeth Talarico, fondly known as Betty, who passed away on 6 March 2014. Betty was a respected member of the Central...
- Holi (1 speech)
Today thousands of Australians of Hindu, Subcontinent and South Asian heritage are celebrating Holi—the festival of colours. Holi signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring. It...
- O'Keeffe, Mr Robert (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to an esteemed Australian and Ryan constituent, Mr Robert O'Keeffe, who was recently presented with a 2013-14 Lifetime Achiever Award for Queensland by the Restaurant...
- Youth Connections (1 speech)
On Tuesday 11 March I had the pleasure of meeting with staff and participants of the Youth Connections provider in Bendigo, St Luke's Anglicare. I was briefed by staff and had the pleasure of...
- Bethania: German Heritage Celebration (1 speech)
It is with great pleasure today that I rise to acknowledge the 150th anniversary of the first settlement by German settlers of the suburb of Bethania. On Sunday, 23 February, I attended the...
- Electorate of Makin: Para Hills Tennis Club (1 speech)
On Sunday, 9 March, the Para Hills Tennis Club celebrated its 50th birthday with an open day at the club's facilities on Liberman Road, Para Hills. The day included children's amusements, a...
- Electorate of Hasluck: Walk to End Women's Cancers (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the Walk to End Women's Cancers which was held over the weekend on the 16 and 17 March and to acknowledge all the women and men who took part in that walk to raise funds for...
- Hunter Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
In Easter of 1988 the then next section of the F3 freeway opened to a place called Freemans Waterhole in my electorate. The result was the spilling of both Pacific Highway and National Highway...
- Hinkler Electorate: Health (1 speech)
Earlier this month Oceania Oncology announced it would be opening a second radiotherapy centre in my electorate of Hinkler. From December this year, cancer patients will be able to receive...
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (1 speech)
It is a pleasure to rise today to briefly mention that a couple of weeks ago we once again celebrated Mardi Gras in Sydney. It was, as usual, a terrific night, with many hundreds of people...
- Tasmania State Election (3 speeches)
As an admirer of quality journalism, I rise to congratulate The Examiner for this magnificent front page, from Sunday.
- Rankin Electorate: Education (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the students, teachers and parents of Yugumbir State School in Regents Park in my electorate. They held an assembly last week which was for their We Read Every Night, or...
- Capricornia Electorate: Industry (2 speeches)
My electorate of Capricornia is the powerhouse of beef and coal production. These are important industries. But Capricornia is diverse and offers much in the way of innovation. Today, I am...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Malaysia Airlines (2 speeches)
All members of this House, in common with people all around the world, are pondering the fate of flight MH370, the Malaysia Airlines aircraft which has vanished. I spoke shortly before question...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Commission of Audit (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister release the Commission of Audit report before the Western Australian Senate election?
- Road Infrastructure (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government building the roads of the 21st century to the benefit of businesses and families in my electorate of Robertson? How do these measures...
- Mining (7 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the importance of repealing the mining tax? What will this mean to the constituents of Swan?
- Western Australian Senate Election (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is the Prime Minister hiding his 900-page plan of nasty cuts to Western Australians? Don't Western Australians deserve to know what the government has...
- Foreign Aid (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I know that the minister has a real interest in Papua New Guinea, particularly the women of that country. She would know that at least 85 per...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Minister, I refer to figures released by the Clean Energy Regulator that show the carbon tax has penalised Woodside Energy with at least $172...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the honourable member for Batman, I would like to advise the House that we have with us in the gallery today the Hon. Tom McVeigh, a former minister and former member for Groom. We...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Commission of Audit Report (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Has the minister received a copy of the full Commission of Audit report?
- Budget (5 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer outline the challenges the budget faces over the next decade? Further, can he advise the House of the state of the budget that this government...
- Commission of Audit Report (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the previous answer given by the Minister for Justice. Don't Western Australians, including his own Western Australian ministers, deserve to know...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on how many days have passed since the last successful people-smuggling venture arrived in...
- National Commission of Audit (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government defying a Senate order today to release the Commission of Audit to the Senate. Prime Minister, what is in this secret report that...
- Malaysia: Missing Aircraft (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. How is the government supporting efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370?
- Veterans (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why on earth is the Prime Minister cutting support to the children of veterans who have been killed or injured, including children who have been orphaned?...
- Defence Personnel (11 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Defence. How is the government assisting retired Australian Defence personnel and their families by providing for fair indexation of military...
- Veterans (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister. Only 1,200 children of war veterans receive the assistance that the government wants to cut. Why could the Prime Minister find $5.5 billion...
- Small Businesses (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Minister, how is the government reducing red tape for Australian businesses, and how will this help the many small business owners in my...
- Veterans (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's two most recent answers, and to a statement I have received from David Spillman, President of the Kwinana RSL in Western...
- Education (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. I refer the minister to the government's announcement recently of the appointment of the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group. How is the...
- Veterans (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's confirmation that he will cut support to the orphans of war veterans. The cost of delivering this payment to 1,200 children...
- Health (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. I refer the minister to the Rockingham GP superclinic in Western Australia that was promised more than three years ago, is still not open and yet to see...
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (1 speech)
Before I move to the presentation of reports and papers, I will repeat the advice that I gave earlier today, and that is that I have ascertained that Her Excellency the Governor-General will be...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are tabled as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members earlier today. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and in Hansard.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
(): I present the Auditor-General's audit report No. 23 of 2013-14 entitled Performance audit: policing at Australian international airports: Australian Federal Police. Ordered that the report be...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (1 speech)
It might suit the convenience of the House if at this time I suspend the sitting until 5.30 pm in order that I may present the address-in-reply to Her Excellency the Governor-General at...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
I rise this evening to urge the government to make a clear commitment when it comes to renewing the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. The agreement emanated from The Road Home...
- Families (1 speech)
Can I identify with the words of the member for Fowler with regard to domestic violence. I was not going to speak again on single parent families until I received an email today. It was from an...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
All those in this parliament should view an equitable education system as an absolute priority. We should view as a measure of our success as a parliament whether children currently going through...
- Defence (1 speech)
Air combat is the most fundamental and vital capability of a defence force. Without air superiority, Australia's land and sea forces would be exposed to enemy air attack if we were to go to war....
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
Earlier this month, the CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology released their biannual State of the climate report. The report provides data and trends relating to climate change and...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Franklin Electorate: Taste of the Huon (1 speech)
Today I want to talk about a wonderful food and wine festival, the Taste of the Huon, which was held in my electorate over the long weekend on 9 and 10 March this year and has a 22-year history....
- Macquarie Electorate: Pink Belt Dojo (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge and honour a group of people who have demonstrated what it truly means to live compassion and community. I had the privilege of opening the final demonstrations of the...
- Bendigo Spirit Women's National Basketball Team (1 speech)
The Bendigo Spirit, our basketball team, has gone back to back in the Women's National Basketball League championships. They won their grand final on Sunday, 9 March. My home town of Bendigo was...
- Dobell Electorate: Luka Chocolates (1 speech)
Recently I had the honour of attending the opening of the Luka chocolate factory and the Australian Artisan Chocolate School at the historic Wyong Milk Factory. Luka Chocolates is a great example...
- Employment, Isaacs Electorate: Chobani (1 speech)
Jobs have been under attack in this nation since the Abbott government came to power. In just the last four months we have seen appalling job losses announced at Qantas, Holden, Toyota, Forge...
- Lyne Electorate: Investment in Gloucester (1 speech)
Recently Gloucester was given some very welcome news with the announcement the coalition government will deliver on our election commitment to provide funding towards a new trade skills centre in...
- Parramatta District Men's Shed (1 speech)
Yesterday it was by absolute privilege and pleasure to attend the official opening of the Parramatta District Men's Shed. It is an organisation which I saw form some time ago. I went to the...
- Northern Territory: Australian Football (3 speeches)
If you are a fan of the national game and believe, to paraphrase HG Nelson and Roy Slaven, that 'too much footy is never enough', Darwin is definitely the place to be, with year-round, non-stop,...
- Sunbury SunFest, Sunbury Police and Citizens Youth Club (1 speech)
This weekend, I attended the 38th annual Sunbury SunFest. SunFest is one of those community events where everyone comes together to celebrate Sunbury. The festival is packed with live...
- School of St Jude, Tanzania (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak about the amazing work Rotary does, not only in our local communities but also internationally. Rotarians have been present not only for major events in history but also...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Bruce Highway (23 speeches)
I move: That this House notes: (1) the importance of investing in infrastructure to improve Australia's competitiveness; (2) that the Bruce Highway covers approximately 1,700 kilometres and is...
- Dental Health (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the importance of a well-resourced dental system in improving the oral health of our most vulnerable citizens; and (b) that well trained and well supported...
- Netball (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) there are three significant netball events approaching over the next four years, the: (i) Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014;...
- Regional Development Australia Fund (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the importance of investing in local communities to assist them in meeting future challenges and seizing future opportunities; (2) acknowledges that the...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Lalor Electorate: Thomas Carr College (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a visit I made on 18 February to Thomas Carr College in my electorate. I have had the pleasure a few times since the election of meeting with Dr Andrew Watson, the college's...
- Moore Electorate: YouthCARE (1 speech)
School chaplaincy services play an important role for youth in our community, who face increasing pressures on family relationships, peer relationships, bullying, harassment, grief, loss and...
- Australian American Leadership Dialogue (1 speech)
It was my pleasure to attend, from 5 to 7 March, the inaugural Australian American Leadership Dialogue meetings in Miami, Florida. They were discussions that covered a wide range of topics, as is...
- Lyons Electorate: Evandale Village Fair (1 speech)
Michael and Di Sullivan from the historic northern Tasmanian village of Evandale had a plan more than 30 years ago to put their village on the map. The Sullivans, along with the hardworking and...
- Canberra Electorate: Defence Materiel Organisation (1 speech)
Yet again civilian Defence staff are fearing for their job security after reports over the weekend that up to 3,000 Defence Materiel Organisation staff may be in line to lose their jobs. Last...
- Solomon Electorate: City of Darwin (1 speech)
Recently the Property Council of Australia released the My City: The People's Verdict 2013 report. The report outlines the opinion of 5,400 people on the livability of their city and how the...
- Financial Counselling Services (1 speech)
I rise today in the House to raise concerns about funding for financial counselling services across this nation. Although we will not know until the budget, there is a lot of concern within the...
- Higgins Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I was delighted last Friday when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop, was able to visit Camberwell South Primary School in order to conduct a mock parliament. The...
- Esan, Mr Vissa (1 speech)
I rise today to mention Mr Vissa Esan, who was tragically stabbed to death in what appears to be a random act of senseless violence outside his real estate business in Pendle Hill in my...
- Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (1 speech)
A 23-year-old Aboriginal woman born brain damaged with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is languishing in a Western Australian jail—in Kalgoorlie, in fact. She has been there 18 months. She...
- Scullin Electorate: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
On last Tuesday, 11 March, I had the very great pleasure of speaking at the inaugural general meeting of the Cultural Bridges community action group at the Thomastown Library together with...
- Ryan Electorate: Mitchie Day Club (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the Mitchie Day Club, which is doing outstanding work with elderly residents in the northern suburbs of my electorate of Ryan. It is hard to believe that the Mitchie...
- Shortland Electorate: Windale Men's Shed (1 speech)
I would like to pay credit to Windale Men's Shed. Windale Men's Shed was one of the first men's sheds established in Australia, and it has been a role model for other sheds throughout Australia....
- Banks Electorate: Lugarno Progress Association (1 speech)
I rise this evening to congratulate the Lugarno Progress Association on its annual dinner, which I had the good fortune to attend, on 11 March. The Lugarno Progress Association, in my electorate,...
- Bendigo Electorate: Mitch Bourke (1 speech)
Today I rise to let the chamber know about a young man in my electorate, Mitch Bourke, who yesterday walked nearly 20 kilometres through Bendigo to raise money for an autism resource centre....
- La Trobe Electorate: Casey Cardinia Relay for Life (1 speech)
Last Friday evening, I was pleased to take part in one of the many relays for life that occur all around Australia. The relay is a fundraising, community-building initiative of the Cancer...
- Grace Lutheran College: World's Greatest Shave (1 speech)
I rise today with a little less hair than normal, courtesy of the World's Greatest Shave. Last Tuesday I visited Grace Lutheran College at Rothwell for a tour of the school. It was during this...
- Calare Electorate: Needles Dam (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the community response to the fact that I have put on the line that we need a new dam in Calare. Mike from Parkes said: The Needles Gap Dam near Canowindra. Just what the...
- Dawson Electorate: Fly in, Fly Out Workforce (1 speech)
In 2011 the Bligh Labor government in Queensland gave approval to BMA to operate a 100 per cent fly in, fly out workforce at its Caval Ridge and Daunia mines. What 100 per cent fly in, fly out...
- Logan City Community Cadet Unit (1 speech)
Just recently I had the pleasure of attending the 16th birthday celebrations for the Logan City community cadets. They were first started in 1998 by a group of parents from the local community...
- GriefLine (1 speech)
I would like to speak this evening about the important work that is being undertaken by GriefLine, which is an organisation operating from Bentleigh, right in my electorate of Hotham. GriefLine...
- Vandenberg, Chief Petty Officer Kane, Graywood Medal (1 speech)
Recently I attended a very special medal presentation. It was the Graywood Medal presentation to the family of Chief Petty Officer Kane Vandenberg, aged 46. Kane's wife, Margaret, accepted the...
- Reid Electorate: Harmony Day (1 speech)
This Friday, 21 March, will be Harmony Day, a day that Australia celebrates the diversity of the cultural backgrounds we all come from. Friday is also the United Nations International Day for the...
- Qantas (1 speech)
I rise to highlight the importance of Qantas, not only as Australia's long-serving national carrier but as a major tourist icon in my electorate of Maranoa. Qantas is an iconic brand and a major...
- Davey, Dr Michael (1 speech)
Just recently I was in the wonderful position of being able to say goodbye to Dr Michael Davey. Dr Michael Davey has had an incredible journey in his life. He was a foster child and was abused in...
- Lalor Electorate: St Patrick's Day (3 speeches)
I rise tonight to talk about St Patrick's Day and the fact that I represent the seat of Lalor. I have been prompted by Deputy Speaker Goodenough, who has suggested that if I say Lalor often...
- Petrie Electorate: Redcliffe Police Citizens Youth Club (1 speech)
I rise tonight to quickly talk about a great sporting organisation within the electorate of Petrie—that is, the Redcliffe Police Citizens Youth Club. I would like to acknowledge Sgt Peter...
- Reid Electorate: Turkish Community (1 speech)
It is with great honour that I rise today to talk about an event I attended on Saturday morning for the Australian Relief Organisation, a wonderful organisation based in Auburn run by the Turkish...
- Solomon Electorate: Darwin (3 speeches)
As I was saying earlier in my other 90-seconder, I want to put on record that they have made a mistake with the report, because Darwin is actually the most liveable place in the country. My...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (1 speech)
I rise to speak tonight on the issue of climate change. As the House knows, the historic Australian climate change legislation, passed under the previous government, has seen significant...
- Carbon Tax (1 speech)
I rise this evening to speak about the carbon tax, the Australian Labor Party's ongoing support for this growth-destroying measure, and the blatant hypocrisy that drives Labor's representatives...
- Western Australian Shark Cull (1 speech)
There are many difficult issues that arise in politics and there is no doubt that West Australians dread hearing of shark attacks in our waters. It is also true that there has been a spike in...
- Health: Rare Disease Day (1 speech)
I rise this evening to speak about rare diseases and to give my support to efforts towards the development of a national plan for rare diseases. Just over two weeks ago, on 28 February, people...
- Health Insurance, Maori Kapa Haka Performing Arts Festival, Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia, National Drugs Sector Information Service (1 speech)
At the outset I thank Mrs Sandra Barrett of Minto for raising with me an issue that I was totally unaware of previously but which, if trends in this country continue, will be of increasing...
- Belmont Community Group (1 speech)
Belmont city, or some may say the City of Belmont, is in my electorate of Swan. It is a city with lots of wonderful people who have lived there for a long, long time, and tonight I want to talk...
