House debates
Monday, 26 May 2014
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Parliament House (1 speech)
I have a statement to make this morning concerning a question that was asked on the last day of sitting last week about posters in corridors. On 15 May 2014, the member for Moreton asked me a...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
The terms of the petitions and the responses will be recorded in Hansard. In my last statement to the House as Chair of the Petitions Committee, I spoke about the role and responsibility of...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the maintenance of safe, sustainable rates in the trucking industry is essential for ensuring community safety on our roads; and (2) calls on the...
- Nigeria (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes Australia's condemnation of the group responsible for the abduction of more than 200 school girls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, and deep concern at...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Nigeria (2 speeches)
I thank the House, I thank the government and I thank our representative the excellent member for Grayndler. The social media campaign to 'bring back our girls' has resonated worldwide. The...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015; Second Reading (13 speeches)
I take this opportunity to associate myself with the comments of the previous debate and congratulate the member for Brisbane for bringing this important international issue to the attention of...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- National Sorry Day (1 speech)
The 26th of May is a significant date in our national calendar. Today we reflect on the profound grief and trauma experienced by members of the stolen generations as we mark National Sorry Day....
- Beef Industry (1 speech)
We have been talking a lot about getting on with the job of developing a stronger regional economy. And we can prove it. I am pleased to inform the House that the Australian government has...
- National Sorry Day (1 speech)
Seventeen years ago today, the Bringing them home report was tabled in the Australian parliament. The report told the heartfelt and tragic stories of children who were denied the opportunity to...
- Eden-Monaro Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
I rise today to note a recent visit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to a business in Queanbeyan, Server Racks Australia. It was great having a senior cabinet minister taking time out from a...
- Budget (1 speech)
Bendigo welfare agencies and not-for-profit organisations are speaking out against the harsh measures outlined in the Abbott government's first budget. Ken Marchingo, chief executive of Haven...
- Beef Week 2014 (1 speech)
A great event happened over the weekend, Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, and you have probably heard about it—Beef Week 2014 began in Casino, New South Wales. I congratulate Stuart George and all...
- Budget (1 speech)
At the last federal election, those opposite pulled off one of the biggest bait and switch operations in Australian political history. Australians know from the former member for New England that...
- Lyons Electorate: Austral Bricks (1 speech)
Recently I welcomed the Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, to Longford, in my electorate of Lyons, specifically to launch Australia's first—and, until otherwise, disproved the world's...
- Rusty Woodward (1 speech)
It is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to an incredible Canberran, Rusty Woodward, who passed away last month. Rusty was an active member of the Tuggeranong Community Council,...
- Bennelong Electorate: Basil's Seafood Restaurant (1 speech)
Basil's Seafood Restaurant in Marsfield is celebrating 30 years of operation this year. In Bennelong we are fortunate to have many long-term successful businesses—and Basil's is a great...
- Volunteers (1 speech)
There is no group in our community that is more worthy of our praise than those who volunteer in times of natural disaster or indeed accident. They might be in the Rural Fire Service, a local...
- Hughes Electorate: Commonwealth Bank Closure (1 speech)
On behalf of the local community of Panania, I would like to express my concern and disappointment at the recent announcement that the Commonwealth Bank at Panania will close on 27 June. I would...
- Scullin Electorate: Whittlesea Interfaith Network (1 speech)
On Saturday afternoon I attended an extraordinary event in my electorate organised by the Whittlesea Interfaith Network. The event was a forum entitled: The courage, determination and faith in...
- O'Connor Electorate: Katanning Saleyards (1 speech)
This Wednesday, 28 May, I will have the honour to represent the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Warren Truss at the official opening of the new Katanning saleyards in my electorate of O'Connor....
- Disability Support Pension (1 speech)
Earlier this month I met with a community member, Ms Wen Jiang. Wen is 46 and has lived for 30 years suffering from rheumatoid arthritis—a condition that has not only had a crippling affect...
- Pie of Origin (1 speech)
I have a very important event to draw to the attention of members of the House which happens in my electorate each year. I have spoken before of the strong competition that occurs between...
- Local Sporting Champions Awards (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to the fine young athletes who last week were presented with the Local Sporting Champions Awards for the electorate of Charlton. I extend my...
- Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (1 speech)
This week, 25 to 31 May, marks Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2014. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and to work together to reduce the incidence and impact of macular degeneration....
- Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (1 speech)
One of the more appalling cuts in the long list of appalling cuts by this government is the abolition of Australia's Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. Asbestos eradication, identification...
- Midland Public and Private Hospital (1 speech)
Last Wednesday I visited the site of the Midland Public and Private Hospital with my friend and colleague the Hon. Alyssa Hayden MLC, member for the East Metropolitan Region. Together we toured...
- Ride for Hope (2 speeches)
I congratulate all those who were involved in the recent Ride for Hope event. I attended the closing ceremony of that event. It was run by Edge Church International. This important fundraiser...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Agriculture will be absent from question time today as he is receiving medical treatment for a knee injury sustained over the weekend. The Deputy Prime...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (23 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today is National Sorry Day. Before the election, the Prime Minister promised that he would be the Prime Minister for Indigenous affairs. His cuts of more...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. A young man, Reza Berati, came to our shores seeking our help. While in this government's care he was beaten to death. Why...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. What challenges does the Treasurer face in repairing the budget?
- Budget: Higher Education (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. Minister, how does the budget restore a fair balance between the contributions students and taxpayers make to the cost of higher education?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
We have in the gallery with us today the Malaysian young political leaders delegation. We make you most welcome. We also have on the floor of the House with us a delegation from the Congress of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget: Age Pensioners (16 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: 13,240 age pensioners in the seat of Reid will have their concessions cut for their water bills as a result of the Prime Minister's cruel budget. Why should...
- Medicare (49 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. How will the government strengthen Medicare? What challenges does the government face in ensuring a sustainable health system?
- Asylum Seekers (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Would the minister tell the House what benefits have flowed because of the government's policies to strengthen our borders?
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his statement last week on ABC's Q&A, telling a chronically ill person that they would not be hit with the GP tax, and the Australian...
- Infrastructure Investment Program (13 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. How will the government's Infrastructure Investment Program support the construction and...
- Budget (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the statement by the Treasurer of New South Wales that the cuts to pensioner concessions were a cruel and callous cut which would burden...
- Age Pension (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister confirm that the pension will continue to increase every six months? What other measures is the government taking to reduce...
- Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Australia has the highest per capita rate of asbestos disease in the world. Forty thousand Australians are expected to die from asbestos. There are reports...
- Budget (27 speeches)
How have the government's changes to foreign aid in the budget ensured our aid program is more effective and fair?
- Child Care (5 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Will the minister explain what measures the government has taken to improve access to occasional child care in this year's honest and...
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Tabling of Documents By Private Members (3 speeches)
I have a question from the member for Watson but before we go to that, I want to make a statement on a question I was asked last time we sat. This is a question on the tabling of documents by...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Speaker (6 speeches)
Madam Speaker, under standing order 103 I have a question for you in your role as the administrator of parliament. How many Liberal Party fundraisers has the Speaker held in the Speaker's dining...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members earlier today. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Council of the National Library of Australia (1 speech)
I seek leave to move a motion for the election of a member to the Council of the National Library of Australia. It is one of your members. Leave granted. I move: That, in accordance with the...
- Privilege (0 speeches)
- (29 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I wish to raise a matter of privilege. In recent days there have been reports that the Speaker has used her Parliament House dining room to hold Liberal Party fundraisers. There is...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (44 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
( There is no issue that I struggle with more as a representative in this House than the issue of asylum seekers. Parliamentarians are rarely asked to make decisions that have immediate...
- Budget (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to rise this evening to talk about some important election commitments that we were able to deliver for the electorate of Deakin in the recent budget. After working...
- Fraser Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
I rise this evening to talk about the impact of the Abbott government's budget cuts on the electorate of Fraser. It is my sad duty to inform the House that, since the election of the Abbott...
- Mallee Electorate: Karen Community (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about something that has been true about the electorate of Mallee for a very long time. Peter Fisher, the MP from 1972 to 1993, who I am sure you will know, made the...
- Balkan Peninsula Floods (1 speech)
Earlier this month the Balkan region in south-east Europe was hit by an unprecedented amount of rain, causing devastating floods and destruction throughout Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and...
- Papua New Guinea (4 speeches)
On Sunday and Monday, 18 and 19 May in Cairns, the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo was held. Phil Franklin, President of the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council,...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Gellibrand Electorate: Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
I recently had the privilege of helping Footscray City College open their fantastic new environmental science and horticultural centre and their science technology centre. Our economy is...
- Fisher Electorate: Sunshine Coast Startup Weekend (1 speech)
The last few weeks have been a very exciting time on the Sunshine Coast. On 2 May we hosted the first ever Startup Weekend. This is a worldwide movement where young entrepreneurs come together to...
- National Sorry Day (1 speech)
I rise to mark National Sorry Day. In so doing, I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and the Ngambri peoples, the custodians of the land on which we meet. I also acknowledge the first nations peoples of...
- Budget (1 speech)
This budget has seen quite an incredible and unprecedented investment in a new road network in Perth to connect the airport and Kewdale freight and railway terminal in my electorate of Swan with...
- Surf Lifesaving (1 speech)
I wish to outline to the Federation Chamber the unveiling of the memorial to former lifesavers which occurred on 27 April at Coogee Beach in my electorate. The fallen lifesavers memorial is a...
- Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW Annual Ball (1 speech)
On 17 May I had the pleasure of representing the Prime Minister at the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW annual ball in Bankstown. The Cretan Association was established in 1959 and serves as...
- National Sorry Day (1 speech)
Today is National Sorry Day, a time for all Australians to reflect on the profound grief and trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly members of the...
- Rainsford, Mr Paul (1 speech)
I wish to express my condolences to the family and friends of Paul Rainsford. Paul passed away suddenly in April, aged 43. He was a resident of the Wallerawang area all his life and, while I did...
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (1 speech)
Shortland is one of the oldest electorates in Australia. I am constantly being made aware of the issues that are important to those older residents within the electorate. It is very important...
- Hume Electorate: Barton Highway (2 speeches)
I would like to announce this morning another step forward in achieving the most important infrastructure project in my electorate of Hume, the staged duplication of the Barton Highway. Many...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- National Broadband Network (28 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the recent Strategic Review of the National Broadband Network (NBN) revealed that the: (a) Government's broadband plan can be completed using a mix of...
- Food Allergy (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) Australia has one of the highest incidences of food allergy in the world; (b) one in ten Australian babies aged 12 months have a food allergy;...
- Defence Personnel: Afghanistan and the Middle East (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) joins with the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and Defence Minister in acknowledging the service of the more than 30,000 Defence Force personnel deployed in the...
- Bluesfest (8 speeches)
I move: That this House notes that: (1) 2014 is the 25th anniversary of the Byron Bay Bluesfest, Australia's premier Blues and Roots music festival; (2) Bluesfest has been acclaimed as a premier...
- Bangladesh (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the one year anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapsed in Bangladesh, which killed more than 1,130 people in 2013; (2) notes the: (a) existence of...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Richmond Electorate: Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a great community victory on the North Coast of New South Wales on 15 May when the gas company Metgasco had its drilling licence suspended at Bentley near Lismore. I take...
- Petition: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
A couple of weeks ago, a small number of passionate constituents presented me with a petition to protect our ABC. This computer-generated petition tells me that 669 unnamed constituents want me...
- Victoria: Toolangi Forest (1 speech)
On 24 April, I travelled to Toolangi in the south of my electorate. I had been invited by local conservation groups to come and learn about the Toolangi Forest—a unique ecosystem and home...
- Pearce Electorate: Riding for the Disabled Association (1 speech)
On Saturday, 24 May 2014, I had the privilege of attending as the vice-patron at the opening ceremony of the new indoor arena for the Swan Valley branch of the Riding for the Disabled...
- Budget: Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
The Prime Minister has often claimed that all must fairly share in the cuts and tax increases imposed by this government in their recent budget, but last week's budget was not a Robin Hood budget...
- Casey Electorate: Don Valley Fire Station (1 speech)
It was my pleasure yesterday to attend the official opening of the Hillcrest fire station and Yarra Valley group headquarters in Woori Yallock on the Warburton Highway in the electorate of Casey....
- Kingston Electorate: Aldinga Football Club (1 speech)
It was a big day for the Aldinga Football Club on Saturday. The Aldinga Football Club has over this season been struggling a little, and there was a huge push by the community and by the footy...
- Run Townsville (1 speech)
This Sunday is 1 June. It is not only the first day of winter. It is also the day when Townsville will be up very early and active. We will be out and running in Townsville. We will be...
- Whittlesea and District Greek Elderly Citizens Club (1 speech)
On Wednesday at lunchtime I attended the Whittlesea and District Greek Elderly Citizens Club. I was very pleased to be invited to that club to speak on the budget. I thank the members of the...
- Robertson Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
Beside the fountain at Kibble Park in the heart of Gosford last week the Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, joined me and community leaders from the electorate of Robertson to discuss how the...
- Fraser Electorate: Charnwood (1 speech)
As honourable members know, Canberra is of course the best city in Australia. It is the part of Australia which is the most egalitarian and the most generous. Canberrans are the most generous...
- Ryan Electorate: Mining (1 speech)
I wish to place on record my appreciation to the Minister for Industry, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP, for his recent visit to Ryan, where he got a quick snapshot of some of the exciting innovation...
- Ride for Hope (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate all those who participated in Ride for Hope to raise funds to help children living in Adelaide but also living right around the globe. Ride for Hope is an initiative...
- Hasluck Electorate: Ms Jenna Woods (1 speech)
Last Tuesday, I met an outstanding young woman from my electorate of Hasluck. Jenna Woods lives in Gosnells, down the southern end of my electorate, and, at 23 years old, is one of the youth...
- St Joseph's Community Centre (1 speech)
Yesterday I attended the blessing and official opening of the St Joseph's Community Centre at Paralowie in the city of Salisbury. It was carried out by Archbishop Philip Wilson with the support...
- Logan Country Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (1 speech)
The Logan Country Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual business excellence awards, designed to acknowledge and celebrate the success and achievements of small businesses in the Logan...
- National Sorry Day (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge National Sorry Day. In doing so, I would like to put on record my profound commitment to seeing that we remember all those children who were taken from their families. In...
- Deakin Electorate: Taralye (1 speech)
Today I rise to acknowledge the work of an organisation in my electorate: Taralye, the oral language centre for deaf children in Blackburn. The pioneering centre was established in 1978 by the...
- Makin Electorate: Roma Mitchell Secondary College (1 speech)
Earlier this month I attended the Roma Mitchell Secondary College in the electorate of Makin, in the company of the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Bill Shorten, and the shadow minister for...
- Flynn Electorate (1 speech)
On Friday night I was delighted to attend the opening dinner of a very popular and unique event in my electorate of Flynn—the Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show, held at Old Station in...
- Duffy, Ms Lynne (1 speech)
by leave—On Monday, last week, I attended the funeral of Lynne Duffy. Lynne was a very active worker within our community. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother and a...
- Budget (2 speeches)
Madam Acting Deputy Speaker Andrews, it is wonderful to see you in the leadership position in that chair. All politics and no policy—Labor continues to spin a series of myths to score...
- Australian Red Cross (1 speech)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I am sure you would be aware, as you would be very in tune with your community, that this year is the 100th anniversary of the Red Cross. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of...
- Bendigo Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
I rise again to highlight the savage cuts that the Abbott government's budget will have on the Bendigo community. I now wish to speak about the cuts to Bendigo Health. Bendigo Health is the major...
- Petition: Zone Allowance (1 speech)
I table a petition from the residents of Northern Australia. This petition has 4,146 signatures and has been found to be in order by the Standing Committee on Petitions. The petition calls on the...
- Makin Electorate: Salisbury Athletics Club (1 speech)
A couple of weeks ago, I attended the annual general meeting and presentation night of the Salisbury Athletics Club. This club sources its athletes from the Salisbury and Salisbury East little...
- Swan Electorate: Perth Zoo (2 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker Andrews, I too add my congratulations and it is a pleasure to see you in the new position you have taken up. I am sure you will bring gravitas and the respect that it...
- Budget (2 speeches)
I have a lot to say today about the budget and the attacks it will make on people in my local community. Right now I wish to speak about the cuts to education. Last week my state colleague Maree...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Shortland Electorate: Senior Citizens (1 speech)
I would like to continue on a theme that I raised earlier today. In doing so I will put on the record once again that Shortland electorate is one of the oldest electorates in this country. We...
- Violence against Women (1 speech)
I was invited to speak at the Baw Baw community conversation along with representatives from the Gippsland Prevention of Men's Violence Against Women Strategy. I began my address by saying: 'This...
- Budget (7 speeches)
Before I go on to give my speech, I just want to commend and congratulate the member for McMillan for a very, very powerful speech. The figures are breathtaking, and they are shameful. It is a...
