House debates
Monday, 16 June 2014
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
In my last statement to the House as chair of the petitions committee, I discussed the history of the Australian petitioning system from its origins in the 13th century in England to the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Report (5 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Economics, I present the committee's second report, entitled Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia annual report 2013, together with the minutes of the...
- Economics Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (18 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) was established in 2012 after external inquiries in 1995, 2001, 2010, Parliamentary...
- Fly-in Fly-out Company Workforce Agreements (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that 100 per cent fly-in fly-out company workforce agreements in Central Queensland's coal mining belt are causing concern amongst residents and small...
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (5 speeches)
Yesterday, 15 June, was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day designated by the United Nations for the world to voice its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people around...
- Defence (7 speeches)
I move: That this House congratulates the Government for its continuation of Defence reform, specifically in respect of strategic force modernisation, enhanced national security, and regional...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
Last week, we saw the most outlandish justification for the government's budget of broken promises yet. The latest justification for the government's swingeing cuts to health and education, their...
- Gilmore Electorate: Shoalhaven Paper Mill (1 speech)
Last week I had the pleasure of hosting four representatives from the Shoalhaven Paper Mill in my office to speak about the ongoing production of passport and secure document paper in Nowra,...
- Jones, Mr Barry (1 speech)
It is with enormous pleasure that I stand today as the current member for Lalor to congratulate one of our former representatives, the Hon. Barry Jones, on being awarded the Companion of the...
- Telstra Queensland Business Awards (1 speech, 1 comment)
The 2014 Telstra Queensland Business Award finalists were announced on 23 May, and it gives me great pleasure to share with the House that six of the finalists are located in the Brisbane...
- Budget (1 speech)
In another example of the Abbott government's misunderstanding of its own budget, in question time on 2 June in response to a question about the trade support loans for apprentices Minister...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Active Elders Association (1 speech)
I had the privilege recently of joining the Active Elders Association in Ascot Park in my electorate recently for an afternoon tea and service to celebrate their new facilities. The Active Elders...
- Australian Parliament House Cleaners (1 speech)
Those of us who are regularly in parliament house would know that the place simply could not function without the work of our cleaners. They are the first in in the morning and they are generally...
- Dobell Electorate: Youth Connections (1 speech)
I rise to speak about opportunities for young people in Dobell. I pay tribute to the hard work by Maggie MacFie and her team at YouthConnections.com.au for their commitment to opportunities for...
- International Cleaners' Day (1 speech)
Today is International Cleaners' Day. It is a day on which we acknowledge and remember the hard workers who are quite often forgotten. They are the hidden workforce. Today, on International...
- Page Electorate: Y20 Summit (1 speech, 1 comment)
Being from Queensland, Deputy Speaker Vasta, you would be well aware that we have a G20 summit in Brisbane later this year. As part of that we also have a Y20 summit. Five youth delegates will be...
- Budget (1 speech)
I welcome local government councillors to the parliament. Amongst them is Councillor Henry Meskauskas who was a lead advocate for two CCTV projects in the Maitland area. The former government...
- Iraq (1 speech)
I would like to make a brief comment on the circumstances in Iraq at the moment. As we have seen, there has been a terrible force of evil rampaging through Iraq, the Islamic State of Iraq and the...
- Canberra Electorate: Tuggeranong Development (1 speech)
Debate is raging in Canberra after ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja released a thought bubble advocating for a new greenfield development to the west of the Murrumbidgee River in Tuggeranong....
- Father and Son Relationships (1 speech)
Families are important, and the relationship of fathers with their sons is sometimes the most underestimated and undervalued bond. I speak about this today because of a conversation I had last...
- South Adelaide Women's Soccer Facilities (1 speech)
Today I wear the scarf of South Adelaide Panthers Football Club, not the Australian Rules football team but, indeed, the soccer team based at O'Sullivan Beach. I was very pleased to visit and to...
- Forde Electorate: Gotta Love Logan (1 speech)
Within every community there are people who take the stand and lead for change. Today I would like to mention one of Logan's incredible individuals, Kathleen de Leon. In 2013 Kathleen created a...
- Middle East (1 speech)
This past week the Abbott government reached a new low for Australia's international standing and reputation. Earlier this year the foreign minister questioned the illegality of Israeli...
- ANZAC Research Institute (1 speech)
Last week I was pleased to be able to welcome the Treasurer to Reid when we visited the ANZAC Research Institute at Concord Hospital to see firsthand the groundbreaking research that is being...
- Baynes, Mr Aron, Mills, Mr Patrick Sammy 'Patty' (1 speech)
I rise to my feet to congratulate not principally the San Antonio Spurs for winning this year's NBA championship, but I do want to recognise that in this fantastic result, Australia has every...
- Environment (2 speeches)
As many of my colleagues would know, I took over as chair of the Friends of Mining and Resources initiative. The resources industry is a key interest of mine, with the Durack electorate...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Brabham, Sir Jack, AO, OBE (3 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I rise on indulgence to acknowledge the passing of Sir Jack Brabham AO OBE. Sir Jack was an Australian legend. He was indeed one of a kind. He served in the Royal Australian Air...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Iraq (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In light of the Prime Minister's recent visit to the United States and his comments about Iraq, can the Prime Minister provide an update to the House about...
- Economy (14 speeches)
My question is also to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister please explain how the government is delivering on its plan to build a strong and prosperous economy for a safe and secure Australia?
- Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines (7 speeches)
I acknowledge the hardworking cleaners who are visiting parliament today to mark International Cleaners Day. Cleaners around Australia, including those who work in this building, will lose...
- Carbon Pricing (14 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. I remind the Deputy Prime Minister that Wyong Shire Council in my electorate faces a bill of...
- Budget (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. A cleaner earning $40,000 a year with two children will lose more than $5,000 a year because of this Prime Minister's unfair budget. On top of this, cleaners...
- Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does President Obama favour an emissions trading scheme? If so, why? Did you tell President Obama the increase in excise indexation was really a carbon tax?...
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the importance of fixing the budget? What have international organisations said about the budget in the past week?
- Budget: pensions (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister explain why he and the Treasurer think it is fair to cut support from pensioners on around $20,000 a year while at the same time...
- Employment (10 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline what last week's employment figures tell us about the state of the economy.
- Paid Parental Leave (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald today said that his inclination was to vote against the Prime Minister's unfair and unaffordable paid parental leave scheme. If...
- United States of America (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the relationship between Australia and the United States is strengthening?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I advise the House that we have many mayors and councillors visiting Parliament House this week. Whilst we will not be acknowledging them individually, we do make those who are here today most...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister explain why he and the Treasurer believe it is fair to axe the seniors supplement and rip more than $800 from the pockets of around...
- Higher Education (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister outline to the House the importance of the reform of our higher education sector? And what support has the government received for...
- Budget (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last week, the Treasurer told Australians that the Abbott budget was 'fair' and that welfare spending was unsustainable. Today, the Melbourne Institute...
- Age Pension (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister explain how the pension will continue to rise every six months?
- Budget (17 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister believe that it is fair for carers to lose $80 a week because of his budget cuts while, at the same time, wealthy Australians...
- Asylum Seekers (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the repatriation of illegal maritime arrivals? What factors have led to this success...
- Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Earlier in question time the Prime Minister said, 'I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that no cleaner's pay is reduced.' Will the Prime Minister...
- Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. I refer the minister to the New South Wales Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's report—
- Budget (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today we learned that the poorest 4½ million Australians control only one per cent of the nation's wealth—less than our nine richest Australians....
- Broadband (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. Will the minister explain how the cost-benefit analysis of major projects like the NBN contributes to stronger public finances? Does the...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 37 to 40 of 2013-14 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Audit reports for 2013-14 entitled Audit report No. 37, Management of services delivered by Job Services Australia: Department of Employment; Audit report No. 38,...
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- 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.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
by leave—It has come to my attention this evening that a case is being brought in relation to the events of SIEV 221, bringing an action against the government. I just wanted to say that...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
It is not often I find myself agreeing with Senator Cory Bernardi, but his recent comments attracted my attention. Senator Bernardi was reported as saying: I see Australian politics at a...
- Aviation (1 speech)
Tonight I want to bring to this place the plight of and challenge for the air service in Coober Pedy in the north of my electorate. Coober Pedy is, of course, the opal mining capital of the...
- Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
Early childhood education and access to kindergarten is facing an alarming crisis. In 2008, the former federal Labor government, together with Australian states and territories, committed to a...
- Calare Electorate: Needles Dam (3 speeches)
There are times in the life of a politician, like any other person, when you feel you just cannot go on. But there are other times when it is all worthwhile, and last Friday was one of those...
- Racial Discrimination Act (1 speech)
In the face of widespread community opposition, the Abbott government is continuing with its extreme right-wing agenda and is refusing to abandon its attempts to change section 18C of the Racial...
- NBN Co (2 speeches)
When Labor was elected to government and kicked off 'spend-a-thon 07' which then ran on for another six years, they provided a huge number of examples of how not to manage public money, from the...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Petition: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I have received a petition from 155 residents of the suburbs of Mirrabooka, Brightwaters, Bonnells Bay, Windemere Park, Yarrawonga Park, Sunshine and Brighton. This petition has been found in...
- Hinkler Electorate: Bundaberg and District Australian-Filipino Association (1 speech)
On Saturday night I was very fortunate to attend Pearl of the Orient, an occasion which celebrated 30 years of the Bundaberg and District Australian-Filipino Association and, of course, the 116th...
- Gorton Electorate: Young Leaders Awards (1 speech)
It is my great pleasure to deliver my annual report to the House on the Gorton Young Leaders Awards, a program I established some years ago, to recognise the achievements of exceptional young...
- Moore Electorate: 410 Visa (1 speech)
There are a significant group of senior citizens living in my electorate of Moore, who are upstanding members of society, financially self-sufficient and active within the local community....
- Corio Electorate: Automotive Industry (1 speech)
At present Ford employs 360 of our best and brightest minds in Norlane—highly skilled technical professionals who enable Geelong to be a world leader in innovative research and development...
- Burleigh Heads Rotaract Club, Rogue & Rouge Foundation (1 speech)
I rise today to bring to the attention of the House the fantastic work that a number of youth groups are doing in my electorate of McPherson. Last month, I was privileged to attend the Changeover...
- Heriot, Father Maurice Bernard 'Lou' (1 speech)
Earlier this year, the community of East Bentleigh lost a great man. Father Maurice Bernard Heriot—or 'Lou', as he was affectionately known—passed away after a long battle with...
- Higher Education (1 speech)
The 2014 budget is expanding education opportunities for all Australians by offering a broader range of education choices which will stand among the best in the world and strengthen our higher...
- India (1 speech)
The recent Indian election has been of great international significance and also tremendous local significance in the Greenway community. The world's largest democracy has indeed spoken. I note...
- Swan Electorate: Station Street Men's Shed (1 speech)
On Friday I attended the Station Street Men's Shed open day. It was in fact more of an 'opening day' because it was the first time they opened up the place. They have not as yet used any of the...
- Hinkler Electorate: Indy Foundation (2 speeches)
I would like to bring to the chamber's attention the great work of the Hervey Bay Independent newspaper and its fundraising arm, the Indy Foundation. I attended the Indy Foundation lunch last...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Budget: Regional Australia (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the Government has turned its back on regional Australia in the budget; (2) acknowledges that the Government's broken promises and wrong priorities in...
- Infrastructure Growth Package (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) commends the Government on the establishment of an Infrastructure Growth Package (IGP) that will fast track investment in critical infrastructure across the country;...
- Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the importance of investment certainty for clean energy investors; (2) notes that: (a) under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), around 3,500 MW...
- Floods in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia (7 speeches)
I move: This House: (1) recognises the tragedy of the floods in May that afflicted Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia, which killed more than 40 people; (2) notes the: (a) need for evacuation...
- Polio (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) commends the Government for reaffirming Australia's support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (the Initiative) by maintaining the $15 million commitment for...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
There has been a lot of posturing about infrastructure spending in the Northern Territory and about how the Territory supposedly missed out in budget 2014-15. Let me say from the outset that I am...
- Indi Electorate (1 speech)
On Saturday I had the pleasure of being in Alexandra to enjoy the hospitality of the Alexandra Quilters and the Alexander Truck Ute and Rod Show. The Queen's birthday weekend showcases Indi at...
- Budget (1 speech)
As we head to the next stage of the budget process and the budget bills head towards the Senate for consideration, I would like to take this opportunity to present a challenge to those members...
- Dhondup Wangchen (1 speech)
In September 2009 I spoke in parliament advocating for the release of Tibetan political prisoner Dhondup Wangchen after meeting his distraught wife in Dharamsala, India, in July of that year....
- Conference on Population Development (1 speech)
On 23 to 25 April this year I was privileged to attend the International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the Program of Action for the Conference on Population Development....
- Child Care (1 speech)
I rise to draw the House's attention to the struggle for families searching for child care for their young children. Every parent knows that the waiting lists are extremely long. Almost every...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Underdale High School (1 speech)
Last week I attended the Underdale High School's governing council meeting and want to congratulate the principal, Nigel Gill, teachers and parents for some of the good work they are doing at...
- Bendigo Electorate: Catholic Schools (1 speech)
Recently here in parliament, during our sitting weeks, I have had the pleasure of welcoming groups of students from our local Catholic schools. The first students I wish to acknowledge are the...
- Hume Electorate: Tahmoor Underground Mine (1 speech)
There has been disappointing news for Tahmoor, a village of 4,500 people in the north of my electorate. The Tahmoor Underground Mine, run by Glencore, will be making about 40 workers redundant...
- Richmond Electorate: RSPCA Tweed Heads Adoption Centre (1 speech)
I rise to speak on my concern about the imminent closure of the RSPCA adoption centre at Tweed Heads, which is unfortunately due to close on June 30. It is heartbreaking for this to occur after...
- Lindsay Electorate: Great Community Transport (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise the outstanding contribution of Great Community Transport organisation, their amazing staff, their volunteers and, in particular, the unstoppable Helen Walker OAM, the...
- Blair Electorate: Landcare (1 speech)
The decision by the Abbott government to axe the Grants to Voluntary Environment, Sustainability and Heritage Organisations program is irresponsible and irrational. The program has been running...
- Reeves, Mr Dennis 'Noddy' (1 speech)
Each of our electorates has people who leave their mark on our communities after they are lost to us. These people are the salt of our community—the people who put in, treat people with...
- Budget (1 speech)
() (): I want to pick up on an issue discussed today in question time with respect to the views put forward by the Prime Minister about what is occurring to pensions under the proposed policy of...
- Fitzgerald River National Park Improvement Project (1 speech)
On Saturday, 7 June, I had the honour of representing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon. Warren Truss, in officially opening the...
- Budget (1 speech)
The Abbott government give lip-service to the fact that they want to help young people find employment. Each and every time I visit the budget, I find a new area that the Abbott government has...
- Gilmore Electorate: Black Spot Funding (1 speech)
In the first week of June the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, the Hon. Jamie Briggs, confirmed that Gilmore had been successful in its applications for more than $3 million of black spot...
- Indi Electorate: King Valley Art Show (1 speech)
Arts are alive and flourishing in Indi, and no place more so than in the beautiful King Valley. I am pleased to take this opportunity to place on record the wonderful work of the committee,...
- Parkes Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
I would like to address the issue of drought. Many people will remember that the Prime Minister and the agriculture minister visited my electorate earlier in the year to look at the dire...
- Halekulani Bowling Club Annual Seniors Forum (1 speech)
Last Friday I held my annual seniors forum at Halekulani Bowling Club. We had over 150 seniors present that day. As usual, it was a fantastic event. It is one of the forums or get-togethers where...
- Carnarvon Flood Mitigation Works (1 speech)
Last Friday I had the pleasure of representing the Deputy Prime Minister at the opening of the stage 2 flood mitigation works in Carnarvon. This is a significant project for the region, with $15...
- Ryan, Ms Alison (1 speech)
Today I rise to pay tribute to the late Alison Ryan who passed away peacefully at Clare Holland House recently surrounded by her family after a 15-month battle with cancer. Despite her illness,...
- Cowan Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I would like to thank the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Briggs, and the government for recognising the needs of the motorists in and around the Cowan electorate because $330,000...
- Bendigo Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I stand to support the iLoddon Mallee group calling for our region to be reinstated to the NBN rollout schedule. There is still no rollout schedule planned for big centres in my electorate like...
- Violence against Women (1 speech)
As part of my step-by-step walk against violence against women in Australia, particularly in my electorate of McMillan and across Gippsland, I asked Chris Major, our local police inspector, to...
- Holt Electorate: Cranbourne Convent (1 speech)
I commend the member for McMillan for the comments he made, which I endorse. I would like to talk about an event conducted in my elected on the 11 June, last week. It was quite a special event....
- Barton Electorate: Bunny Cottage (1 speech)
On a recent sunny Saturday morning, I had the pleasure of visiting the Bunny Cottage Preschool and Long Day Care Centre in Bexley, a family-oriented suburb in the electorate of Barton. I was...
- Environment (1 speech)
Today in the House of Representatives we are debating the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014, which allows for...
- National Broadband Network (2 speeches)
I wish to report that the Abbott government's efforts to speed up the NBN rollout are paying off for residents and businesses in Barker. Indeed, it was my very great privilege on Wednesday, 11...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 1, Committee and delegation reports, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (1 speech)
This is the sixth Major Projects Report to be produced by the Defence Materiel Organisation and the Australian National Audit Office. Indeed, it is the third in which I have taken part. This...
- Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters; Report (2 speeches)
I rise in the chamber tonight to discuss the recent report of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters: the interim report on the inquiry into the conduct of the 2013 federal election...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (3 speeches)
I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 5, committee and delegation business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Report (6 speeches)
In a curious speech last year, the Prime Minister's No. 1 business advisor, Maurice Newman said: … Australian wage rates are very high by international standards and our system is dogged by...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Health Funding (3 speeches)
I rise today to speak on the government's attack on our health-care system. I listened with some interest to the previous speaker, who was speaking on another matter, who wants to claim really...
- Electorate of Herbert: Local employment (1 speech)
I will try not to sound like a broken record. I would like to raise two issues tonight and I will try to string two stories together in a coherent narrative. The first is about the tender...
- Budget (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to object to the Abbott Liberal government's first budget. This is a budget of inequality: a budget that hurts women, the vulnerable, pensioners, seniors, parents, carers,...
- Health Care (1 speech)
I rise to draw the attention of the House to the plight of expectant mothers and their families in my home town of Katanning, a regional service hub in the heart of the electorate of O'Connor....
- Indi Electorate: Rail Services (1 speech)
Day after day, as I move around my electorate, I am confronted by constituents who are not happy with the state of rail services in our communities. The lack of a punctual and reliable service is...
- Defence (2 speeches)
President Eisenhower, in his final speech as President to the people of the United States, warned of the potential danger of burgeoning and unfettered power of what he termed the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn. Federation Chamber adjourned at 20:47
