House debates
Thursday, 2 October 2014
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Broadband; Presentation (1 speech)
For the information of honourable members, I present the independent cost-benefit analysis of broadband and review of regulation—Volume 1—National Broadband Network market and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the committee's 13th report of the 44th Parliament, entitled Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human...
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Publications sitting in conference with the Senate Standing Committee on Publications. Copies of this report are being...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Multiculturalism: Strength Through Harmony and Unity (1 speech)
In Australia we know how to make multiculturalism work. We are a stronger, more prosperous nation because of our social diversity and we are a safer and more secure society because of our...
- Page Electorate: Roads to Recovery (1 speech)
Very good news was delivered to local communities this week following our passing of the $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery program. That money will start flowing within the next month. Mr Deputy...
- Australia: Aspirations and Commitment (1 speech)
The times that test us all are not the times to test the trust between ourselves, because it is at this point we seek a stronger embrace of the many around the things we hold dear in this nation....
- Boothby Electorate: Roads to Recovery (1 speech)
I have spoken often in this place about the importance of upgrading South Road into a non-stop, north-south corridor, allowing the 22 kilometres between Darlington and Wingfield to be available...
- Rankin Electorate: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
Not a day goes by that I do not feel particularly blessed to represent one of the most multicultural and diverse electorates in the entire Commonwealth. So it was two Fridays ago when I went to...
- Rugby League (1 speech)
We are leading into Sunday and the rugby league grand final. To start with I would like to congratulate the Penrith Panthers on what has been a stellar season—they reached the top four....
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
Maha Ado is a friend of mine. For the last 30 years she has been providing help for victims of domestic violence in my community. In 2008 she was awarded an OAM. Late last Thursday she received a...
- Rawlinson Primary School (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to congratulate Rawlinson Primary School in Marangaroo for their great success in the 2014 National Literacy and Numeracy Week awards. Rawlinson performed strongly across...
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
Australia is a great country, a stable democracy and a welcoming nation. It is a country of multicultural harmony and inclusion. Like Australia, Lalor is a diverse and growing community. Like...
- Petrie Electorate: Pasifika Vibes Festival (1 speech)
This Monday, the Pasifika Vibes Festival will burst with colour, song and dance for the fourth year in a row. I was fortunate to join members from my electorate at last year's Pasifika Vibes...
- Newcastle Electorate: Islington Public School (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise Islington Public School, in my electorate, which plays a vital role in supporting multiculturalism and social harmony in the Newcastle community. Multicultural education...
- Officework in Canberra Exhibition (1 speech)
Last night, I had the great pleasure of hosting the second Officework in Canberra exhibition in my parliamentary offices here in Canberra. The theme of the current exhibition is Four Days in the...
- Petition: Bruck Textile Technologies (1 speech)
I present a petition that has been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. This petition has been signed by 79 workers, families and residents who live in the Victorian rural city of...
- Banks Electorate: Nan Tien Temple 20th Anniversary (1 speech)
I was very pleased to represent the Prime Minister at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Nan Tien Temple, near Wollongong, on Sunday. For two decades the Nan Tien Temple has played an...
- Canberra Electorate: Canberra Islamic Centre (1 speech)
Earlier this year, there was a horrific act of vandalism at the Canberra Islamic Centre in my electorate. Vandals broke into the centre and inflicted as much damage as they possibly could. They...
- Grey Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I rise today to support a petition which has been sent to the Australian parliament from my constituent and principal petitioner Natasha Cairns. Natasha is from an area on the Eyre Peninsula...
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
In recent times there have been a number of incidents of apparently religiously motivated vilification on the south side in Queensland, from a woman with a child being yelled at and sworn at to a...
- Flavours of Tasmania (1 speech)
'Flavours of Tasmania was arguably the very best event that has been held in this place in the last 10 years.' These are the quotes that I heard this morning from members, from senators, from...
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
My residence dictates that I have known in my life a fairly religious Muslim whose grandson was affected by extremism and was killed in Syria. I also live in very close proximity in my suburb to...
- Beef Australia 2015 (2 speeches)
The countdown is on for the nation's premier cattle industry expo, Beef Australia 2015. The event is being staged in Rockhampton, Australia's beef capital, from 4 to 9 May. In an election...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Deputy Prime Minister will be absent from question time today on a personal matter. The Treasurer will answer questions on his behalf.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Australians know that the Prime Minister does not keep his election promises, but is this budget back-down today proof that he cannot even deliver on his lies?
- Infrastructure (5 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on action the government is taking to ease traffic congestion in my home state of Victoria, and in...
- Budget (15 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government's backdown on measures to cut the indexation of the age pension and make Australians work until they are 70. Does the government...
- Economy (13 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Why did the Treasurer say, in question time yesterday, that retail trade grew at 7.4 per cent over the past year when, in fact, it grew at 5.1 per cent? Why did...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the government's efforts to starve terrorist organisations of funds and fighters? How will new laws...
- Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that the Prime Minister has made a strategic retreat on his unfair plan to cut pension indexation, will the Prime Minister finally acknowledge that this...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the honourable member for Indi, I wish to advise the chamber that we have in the Speaker's gallery this afternoon Philippines Congressman the Hon. Raul del Mar, Head of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Infrastructure: Melbourne to Albury Rail Services (8 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. As you know, serious problems continue to affect the reliability of train services on the Melbourne to Albury...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister please inform the House how the government's additional funding to Australia's national security organisations enhance our ability to...
- Budget (16 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that the Prime Minister has suffered a humiliating defeat on his cruel cuts to veterans' pensions, will the Prime Minister acknowledge that his harsh cut...
- Economy (13 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the steps the government is taking to build a stronger economy? How will a stronger economy lead to more and better jobs in Australia?
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that the government has accepted that it will not be able to legislate some of its harshest budget cuts, will the government now remove these completely...
- Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
That is quite all right, if that is the worst thing that happens today. My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister update the House on savings to Hinkler householders...
- Age Pension (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's earlier answers where he has again committed to cutting the indexation rate of the age pension. Why is the Prime Minister so...
- Higher Education (9 speeches)
My question is to the erudite Minister for Education. Minister will you please inform the House of the impact failing to reform our higher education system—
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is the Prime Minister so determined to force young Australians to pay $100,000 for a degree? Why is he so determined to give a tax break to those with...
- Assistant Treasurer (2 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. Given the government's budget is in shambles and given Sunday will mark 200 days since the Assistant Treasurer was stood down, when will the...
- Health Care (7 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health. Would the minister inform the House how the government is making Medicare sustainable? Importantly, Minister, could you inform us of any...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Special Broadcasting Service Funding (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The night before the election the Prime Minister said that there would be no cuts to the ABC. This morning the Minister for Communications said, 'Look, we...
- Apprenticeships (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry. Will the minister update the House on the take-up of the government's new trade support loans. What other measures is the government taking to improve...
- Aged Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, Saturday will mark 100 days since the government announced, without any warning, that it was slashing the dementia and severe behaviours...
- Broadband (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. I refer the minister to the Vertigan panel's report on broadband regulation and today's reaction to it. What is the government's response?
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Social Cohesion (26 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable the Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The dangers of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Bushfires (1 speech)
I rise today to deliver a speech written by Matthew Drennan, a communications student on placement in my office, about the upcoming bushfire season. This is an issue that I am very close to as it...
- National Broadband Network (1 speech)
The coalition is delivering on its commitment to get the National Broadband Network rollout back on track and, importantly, into rural and regional areas. In my electorate of Hume, five wireless...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
This Saturday marks 100 days since the Assistant Minister for Social Services announced he was axing the dementia and severe behaviours supplement—a $16.15 a day supplement paid to...
- Western Australia: Taxation (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about what is probably the most important, yet contentious, issue affecting Western Australia: the GST distribution. While the broader perception is that this is simply a...
- Gene Patenting (1 speech)
The Full Federal Court of Australia in its very recent judgement in the matter of Yvonne D'Arcy and Myriad Genetics has catapulted gene patents once more onto the political agenda since it is now...
- Abacus Learning Centre (2 speeches)
I will thankfully take this opportunity to talk about the work of the Abacus Learning Centre in Hastings, Victoria. Abacus is a wonderful organisation. It takes care of those young children who...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Hunter Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
Constituents in my electorate of Hunter are constantly expressing their delight at the outcome of the former Labor government's decision to fund and build the $1.7 billion dollar Hunter...
- Casey Electorate: Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards (1 speech)
Back in 2009, I initiated the Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards to recognise and reward excellence and achievement in local trades in the Casey electorate. On Tuesday, 16 September, I...
- Muslim Leadership Program (1 speech)
Today I want to talk about the Muslim Leadership Program, which is an annual program coordinated by the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University and the Islamic Council of Victoria. The Centre...
- Robertson Electorate: Copland, Mr Jim (1 speech)
Today I rise to pay tribute to a great man in my local community on the Central Coast—a man whose life never made newspaper headlines. He never built a business empire, he did not invent a...
- Kingston Electorate: Lawn Bowls (1 speech)
On Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend the Port Noarlunga Bowling Club open day ceremony for 2014-15, which celebrated the commencement of another lawn bowls season for this fantastic club....
- Lismore Regional Gallery (1 speech)
There is a big birthday this month. You may have heard of it—word is going around in the community. In October it will be the Lismore Regional Gallery's 60th birthday. There is going to be...
- Petition: Medicare (2 speeches)
On behalf of the people of Hotham, I present these petitions to the parliament, subject to their approval by the Standing Committee on Petitions. I present these petitions as the voice of almost...
- Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
A new age is dawning in Gladstone with the first shipments of coal seam gases, called CSG, to the Asian markets sometime in December. It is a date that we are all looking forward to. It is the...
- International Naturally Autistic People Awards (1 speech)
Australia has a population around 23 million, but do you realise that about four million people in this country are reported as having a disability? This is not something that is prevalent in...
- Renewable Energy (2 speeches)
I rise to speak on an issue that is very important to a large number of my constituents in Corangamite—that is, renewable energy. That is why I am such a strong advocate for a strong,...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- National Security (14 speeches)
Australians are entitled to express concern about involvement in another international conflict. The memory of our previous venture into Iraq a mere decade ago still lingers, as does how that...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Security (1 speech)
In resuming my remarks on the issue of national security, there has been much coverage given to the critics of the now anti-terrorist legislation, best exemplified in today's The Sydney Morning...
- Industrial Hemp (1 speech)
I would like to speak today about industrial hemp. At the moment there is discussion in New South Wales and other parts of the country about legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes. I want to...
- Taxation (1 speech)
A recent report by Oxfam titled Working for the few found that rapidly growing inequality is worsening poverty around the world. Oxfam noted that the richest 85 people in the world own as much...
- Pearce Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development announced that applications for the coalition government's National Stronger Regions Fund are now to...
- Ebola (1 speech)
The World Health Organization said last week: The Ebola epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa is the most severe acute public health emergency seen in modern times. As a generous, wealthy...
- Lindsay Electorate: Small Business Awards (1 speech)
Without doubt, small business is the engine room of the economy. For regions like the Nepean Valley, where two-thirds of our local community need to commute every day for work, building our local...
- Sydney Airport (Question No. 161) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, in writing, on 26 May 2014: (1) Has he sought advice on options for changing the regulation on the cap on hourly movements at...
- Environment (Question No. 210) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for the Environment, in writing, on 14 July 2014: (1) Is it a fact that under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any action...
- Langston, Private Wendy (Question No. 291) (2 speeches)
asked the Assistant Minister for Defence, in writing, on 28 August 2014: In respect of Private Wendy Langston being removed, at a very considerable public expense, from her Dubai posting in...
- East West Link (Question No. 293) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, in writing, on 28 August 2014: Were monetary amounts paid by the Commonwealth to the Victorian Government in 2013-14 in respect of...
