House debates
Monday, 20 October 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 I spoke about the historical role played by petitions both in Australia and elsewhere. This time I will take a look at the way different parliaments in Australia deal with...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
At the request of the member for Denison I fix the next sitting as the day for presenting the Telecommunications Amendment (Giving the Community Rights on Phone Towers) Bill 2014.
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Superannuation (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) in the document 'Our Plan', the Liberals and Nationals promised Australians, prior to the election that: 'We will deliver greater stability and...
- Suicide Prevention (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes with concern that: (a) over the past five years, the average number of suicide deaths per year in Australia is 2,415; (b) in 2012, 1,901 males and 634 females...
- Child Care (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the importance of Government support for child care in order to improve workforce participation and early childhood education; (2) condemns the Government...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1 speech, 1 comment)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched proceedings in the Federal Court alleging unconscionable conduct by the Coles supermarket chain in some extraordinary arrangements...
- Nowra Wrap With Love (1 speech)
Nowra Wrap With Love is a fantastic local community organisation in my electorate which meets in Nowra to knit, crochet and have a cuppa and a friendly chat on the first Tuesday of every month....
- Renewable Energy Target (1 speech)
Right across rural Australia, wind farms for the generation of clean energy are bringing enormous benefits to rural communities—bringing investment, jobs, good environmental outcomes and,...
- Takarakka Bush Resort (1 speech)
Carnarvon Gorge is located about 720 kilometres north-west of Brisbane in the electorate of Flynn. Hidden in the rugged ranges of the Queensland central highlands, Carnarvon Gorge features...
- Oaktree End Poverty Campaign (1 speech)
In the last sitting week I met with Eleanor Scott, Luca Zhao and Jane Robinson, three very impressive and articulate young women—community leaders representing the Oaktree organisation....
- Casino and District Memorial Hospital (1 speech)
In the last election campaign the coalition government made an election promise to give $4.5 million to the Ballina Hospital. In the same election campaign the previous Labor government made an...
- Little River Primary School (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about Little River Primary School and their out-of-hours school care program. Little River is a community of 750 people, a local shop, a hotel and a small primary school in...
- Broadband (1 speech)
Fast broadband is so important in rural and regional Australia, including in my electorate of Corangamite. Under Labor, Australians were misled about the cost and progress of the NBN. After...
- 2014 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final (1 speech)
On behalf of our community I congratulate the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs on winning the 2014 NRL premiership. The Rabbitohs first grand final win since 1971 has uplifted our community. It has...
- Women's Rugby Union (1 speech)
When we picture the hard-hitting field of a rugby union game, strong burly men quickly spring to mind. Today I want to break down this image and talk about women's rugby. I have recently had the...
- Opti-MINDS Challenge (1 speech)
We want our country to be innovative, creative and dynamic. For that reason I was pleased two weekends ago to attend the Opti-MINDS national final at the University of Queensland. Hundreds of...
- Surf-Lifesaving (1 speech)
As we approach another Australian summer I rise to recognise the important work of surf-lifesaving clubs throughout Australia and also in my electorate of Hindmarsh. As we know, the purpose of...
- Education (1 speech)
I rise to commend the work of the schools in my electorate which culminates the 13 years of education in year 12 completion. I acknowledge the work of leaders, teachers, students and parents in...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the ABC for its Mental As campaign—an excellently coordinated awareness campaign. Well done. Mental health is a key issue in Australia, with almost half the...
- Canberra Electorate: Kids' Cancer Project (1 speech)
Many members will know Kathryn Harveyson as one of the helpful, smiling faces in the Serjeant-at-Arms office, but members may not know that she is also part of a team of 28 Canberrans who have...
- Braddon Electorate: Geneva Christian School (1 speech)
I am sure that by now you are starting to believe me when I tell you there is something pretty special about my electorate of Braddon. Today I would like to tell you about a group of talented...
- Bendigo Electorate: Fairground Program (1 speech)
Another week and another example of how this shocking Liberal government budget has attacked people in my community. The Bendigo Salvation Army has had to make two workers redundant from its...
- Ryan Electorate: Mt Crosby State School (3 speeches)
On 8 October I was delighted to go to the western rural section of my seat of Ryan in Brisbane, to Mt Crosby. Mt Crosby State School hosted radio station 96.5FM to one of their community...
- Newcastle Electorate: National Broadband Network (1 speech)
I rise today as my electorate of Newcastle is split by a digital divide of haves and have-nots. This morning, rollout maps released by NBN Co confirmed that build preparation for fixed line NBN...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Prime Minister will be absent from question time today while he attends the inauguration of Indonesia's new President, Joko Widodo. I will answer questions on his...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Ebola Virus (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The G20 finance ministers' meeting has noted the potentially serious impacts on growth and stability and the importance of a coordinated international...
- Iraq (2 speeches)
My question is to the acting Prime Minister. Will the Acting Prime Minister update the House on Australia's military engagement in Iraq?
- Ebola Virus (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. What consular support arrangements does the government have in place for Australians currently volunteering in Ebola affected West Africa? And what...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Justice. Minister, will you update the House on the government's actions to keep Australians safe and secure from terrorism.
- Department of Defence: Enterprise Bargaining (14 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Defence. In 2011, the assistant minister attacked a three per cent wage increase offered to Defence personnel as 'outrageous' because it was below...
- Indi Electorate: Albury Wodonga Health (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister. Albury Wodonga Health is a cross-border provider, treating patients and the community in Victoria and New South Wales equally. If the proposed...
- National Security (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister please update the House on the government's continued efforts to protect our borders from the terrorist...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise the chamber that we have present in the gallery the former Special Minister of State, Vice President of the Executive Council and member for Petrie the Honourable Dr Gary Johns....
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Agriculture (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Will the minister inform the House how this government is delivering on its election commitments through a plan to boost the competitiveness of...
- Drought (20 speeches)
My question is also to the Minister for Agriculture. Minister, it is now eight months since you announced with some fanfare your drought assistance package for farmers. How much has the...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Acting Prime Minister outline how building the infrastructure of the 21st century...
- Pacific Highway (8 speeches)
My question is also to the Acting Prime Minister and is also about the jointly funded Pacific Highway upgrade. Was he consulted about the decision by the New South Wales government to cut funding...
- Industry (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry. Will the minister update the House on how the recently released Industry, Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda will help build a strong and...
- Defence Personnel (13 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Defence. I refer the assistant minister to his earlier response that the Parliamentary Budget Office figures were wrong. The head of the PBO, Mr Phil...
- Small Business (5 speeches)
My question is to my good friend the Minister for Small Business.
- Australian Defence Force Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Defence. Can the Assistant Minister confirm that, at the same time the government is proposing to cut the real wages of Australian Defence Force...
- Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister inform the House of the savings that have been passed onto families and businesses in Western Australia since the government...
- Environment (23 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. In its latest report on environmental indicators, the OECD last year confirmed Australia's place as the largest per capita producer of...
- Higher Education Reforms (2 speeches)
Thank you for the call, Madam Speaker. I appreciate it. My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister update the House on the support within the higher education sector for the...
- Environment (7 speeches)
When it rains, it pours. My question is to the Minister for the Environment. I refer the minister to his recent comments about the importance of funding for Antarctica's walrus populations. Given...
- Ebola Virus (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. Would the minister update the House on the steps the government is taking in our region to address the Ebola situation, as well as on our contribution...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- National Security (1 speech)
I wish to inform the House that, when I referred to 40 offloads from aircraft, that was in relation to 40 individuals, not groups.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Parliament House: Security (13 speeches)
The Manager of Opposition Business has indicated that he has some questions to ask of me. He has indicated five. I think that is excessive. We will hear two and we will see how we go.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Budget Office; Presentation (1 speech)
Pursuant to section 65 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, I present the annual report of the Parliamentary Budget Office for 2013-14. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.
- 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.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence from today until the end of the parliamentary sittings for 2014 be given to Dr Stone and Mr Griffin on the ground of parliamentary business overseas. Question agreed to.
- Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
I present a chart showing the program of sittings for 2015. Copies of the program have been placed on the table. I ask leave of the House to move that the program be agreed to. Leave granted. I...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Education Funding (1 speech)
I rise this evening to once again focus on the Abbott government's cruel cuts to education. We have seen this government cut money from the whole spectrum of education. There has been a range of...
- Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (1 speech)
I rise to provide the House with an update on the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund, known as the GRIIF. Across Corangamite and the broader Geelong region, there is no issue more...
- Apprenticeships (1 speech)
My focus in this adjournment debate is on apprenticeships and youth employment. Last week in my electorate I focused on apprentices and apprenticeships. The Lalor electorate currently has 3,800...
- Gladstone Electorate: Industry and Environment (1 speech)
Tonight, I want to speak about industry and the environment in the Gladstone region and how this is working in unison. Gladstone is a major economic centre. It is a major port and industrial...
- Paid Parental Leave (1 speech)
On 25 July, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its report into workplace discrimination against new parents: Supporting working parents: pregnancy and return to work national review....
- Wright Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
I rise tonight to acknowledge the resilience and honour the engine room of my electorate—that is, my small business sector. Wright is a diverse and picturesque electorate, bordering...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Lees, Mr Ray (1 speech)
I want to take his opportunity to remember and pay tribute to Ray Lees, a dear friend, who died Wednesday 15 October aged 85. He was a man of great integrity, decency, energy and community spirit...
- Paterson Electorate: Digital Technology (1 speech)
(): I rise today to provide an update on the No. 1 local issue impacting my constituents across the length and breadth of my electorate of Paterson—unreliable digital television reception....
- International Day of the Girl Child (1 speech)
I rise to note that Saturday, 11 October was the International Day of the Girl Child. In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child....
- Lyne Electorate: Defence (1 speech)
Last week I had the opportunity to host a visit to the Lyne electorate for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester. During the visit we took the opportunity to...
- Fraser Electorate: Youth (1 speech)
The coalition's first budget was a pretty cruel one, but there was one particular measure that continues to astound me for its cold-heartedness. The government's decision to stop funding the...
- Lyons Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
A small country community in my Tasmanian electorate of Lyons believes in helping itself, even when the issue is the tough one of mental health. It was Bothwell nurse and farmer Anita Campbell...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
Thanks to the hard work of advocates and service providers over a period of decades, the message is slowly starting to get out about men's violence against women. There is a growing recognition...
- Osteoporosis (2 speeches)
Osteoporosis is a common disease in Australia, with 1.2 million people estimated to have the disease. However, it is hard to put a figure on this because many people are simply unaware that they...
- Buckeridge, Mr Leonard Walter (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the life of Len Buckeridge. Len Walter Buckeridge died in March of this year. He was born in 1936 in South Perth to Richard and Winnifred Buckeridge, and was the third of four...
- Swan Electorate: Public Transport (2 speeches)
Crime on Perth's metropolitan train network has been a prevailing issue in my electorate of Swan, with violent and antisocial behaviour on trains, at stations and in surrounding areas such as car...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Hearing Health Services (9 speeches)
I move: Labor believes in a fair go for all, and in 1944 the Curtin government established the Acoustic Research Laboratory to look into the effects of excessive noise on military personnel. It...
- National Police Remembrance Day (12 speeches)
I move: I am thankful for this opportunity to acknowledge the significant role that police officers play in our community, and the great deal of risk and sacrifice that comes with the job. I felt...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Superannuation (5 speeches)
No-one on our side of the House would have been surprised when one of the very first acts of the Abbott government was to abolish Labor's low-income superannuation contribution and to decide to...
- Fijian Election (6 speeches)
I move: Julie Bishop, Australia's foreign minister, will tell you that Fiji is a critical economic, transport and political hub in the Pacific, and that it plays a natural leadership role in the...
- Child Care (5 speeches)
When most Australians looked at a press release from the Liberal Party on 18 March that 'the government would ensure Australian families can access affordable child care when and where they...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Taxation (3 speeches)
The G20 Leaders' Summit will convene in my home town of Brisbane in fewer than four weeks. One of the critical issues on the agenda will be tackling tax base erosion and profit shifting. In our...
- Macquarie Electorate: Kurrajong Rural Fire Brigade (1 speech)
I have the privilege of highlighting to the House the great work and achievements of the Kurrajong Rural Fire Brigade, which celebrated its 75th anniversary and the opening of a new training...
- Indi Electorate: Wangaratta Show (1 speech)
I would like to congratulate the Wangaratta Agricultural Society for the success of the 150th Wangaratta Show, held on 10 and 11 October. I was honoured to be invited as a special guest, along...
- Lyons Electorate: Little Diggers (1 speech)
The Westbury RSL club in Northern Tasmania has perhaps developed an Australian first to get more young people involved in the club. Westbury RSL's Little Diggers Club has been so successful in...
- Wilson, Ms Anne (1 speech)
I would like to pay tribute to Anne Wilson nee Fitz-Henry, who passed away on 3 September 2014 at five am. Anne was a stalwart of the Labor Party, a stalwart of the women's movement and a person...
- Capricornia Electorate: Beef Industry (1 speech)
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 May 4 to 9. As an election...
- Bendigo Electorate: VIEW Clubs (1 speech)
On the weekend, I had the great privilege of attending the Bendigo VIEW club's 20th birthday celebrating their work and achievements. Over 20 years, they have raised over $40,000 for local...
- Reid Electorate: Auburn Gallipoli Mosque (1 speech)
Before we left here on the last Thursday of the previous two-week sitting period, I had the honour of speaking in the main chamber about the need for tolerance towards others within our diverse...
- Nan Tien Buddhist Temple (1 speech)
I associate myself with the comments of the previous member. I reported on my own Eid dinners in the last sitting. They are certainly well worth participating in. I would like to put on the...
- Robertson Electorate: Broadband (2 speeches)
I am pleased to place on record some fantastic news for people on the Central Coast today. The NBN is on track to be delivered to more than 56,000 homes and businesses in my electorate. Over the...
- Bass Electorate: Flinders Island Show (1 speech)
Last Friday I attended the Flinders Island Show—the 80th anniversary of what I consider to be the best small island show in Australia. There was something for every age group: wood chopping...
- Hurn, Mr Brian OAM (1 speech)
I want to record my sincere appreciation and admiration for retiring Barossa Mayor Mr Brian Hurn OAM. I have known Brian both as a local government colleague and more recently in my capacity as...
- Blair Electorate: Raceview Congregational Church (1 speech)
Along with other political leaders in Ipswich, I attended the Raceview Congregational Church last Sunday for a special church service. It is a church located in Wildey Street in Raceview,...
- Hinkler Electorate: Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers association on running another successful night in recent weeks. Peter Hockings and his team have done a fabulous job once again...
- United Nations Day (1 speech)
On Friday this week there will be a significant anniversary: 24 October is celebrated each year as United Nations Day. It is worth reflecting that the UN has never been more important than it is...
- Forde Electorate: Trinity College (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Trinity College blessing and official opening of the La Chaperie Visual Arts Facility, the Ludovic Building and the Brother John Mullins...
- South Sydney Rabbitohs (1 speech)
Two weeks ago, I went with my son to see South Sydney win their 21st premiership—a 30-to-six victory over Canterbury Bankstown. It was a special celebration, particularly for all the people...
- Indigenous Employment (1 speech)
Together with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Alan Tudge, we recently travelled to the remote town of Wiluna and then drove the 50 kilometres to the Jundee goldmine. Here, the...
- Deepavali (1 speech)
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of officially opening Canberra's Diwali Mela at Albert Hall. This annual festival has been running in Canberra since 2003 to celebrate the famous Festival of...
- Lindsay Electorate: Mr Philip Fehon (1 speech)
I rise today to pay my respects to a much-loved local resident and long-time volunteer, Philip Fehon. Philip moved to Penrith with his wife in 1952 and, as a result, the Fehon family have become...
- Makin Electorate: Tea Tree Plaza Walking Group (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to congratulate and commend the Tea Tree Plaza Walking Group, who this year celebrated their 10th anniversary. The group has several hundred members, with an average...
- Gilmore Electorate: Work Experience Student (1 speech)
Last month I hosted a student from Ulladulla High School in my Canberra office. He came for three days of work experience. At the end of his time here I asked him to write a speech about his...
- Indi Electorate: Mental Health Week (1 speech)
The focus on mental health across the country during Mental Health Week from 5 to 11 October was fantastic. The ABC's promotion 'Mental As' deserves a special mention. It was great listening and...
- Hume Electorate: Child Care (1 speech)
There are fewer and fewer communities these days that do not have some sort of access to long day care child care services. Unfortunately Boorowa, in my electorate, has been one of them. There is...
- Shortland Electorate: Disability Services (1 speech)
On Friday I was very privileged to launch a new outreach program that is being delivered by Sunnyfield for people with disability in Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie is one of the NDIS rollout...
- Barton Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
Last week I attended the launch of Mental Health Week at Wesley Mission's Clinical Education Facility in Kogarah, a facility which I opened in May. I would like to commend the work that Wesley...
- Cunningham Electorate: Hindu Festivals (1 speech)
Just a moment ago, I took the chamber to the southern border of my electorate and the 20th anniversary of the Nan Tien Buddhist temple. I would now like to take you to the northern border of my...
- Burnie Ten Footrace (2 speeches)
I would just like to take this brief moment to congratulate the committee, volunteers and Burnie City Council for the running of the 30th Burnie Ten footrace, Australia's premier 10-kilometre...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
My grievance today is about the government's controversial 2014 federal budget measures and the effect they are going to have on the people in my electorate of Calwell, who will inevitably bear...
- Pineapple Imports (1 speech)
It would be an understatement to say that there is a lot happening in the world today. Australia as a nation has a lot on its plate. But our country is facing another potential national crisis, a...
- Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
This afternoon is a good opportunity to consider the area of early childhood and vulnerability—the almost somewhat mystical zero-to-five space that state and territory governments are...
- Australia-India Relationship (1 speech)
I rise in this chamber tonight to discuss and to talk about the very important India-Australia relationship, a relationship between Australia, the oldest and most stable democracy in the Asian...
- Health (2 speeches)
I rise to talk about the health system in Australia and to draw on a couple of reports which came out in June 2014, which would allow us to have an overall view on how the health system in...
