House debates
Monday, 27 October 2014
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Whitlam, Hon. Edward Gough, AC, QC (10 speeches)
For many, myself included, Gough Whitlam was not only an inspiration but also the very reason for our enthusiasm for Labor politics. I had the honour of representing the electorate of Werriwa,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Budget (18 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) over the next four years, total annual Commonwealth funding to Queensland is increasing by around $5.8 billion (including GST); (b) despite the...
- Ebola Virus (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) expresses grave concern about the outbreak of the Ebola virus in, and its impact on, West Africa, in particular Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and beyond; (2)...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That order of the day No. 3, government business, be postponed until the next sitting. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Royal Australian Navy: Submarines (1 speech)
The Abbott government's backpedalling from its pre-election commitment to build the replacement submarines in South Australia continues. Prior to the election, the Minister for Defence, Mr David...
- Casey Electorate: Margaret Lewis Reserve (1 speech)
On Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting with a large number of Coldstream residents in my electorate of Casey at the Margaret Lewis Reserve, where there was the opening of a gazebo in the...
- Malcolm, Mr David (1 speech)
David Malcolm, who passed away on 20 October, will be remembered in Western Australia as one of its greatest sons—Rhodes scholar, state rugby player, fearless Queen's Counsel, highly...
- Brisbane Hospital and the Great War (1 speech)
On Monday 20 October, I had the honour of attending the official opening of the Brisbane Hospital and Great War exhibition at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, based in the heart of the...
- Chisolm Electorate: FAN Welfare Services (1 speech)
There are just amazing people in our community who dedicate enormous time and effort to making sure our world is a safer and better place to live. One such person is Helen Killmier a passionate...
- Hinkler Electorate: Lighthouse Festival (1 speech)
On Friday night I attended the launch the Lighthouse Festival's Art and Photography exhibition and the launch of the Lighthouse Festival at Burnett Heads. Some 8000 people attended the festival,...
- Lalor Electorate: Education (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the launch of the Warringa Park School's Bethany Road campus that happened in my electorate on Friday, 17 October. I was thrilled to join local and state representatives as...
- National Mosque Open Day (1 speech)
On Saturday I attended Lakemba Mosque as part of the National Mosque Open Day initiative, which was proudly supported by the government through the Department of Social Services. National Mosque...
- Electorate of Indi: Child Care (1 speech)
Formal child care plays a significant role in our communities by providing the quality of care and education that is crucial for our children's development. In Wangaratta Goodstart Early Learning...
- Electorate of Durack: Hindi Festival (1 speech)
'Numastay, Arp sabko diwali key shoebcalm nigh.' What I just said, Deputy Speaker—and not very well, I may say—was: 'Greetings, wishing you all a happy Diwali.' This was my attempt on...
- Employment (1 speech)
I am very proud to say that the Australian Labor Party has always been the party of the Australian worker. Equality, dignity and respect are articles of faith in our movement. So I am very proud...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Charities (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise the amazing work of a number of charities in my electorate of Hindmarsh, in particular, Mary's Kitchen, an outreach program supervised by Uniting Care in Glenelg. My...
- Canberra Electorate: Youth (1 speech)
Before I begin I would like to commend the member for Durack for her attempt at Hindi. I actually learned Hindi before I was posted to India. It is a challenging but wonderful language and you...
- Hughes Electorate: Diwali (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all my constituents in the electorate of Hughes, those from Wattle Grove, Chipping Norton and Holsworthy and many of the other suburbs, who...
- Newcastle Electorate: Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
Newcastle is a community that is welcoming and diverse, and as the member for Newcastle, it is something that I am incredibly proud of. On Saturday I had the honour of joining with 1,500 fellow...
- Rai, His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros, Reid Electorate: Maronite Community (1 speech)
I rise today to welcome to Australia His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, the 77th Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. His Beatitude has travelled to Australia to share his...
- Griffith Electorate: 2014 Walk Together Brisbane (1 speech)
Like a lot of people here, I have just heard the terrible news of a Muslim woman being pushed to the ground and having her arm broken in Australia today. These sorts of attacks have been spoken...
- Bass Electorate: Tourism (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the wisdom of that influential publication, Lonely Planet, which recently rated my home state of Tasmania as the fourth-most-desirable region in the world to visit in 2015....
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Maroubra Fun Run and Oktoberfest (1 speech)
On Sunday I was fortunate to join hundreds of runners, walkers, wheelchair athletes and members of our community at the annual Maroubra Fun Run and Oktoberfest. Bigger and better than ever in its...
- Ryan Electorate: Men's Sheds (2 speeches)
I would like to pay tribute to all the wonderful volunteers who staff and man the men's sheds not only in my electorate of Ryan but around Australia. I went to the open house at the Kenmore men's...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time today as he is participating in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations in Sydney. The Minister...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Ebola (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The President of the Australian Medical Association has described the government's response to the Ebola crisis as a shambles. When will the Prime Minister...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government is building a stronger and more prosperous economy?
- Goods and Services Tax (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Talking of promises, before the election, the Prime Minister promised the GST was not going to change—full stop, end of story. Given the Prime Minister...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how the government is building a stronger economy that will mean more and better jobs for Australians?
- Goods and Services Tax (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer in which he refused to rule out changing the GST. The night before the election the Prime Minister promised...
- Migration (11 speeches, 1 comment)
Minister for migration: the Australian economy generates 200,000 new jobs every year while some 300,000 school leavers and others join the workforce. With the government continuing Labor's policy...
- Economic Competitiveness (6 speeches)
Madam Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the state of the global economy? Treasurer: what effects do global events have on Australian jobs?
- Goods and Services Tax (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer that the GST is a state matter. I also refer the Prime Minister to his $80 billion of cuts to state...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister outline what savings have been passed on to Victorian families and businesses, particularly dairy processors, since the...
- Goods and Services Tax (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today Victorian Premier Denis Napthine told 3AW Radio that he was not interested in increasing the GST and he told the Prime Minister, 'Show us the money.'...
- Higher Education (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister update the House on the benefits to students of the government's expansion of the Commonwealth scholarships because of its higher...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the sharp fall in the Australian Industry Group's September performance of services index and note that this fall was blamed on 'ongoing...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister please advise the House why it is important to take action, including cancelling passports, to counter the threat of foreign...
- Economy (11 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the recent NAB monthly business survey, showing that business conditions have eroded sharply over recent months and are below the...
- Border Protection (9 speeches)
My question is to the very effective Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
- Drought (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I refer him to the drought related answer he gave on Monday and corrected in the House late on Wednesday. I also refer him to Hansard, in which the...
- Ebola (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on measures the government is taking to ensure the safety of all Australians given the...
- Minister for Agriculture (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Did the minister use the following words in his answer last Monday? … if you were also a recipient of the Interim Farm Household Allowance...
- Infrastructure (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline the government's action to improve infrastructure in...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Minister for Agriculture; Attempted Censure (24 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion of censure against the Minister for Agriculture. Leave not granted. I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would allow the member for Watson to...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Minister for Agriculture (2 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I have a question of you and I wish to raise a matter of privilege under standing order 51. I refer to the issues that were raised during question time with respect to the Minister...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Petition: Middle East (1 speech)
What I am to say today will likely not be popular in this place or indeed in the wider community. However, there comes a time when the injustices have so mounted up that plain speaking becomes a...
- East West Link (1 speech)
I rise this evening to highlight the importance to my electorate of the recent signing of contracts between the Linking Melbourne Authority and the East West Connect consortium to build and...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Government is about priorities, and this government it is a study in contrasts. While they are cracking down on jobless young Aussies, they are letting some big companies do their own audits....
- Mallee Electorate: Agriculture (1 speech)
It is my duty to update the parliament about the challenging seasonal conditions that are affecting parts of my electorate. My electorate of Mallee is 74,000 square kilometres and is one-third of...
- Abbott Government (1 speech)
I rise tonight to make a statement about Australia's young people, particularly the many thousands of young people I represent as the member for Hotham. I believe that the challenges facing...
- Forrest Electorate: Vue Group (2 speeches)
The Vue Group is a creative studio based in Bunbury, which is in my electorate of Forrest in the south-west of Western Australia. Vue Group has recently become a finalist in the 2014 Western...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Bendigo Electorate: Bendigo Foodshare (1 speech)
This week I rise to recognise Bendigo Foodshare. Bendigo Foodshare is essentially our wholesaler for food relief in our region. It takes donations from a number of producers in the region as well...
- Victorian Certificate of Education (1 speech)
Today I rise to wish Gippsland VCE students all the best as they approach their exams. More than 43,000 students across Victoria, including my own Daughter, Morgan, will sit their English exams...
- Northern Territory: Education (1 speech)
I congratulate the previous member for his contribution. I concur with much of what he said—I do not agree with all of it. I want to wish Morgan and all her mates all the best as they sit...
- Durack Electorate: Yara Pilbara (1 speech)
The electorate of Durack is characterised by enormous resource development projects, agriculture and farming, and untapped tourism potential. Unashamedly, I am working hard to promote Durack...
- Bell, Mr Jean-Paul, Muxlow, Ms Saraya, Redmond, Mr Lorcan, Newcastle Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise a number of constituents and sporting clubs from my electorate of Newcastle. They have excelled on the local, state and national stages. Last week I alerted the House to...
- Child Labour (1 speech)
I recently met with an impressive delegation of students from Camberwell Girls Grammar School and Monash University. They were members of VGen, the youth branch of World Vision. Passionate about...
- Bully Zero Australia Foundation (1 speech)
I am speaking today about a very important organisation, the Bully Zero Australia Foundation, and the great work it does across this nation. The foundation's mission is to provide genuine and...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
The most sustainable outcome for the large-scale renewable energy target, or LRET, is an achievable target of a true 20 per cent—a 20 per cent without spin and manipulation and which...
- Welcome to Australia: Walk Together (1 speech)
Our national anthem, by its title, places striving for fairness at the centre of our national endeavour. It goes on, of course: For those who've come across the seas We've boundless plains to...
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service: Tumbarumba (2 speeches)
Two new Riverina fire stations, a number of much-needed tankers and several deserving awards were handed over on Saturday. This took place as local temperatures hovered in the early 30s,...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Small Business (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Government is providing practical assistance to small business; (2) recognises: (a) the allocation of $8 million in the 2014-15 budget to establish the...
- Defibrillators (10 speeches)
I move: That this House notes: (1) that October has been designated Shoctober by the Cardiac Arrest Survival Foundation; (2) that Australian estimates of those dying from sudden cardiac arrest...
- Australian Defence Force Cadets (8 speeches)
I move: That this House recognises: (1) the importance of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) cadets organisations in building the responsible citizens of tomorrow; (2) that cadets: (a) learn...
- Vietnamese-Australian Community (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) in 2015, 40 years will have passed since the arrival of Vietnamese refugees in Australia at the end of the Vietnam War; and (b) during this time, the...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial Sculpture (1 speech)
): I want to congratulate the Turkish sub-branch of the Victorian RSL and its President, Ramazan Altintas, for initiating and making a reality the Turkish Friendship Memorial Sculpture. Its...
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (1 speech)
On the weekend, I participated in and spoke at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes event in Adelaide. The foundation is helping to build awareness of type 1 diabetes...
- International Development Assistance, Ebola (1 speech)
recently held a foreign aid forum in my electorate with Tanya Plibersek, the shadow foreign affairs minister, and Stefanie Perri, the ALP candidate for the state seat of Box Hill. My seat is home...
- O'Connor Electorate: Friends of the Porongurup Range (1 speech)
Today I take the opportunity to commend the work of a dedicated group of conservation volunteers, the Friends of the Porongurup Range. I was recently invited to unveil a commemorative plaque in...
- Defence Procurement (1 speech)
The shipbuilders at the BAE Williamstown shipyards, in my electorate, have been campaigning for months to bring attention to the valley of death facing their industry. Despite the imminent demand...
- La Trobe Electorate: Aquaterro (1 speech)
I recently met with Graeme Bulte, Managing Director of Aquaterro, an innovative, high-tech company in my electorate of La Trobe. The Aquaterro mission is to provide products and services to...
- Fraser Electorate: Jervis Bay School (1 speech)
Because Australia's founders decided that every capital city must have a port, it is my honour to represent not just the north half of the bush capital but also the Jervis Bay territory. It is a...
- Deregulation (1 speech, 1 comment)
I am proud to be part of a government that is delivering to make life easier for Australians and locals. Members on this side of the House understand that, when you get government out of your...
- Indigenous Health (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the ongoing operation of the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney, or AMSWS. Earlier this month I met with two coordinators who were desperately concerned about the...
- Petition: Falun Gong (1 speech)
It is my privilege to present a petition of 4,487 names drawing the attention of the House to Falun Gong and the concern of the petitioners that practitioners of Falun Gong are being persecuted...
- Shortland Electorate: Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie (1 speech)
Yesterday the Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie had their open day. They perform a wonderful job in Lake Macquarie. Lake Macquarie is an area where we have a lake and access to the sea and, if it were...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
Once again I am very proud to be part of a government that is delivering for my local community. Something that I think should be above partisan politics but something that really is a scourge on...
- Ageing Expo (2 speeches)
Last Thursday and Friday, at Taigum in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, we had the 10th annual Ageing Expo at Taigum Square. This event is organised by the Banyo RSL sub-branch in Taigum Square....
- Blue Knot Day (1 speech)
It is nice to see your face, too, Mr Deputy Speaker Jones. This morning I had the pleasure of attending a morning tea for Adults Surviving Child Abuse's, or ASCA's, national awareness day, Blue...
- St Dimitrios Festival (1 speech)
Yesterday I attended the annual St Dimitrios festival organised by the Greek Orthodox parish of St Dimitrios in Salisbury. The parish is led by the inspirational and tireless Reverend Christos...
- Janet Iles (1 speech)
A hundred years ago, White Bros of Williamstown build the Janet Iles, which then plied its trade near the southern tip of Victoria, close to Tasmania, off Port Welshpool in my electorate of...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
I rise today because I am greatly concerned about recent reports in the media that the ABC is preparing to axe its state based editions of 7.30, which run on Friday nights, and replace them with...
- Macarthur Electorate: Focus on Families (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate Macarthur's Focus on Families volunteers for taking out the award of volunteer team of the year at the New South Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards. Focus on Families' 48...
- New South Wales: By-elections (1 speech)
Last Saturday we had two by-elections in the Hunter, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both Jodie Harrison and Tim Crakanthorp on their election to the New South Wales...
- Bounty Boulevard State School (1 speech)
Today I had the pleasure of welcoming some students from a local school in my electorate to Parliament House. The students and teachers from Bounty Boulevard State School in North Lakes really...
- Northern Light Theatre Company (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to talk about the Northern Light Theatre Company's performance of White Christmas. As patron of the Northern Light Theatre Company, having been asked to be their patron a...
- Supermarkets: Health (1 speech)
As Australians we spend $130 billion on our health system every year, more than the income tax we collect. We spend about $80 billion in the two major supermarket chains. But we spend barely $1...
- Canberra Islamic Centre (1 speech)
In April this year the Canberra Islamic Centre in Monash in my electorate was the victim of mindless and malicious violence that caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. To show that...
- Collie Rotary Club: 60th Anniversary (1 speech)
I want to congratulate the Collie Rotary Club on its 60th anniversary. This group has done extraordinary things in its local community as well as provided support to other parts of Australia,...
- Petition: Climate Change (1 speech)
I present a petition that has been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. This petition has been prepared by the Benalla Sustainable Future Group. It is signed by residents in and near...
- Misuse of Market Power (1 speech)
One of the basic premises of our free market system is that the exchanges along the production and distribution chain are voluntary. There must be a willing buyer and a willing seller. But the...
- Grandparents Day (1 speech)
Yesterday, 26 October, was Grandparents Day. It was an opportunity for communities throughout Australia to thank grandparents for the fine work that they do within our community. Each and every...
- Indian Festival 2014 (1 speech)
So it was that four months ago I sat at a dinner table with the Malayali Society of Townsville. It an Indian group. The first family moved to Townsville at roughly the same time I got there, in...
- Makin Electorate: RSL Annual Dinner (1 speech)
On Saturday night I attended the RSL annual dinner at Salisbury. The dinner was well attended, given that we were competing with the Rolling Stones performance at Adelaide Amongst those attending...
- Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia (2 speeches)
I congratulate the RAAFA museum, Bull Creek, on its latest addition. Under the directorship of Mr John Park the museum has gone from strength to strength. In a public ceremony, I recently...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- East West Link, Public Transport (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the absurd addiction of our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, to roads, which is about to wreck what is good about inner-city Melbourne. The Prime Minister and the Premier of...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Insurance (1 speech)
I rise to again speak on an issue which has been having far-reaching implications in my electorate and in northern Australia more broadly. A recent Cyclone Preparedness Index by RACQ showed that...
- Run with the Wind, Climate Change (2 speeches)
As a keen runner, it was a great pleasure for me yesterday to say a few words at the third annual Run with the Wind community fun run at Woodlawn wind farm near Tarago, New South Wales. Situated...
- Walk Together, Abbott Government (1 speech)
Before I begin my grievance for the people in Greenway, while the member for Reid is here I also want to acknowledge the Walk Together event that we shared in on Saturday, holding up that banner...
- Dobell Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
The Central Coast is immensely proud of its sporting talent and achievements. Dobell is home to a strong sporting community. The people of Dobell have a passion for sport which is evidenced in...
