House debates
Monday, 24 November 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 addition to its primary role of considering petitions submitted to the House, from time to time the Petitions Committee holds public hearings with principal petitioners and representatives of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- East West Link (8 speeches)
I rise to move a motion concerning the East West Link, one of the most important infrastructure projects in Victoria's history. I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a)...
- Domestic Violence (11 speeches)
by leave—On behalf of the member for Gellibrand, I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) with concern that family violence is an issue affecting members of...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Electoral Matters Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I present the committee's second interim report on the inquiry into the conduct of the 2013 federal election and assessment of...
- Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue, I present the 2013 Annual Report of the Australian Taxation Office: Second Report. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with...
- Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the committee's advisory report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 2014. Report made...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
What a dark day it is for public broadcasting in this country. We are now starting to see the real effects of the Prime Minister's broken promise on ABC and SBS funding. Today, one-third of the...
- Solomon Electorate: Endeavour Scholarship and Fellowship Program (2 speeches)
I am pleased to advise the House that three people from my electorate of Solomon have been given the opportunity to study and undertake research next year as part of this government's Endeavour...
- Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
I rise today to recognise the outstanding work of the City of Albany and the Albany sub branch of the RSL in hosting the commemoration of the centenary of the departure of the first convoy of...
- Budget (1 speech)
I continue to receive correspondence from people in my electorate and from all around Australia who are appalled at the government's $254-million cut to the ABC. In shattering news for ABC staff...
- Dobell Electorate: Nathan Connor (1 speech)
I rise to share with the House the inspirational story of Nathan Connor, a student at Wyong High School in the Dobell electorate. Nathan and his brother, Mitchell, tragically lost their mother to...
- Budget (1 speech)
I join my Labor colleagues in condemning the Abbott government for the further cuts to the ABC and SBS announced last week over the next five years, which will bring the total cuts made by this...
- Hughes Electorate: Janine Balding (1 speech)
My electorate office for the seat of Hughes is located directly opposite the Sutherland railway station. From the window of my office in the afternoon, I can see hundreds of young women returning...
- Budget (1 speech)
Today it has been confirmed that the ABC is being decimated by the Abbott Liberal government. This morning, one by one, ABC employees in my electorate of Newcastle were walked in to meetings...
- Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
One of my most enduring memories of Anzac Day is at Macmasters Beach, one of the most beautiful locations in my electorate on the Central Coast. Every year on Anzac Day at 5pm, the Macmasters...
- Rankin Electorate: World Game Multicultural Festival (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, no matter your language, your background or your culture, sport has the ability to bring communities together. It is for that reason that I was really pleased to host the World...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
Tomorrow is White Ribbon Day, and I stand in this place to swear an oath: I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my oath. There are practical...
- Relationships Australia (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, I congratulate Relationships Australia on 50 years of operation in Canberra and in the surrounding region. It is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that has been...
- Bass Electorate: Scotch Oakburn College, Address by the President of the People's Republic of China (1 speech)
I rise to express my pride in Katie Marson's Year 5 class at Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston, and to talk about the wonderful impact the class made on Chinese President Xi Jinping during his...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
I rise to join with my colleagues who have spoken about the disastrous announcement today that the ABC will cut more than 400 jobs. This government promised not to cut the ABC but instead we have...
- Berowra Electorate: Hornsby Aquatic Centre (1 speech)
I want to give the House some good news. I draw to the attention of honourable members an event that took place in my electorate over the past weekend—the opening of the new Hornsby Aquatic...
- Small Business (1 speech)
() (): November is Shop Small month, an opportunity for people to show their support for their local small businesses. At the launch of Shop Small here in Parliament House, I challenged my fellow...
- Boothby Electorate: Local Government (1 speech)
Two weeks ago the local government elections in South Australia were held. Local government fills a very important role and on a day-to-day basis is responsible for many issues that affect local...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2 speeches)
The decision to cut Bush Telegraph is a huge mistake. Bush Tele is the major Radio National program covering rural matters and we know that city people care about these issues and they care about...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Deputy Prime Minister is recuperating at home from an illness and will not be in question time this week. Questions to him should instead be directed to the Treasurer.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On the night before the last election, the Prime Minister promised: No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and...
- Trade with China (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the Australia-China free trade agreement will boost our economy, create jobs and support Australian...
- Prime Minister (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer to me. Is the Prime Minister seriously denying that he said on SBS TV on 6 September in that famous...
- Trade with China (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Ms Macklin interjecting—
- Fuel Prices (10 speeches)
Before the last election, as we know from this question time, the Prime Minister promised no new or increased taxes. Why is the Prime Minister's petrol tax ambush costing Victorian motorists an...
- Special Broadcasting Service (4 speeches)
Are you aware the award-winning SBS program Dateline is to be cut to half an hour and that 17 of the 24 staff have been sacked? Is this a 70 per cent efficiency dividend or, more truthfully, part...
- Trade with China (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister advise the House how the Australia-China free-trade agreement has been received by industry and others?
- Health Care (22 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The night before the last election, the Prime Minister famously promised there would be no cuts to health. Why is the Prime Minister costing Victorians an...
- Dairy Industry (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Will the minister outline for the House what the historic Australia-China Free Trade Agreement will mean for our dairy industry?
- Public Broadcasters (18 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister promise, on the night before the election, that there would be no cuts to the ABC or SBS?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise the chamber that we have present in the distinguished visitors' gallery a delegation of parliamentarians from ASEAN. We have nine countries of ASEAN represented here today. We...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Australia-China Free Trade Agreement (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister inform the House of the benefits to the Australian international education sector, following the successful negotiation of the...
- ABC and SBS (34 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the following transcript an accurate report of the SBS interview that the Prime Minister did on 6 September 2013: 'No cuts to the ABC or SBS'? Is that...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister; Attempted Censure (18 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That this House censures the Prime Minister for: 1) repeatedly and deliberately misleading the parliament and the Australian people by a) promising no...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I present the following documents: Auditor-General—Audit reports of 2014-2015—Performance audit— No. 4—Second follow-up audit into the Australian Electoral...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Whitlam, Hon. Edward Gough, AC, QC (1 speech)
I inform the House of the following resolution agreed to by the New Zealand House of Representatives on Tuesday, 21 October 2014: That this House express its sadness at the passing today of...
- 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.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area (2 speeches)
by leave—It is with great pleasure that I table the first protocol to amend the agreement establishing the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area, AANZFTA, and the accompanying...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Psychoactive Substances and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Second Reading (15 speeches)
I applaud the Australian and New Zealand police commissioners who this morning came together here at Parliament House to stand against violence towards women and children. I was particularly...
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Psychoactive Substances and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Explanatory Memorandum (1 speech)
I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill.
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Psychoactive Substances and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail (4 speeches)
by leave—I move government amendments (1) and (2) together. (1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 6 (after line 33), after paragraph 320.2(2)(i), insert: (ia) a plant or fungus, or an...
- Crimes Legislation Amendment (Psychoactive Substances and Other Measures) Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail (2 speeches)
by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2), as circulated in my name, together: (1) Clause 2, page 2 (after table item 3), insert: (2) Page 22 (after line 12), after Schedule 2, insert:...
- Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2014; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Membership (1 speech)
I have received letters from the Hon. the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Ms Plibersek, and the honourable member for Maranoa, Mr Scott, resigning their positions on the Parliamentary Joint...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 10, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- New South Wales: Environment (1 speech)
The Newcastle Herald, in conjunction with Macquarie University, has recently conducted lead-level testing in and around homes near the old lead smelter in Boolaroo—130 soil and vacuum...
- Budget (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to talk about the complete disconnect for anyone following parliament today and listening to speeches from members of the opposition or reading much of our media between the...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Illawarra People for Peace (1 speech)
Last Friday in my electorate of Wollongong there were about 200 people gathered on the corner of Crown and Kembla streets where Wollongong Town Hall is based. They had come together in order to...
- Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
I rise to express my disappointment at the House's acceptance earlier today of amendments to the Carbon Farming Initiative, which were put forward from the Senate at the last sittings. My key...
- Higher Education (1 speech)
In Wyndham, the last census tells us that only 35 per cent of adults had a post school qualification and, of that, there were just over 27,000 people with a qualification. Almost 11,000 were for...
- Bennelong Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to update the House on several local programs and also to sing the praises of three members of my electorate office, whose efforts have been critical for the success of those programs....
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Federation Chamber: 20th Anniversary (1 speech)
Before I invite honourable members to make constituency statements, I wish to provide a status report on progress with physical enhancements of this Federation Chamber. All members will recall...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Since its election last year, this government has waged an ideological war on climate change. At every opportunity it has threatened any real action against climate change, so much so that we had...
- Souris, Hon. George (1 speech)
Today I pay tribute to an old friend of mine who is retiring from the New South Wales parliament at the next election. George Souris has been a friend of mine since the early 1990s. He has had a...
- Yula-Punaal Aboriginal Education and Healing Centre, Whitlam, Hon. Edward Gough AC, QC (1 speech)
Earlier this month, thousands of people gathered in Sydney Town Hall to pay tribute to Gough Whitlam. At the same time I was in Mandalong, more than 100 kilometres away, celebrating the official...
- Paterson Electorate: Television Reception (1 speech)
Last week was another stinking hot week, temperature wise, in the Hunter. As a result, it was another week of stinking TV reception in the Hunter. As we move into this time of year, where the...
- Blair Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
Last week Ipswich awoke to a story on the front page of The Queensland Times about skyrocketing unemployment in our community: 'Jobless rate hits 23% high'. On page 4 was 'Jobless on the rise in...
- Dobell Electorate: Narara Public School (1 speech)
On Friday, 7 November 2014 Narara Public School celebrated its 125th anniversary along with students—past and present—families and teachers. The day was a celebration of 125 years of...
- Vietnamese Community in Australia (1 speech)
Over the past five years, since becoming the federal member for Fowler, I have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary work and contributions of the Vietnamese Community in Australia New South...
- Hume Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a subject of great interest and importance to my constituents in Hume: telecommunications. Indeed, I speak on this topic more than any other in this place. When this government...
- Chifley Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
I rise to speak to a clear case of the public's healthcare interests taking a backseat to the political self-interest of the coalition. This month the New South Wales coalition sought to shore up...
- Mallee Electorate: Cancer (2 speeches)
I rise to address the Australian parliament and talk about very important services around cancer support in my electorate. We have rural disadvantage. We have the tyranny of distance. In Mildura...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Education Funding (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) Government's 2014-15 budget contains the biggest ever cut to schools, leaving classrooms across the country $30 billion worse off over...
- Dung Beetles (20 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that dung beetles: (a ) provide an important service to Australia's agricultural sector; and (b ) act as a biological solution that assists in fly control and...
- Early Childhood Education (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a ) importance of quality early childhood education in preparing children for school, and the overwhelming evidence of the positive impact that access to...
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (4 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that Marine National Park (Green) Zones as defined in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 serve to better protect the biodiversity within...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Run for Your Lifeline Canberra 2014 (1 speech)
It was my pleasure yesterday to participate in the Lifeline Canberra half-marathon on the about-to-be-opened Majura Parkway. It was a great sporting event, and I pay tribute to the Lifeline team,...
- White Ribbon Day (1 speech)
Tomorrow is White Ribbon Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence, particularly violence against women and children. I call on our community to continue to work together to...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech, 1 comment)
I was devastated today when I learnt how the Abbott government's cuts to the ABC were going to impact on my local area. ABC Newcastle 1233 has been downgraded from a metropolitan station to...
- Capricornia Electorate: Cathedral College Boarding Facility (1 speech)
Country families from remote parts of Capricornia and the city's economy in Rockhampton will benefit from a new $6.5 million Rockhampton school-boarding facility. Recently I had the pleasure of...
- Small Remittance Companies (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House today that thousands of small remittance companies are facing closure. One by one, Australian banks have closed the accounts needed to facilitate international...
- Moorambilla Voices (1 speech)
Moorambilla Voices tells the story of the outback choir that was put together by artistic director Michelle Leonard. The documentary that is on ABC next Sunday night, 30 November, charts a small...
- Cunningham Electorate: Fifty Plus (1 speech)
I would like to report to the House that, in October 1998, some Wollongong citizens who attended the NewDay Church, which was formerly known as the Wollongong Church of Christ, commenced a...
- Dawson Electorate: Coal Industry (1 speech)
There is a downturn in Australian coal, mainly due to global prices being down, which was brought on by an oversupply of the market, but it has not been aided in the last few years by high input...
- Such, Hon. Dr Robert Bruce 'Bob' (1 speech)
Today I pay tribute to Dr Bob Such, who died on 11 October whilst in office as a member of the South Australian parliament after a lengthy period of poor health. Bob Such was the independent...
- New South Wales Central Coast (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the Daily Telegraph and the Central Coast Express Advocate on their campaign for a better future for the Central Coast. In doing so, I commend Gosford City Council, the New...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise today to express my outrage that news of job losses and program cuts at the ABC as a result of the Abbott government's funding cuts. The ABC is set to lose up to 10 per cent of its...
- Deakin Electorate: Community Cup (1 speech)
I wish to record my congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part in the inaugural Deakin Community Cup. It was my pleasure to host this event in partnership with the Box Hill Reporter...
- Bendigo electorate: Youth Choir (1 speech)
Last Friday, the Bendigo Youth Choir celebrated its 30th year. It celebrated in typical Bendigo Youth Choir style by hosting a concept at the Bendigo Capitol Theatre. In attendance were many of...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
I was privileged to be able to join the Limestone Coast Family Violence Action Group for their annual White Ribbon breakfast last Friday in Mount Gambier. I want to acknowledge the efforts of...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (1 speech)
I too rise today to condemn this Liberal-National government's harsh cuts to the ABC and SBS. As we all know, this is another broken promise. Speaking on SBS news the night before the election,...
- Page Electorate: St Mary's Church Centenary (1 speech)
At 9.30 this Sunday, 30 November, I will be at mass to celebrate the centenary of the St Mary's Catholic church in Grafton. The church was opened on 29 November 1914. This was in fact after the...
- Indi Electorate: Yea Community Garden (1 speech)
Yea is one of the wonderful communities in my electorate of Indi, and today I would like to pay tribute to the Yea Community Garden in celebrating its first anniversary. This dynamic community...
- Calare Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
As we fast approach Christmas and the end of the school year, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the schools, students and teachers in my electorate. I have found that each...
- Makin Electorate: Croatian Festa (1 speech)
On Saturday, 6 December, the South Australian Croatian community will host its annual Croatian Festa at their clubrooms and grounds at Sports Park in the Makin electorate. It is a day of Croatian...
- Bennelong Electorate: Camp Quality (1 speech)
I rise to tell the House about Camp Quality, a charity based in my electorate of Bennelong. Camp Quality's purpose is simple: to create a better life for every child living with cancer in...
- Shortland Electorate: Northlakes Public School (1 speech)
On Wednesday, 5 November I attended Northlakes Public School and officially reopened their special playground area, their fenced play area. They have a support unit at Northlakes Public School...
- Mallee Electorate: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
So often, when people buy a vehicle in my electorate, they will tune it to the ABC and they will drive that vehicle for a duration of time. They will, of course, when they trade it in, still have...
- Dawson, Ms Liz OAM (1 speech)
Last Sunday, the tenacious social advocate and feminist Liz Dawson OAM died after a long battle with bowel cancer. Liz leaves an enormous legacy, including Common Ground, which is supported...
- Pamela Hergenhan Exhibition (1 speech)
As a lover of art, I am proud to share a story today about a local artist in my electorate who had the opportunity to showcase an impressive array of her artwork during the G20 Leaders' Summit in...
- Bendigo Electorate: Mount Alexander Solar Homes (1 speech)
The latest edition of MASH, Mount Alexander Solar Homes, is great news. Another 680 solar panels were delivered to Castlemaine last Tuesday, with the number of solar panels delivered to MASH...
- Lyne Electorate: Agriculture (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people from the Lyne electorate in the agricultural sector who participated in a number of forums last week. On Wednesday, the Minister...
- Into Our Hands Foundation (1 speech)
Philanthropy is about giving, and Indi is well and truly into giving. Following the 2009 fires, when the whole of Australia gave, the Into Our Hands Foundation was established to support the...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
Today Mark Scott of the ABC chose to take the low-hanging fruit instead of making the tough decisions with the ABC, in my opinion, by closing the production studios in Adelaide and winding down...
- Northern Women's Health Centre (2 speeches)
On Thursday, 13 November I visited the Northern Women's Health Centre at Wyong. I note that the member for Dobell, the member for Robertson and Senator Deb O'Neil have all attended this centre...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Rail Infrastructure (1 speech)
There is plenty to grieve about in Western Australia at the moment. I want to use this opportunity to talk about how this failed privatisation of the Grain Freight Network in Perth, which took...
- National Security (1 speech)
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak today. I had mainly prepared these remarks in relation to recent counter-terrorism legislation; but, as matters transpired, I was not able to...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
We have long known that many within the coalition secretly harbour a desire to teach our kids that the Australian alphabet starts with the letter D, so hostile are they to the letters ABC. That...
- Rural and Regional Australia (1 speech)
Today I address the parliament to talk about vision—a vision for rural Australia and regional Australia. Quite often it is said that, if a nation has no vision, it will perish. I am a...
- Goss, Mr Wayne, Brown, Mr Keith (1 speech)
It is an honour and a privilege for me to be able to use the 10 minutes that I have allocated to me to speak about two great Australians who have made an enormous contribution to this country,...
- Competition Policy (2 speeches)
I rise today to speak about the critical issue of competition policy. Twenty years ago, there was the Hilmer review, which looked at competition and drove many of the reforms that successive...
