House debates
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Defence Procurement, Minister for Defence (27 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1) notes that the Minister for Defence: (a) that the Minister for Defence promised on 8 May 2013 that the coalition would deliver those...
- Prime Minister; Attempted Censure (9 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House— (1) notes that: (a) on Monday 24 November 2014, the Prime Minister stated to the House, "We are applying an efficiency dividend to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the following reports to the 44th Parliament: Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
Labor welcomes the Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014. The bill amends the Australian War Memorial Act to prohibit the levying of entry or parking fees at the Australian War Memorial...
- Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (3 speeches)
In the first instance, Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing the debate to be suspended for a few moments while the opposition conducted some quick checks. I note that the need for those to be...
- Parliamentary Service 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.
- Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (1 speech)
The Commemorative Roll commemorates Australians who died during or as a result of service in wars, conflicts or operations identical with the Roll of Honour but who are not eligible for inclusion...
- Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I declare that the Australian War Memorial Amendment Bill 2014 be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (13 speeches)
It is my great pleasure to rise to speak in the debate on the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014. Before we got to the details of the bill, we had the...
- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014; Consideration in Detail (8 speeches)
I rise to raise some specific matters, particularly in relation to the summing up by the minister at the table in response to genuine concerns by a number of stakeholders, not least of all state...
- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation 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.
- Customs Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (6 speeches)
I offer the support of the opposition for the passage of this bill. The Customs Amendment Bill proposes a number of minor amendments to modernise and remove anomalies in the Customs Act, which...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Banking: Remittance Services (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a very important and concerning issue relating to the decision by banks in Australia to close the accounts of remittance services in Australia. Remittance services have been a...
- HMAS Sydney (1 speech)
On 9 November 1914 the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney defeated the German light cruiser SMS Emden in a naval battle off the Cocos Keeling Islands. At the end of the battle the Emden lay wrecked...
- Discrimination (1 speech)
Last Thursday I was pleased to host an antidiscrimination forum in my electorate of Lalor. I did so in partnership with Denis Nelthorpe of the Wyndham Community Legal Centre. I was pleased to...
- Victoria State Election (1 speech)
Those who have followed my parliamentary career with some interest—that would only be a few people—would know that very rarely do I criticise the other side of the parliament. As a...
- Resilient Australia Awards (1 speech)
Building resilience has become a very important planning, health and wellbeing tool for rural and regional communities. Organisations focusing on how to build resilience are doing vitally...
- National Disability Awards (1 speech)
The 2014 National Disability Awards were presented last night at a gala event hosted by the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield, at the Great Hall here in Parliament House. It...
- Ntaria School (1 speech)
The students of Ntaria School wrote the following speech with me when I volunteered at their school in August. They said: We are the senior students of the Ntaria School. We are proud Western...
- Casey Electorate: Yarra Valley Italian Community (1 speech)
Last Sunday was a very special day for the Italian community in my electorate of Casey. The Yarra Valley Italian Cultural Group organised an event to both commemorate and celebrate some history....
- Lucre, Mr Al, Queensland Government (1 speech)
Last week I and many members of the community in Brisbane said goodbye to a long-term stalwart of the public sector union, 'Big Al' Lucre, who unfortunately recently passed away. Al was someone...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, Monday was a black day. Regional ABC took a hit—hardly following the principles of corporate good sense. When we came to government we discovered a quicksand of budget...
- Canberra Electorate: Tuggeranong Bulldogs Junior Football Club (1 speech)
Last month I attended the Tuggeranong Bulldogs Junior AFL Club presentation day, where a number of awards were handed out to many deserving players. Family and friends also attended, and it was...
- Matthews, Mr Terry, OAM (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, Braddon has lost one of its gentleman: Terry Matthews OAM passed away last week at the age of 91, after a lifetime of service and sacrifice. Commencing his working life as a...
- Victoria State Election (1 speech)
There is a reason why Liberal Victorian members and National Victorian members in this House continue to stand up pleading for Victorians to continue to support them in the state election, and to...
- Lyons Electorate: Sports Shear Tasmania (1 speech)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I think I have just heard an advertisement for the union movement in Victoria! I was most pleased recently to sponsor prizes at the Sports Shear Tasmania awards this year,...
- Quarantine (1 speech)
One thing that we in this place can all agree on is that because of demand in Asia Australian agriculture has a very bright future. Free trade agreements with Japan, South Korea and China are...
- Brooke Avenue Public School, Dobell Electorate: Better Buddies Program (1 speech)
I rise to share with the House a fantastic initiative to be implemented by a Dobell primary school. Better Buddies is an antibullying program at Brooke Avenue Public School and is based on the...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
I rise today to share the personal stories of some of the staff of 1233 ABC Newcastle, who are today reeling from the savage cuts to our local ABC. These notes are from a blog written last night...
- Higgins Electorate: Christmas Card Competition (1 speech)
Christmas decorations are going up in our local streets and shopping centres as Australians across the country start to ready themselves for Christmas. Adding spark to this joyous spirit, my...
- Fremantle Foundation Impact 100 Awards (2 speeches)
I rise to share the story of the Fremantle Foundation and its philanthropic program, the Impact 100 awards. Impact 100 pools the annual donations of $1,000 made by 100 local people to make a...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Minister for Defence (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has failed to express confidence in his Minister for Defence, will the Prime Minister now demand the minister's resignation or...
- East West Link (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House how the East West Link project will create jobs and ease traffic congestion for commuters in Melbourne? What threats...
- Minister for Defence (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, in the Senate, the Minister for Defence attacked the highly skilled submarine workforce at ASC, stating he 'would not trust them to build a...
- East West Link (9 speeches)
Will the Treasurer advise the House of the benefits to growth and jobs in Melbourne and wider Victoria, including my electorate of Corangamite, of the East West Link project? What risks are there...
- Minister for Defence (14 speeches)
My question today is to the Prime Minister. On 8 May last year, the now Minister for Defence promised: The coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide. Given that...
- Victoria State Election (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. With less than 72 hours until people start voting in Saturday's Victorian election, will the Prime Minister please spend as much time in Melbourne as...
- Building and Construction Industry (12 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister inform the House of the government's efforts to ensure the rule of law in our workplaces,...
- Defence: Naval Vessels (2 speeches)
My question is also to the Prime Minister. Last week, the CEO of ASC confirmed to the Senate that Australia's future submarines can be built in Adelaide at a competitive price. Given that the...
- Joint Police Task Force into Industrial Criminality and Corruption (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister inform the House how the Joint Police Task Force into Industrial Criminality and Corruption will tackle the threat to the community...
- Defence (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the Minister for Defence's disgraceful cuts to the real wages and conditions of our Defence men and women, will the Prime Minister now sack the...
- Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
My question is to the hardworking Minister for the Environment. Will the minister outline the final impact of the carbon tax on Victorian families and businesses, including the savings that have...
- Abbott Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports today that the Prime Minister is 'scraping off barnacles'. Which barnacle will the Prime Minister scrape off today? His disaster of a...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
I wish to advise the House that we have with us in the distinguished visitors' gallery the Hon. Tim Fischer AC, GCPO, former Deputy Prime Minister in the Howard government, former Minister for...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- New Colombo Plan (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the achievements of the New Colombo Plan after just one year. What benefits will continue to flow to...
- Economy (18 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports today that the Prime Minister is 'scraping off the barnacles'. Which barnacle will the Prime Minister scrape off today—his disaster...
- Trade with China (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister inform the House of the benefits for Australian services, investors and businesses as a result of the China-Australia...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In question time on Monday the Prime Minister said, 'We are applying an efficiency dividend to the ABC.' But yesterday, when discussing the Prime Minister's...
- Trade with China (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I remind the minister that I recently attended the opening of a major new export abattoir, Hilltop Meats, in my electorate. Will the minister...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday when speaking about the Prime Minister's broken promise on the ABC, the Minister for Communications said: 'Certainly there are cuts. He said no...
- Trade with China (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on the benefits to Australia's aged care sector as a result of the recent Australia-China free-trade agreement?
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answers about cuts to the ABC. Will the minister now admit that he was wrong?
- Small Business (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister outline to the House how the government will help small businesses in my electorate and elsewhere in Victoria benefit from the...
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, who came up with the strategy of lying about lying, and how do you reckon it is going?
- Ebola (23 speeches)
My question is to the Minister the Health.
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- New Colombo Plan (6 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I wish to add to an answer, if I may.
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Standing Orders (2 speeches)
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a question for you, Madam Speaker, about the standing orders.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present report No. 17 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 1 December 2014. The report will be...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 7 and 8 of 2014-15 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's performance Audit reports for 2014-15 entitled Audit report No. 7, Administration of contact centres: Australian Taxation Office, and Audit report No. 8,...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Madam Speaker, 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)
- Minister for Defence (30 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Batman proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Prime Minister’s...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Customs Amendment Bill 2014; Second Reading (2 speeches)
As I was saying, all of these industries are of major importance to the Australian economy and are indeed growing in size and importance. The master of a ship or pilot of any aircraft may also...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Ebola (1 speech)
by leave—I wish to make a brief announcement in relation to the government's handling of matters in the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio relating to Ebola. Processing of visas will...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Migration (3 speeches)
During parliament this week, in fact in most question times, and during a number of debates that the government has had and many of their speakers have had, there has been all of this talk and...
- Small Business (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the importance of shopping small and supporting small businesses, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. As most of you would be aware, November is Shop Small month...
- Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2 speeches)
On 27 October this year, it was Pink Ribbon Day. On that day, I was to rise to give a 90-second statement to help emphasise the importance of supporting efforts by the Cancer Council to raise...
- Abbott Government (1 speech)
Sometimes it is worth reflecting on in this House that as representatives of the Australian people we have a responsibility to ensure we are informing our constituents and the broader Australian...
- Electorate of Kingston: Small Business (1 speech)
Throughout the month of November, the Shop Small campaign is being held across Australia. This is an incredibly important movement that promotes the efforts of the hundreds of thousands of...
- Victoria State Election (1 speech)
I rise to speak on an issue of utmost concern to all Victorians—the future of our state. This Saturday, people in Victoria will go to the polls and they will be presented with a stark...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Boothby Electorate: Olympic Dam (1 speech)
In 2012, South Australians were disappointed by the decision by BHP Billiton to shelve a $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs. Olympic Dam is one of South Australia's most...
- Robinson, Sapper Rowan, Kingscliff Memorial Walk (1 speech)
I rise to speak about an important local event held in my electorate last Thursday, which was the dedication of new plaques at the memorial walkway at Kingscliff and the presentation of a...
- Orange Airport Expansion Project (1 speech)
I proudly rise to talk about Friday's opening of a new terminal at the Orange Airport. This project is part of the broader Orange Airport expansion project which is expected to be completed by...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
On behalf of the Kingsford-Smith community, I wish to condemn the Abbott government for cutting $254 million from the budget of the ABC over the next five years and for deceiving and misleading...
- Higgins Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
In this place we often debate the role of government—its size and breadth, and those areas where public policy affects our society and its people. However, it is important for all members...
- CRS Australia (1 speech)
It is with great sadness that I stand here today, because CRS Australia is scheduled to close. Prior to entering politics, I worked for CRS Australia. It is a wonderful organisation. It was...
- Macarthur Electorate: Light Up Camden (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Camden Chamber of Commerce and Industry on supporting Light Up Camden as well as the event organisers and Camden residents for a wonderful Christmas...
- Lalor Electorate: Homestead Financial Group (1 speech)
Last Thursday, I was proud to attend a special event: a financial services oath-taking ceremony in my electorate. Vern Fettke is a justice of the peace, a bail justice and the principal of...
- Pearn, Mr Verdun Edward (1 speech)
The death of Verdun Edward Pearn in September marked the end of an era for the small rural town of Westbury in the northern part of my electorate of Lyons, a town which for nearly 30 years has...
- Iraq and Syria (2 speeches)
Recently I had the opportunity, together with the Chief Government Whip, to make a field visit to the Middle East to assess the impact of the crisis in Syria and Iraq. No-one could come away from...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Withers, Senator Reginald Greive (1 speech)
I rise to speak on this condolence motion as perhaps the only member of the House of Representatives and also the Senate who served contemporaneously with Reg Withers. He was born in 1924. He...
- Goss, Hon. Wayne (4 speeches)
With the passing of Wayne Goss, Queenslanders have lost one of their finest leaders. Wayne changed Queensland, the state we love, for the better. He dragged it into the sunlight after 32 years in...
