House debates
Monday, 23 February 2015
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Longwarry: Pharmacy Services; Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Environment; Statements (1 speech)
In my last statement as chair of the Petitions Committee, I spoke about the role members play in bringing petitions to the attention of the House. Today I will discuss the effects that...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Child Care (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) Family Day Care (FDC) is a flexible, quality early education program in Australia that: (i) provides flexible programs that cater to the...
- Greste, Mr Peter (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) celebrates the release of Mr Peter Greste by the Egyptian Government; (2) commends the Greste family on its courage, resilience and grace for more than 400 days; (3)...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's first report of 2015, addressing referrals made in October 2014. Report 1/2015: referrals made October...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- McLeod, Mr Connor (1 speech)
I am very pleased to congratulate a remarkable young man, 13-year-old Connor McLeod, from Oakhurst in Sydney. Last year, the member for Chifley and I met with Connor and his mum, Ally, to talk...
- Food Labelling (1 speech)
When I was still farming, my wife and I holidayed in Vietnam. When we were in Ho Chi Minh City, a young girl came up to us and she was begging. We went with her, and she wanted us to buy her some...
- McLeod, Mr Connor (1 speech)
So often, we as MPs gain inspiration from events in our own electorates, and hearing about the personal triumphs of our constituents, sometimes against the odds, fills us with awe. I wanted to...
- Foreign Investment (1 speech)
Recently I had the pleasure of hosting the Prime Minister, the Treasurer, and the Minister of Agriculture at a property in Murrumbateman in my electorate. The Prime Minister announced new...
- Greyhound Racing (1 speech)
Last week's exposure of the sickening and apparently common practice of live baiting of racing greyhounds in Australia shows that the welfare of animals in this industry—the dogs, and the...
- Chinese Club of Queensland (1 speech)
I rise to thank the Chinese Club of Queensland and President Michael Chan for inviting me to be part of their wonderful annual Chinese New Year dinner. This year was no exception. It was a...
- Kingsford Smith Lunar New Year Festival (1 speech)
On Saturday evening I joined representatives from Botany Bay City Council, the University of New South Wales, the Kingsford Chamber of Commerce and the Confucius Institute to host the inaugural...
- Juvenile Arthritis Fundraiser (1 speech)
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Mary Kranitis, the founder of the Juvenile Arthritis Fundraiser organisation. Mary and her husband, John, founded the organisation in 2007 to raise...
- Adelaide Terminal Control Unit (1 speech)
In 2017 Air Services Australia proposes to transfer the Adelaide Terminal Control Unit from the Adelaide airport control tower to Melbourne. Forty-three traffic-control workers currently work at...
- Food Labelling Laws (1 speech)
A lot of Australians were quite shocked last week at the frozen berry hepatitis A scare and the infections that were happening across our community. What I am getting from this is that consumers...
- Hume Bank City2City (1 speech)
Today I would like to congratulate Albury Wodonga Health for the success of yesterday's Hume Bank City2City Run Walk. What a fantastic event! More than 3,500 people from as far away as Corryong...
- South Australian Country Press Awards (1 speech)
I was privileged to attend the South Australian Country Press Awards last Friday night. This event is akin to the Oscars for the South Australian regional media and the competition in...
- Griffith Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
Recently I held a ceremony to congratulate the winners of the Griffith Australia Day Awards—a set of awards instituted by my predecessor, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd MP. I was very...
- Forde Electorate: Calyn Hoad and Dana Prokic (1 speech)
I would like to start by wishing our very own superhero, the 2014 Pride of Australia Child of Courage award winner, Calyn Hoad, a very happy 9th birthday. It has been almost 17 months since Calyn...
- Werribee Rotary Club Annual Charity Golf Day (1 speech)
I rise today to show some appreciation for the Werribee Rotary Club, who held their annual charity golf day on Friday at the Werribee Park Golf Club. I attended a dinner that evening with some...
- Aviation Heritage Museum, Western Australian Airways (1 speech)
As part of the government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program, RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum Bull Creek, in my electorate of Tangney, has been awarded a grant of nearly $81,000. John Park,...
- TONGS, Captain Bede George Donald, OAM, MM (1 speech)
It is with profound sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to a great Canberran, Captain Bede George Donald Tongs, who passed away on 14 January, aged 94. Sent off at the tender age of 22, Bede...
- Cyclone Lam (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House of the devastating impact Cyclone Lam had on some of our most remote communities in the Northern Territory over the weekend. The declared state of emergency area...
- Helal, Dr Mike (1 speech)
I rise to speak in recognition of the outstanding achievements of a 28-year-old active and dedicated community member, Dr Mike Helal, who sadly last week lost his fight for life. Mike arrived in...
- Trade, Reid Fruits (2 speeches)
As most would know, three free trade agreements were signed recently with South Korea, Japan and most recently China. I was very pleased to have the Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Bandler, Mrs Faith, AC (3 speeches)
On indulgence, I wish to inform the House that our nation has lost a great champion of civil rights with the passing of Faith Bandler AC on 13 February. Faith Bandler spent her long and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Iraq (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister ever participated in any discussions where a unilateral deployment of Australian troops to Iraq was considered?
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on actions the government is taking to keep Australians safe from terrorism?
- Ukraine (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports in The Australian newspaper that the Prime Minister suggested unilaterally sending 1000 Australian troops to the eastern Ukraine last...
- National Security (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister advise the House of actions the government is taking to combat terrorism through countering the narratives of violent extremism?
- Government Debt (3 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. If projected government debt continues for 50 years, Australia's debt as a percentage of GDP will be less than the OECD average today and less than the US, the UK...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I advise the House that we have with us in the distinguished visitors gallery a delegation from the parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, led by the Hon. Wade Mark MP, Speaker of the House of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Law Enforcement (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister update the House on what tools the government is providing to allow our joint law enforcement agencies to protect our children?
- Hepatitis A (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister inform the parliament how many Australians have potentially been exposed to the contaminated frozen berries, and how many Australians...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer please outline the importance of building a strong and prosperous economy? What does this mean for Australians, including those in my...
- Hepatitis A (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture informed Senate estimates that 'We have not made changes on surveillance rates for berries broadly at...
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House on the government's action to reduce Australia's debt and deficit? What challenges are there to this approach?
- Hepatitis A (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When was any government department first advised that imported berries had been contaminated with hepatitis A, and how many Australians have potentially been...
- Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. I ask the minister to update the House on the recently released Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group report into teacher...
- Quarantine (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I refer the minister to the government's decision to amend the former Labor government's biosecurity reform bill to effectively abolish the...
- Child Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on the recommendations of the recently released Productivity Commission report on child care?
- Defence Procurement (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to an article in The Weekend Australian, by Paul Kelly, which states that the Prime Minister 'had struck a government-to-government deal of sorts...
- Green Army Program (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister update the House on the progress of the Green Army and how this new initiative will provide young Australians with practical...
- Defence Procurement (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the decision to exclude Sweden from the government's submarine selection process. The Prime Minister has said: … it's almost two decades...
- Industry (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. Would the minister outline how the recent antidumping reforms and other industry measures will help to level the playing field and provide...
- Australia Day Honours (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to evidence given in Senate estimates during question time today. Can the Prime Minister confirm that his office first raised awarding a knighthood...
- Work for the Dole (3 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Employment. Will the minister update the House on the rollout of the Work for the Dole scheme in my electorate and around the country? How is Work for...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance (1 speech)
His Excellency also presented to me an authority to administer to members the oath or affirmation of allegiance. I now lay the authority on the table.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 22 and 23 of 2014-15 (1 speech)
(): I present the Auditor-General's Audit reports for 2014-15—No. 22 Administration of the Indigenous Legal Assistance Programme: Attorney-General's Department and No. 23 Administration 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.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: I move that order of the day No. 6, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (18 speeches)
I acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri people, the traditional custodians of this land on which we are meeting and pay my respect to their elders past and present. I rise today to speak on the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Child Care (1 speech)
I rise tonight to talk about families. I welcome Prime Minister Abbott's changing rhetoric across the past two weeks around families. It is heart-warming to know that those of us on this side of...
- Small Business (1 speech)
Small business is the backbone of our nation. There are some two million small businesses across Australia, and well in excess of 20,000 across the Corangamite and Geelong regions. As I said in...
- Manufacturing (1 speech)
In the 1960s, manufacturing accounted for 25 per cent of the Australian economy. Today it has fallen to around eight per cent. The decline has been dismissively attributed by many to cheap labour...
- Calare Electorate: Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program (1 speech)
I rise this evening to speak about the success of the Australian government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program in my electorate of Calare, and I acknowledge that the previous government...
- Australian Constitution (1 speech)
I speak tonight about a topic very dear to my heart, the constitutional recognition of Australia's Indigenous peoples. The Prime Minister is committed to constitutional recognition, and I give...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
The time has come to accelerate the cause of the very fast train, otherwise known as the high-speed rail project. In my maiden speech to parliament I talked about the need for rural and regional...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Victoria: Public Transport Infrastructure (1 speech)
Less than three months ago the Andrews government came to power in Victoria. It has rolled up its sleeves and is getting to work on major public transport infrastructure, for the benefit of...
- Tasmania: Hospitals (1 speech)
Currently in the state of Tasmania, my beautiful state, the state government is undertaking a review into the provision of health services throughout the regions. I find it disturbing this...
- O'Grady, Mr Paul Francis (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to a great friend and mentor, Paul O'Grady, who passed away on 18 January this year aged 54. Paul grew up in Sydney's west and joined the Australian Labor Party at age...
- Corangamite Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
I rise today to reflect on the many ways in which our government is driving jobs growth across Corangamite and the Geelong region. At a time when manufacturing, in particular, is under pressure...
- Giles, Ms Campbel (1 speech)
Just after midnight on Friday, a friend and former work colleague Campbel Giles passed away after living beyond the time cruelly allotted to her after being diagnosed with cancer in 2012. Campbel...
- Petrie Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
I rise this morning with great news for the people of Carseldine: that the Lacey and Beams Road intersection will soon be upgraded. On 1 September last year, I called on the Brisbane City Council...
- Cunningham Electorate: Fundraising Events (1 speech)
I want to talk to the chamber today about a wonderful new trend I have observed in my local area. It is not so much that the event itself is unusual; it is just how often it is happening...
- Queensland: Cyclone Marcia (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the devastation suffered by many families in my electorate of Flynn which happened because of tropical Cyclone Marcia. This report is not complete, as there are many...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
Today I wish to raise the concerns of a number of constituents in my electorate over the issue of children in detention. I will start with the Bendigo chapter of Grandmothers Protesting against...
- Medical Workforce (2 speeches)
I am pleased to say there has been a breakthrough for people in my electorate of Robertson on the Central Coast of New South Wales who until now have been finding it difficult to find a local...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Auschwitz Memorial (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 27 January 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the allies; (b) over a million Jews and 150,000 non-Jews were murdered...
- Complementary Medicines (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the importance of complementary medicines and practices, including traditional Chinese medicines, to the international healthcare landscape; (b) that the...
- Taxation (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) the Government's failure to tackle multinational profit shifting in Australia; (b) every dollar that is avoided by multinational companies must...
- Human Rights: North Korea (7 speeches)
I move: That this House notes that the: (1) United Nations commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) released its report in March 2014; (2) report...
- Protection of Civilians (10 speeches)
I thank the House for the chance to move this private member's motion. I move: That this House: (1) stresses the superiority of collective security through the United Nations over unilateral...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Nikolopoulos, Mr Kostas (1 speech)
I rise to honour the life and work of Greek-Australian journalist Kostas Nikolopoulos, who sadly passed away in January leaving behind him an extraordinary body of work in political and Hellenic...
- Bennelong Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
The lunar new year is being celebrated around the world but the festivities can be no greater than in my electorate of Bennelong. The big event and street parade in Eastwood will be held this...
- Petition: Climate Change (1 speech)
I rise to speak on behalf of millions of Australians who are demanding real and urgent action on climate change, many of whom have signed the monster climate petition approved by the Standing...
- Sunnyfield Disability Services (1 speech)
Last Friday I had the honour of attending the official opening of the Sunnyfield Charmhaven community hub, which was recently renovated and expanded. Sunnyfield Disability Services have operated...
- Petitions: Climate Change (1 speech)
I am delighted today to present one part of a three-part monster petition that has been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. I support the call of the petition and call on the...
- Lyne Electorate: Agricultural Show Societies (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate the local agricultural show societies in my electorate of Lyne. Agricultural shows continue to provide an invaluable...
- Richmond Electorate: Health (1 speech)
I rise to speak about The Tweed Hospital and the fact that it is at breaking point and also that our local health system is in crisis. Local families in the Tweed deserve so much better. They...
- East West Link (1 speech)
I rise today to again draw attention to the growing community anger in my electorate of Deakin at the way the Labor Party has turned its back on the people of Melbourne's eastern suburbs in its...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
I rise to speak about children in immigration detention. The facts as presented in the recently released Human Rights Commission report entitled The Forgotten Children chillingly speak for...
- Foodbank Queensland (1 speech)
I am delighted to update the Federation Chamber on the exceptional work of Foodbank Queensland. During the Christmas and New Year period, I partnered with both Foodbank Queensland and Quest...
- Shortland Electorate: School Leaders (1 speech)
Last Friday, the state member for Charlestown and I hosted a morning tea for high-school captains, vice-captains and prefects in our electorates. We were overwhelmed by the maturity and insight...
- Economy (1 speech)
In March 1933, FD Roosevelt said the words: … the only thing we have to fear is fear itself … I say to the parliament that the Australian economic fundamentals are strong. We have low...
- Bendigo Electorate: Community Legal Centres (1 speech)
I call on the government to commit to funding community legal centres, particularly those in regional Victoria. I call on the government today to provide secure funding to ensure the future of...
- Criminal Justice System (1 speech)
Life is a lottery and there are no guarantees, but we do know that children brought up in a stable and caring family have greatly enhanced life prospects. For others, life can be much more...
- Franklin Electorate: Saluting Their Service (1 speech)
Late last year it was my pleasure to present a number of certificates of appreciation to local veterans in my electorate. Certificates of appreciation, as members would know, are provided through...
- Macarthur Electorate: Appin Primary School (1 speech)
On Friday last week, I had the great pleasure of visiting Appin Primary School in my electorate to congratulate them on becoming an Eco-School and achieving bronze accreditation, which took seven...
- Makin Electorate: Bombing of Darwin Commemoration Service (1 speech)
Last Thursday I attended a service at the Salisbury RSL commemorating the bombing of Darwin. Salisbury RSL President, Mick Lennon, summed up the importance of the occasion with this statement: At...
- Hasluck Electorate: Aged Care (1 speech)
The ties that bind us to our families and communities enrich our lives. Mature age should be a time to strengthen those ties, not cut them. That is why I am fighting for quality aged care for the...
- Scullin Electorate: Chinese New Year (1 speech)
On Saturday, I was honoured to attend the Whittlesea Chinese Association celebration of the lunar new year, the Year of the Goat, along with my colleagues and friends Bronwyn Halfpenny, the...
- South East Regional Hospital (1 speech)
On Friday, 20 February, I was delighted to attend and represent the federal government at the community open day of the South East Regional Hospital in Bega. There I was joined by the Governor of...
- Food Labelling (1 speech)
This week it has been revealed that certain brands of imported frozen berries grown and/or packaged in China are suspected of having infected Australians with hepatitis A through contamination...
- Clean Up Australia Day (1 speech)
On the first Sunday of March 1990, Australians held their first ever nationwide Clean Up Australia Day. Born out of the Clean Up Sydney Harbour event in 1989, which originated from a Clean Up...
- University of Newcastle (2 speeches)
Last Thursday, I went to the University of Newcastle for O week. I was out there with the state member for Swansea and some young Labor members. We had students and prospective students lining up...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Morning Tea (1 speech)
Last Friday, I held a morning tea with the popular Prime Minister. It was attended by representatives of a broad range of community groups, including RSLs, Meals on Wheels, Rotary, Lions, church...
- Fraser Electorate: Belconnen (1 speech)
My office is currently running a campaign to keep the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Belconnen. In conjunction with ACT MLAs Yvette Berry, Mary Porter and Chris Bourke, we are...
- Swan Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
The Centenary of Anzac is a milestone that every Australian should be humbled to be part of because without those who fought on our great nation's behalf on the shores of Gallipoli from 1914 to...
- Bendigo Electorate: St Kilian's Primary School (1 speech)
Today, I rise to share with the House some ideas from the St Kilian's Primary School students. Recently, I met with the student leaders and grade 6 students of St Kilian's Primary School and I...
- Swan Electorate: Youth Focus (1 speech)
Youth Focus is a community group in my electorate. I instigated a health committee report a few years ago into youth suicide and Youth Focus were the main drivers behind that. The CEO Jenny Allen...
- Franklin Electorate: A Taste of the Huon (2 speeches)
I would like to make the House aware of and encourage people to come down to my electorate for a wonderful festival 30 minutes south of Hobart called A Taste of the Huon. A Taste of the Huon this...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Canberra Electorate: Australian Public Service (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on an issue I have been campaigning on since I was elected, and that is the Abbott government's disdain, contempt and lack of respect for the Australian Public Service and,...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
I am extremely proud of my electorate of Dobell, but unfortunately there is one thing that no-one is proud of. Statistically, the electorate of Dobell has the second highest rate of domestic and...
- Community Television (1 speech)
I rise today because the future of community TV in Australia is under threat. Community TV stations are a powerful and important part of our society and democracy. They add diversity to our media...
- Australian Seafood Industry (1 speech)
Tonight I want to briefly talk about the Australian seafood industry, particularly professional fishermen and trawler operators within the Moreton Bay region, close to my electorate of Petrie. In...
- Interim Report on the 2013 Election (1 speech)
I rise today in the grievance debate to speak briefly about the interim report on the inquiry into the conduct of the 2013 federal election that was undertaken last year by the Joint Standing...
- Queensland: Cyclone Marcia (2 speeches)
I am standing here today to report on the devastating cyclone that ripped through Central Queensland on Friday to Saturday morning. It is very sad in a lot of respects because places such as...
