House debates
Monday, 16 March 2015
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Religious Pilgrimages; Statements (1 speech)
As Chair of the Petitions Committee, in my last statement I discussed the role and origins of the Petitions Committee. Today, I will discuss the petitions that are considered by the Petitions...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Small Business (19 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) small and medium businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy and employment; (b) an effective infrastructure...
- New South Wales Seniors Week (15 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 14 to 22 March is New South Wales Seniors Week, a week that acknowledges their contribution to the community; (b) older Australians make an enormous...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Kumar, Mrs Prabha Arun (1 speech)
Last Friday evening, I joined Adelaide's Indian community at a candlelight vigil dedicated to the life of Prabha Arun Kumar. The vigil was held at the Indian Australian Association of South...
- Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (1 speech)
Last week—and I think I speak on behalf of all Tasmanians—we welcomed the $200 million commitment to expand the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to include all exports out of the...
- Indi Electorate: Rural Leadership (1 speech)
I am delighted to welcome to parliament today participants of the Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Program who are in Canberra on their study tour. Regional Victoria has a commitment to...
- Swan Electorate: Minister for Health and Sport (1 speech)
Although it is not the first time the minister has been to Swan, I was very pleased to welcome Minister Ley to my electorate for the first time in her capacity as the Minister for Health and...
- Lalor Electorate: Wyndham Legal Service (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the Wyndham Legal Service. Like other community legal centres across Australia, it is facing cuts to its funding from the federal government. Wyndham Legal Service had...
- Barton Electorate: Kogarah High School (1 speech)
I would like to thank Kogarah High School in my electorate of Barton for hosting the Shunde Golden Phoenix Little Art Troupe in their school on Tuesday last week. In particular, I would like to...
- Parramatta Electorate: Ride2School Day (1 speech)
On Friday I joined Darcy Road Public School in Wentworthville as they celebrated Ride2School Day. It was not the first time; Darcy Road Public hosts a ride to school morning every year, aimed at...
- Disability Services: Youngcare (1 speech)
We have a major issue surrounding young disabled people with high care needs. We all know stories of families wanting to keep them at home in the home environment. But sometimes the care needs...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Brien Holden Vision Institute (1 speech)
Today a very important meeting of global health experts and practitioners is taking place at the University of New South Wales in my electorate. It is an initiative of the Brien Holden Vision...
- Hughes Electorate: Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program (1 speech)
Last Friday, alongside the current member for Menai and candidate for Holsworthy in the coming state election, Melanie Gibbons MP, and the Liverpool Mayor, Ned Mannoun, I was particularly pleased...
- Defence Personnel (1 speech)
I rise again to raise my concern about the damage that the Abbott government is doing to the Department of Defence. Ever since the election, the Prime Minister has shown nothing but contempt for...
- Capricornia Electorate: Cyclone Marcia (1 speech)
Last week, I spent several days travelling through cyclone-ravaged parts of the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland. Primary producers and small businesses are hurting badly. There is still...
- Australia Post (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House that in my electorate on Saturday a group of Australia Post workers gathered together to protest and sign a petition calling on this government to change its plans for...
- Eden-Monaro Electorate: Country Shows (1 speech)
It is currently country show season across Eden-Monaro. In all, there will be 12 shows. In recent weeks, I have attended the Cobargo, Delegate, Dalgety, Cooma and Bemboka shows. All shows have...
- University of Queensland: Poche Centre for Indigenous Health (1 speech)
As shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, last week I had the privilege to attend the official launch of the University of Queensland's Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. This was an important...
- Reid Electorate: Meriden School (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate Meriden School in my electorate of Reid and , in particular , the school's tennis team which, over the weekend, was crowned world champions at the World Schools...
- Perth Electorate: St Patrick's Day (1 speech)
The green and gold were out in force in Leederville yesterday as the group Irish Families in Perth and the City of Vincent staged another brilliant St Patrick's Day parade and celebrated a...
- Bushfires (1 speech)
I want to thank the thousands of v olunteer firefighters who faced one of Western Australia's biggest challenges in fighting the enormous and complex fires that threatened Northcliffe and...
- Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
Despite proclaiming that the last Victorian state election was 'a referendum on the East West Link', the Liberal Party continues to flog this deadest of dead horses. The assistant minister for...
- Winmalee: Mobile Phone Towers (2 speeches)
I rise today with great concern for the community of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains in the electorate of Macquarie. Devastated by bushfires in October 2013, Telstra placed a temporary mobile...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Justice will be absent from question time this week while he attends the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan. The...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Higher Education (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that the government has backed down on its shameful attempt to hold 1,700 scientists and their work hostage for its own political purposes, will the...
- Cyclones (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the government's response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and other Pacific Island countries?
- Higher Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Sunday, the government made a clear threat to the jobs of 1700 scientists across the country for its own political purposes. Today the government has...
- Gun Control (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, representing the Attorney-General. Will the foreign minister update the House on action the government is taking to crack down on illegal firearms?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the member for Sydney, I would like to advise the House that we have with us His Excellency, Mr Xanana Gusmao, the former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, who is currently the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Higher Education (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to comments by Liberal Senator and former parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, Cory Bernardi, who said: 'Playing games with our scientists...
- Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the government claims asylum seeker children in detention in Australia are being freed—but in fact more than half of these children are...
- Infrastructure (3 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the importance of infrastructure investment as a key enabler of Australia's future prosperity? And how will we achieve...
- Higher Education (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Nobel prize winner, Professor Brian Schmidt, said about the government's shameful attempt to hold 1,700 scientists and their work hostage for its own...
- Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how expansion of the Tasmanian Freight...
- Minister for Agriculture (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that he was not privy to all the details of the sacking of the Secretary of the Department of...
- Broadband (2 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. What steps is the government taking to ensure the rollout of fast broadband to Australians and particularly people in my electorate of Banks?
- Minister for Agriculture (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer him to undertakings made at Senate estimates by the former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to provide a number of documents relating to...
- Trade with Asia (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister update the House on steps the government is taking to help business capitalise on the opportunities presented by the...
- Minister for Agriculture (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to reports that the Prime Minister's own department contacted Dr Grimes a number of times about his request to convene an extraordinary Senate...
- Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister please inform the House of the importance of a consistent approach in relation to border security. What are...
- Superannuation (7 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the Treasurer's proposal to allow early access for superannuation for housing, a proposal that the communications minister has labelled a thoroughly...
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. I remind the minister that the Intergenerational report projects a decline in labour force participation over the next 40 years. So, Minister,...
- Superannuation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last question time the Prime Minister told the House: … we have made no changes to superannuation rules other than doing what we said we would do...
- Taxation and Superannuation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House on progress the government is making towards bringing certainty to Australia's tax and superannuation...
- Pensions (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to comments made by the Prime Minister that indexing the pension to only CPI is 'perfectly reasonable'. Does the Prime Minister also think it is...
- Road Infrastructure (7 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. I ask the minister to update the House on the benefits of the East West Link and outline the consequences of...
- Pensions (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to page 30 of the government's Intergenerational report, which says that, over the next 40 years, wages growth will be four per cent a year whereas...
- Food and Grocery Code (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister outline to the House the response to the government's new Food and Grocery Code and how it will protect small businesses who...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Superannuation (6 speeches)
I wish to add to an answer. And I want to assist the member for McMahon before we are on Q&A tonight, and refer him to this document: the Australian Labor Party policy document presented by...
- 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)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Budget (3 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the impact the Abbott government's harsh budget cuts are having on my community in Ballarat—particularly, the cuts to social services. It is fair to say...
- National Security (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on an increasingly frightening reality that we find ourselves in in the modern era. It is a very sad fact that many people across the globe and here at home seek to do us...
- Intergenerational Report: 2015 (1 speech)
Earlier this month the Treasurer released the long-awaited five-yearly Intergenerational report. Typical of the Treasurer and of the Abbott government, what should have been a non-political...
- Queensland: Cyclone Marcia (1 speech)
The recovery continues in Rockhampton and on the Capricorn Coast after the devastation caused by Cyclone Marcia. Last week, I travelled through the worst-affected areas, near Byfield, where the...
- Migration (1 speech)
In this very chamber two weeks ago, the Treasurer touted his Intergenerational report, declaring it: … an incredibly important document to start a serious conversation about the challenges...
- Local Government (1 speech)
I rise tonight to advise the House of the great work that is happening in my electorate with my four local mayors. John Brent is the Mayor of Scenic Rim Regional Council. Steve Jones is the Mayor...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Fraser Electorate: Community Festivals (1 speech)
Since the 1960s many measures of social capital in Australia have waned. On average Australians have fewer friends and know fewer of their neighbours. We are less likely to join organisations, to...
- Calare Electorate: Health Care (1 speech)
Friday the 13th does have its good side. Last Friday in Bathurst, Aboriginal health took a step forward when our Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, took the time when travelling from the coast to...
- Greenway Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
One of the great privileges of being a member of parliament is the opportunity one has to spend time with local schools and, when we have a non-sitting week, as we did last week, it is often a...
- Swan Electorate: Anti Alcohol Campaign (1 speech)
I rise to update the House today about an important issue in my electorate of Swan which I am pleased to inform the members saw a very organised act of people power win out against one of...
- Charlton Electorate: Ms Leanne Gardiner (1 speech)
Leanne Gardiner is an early childhood teacher at the Maryland Care and Early Education Centre. Leanne was one of three recipients from New South Wales to be recognised at the ASG National...
- South Australia: Employment (1 speech)
In February 2010 the South Australian Premier stood up at his party's campaign launch and promised to create 100,000 new jobs by 2016. At the time, people said it was the sort of promise he might...
- Women's Legal Service Tasmania (1 speech)
On International Women's Day, I together with my federal Labor Senate colleagues senators Bilyk, Brown, Polley, Singh and Urquhart launched a petition and called on the community to sign the...
- Drought (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the agricultural white paper, which the government is embarking upon. The process started with an agriculture green paper, which will turn into a white paper. At the...
- Lalor Electorate (1 speech)
) ( I rise today to inform the House of a successful student representative council forum held in the Lalor electorate on Wednesday, 11 March. This is a process that I have initiated within the...
- Superannuation (2 speeches)
) ( There has been discussion in the media and between various members of parliament recently about the possibility of using superannuation for a home deposit. I would like to put on the record...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Baha’is in Iran (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the widespread and systematic campaign of persecution of Baha'is in Iran, with more than 110 Baha'is currently imprisoned due to their religious beliefs; (2)...
- International Mother Language Day (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) since 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognised International Mother Language Day (MILD) on 21...
- Small Business, Broadband (14 speeches)
I move: That this House acknowledges that: (1) small and medium businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy and employment; (2) all Australians, including small business people,...
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced it will end its television coverage of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) at...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Tweed Hospital (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate New South Wales Labor for their commitment to invest in a major redevelopment of the Tweed Hospital. It was announced on 6 March that a Foley Labor government will invest...
- Whaling (1 speech)
I in no way rise to endorse New South Wales Labor. They have been an abject failure. I rise on a matter of importance to us all and which we can all support, and that Australia's efforts to...
- Johnstone, Ms Diane (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about a remarkable Canberran who has just recently been appointed a member in the general division of the Order of Australia, and she joins us here today. Di Johnstone was...
- Beerwah State School (1 speech)
In an era when we are all finding it hard to move, when we sit in front of televisions and computers, it was fantastic last week to join the children of Beerwah State School, who were part of the...
- Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards 2015 (1 speech)
Last Monday, I launched the Lake Macquarie Business Excellence Awards. This is the fourth year of the awards, which are designed for businesses of all sizes, new businesses, small businesses and...
- Banks Electorate: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (1 speech)
Last week I visited St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Riverwood. St Joseph's is a great school, drawing the majority of its students from the Riverwood, Peakhurst and Lugarno areas in my...
- Bruce Electorate: Ronald McDonald House (1 speech)
I had the pleasure last Friday night of attending the opening of a photographic exhibition at the Monash Gallery of Art Community Space in my electorate. It was around Ronald McDonald House at...
- Riley, Ms Gloria Stella (2 speeches)
I wish to place on record sincere condolences on the passing of Gloria Stella Riley on 8 March 2015, aged 73. Many members, senators and staff in this parliament will fondly recall Gloria, who...
- Fisher, Mr Paul and Mrs Jann (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the wonderful occasion of a local constituent's 60th wedding anniversary. I was very pleased last week to have the pleasure of meeting Paul Fisher. He popped into my office...
- Corangamite Electorate: Corangamite Medal (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the 2014 recipients of the Corangamite Medal. The Corangamite Medal is an annual award I initiated which recognises outstanding citizenship in students. Congratulations go...
- Canberra Electorate: HerCanberra Magazine (1 speech)
Last Thursday I attended the launch of the HerCanberra magazine down at the Hyatt Hotel. The HerCanberra magazine is the next phase of the journey for Amanda Whitley, who a number of years ago...
- Macquarie Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I am delighted to rise today to focus on an announcement made last week to ease congestion in Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains. I am pleased that this government and the current New South Wales...
- Canberra Electorate: HerCanberra Magazine (4 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I was just wondering if I could table the 15 names because I did not get through them all.
- Shortland Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
I am really pleased to announce grant funding of $34,000 to produce commemorative medals marking the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. These grants were made through the Anzac Centenary Local...
- Dobell Electorate: Cancer Council's Relay for Life (1 speech)
This year marks the 15th anniversary since the start of Mingara Central Coast Cancer Council's Relay for Life event. This past Saturday I joined with representatives from the Central Coast Cancer...
- Harmony Day (1 speech)
This 21st of March will be the 15th occasion where we as a nation have celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day has been an important part of the multicultural calendar over that 15 years. It is all...
- Lyne Electorate: Clark, Mr Rowan and Ms Anna (1 speech)
I want to congratulate a farming family in my electorate, Rowan and Anna Clark, from Rupertswood, near Hagley, in the Meander Valley, in northern Tasmania. They have found a novel way of showing...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
I rise to thank all of those members, and you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for supporting the ovarian cancer fundraising campaign I ran through this parliament, and the morning tea I had in Shortland...
- Capricornia Electorate: Cyclone Marcia (1 speech)
I refer to the devastation to small business on the Capricorn Coast caused by Cyclone Marcia. The damage bill exceeds $200 million. As the recovery phase continues, one of the best ways we can...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
Today in question time the Prime Minister once again sought to try to justify the government's position on pension indexation by saying that the pension will not be cut. But let us be really...
- Sun Smiles Project (1 speech)
Last week I had the pleasure of launching an amazing initiative in my electorate: the Sun Smiles project. The Sun Smiles project seeks to address the declining state of children's dental health....
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I welcome the interparliamentary group from other parliaments in our region. Welcome, on behalf of everyone here.
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- New South Wales Seniors Week (1 speech)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to add to your welcome. This morning I moved a private member's motion in the House relating to New South Wales Seniors Week and to seniors. I would like to...
- Vanuatu: Cyclone Pam (1 speech)
I rise to offer my heartfelt sympathies to the people of Vanuatu. As with any natural disaster, the estimates about the loss of lives, injuries, displacement and damage bills are constantly...
- Porte, Mr Richie (1 speech)
In the early hours of this morning, Launceston's Richie Porte won the Paris-Nice cycling race, often referred to as the race to the sun. In doing so, he has added yet another chapter to...
- Parramatta Electorate: 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers (1 speech)
Last week, I joined one of Parramatta's oldest and finest regiments, the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers for their 130th regimental dinner, celebrating another year of extraordinary...
- Forde Electorate: School Leaders (1 speech)
It is with much joy that I stand here today to speak about some of our wonderful young school leaders. I very much enjoy meeting with young people in our community who are committed to...
- Franklin Electorate: West Winds Community Centre (1 speech)
I would like to congratulate the West Winds Community Centre in my electorate on their 25th anniversary, which was held last week. The West Winds Community Centre is at Woodbridge in the channel...
- Queensland: Tourism (1 speech)
I want to issue an invitation to all those living in southern states to come to the great outback of Queensland this winter to get away from the cold and dreary days of southern Australia. Come...
- Longman Electorate: Longman Youth Leadership Forum (1 speech)
I rise to talk about the Longman Youth Leadership Forum. The Longman Youth Leadership Forum is all about investing in the next generation of young Australians, particularly in my local community....
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
I would like to talk about the Financial Assistance Grants—grants that were first created in 1975 by the then Labor government to enable local governments to provide roads and services in...
- Petitions: Broadband, Queensland Seafood Industry (3 speeches)
I wish to table two petitions on behalf of a Hinkler constituent. Both have been certified by the Petitions Committee as meeting all requirements. The first is on behalf of the landowners and...
- Employment (1 speech)
I rise to share with the House my concerns about the temporary employment visa program in this country. These visas are often referred to as 457, 417 or backpacker visas, and there are also the...
- Queensland State Election (3 speeches, 2 comments)
There has been a big change in Queensland. We have seen a change in government at the state level and, while I commit at every reasonable opportunity to work constructively with the new Labor...
- Newcastle Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I rise today to further outline the very strong case for an area in my electorate to be included in the priority rollout schedule of the National Broadband Network. The suburb of Thornton is...
- East West Link (2 speeches)
I rise in this afternoon's grievance debate to again call for the state Labor government to see common sense and to construct the East West Link. This is a vital project for Melbourne. It is a...
