House debates
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
- Economics Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Economics I present the committee's report entitled Review of the Reserve Bank of Australia annual report 2014 (first report), together with the minutes of...
- Economics Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I present the following reports together with the minutes of proceedings: Revisiting recognition: Report on the roundtable...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Richmond Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
Before the election, the Prime Minister promised that there would be no change to pensions. He said on SBS news on 6 September 2013: No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to...
- Bennelong Electorate: Ermington West Public School (1 speech)
I rise to inform the house of a remarkable young student who attends Ermington West Public School in my electorate. Students at this school take part in a regular volunteering session with the...
- Reclink National Program Funding (1 speech)
Well over 10,000 disadvantaged people every year have accessed a total of 90,000 sport and recreation opportunities through Reclink Australia. This has helped greatly people reporting social...
- Mallee Electorate: Regional Newspapers (1 speech)
I rise to talk in the Australian parliament about my concerns with Fairfax Media wanting to cut regional journalism. One thing about country communities is that they need to be able to tell their...
- Pensions (1 speech)
I stand today on behalf of the 11,602 age pensioners of Lalor. These people may have voted for this government. They may have been reassured by the Prime Minister's declaration that there would...
- McMillan Electorate: Toora Post Office, Parkes Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
Thirty-six thousand five hundred days ago the local post office opened in Toora. I was there for the 100th anniversary celebration. I received a very special thank you card: To Russell Thank you...
- Scullin Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
In the time that I have been in this place, one of the very great privileges I have enjoyed has been to be able to engage with seniors groups and pensioners groups in the Scullin...
- Fisher Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the Bruce Highway between Mooloolaba and Caloundra interchange—a critical piece of infrastructure for the people of the Sunshine Coast. I welcome to the new...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
Before the election we remember well the Prime Minister's promise that there would be no changes to pensions—yet in his very first budget he launched an unprecedented attack on pensioners....
- 457 Visas (1 speech)
The Bowen Basin and regional service centres on the central Queensland coast are ground zero for job losses, with a far more devastating impact on the national economy than the cessation of car...
- Canberra Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
This government should be ashamed of its unprecedented attacks on pensioners. The Prime Minister promised before the election that there would be no change to the pensions. This is one of the...
- Calare Electorate: National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
Today was a great day for the east of my electorate and also for the Western Sydney Area Health Service, which goes from Penrith out to Lithgow, with the announcement of the early rollout of the...
- Makin Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
There are over 18,300 aged pensioners in the Makin electorate, which I represent, and over 206,000 in the state of South Australia. Before the election they were not told by the Abbott government...
- Banks Electorate: Girl Guides (1 speech)
I want to speak this afternoon about some recent visits I made to Girl Guides associations in my electorate. There is a strong Girl Guides tradition in the electorate of Banks, with five groups...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
'No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS'—the words of the Prime Minister a matter of days before the last federal...
- Bereavement (1 speech)
When a close family member or friend passes away, it can be a very distressing time. It is very common for people to be unsure about what needs to be done or what processes are necessary. An...
- Bendigo Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
When I talk to the many age pensioners in my electorate—and there are a lot in the electorate of Bendigo: in fact, 18,500—they talk to me about the despair and lack of hope they have...
- Brisbane Electorate: Hear and Say (1 speech)
I am delighted to update the House on a recent visit to the new Hear and Say facility based in the electorate of Brisbane on 12 March 2015. Hear and Say was established by Dr Dimity Dornan AO in...
- Science meets Parliament 2015 (1 speech)
I want to welcome and acknowledge all the participants at Science meets Parliament, who are up in Canberra today and tomorrow, and I want to thank them for their ongoing contribution to our...
- Solomon Electorate: Simpson Prize (2 speeches)
On Monday I had the pleasure of meeting two of my electorate's brightest students, Gabrielle Schiller and Lucy Frost, right here in Parliament House. Gabrielle is from Darwin Middle School, in my...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Mr Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH (2 speeches)
I move: That the House record its deep regret at the death on 23 March 2015 of Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH, former Prime Minister of Singapore, and place on record its acknowledgement of his role as the...
- Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the resumption of debate on the Prime Minister's motion of condolence in connection with the death of Lee Kuan Yew be referred to the Federation Chamber. Question...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time this week. He is in Hong Kong promoting our interests at a series of investment conferences. The...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Has the minister been given a guarantee that there will be no further cuts to her portfolio? What prompted this guarantee? Does the minister...
- Great Barrier Reef (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the actions the government is taking to protect the Great Barrier Reef?
- Pensions and Benefits (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government has ruled out further cuts to foreign aid, will the Prime Minister also rule out his $80 a week cut to pensions?
- Iraq and Syria (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the increasing number of children and teenagers being drawn into the crimes of the Daesh death cult?
- Age Pension (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the government has ruled out further cuts to foreign aid, will the Prime Minister also rule out increasing the pension age to the highest in the...
- Asylum Seekers (14 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister.
- Child and Forced Marriage (15 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to combat the illegal practice of forced marriage?
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise that we have with us a special envoy from the President of Armenia. She is the Minister of Diaspora. We make her most welcome. We also have with us officers including from 20...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (17 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the government has ruled out further cuts on foreign aid, will the Prime Minister, for the benefit of the hypocrites seated behind him, also rule out a...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the importance of building a strong and prosperous economy, and what positive signs have emerged in the Australian economy in recent months?
- Budget (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government has ruled out further cuts to foreign aid, will the Prime Minister also rule out cutting $9½ billion to New South Wales...
- Infrastructure (9 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on action the government has taken to improve...
- Disability Services (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government has ruled out further cuts to foreign aid, will the Prime Minister now also reverse his cuts to the More Support for Students with...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister inform the House of recent court decisions relating to violence and...
- Higher Education (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government has ruled out further cuts to foreign aid, will the Prime Minister also rule out cuts to higher education?
- Homelessness (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to support the homeless?
- Budget (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has ruled out further cuts to foreign affairs but today refused to specifically rule out cuts to pensions, cuts to schools,...
- Bank Deposits (18 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House—on the government's plans to protect the savings of Australians, particularly senior Australians,...
- Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
- Budget (3 speeches)
I should also correct the record in one small respect. I was quoting public hospital funding in New South Wales from memory. I said it was nine per cent, nine per cent and nine per cent and eight...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (20 speeches)
I seek to make a personal explanation.
- 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.
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Age Pension (43 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Jagajaga proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The urgent need for the...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Australian Defence Force (2 speeches)
I ask leave of the House to make a ministerial statement relating to mental health in the Australian Defence Force. Leave granted. I rise with a great sense of responsibility to deliver this...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (3 speeches)
As I was saying before the adjournment, before the Aucote decision the Seacare scheme was understood to apply to around 330 ships. Following the decision, the Seacare scheme could cover as many...
- Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Consideration in Detail (2 speeches)
I present the supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill, and I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) and (2), as circulated together. Leave granted. I move government...
- Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; 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.
- Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Second Reading (11 speeches)
I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this bill, the Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015, because it means that, after 18 months of dithering, delays...
- Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill, and I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (8), as circulated, together. Leave granted. I move government...
- Public Governance and Resources Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015; 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 Border Force Bill 2015, Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Border Force) Bill 2015; Second Reading (6 speeches)
I rise to speak on the Australian Border Force Bill 2015 and the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Border Force) Bill 2015. Labor supports this reform, which delivers on a...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
In my statement today as Chair of the Petitions Committee, I would like to focus on some of the rules for petitioning the House, in particular the rules around signatures. The most important rule...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Melanoma (10 speeches)
I move: That this House notes that: (1) Melanoma March takes place this month and will involve hundreds of Australians around the country participating in community walks to raise awareness of...
- Cyclone Pam (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam on the people of Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati; (2) recognises the enormous destructive force of Cyclone Pam and...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Education (1 speech)
There is no more important role of government than providing young Australians with access to a decent education. Education is the great enabler. It is the springboard to a decent job and...
- Petition: Fuel Prices (1 speech)
Australians everywhere have rightfully been relieved at the recent break in the increase in petrol prices over the end of last year and into January. However, in parts of regional Australia these...
- Economy (1 speech)
I rise tonight to congratulate the Prime Minister and the Treasurer on the recent announcement that Australia does not have a debt problem, and that we will not have a debt problem in the...
- Bonner Electorate: NBN (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on one of the most important issues in my electorate of Bonner. This issue is a lack of fast and reliable internet broadband. I am here to update the House on broadband...
- New South Wales State Election (1 speech)
New South Wales goes to the polls on Saturday and, whilst every election is about choice, few are as defined by a single idea as is the case this time. On the one hand is the Liberal government's...
- Braddon Electorate (2 speeches)
When I went to the people of Braddon to seek their vote at the 2013 federal election, I outlined quite clearly my commitments and goals for the electorate. I made local community based...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Blair Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
The former federal Labor government left a lasting legacy of improved community infrastructure across the electorate of Blair, from the $500,000 for the Toogoolawah Cultural Precinct, the...
- Budget (1 speech)
I want to discuss a matter of keen interest to people in my electorate. It is very important to distinguish between the two distinct phases of the coalition's economic management in this...
- Chisholm Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
On Friday, I hosted a very important community forum in my electorate to discuss the impact the Abbott government cuts have had on organisations in my community. Organisations from across my...
- Boothby Electorate: Environment (1 speech)
I rise to provide an update about new Green Army projects in my electorate. But before I do I would like to thank Cooper Smith from Ipswich Grammar School for his assistance. Cooper visited...
- Makin Electorate: Bushfires (1 speech)
Between 2 January and 8 January this year, there were devastating bushfires in the Adelaide region in an area surrounding Sampson Flat. When the fires were eventually brought under control, 27...
- Fisher Electorate: Glasshouse Mountains Sports Club (1 speech)
Before making my comments about the electorate today I would like to welcome the nine young Queenslanders who are here today as part of the National Schools Constitutional Convention: Maddi from...
- Anzac Centenary (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the efforts of those involved with the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program in the Scullin electorate. The Anzac tradition plays an important part in Australia's collective...
- McMillan Electorate: Anglican Church of Australia (1 speech)
On 21 March this year, I was pleased to be present for the installation of our new bishop, Bishop Kay Goldsworthy, to lead the Gippsland Anglicans. Bishop Kay Goldsworthy, who is the first woman...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
Labor fully supports today's calls by the mental health sector, calling on the Prime Minister to maintain funding for mental health services. The government needs to come clean, by announcing its...
- Cyberbullying (2 speeches)
On 22 February 2014, Charlotte Dawson took her own life. The circumstances surrounding her death are not yet known; however, it was publicly known that Charlotte had a long battle with depression...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Deregulation (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the previous Labor Government introduced more than 21,000 additional regulations in five and a half years and as a consequence, Australia:...
- Brain Injury (7 speeches)
I seek leave to amend the motion standing in my name. Leave granted. I move the motion as amended: That this House: (1) recognises: (a) that Brain Injury Awareness Week will be held from 9 to 15...
- Tuberculosis (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day (WTD); (b) WTD is a designated WHO global public health campaign and is an annual event that marks the anniversary...
- Research, Development and Innovation (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) congratulates the Australian researchers at Monash University and Amaero Engineering Pty Ltd who created the world's first 3D printed jet engine; (2) recognises that:...
- Cruise Liner Industry (10 speeches, 2 comments)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) the cruise liner industry makes a significant contribution to the regional economies of Sydney, Fremantle, Brisbane and Melbourne; (b) sulphur...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
In just two days time this parliament will rise for the final time before the 2015 budget. The next time we sit, the Treasurer will hand down his second budget and yet in health, as in so many...
- Heritage Conservation (1 speech)
Australia needs a national heritage and arts lottery. I raised this idea last week and, frankly, the response from the broader community—especially from those organisations involved in...
- Abbott Government (4 speeches)
I know you are very aware, Mr Deputy Speaker, that International Talk Like a Pirate Day is not until Saturday, 19 September. I know it is a big day in your calendar. I know that the member for...
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak on behalf of the electorate of Lalor—my community. My community has really felt the impact of the 2014 budget initiatives, as they are called, and the cuts announced...
- East West Link (3 speeches)
I rise in this evening's grievance debate to again call on state Labor and federal Labor to reverse their opposition to the East West Link and just build it.
