House debates
Monday, 25 May 2015
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the amended report of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation reports and private members' business for today. Copies of the report have been...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for today in the House and the Federation Chamber being as follows: (1) In the...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
) ( ): The following ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received:
- Statements (1 speech)
Madam Speaker, an important part of the role of the Petitions Committee is conducting community engagement by holding public hearings with petitioners and occasionally visiting schools to discuss...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
At the request of the member for Fairfax, I fix the next sitting as the day for presenting the Foreign Death Penalty Offences (Preventing Information Disclosure) Bill 2015.
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- National Volunteer Week (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (3) acknowledges that: (a) 11 to 17 May is National Volunteer Week (NVW); (b) the theme for NVW this year is 'Give Happy Live Happy'; and (c) the six million plus...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Terendak Cemetery (3 speeches)
On the 100th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, thousands of Australians made the journey to Gallipoli. The descendants of the fallen, as well as strangers, walked among the graves, read...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can cause significant and debilitating pain for hundreds of thousands of Australians; (2) acknowledges that...
- Death Penalty (9 speeches)
I move: That the House: (1) notes: (a) the execution in Indonesia by firing squad on 29 April 2015 of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, along with their fellow prisoners, Rodrigo Gularte,...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
Madam Speaker has received three messages from the Senate informing the House of the appointment of senators to certain joint committees. As the list of appointments is a lengthy one, I do not...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I wish to make a statement concerning the committee's decision on the appointment of the Auditor-General. The Joint Committee of...
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee's report entitled Report 448:review of the 2013-14 Defence Materiel Organisation Major Projects Report....
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports: Review of the declaration of Mosul district, Ninewa province, Iraq; and Review of the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2014-2015, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I declare that, unless otherwise ordered, at the adjournment of the House for this sitting the following bills stand referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration: Appropriation...
- Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2014-2015, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2014-2015, Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2014-2015; Second Reading (8 speeches)
It always pays, when you are looking at budgets and appropriations bills, to read the fine print; and, when you look at these appropriation bills, it is even more the case than in previous years....
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
I rise today to say congratulations Ireland on becoming the first nation to legalise marriage equality by popular vote on the weekend. Marriage equality is increasingly becoming the norm around...
- SA Motorsport Park (1 speech)
I rise to commend the Coorong District Council, the community of Tailem Bend and the Peregrine Corporation for working with the Commonwealth to secure the future of SA Motorsport Park, which will...
- Running for Premature Babies (1 speech)
In 2007, Kingsford Smith mum Sophie Smith experienced her worst nightmare when she lost her baby triplets following their premature birth at Randwick's Royal Hospital for Women. Devastated but...
- Pakenham Fire Brigade (1 speech)
The honour board at the Pakenham Fire Brigade reads, 'Whilst we have time, let us do good to all men,' Galatians 6:10. I was pleased to attend, as a family member, the Pakenham Life Members...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
Last Monday, the ANU released a very important evaluation on a project that a local legal centre had been conducting. The project is called 'Why didn't you ask?' It is a project of the Loddon...
- Lindsay Electorate: Relay for Life (1 speech)
Last Saturday and Sunday, the 16 to 17 May, we saw one of the most wonderful and iconic events in our wonderful city of Penrith—that is, the Relay for Life, which has been held in Penrith...
- Parramatta Electorate: Rath Yatra Festival (1 speech)
Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Rath Yatra festival in Parramatta. Rath Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, is one of the biggest and most auspicious Hindu festivals, and...
- Telstra (1 speech)
Like all members in this place, when we are out and about in our electorates, people bring a number of issues to our attention. Often it is not a big, national issue. Sometimes it can be the...
- Indi Electorate: Picnic Races (1 speech)
As you know, country racing may not have the glamour and the glitz of spring carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney, but they have much more in atmosphere and community spirit. My favourite part of...
- Casey Electorate: Anzac Day (1 speech)
As well as attending dawn services on Anzac Day, many of us attend other services throughout that day. In the electorate of Casey, the Mooroolbark community has a service at noon that has run for...
- Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
I stand to congratulate the people of Ireland on the decision they made a few days ago to grant LGBTI Irish citizens equal right to marriage. Ireland is one of the most religious countries in the...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Volunteering (1 speech)
Australia has just celebrated National Volunteer Week. In Hindmarsh, like all electorates, there are numerous volunteer organisations: Rotary, Lions, Apex, Neighbourhood Watch, Meals on Wheels,...
- Lalor Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
It is not surprising that one of my favourite roles in the position as member for Lalor is visiting schools. I visit schools for assemblies, to meet with student leaders, to have coffees with the...
- Murray Electorate: Manufacturing (1 speech)
I want to put on the record some of the extraordinary innovative manufacturing that takes place in my electorate of Murray. Take Yarroweyah Engineering. They developed a rotary dairy about 30...
- Defence Procurement (1 speech)
Claims of further cost blow-outs in the construction of Australia's air warfare destroyers, made by the Abbott government the day before the launch of HMAS Hobart on Saturday, are yet another...
- Gilmore Electorate: Berry Celtic Festival (1 speech)
The Berry Celtic Festival, now in its ninth year, is a celebration of all things tartan. Last Saturday was clear and dry—a relief to all the organisers, especially Noel Marshall, and...
- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (1 speech)
Around Australia there is a great deal of interest in the proposed Trans-pacific Partnership currently being negotiated. It has become an issue of considerable controversy, even in the United...
- East West Link (1 speech)
I rise today, again, to draw the attention of the House to the impact that traffic congestion is having on my home state of Victoria. Traffic congestion is a problem that will cost our economy...
- Sloan, Laureate Professor Scott, FRS (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute today to Laureate Professor Scott Sloan from the University of Newcastle. Professor Sloan was recently added to the prestigious Royal Society, a fellowship of the world's...
- Hume Electorate: Agriculture (2 speeches)
Some in this place forget that most Australians are aspirational. They want to be successful. Nowhere is this more apparent than in agriculture, where I have spent years coaching young leaders on...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Madam Speaker, I inform the House that the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time this week as he travels to Singapore for meetings with Singaporean government...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (32 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. New analysis from NATSEM reveals that a typical family will be more than $6,000 a year worse off because of the Prime Minister's budget. In light of this...
- Cohealth: Funding (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Melbourne is home to the country's only not-for-profit community pharmacy, run by the organisation cohealth, where doctors and pharmacists have worked side by...
- Infrastructure (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister outline to the House how the government is continuing to deliver the...
- Employment (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister describe his budget as a jobs budget when, according to his own budget papers, unemployment is rising to 6½ per cent and is...
- Small Business (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister inform the House how the government's jobs and small-business package will benefit the whole economy and, in particular, small...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I wish to advise the House that we have with us in the Speaker's gallery Mr Mike Symon, the former member for Deakin; and Mr Bob Shewring, Vice-President of the Vietnam Veterans Association,...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. New NATSEM modelling shows that a single-income working family on $65,000, with two children at school, will be more than $6,000 a year worse off by 2017. So...
- National Security (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the action the government is taking to protect our national security by preventing the radicalisation of...
- Budget (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister's unfair budget slash the household budget of 10,000 families in the electorate of Page?
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister update the House on what steps this government is taking to ensure that our agencies are working to ensure close and effective...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister believe that people working in Australia should get Australian wages and conditions?
- Education (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Will the minister inform the House of the importance of developing numeracy skills to equip our young people to perform well in the...
- Budget (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the government do any modelling of the impact of its cuts to families before the 12 May budget, and when will you release that modelling?
- Superannuation (11 speeches)
My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House on the government's commitment to protect the retirement savings of all Australians? Are there any...
- Asylum Seekers, Australian Customs Service (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister inform the House of the outcomes of the Australian Customs vessel Ocean Shield's recently completed 42-day...
- Superannuation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the election, the Prime Minister promised not to make any adverse changes to superannuation. Since the election, the Prime Minister has twice frozen...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Staff (2 speeches)
Madam Speaker, I should have notified you before that I have a brief question for you. There has been a convention in this place that no matter how much media attention has been given to...
- Questions in Writing (2 speeches)
I have a question for you under standing order 105(b) relating to questions in writing which have not been answered. Could I ask that you write to the Prime Minister seeking reasons why he has...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No.37 of 2014-15 (1 speech)
): I present the Auditor-General's Audit No. 37 of 2014-15 entitled Performance auditManagement of Smart Centres’ Centrelink telephone services: Department of Human Services. Ordered that...
- 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)
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (1 speech)
Conservatives usually like to remind people of the past. The Abbott Liberal government, however, are desperately hoping for an outbreak of collective amnesia: they want us to forget that they...
- Forde Electorate (1 speech)
It always gives me great pleasure to rise in this House and speak about some of the wonderful achievements of the people of the electorate of Forde. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity...
- Friday, Mrs Carol and Mr Greig (1 speech)
On Sunday I attended one of the most moving celebrations in my political career: the celebration of Carol and Greig Friday's lives—lives tragically cut short in the Airbus A320 crash in the...
- Hasluck Electorate: Stronger Communities (1 speech)
On Saturday, 7 September 2013, I made a pledge to the community of Hasluck—which was published in the local media—to engage with my constituents, because I believe that strong...
- Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
I am going to tell a love story. One night, my old friend Emma went to dinner at a friend's house and she met Cate, and they hit it off immediately. As time went on, they found that they really...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Budget (1 speech)
I rise this morning to speak on the announcement in the budget that the government has addressed a longstanding sore for rural and regional parents of students. By getting rid of the family...
- Riley, Ms Gloria Stella (2 speeches)
This is a eulogy offered by our friend Mal Washer for Gloria Riley. Mal worked with Gloria for just over 40 years. Gloria first came into' Mal's life when she started work at Green Road Medical...
- Forestry (1 speech)
Indeed, great news in the state of Tasmania last week and, in particular, in the very important economic driver that is forestry in my state. Last week the University of Tasmania vice-chancellor,...
- Australian Fuel Security (1 speech)
The upcoming closure of BP's Bulwer Island refinery will have a devastating impact on my electorate, with the loss of over 350 jobs. It also means that Australia now imports 91 per cent of its...
- Deakin Electorate: Centre for Regional Knowledge and Innovation (1 speech)
During budget week I was very pleased to announce that the Commonwealth will provide $3 million through the National Stronger Regions Fund towards the completion of a new Centre for Regional...
- Griffith Electorate: Paniyiri (1 speech)
I want to tell the parliament why I love Paniyiri. Paniyiri is a wonderful Greek festival held every year in Musgrave Park. It was an honour to attend yesterday's official proceedings as the...
- RAF Bomber Command (1 speech)
I want to commend the Australians who were in the RAF Bomber Command in World War II for a medal of recognition from Australia. They have only just received some recognition from the United...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
Mr Deputy Speaker, no doubt you, like many Australians, heard last week about the horrible treatment of Australian cattle in Vietnam. It reminded me of other incidents that the Australian...
- Durack Electorate: City of Greater Geraldton (1 speech)
Geraldton is home to at least three major businesses with significant international relevance. They underpin a diversified and robust economy. The CBH Group was established in 1933 and is...
- Pensions and Benefits (11 speeches)
During the last sitting I got all fired up at the prospect of speaking on the member for Hindmarsh's motion that was going to be put to the House, that the South Australian government should be...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Health: National Palliative Care Week (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that National Palliative Care Week (NPCW) runs from 24 to 30 May 2015; and (2) encourages all Australians to use NPCW as a conversation starter, to get together...
- National Volunteer Week (4 speeches)
According to Volunteering Australia, 6.1 million Australians take part in voluntary work. That accounts for about 36 per cent of the population. As we know, volunteers are probably the happiest...
- Regional Arts Fund (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) as a nation we have some of the world’s best artists, performers and administrators of the arts; (b) the recently held Regional Arts Australia...
- Indigenous Affairs (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that both Commonwealth and state governments have historically shared responsibility for the delivery of services to remote Indigenous communities; (2) condemns...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Australian Relief Organisation (1 speech)
It was my pleasure on Saturday to open the Victorian branch of the Australian Relief Organisation. This is a philanthropic organisation which was established in New South Wales in 2012. It is a...
- Northey, Ms Prue (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to recognise the outstanding work of a young volunteer in the Casey electorate, and that is Prue Northey from Mount Evelyn. In 2010, Prue joined Yarra Ranges Relay for Life...
- West Welcome Wagon (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the West Welcome Wagon, which recently won a $2,000 first prize from the Bendigo Bank Seddon Community Bank branch community pitch. The community pitch allows local...
- Central Coast Ice Summit (1 speech)
Last Friday I joined with the Central Coast Express Advocate to host the Central Coast's first ice summit. Over 300 people packed the Mingara Recreation Club to hear from our expert panel, ask...
- Richmond Electorate: Byron Youth Service (1 speech)
Last week I visited the Byron Youth Service to speak firsthand with them about the great work that they do with our community but also about the difficulties they are facing due to the many...
- Domestic Violence (3 speeches)
Just recently I wrote to the Prime Minister about the issue of family violence and domestic violence in general, because we have made a commitment to implement a national awareness campaign. My...
- Australia Council (1 speech)
It is bizarre and unacceptable that the budget has taken $105 million from the Australia Council when the council is in the first year of implementing the strategic plan that the minister himself...
- Brisbane Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
It was a busy time in my electorate of Brisbane last week, with three ministerial visits. First of all, we had the Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Scott Morrison, who visited Lyndhurst...
- Indi Electorate: Winton Motor Raceway (2 speeches)
I would like to share one of Indi's gems with the House: Winton—motor racing's bush capital—and last weekend's V8 super car race, to the entertainment of 15,000 visitors. Special...
- Deakin Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
Last week was a wonderful week for us in the Deakin electorate. We had the opportunity to celebrate some wonderful local small business stories. The Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson,...
- Scullin Electorate: St Monica's College (1 speech)
On Friday I was very pleased to welcome the member for Sydney, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, to the Scullin electorate. I was even more pleased to introduce her to the students and school...
- Lyne Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
Last week I visited many small businesses in Taree and Port Macquarie to talk about our recently released 2015 budget and the jobs, small business and family packages. These changes were very...
- Catherine Hill Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (1 speech)
On Saturday night I attended the Catherine Hill Bay Surf Lifesaving Club presentation. Catherine Hill Bay is the smallest of the five surf clubs in the Shortland electorate. They have 280 adult...
- Cominos, Mr James (1 speech)
Last Wednesday I farewelled James 'Jim' Cominos, a well-loved family and community man who arrived in Australia in 1951. Originating from the Greek island of Kythera, Jim was the second child in...
- Bendigo Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
There appears to be a theme arising out of the 90-second statements being made by government backbenchers. Lots of people from marginal seats are standing up and talking about fly-in fly-out...
- Manufacturing Transition Program (1 speech)
Today I pay tribute to the government's Manufacturing Transition Programme and the positive contribution it makes to Australian manufacturing and the wider community. This programme provides...
- Fairfax Media Limited (1 speech)
I want to report to the House about a rally that was held at the Wollongong mall on Saturday with about 300 locals. We gathered to express our extreme displeasure at the decision by Fairfax Media...
- Harris, Mr Graeme (1 speech)
I rise to talk about a man whose passion for Midland's future as a vibrant community and in business is unsurpassed. Graeme Harris, or 'Mr Midland', is passionate about the town of Midland, its...
- Ireland: Same-Sex Relationships (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate Ireland after the Irish people voted in favour of marriage equality over the weekend. The result was clear: 62 per cent of people voted in favour of amending the country's...
- La Trobe Electorate: Post Office, Officer Township (1 speech)
As all colleagues would be aware, post offices are such a vital central point of all communities in Australia—a bit like the RSL. Community associations in the township of Officer have been...
- Throsby Electorate: Newspapers (1 speech)
For 160 years the Illawarra Mercury has been telling local stories that matter to the people of the Illawarra and the South Coast. We hope that it is able to do that for 170 years. Last Saturday...
- Bennelong Electorate: Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal (1 speech)
I would like to inform the House about a fundraising drive happening this weekend in my electorate and across the country. It is, of course, the return of the Salvos fantastic Red Shield Appeal...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
It is no accident that the same man who worked tirelessly for two decades to end human slavery in the UK, Lord Wilberforce, also founded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to...
- Health Care (1 speech)
On Monday, 18 May, I had the great pleasure of hosting the Minister for Health for two consultative roundtable meetings in Eden-Monaro. My thanks go to Mayor Lindsay Brown for providing an ideal...
- Redhead Surf Lifesaving Club (1 speech)
Yesterday I attended the Redhead Surf Lifesaving Club presentation. Redhead is one of the largest surf clubs in the Shortland electorate. It has 804 members, 337 juniors and a very impressive 21...
- Fero Group (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a local manufacturing business in my electorate of Swan, the Fero Group, which are a local family-owned business. The Fero Group are working hard to develop their business...
- Newman, Ms Toni (1 speech)
It is with sadness that I have to take the opportunity in the Parliament today to report the passing of an absolutely wonderful trailblazing woman. Toni Newman died on 29 March after a long...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
As a local sports enthusiast and someone who has always been involved in a number of local sporting clubs during my life, it gives me great pleasure to recognise a number of exciting young sports...
- Catholic College Bendigo (1 speech)
I rise to share with the House a few of the comments that the Catholic College of Bendigo raised with me during their visit to parliament the last time we sat. I asked the group whether there...
- Shoalhaven Police Citizens Youth Club (2 speeches)
The life of a politician certainly is not dull and you know you are in for a big week when you look at the calendar and an event says, 'Ann must wear Velcro.' So looking at the diary, among the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That government business order of the day No. 1 be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Transport Infrastructure (1 speech)
I rise to speak on behalf of the frustrated commuters in my electorate whose daily struggle to get in and out of town has become a political plaything of Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party. This...
- Migration (1 speech)
Today I raise concerns about the circumstances of certain migrant communities in Australia. Last week I was speaking at a local citizenship ceremony and I said to those new Australian citizens...
- Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts (1 speech)
I rise today in this grievance debate to talk about how aggrieved Australia feels that George Brandis is the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts. Has there ever been a minister more...
- Forestry (1 speech)
I rise at this opportunity to talk about a meeting I had last week with my forestry operations. I have to say at the outset that I think forestry is a magnificent productive sector of our...
- Scullin Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
May I say how pleased I am, Madam Deputy Speaker Claydon, to be receiving the call from you. The Prime Minister might call himself the 'infrastructure Prime Minister', but he is not fooling...
- Medical Research (2 speeches)
I am truly fortunate to represent an electorate that contains some of the most brilliant medical researchers in our country. I have spoken before in this place about several exciting research...
