House debates
Thursday, 22 October 2015
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Petitions (1 speech)
I have a short statement on procedure. I inform the House that the Department of the House of Representatives will work with the Department of Parliamentary Services to develop an electronic...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the report from the Publications Committee. Copies of the report have been placed on the table. Report—by leave—agreed to.
- Publications Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip and the Chief Opposition Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; Second Reading (23 speeches)
Last night I thought I would have the opportunity to get up and speak in this debate on the Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, but I did not. But I...
- Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015; Consideration in Detail (9 speeches)
by leave—I move Greens amendments (1) to (4): (1) Title, page 1 (line 1), after "Customs Act 1901", insert "and the Migration Act 1958". (2) Clause 1, page 1 (line 5), after "Customs",...
- Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015, Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) 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.
- Customs Tariff Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) 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.
- Social Services Legislation Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015; Second Reading (5 speeches)
The coalition is today providing better support for young Australians by amending the means test for youth payments. As many parents, students and teachers in rural communities across the country...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
The new Prime Minister claims that he has fixed the NBN, but that is a myth. Let's have a look at the scoreboard. The cost of his second-rate NBN is up. He promised he could build it for...
- Western Australia: Local Government Elections (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate new councillors, shire presidents and mayors who were elected at the Western Australian local government elections on Saturday. But firstly I would like to recognise...
- Broadband (1 speech)
The Prime Minister of this country wants us to think he is some kind of technology guru at the same time as he builds an NBN out of old 2c coins. When you go to the detail of his second-rate NBN,...
- Canning Electorate: Agricultural Shows (1 speech)
I want to inform the House today that on 10 and 17 October I had the pleasure of attending the Karragullen Expo and the Waroona Show, as well as the Kelmscott Show. These shows demonstrated that...
- Indi Electorate: Elephant Youth Day (1 speech)
I would like to welcome to the House today Rebecca, who is volunteering in my office and has helped me with this speech. Rebecca has been involved in the Elephant Youth Day, a day held at...
- Kangaroo March (1 speech)
Thirty-six days, 520 kilometres and about 40 towns and villages, and hundreds of terrific yarns—the Kangaroo March re-enactment arrived in Campbelltown on 10 October, after more than a...
- Broadband (1 speech)
With all the Prime Minister's changes to the original version of the NBN, can we still call it an NBN? I am sure this is the question that plagues the new communications minister, with the mess...
- Sulfaro, Mr Ivan (1 speech)
I would like to take this occasion to congratulate Ivan Sulfaro, the winner of the 2015 Australian open 18s singles table tennis championships. Ivan was born and resides in my electorate in...
- Broadband (3 speeches)
What a mess this government has created when it comes to fast-speed broadband and the NBN. Before the election we knew exactly what was going to happen in the Bendigo electorate. We were on the...
- Defence: Williamtown Royal Australian Air Force Base (1 speech)
I rise to bring to the attention of the House and, in particular, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence a very important issue surrounding the people in my electorate of Paterson and...
- BlueScope Steel (1 speech)
Today the board of BlueScope meets to consider a recommendation from CEO, Paul O'Malley. If that recommendation is accepted, it will ensure that steel continues to be made in my electorate at...
- Robertson Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
I rise today to provide an update to the people of Kariong about the progress of our commitments to them. Construction is underway on the long-awaited 'missing link', the M1-M2, or NorthConnex,...
- Perth Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
The PM pledged before the last election that he would speed up delivery of the NBN, but he has in fact delayed the rollout as he has struggled to get his second-rate copper wire plan out of the...
- Mackellar Electorate: Veterans Centre (1 speech)
Last Friday, I had the privilege of opening the Veterans Centre Sydney Northern Beaches at Dee Why RSL Club. The event was well attended, with triservice representatives, veterans and many...
- National Broadband Network (1 speech)
What is it about Malcolm Turnbull, pretending he will be by your side and then bailing the minute you need him most. When he worked out that he could not destroy the NBN he got the coalition to...
- Health: Continuous Glucose Monitoring (1 speech)
Unlike the opposition we are not here to play politics but to talk about issues that matter to people. I want to bring to the attention of the Australian Parliament the issue of continuous...
- Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (1 speech)
Late yesterday the Liberals' $80 million taxpayer funded royal commission sank to a grubby new low. In an unprecedented attempted invasion of privacy the commission served a 'notice to produce',...
- Australian Paper Industry (1 speech)
Let me change the mood. What if I put a proposition to this House that the Greens, the Independents, Labor, the Liberal Party and the National Party can all agree on? What if I put a proposition...
- Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (2 speeches)
Today, we have seen an example of modern day McCarthyism, under the name of Malcolm Turnbull. Today, the royal commission has sought, by way of a 'notice to produce' order yesterday, the details...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last night in Senate estimates, the Prime Minister's Cabinet Secretary revealed that new cuts to family payments were linked to the government's childcare...
- Trade with China (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House how the passage of legislation enabling the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will create new and exciting...
- Family Payments (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Yesterday the minister was asked whether a grandparent carer raising a 15-year-old child will be $2½ thousand a year worse off. The...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon former senator and former minister the Honourable Ian Campbell. On behalf of the House we extend a very warm welcome. I also...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Trade with China (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment—the Makybe Diva of the House of Representatives! Will the minister advise the House of the new opportunities that will open for...
- Carers (7 speeches)
My question again is to the Minister for Social Services. Yesterday, when the minister was queried about his cuts to family tax benefits that will hurt grandparent carers, the minister answered,...
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When all the available coal in the Carmichael coalmine is dug up and burnt, how much greenhouse gas pollution will it produce? How many billions of tonnes,...
- Agriculture (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the minister update the House on the coalition government's free trade agreement with China, combined with other market...
- Family Payments (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. In an interview on Sky News just now the Minister for Social Services described the government's new family cuts like this: 'In the measures we...
- Trade with China (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister update the House on how innovative businesses will create more jobs by exporting environmental services because of the...
- Family Payments (14 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Emma Marks is a single mum from the electorate of Flinders who works in retail and has one child in school. In relation to the Prime Minister's...
- Financial Services (3 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How is the government providing greater choice and transparency in our financial sector? Will the Treasurer update the House on steps being taken by the...
- Family Payments (20 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Yesterday, when asked about the Liberal government's cuts to grandparent carers, the minister said, 'It's a very, very small cohort.' How many...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on what the government is doing to promote jobs, economic growth and innovation by supporting Australia's...
- Palmerston Regional Hospital (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects. Why has the government paid $56 million to the Northern Territory CLP government to dig a hole in Palmerston,...
- Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation, Prime Minister's Prize for Science (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister update the House on Australia's achievements in science and technology, particularly with respect to the...
- Marriage (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister allow his members a free vote on the plebiscite legislation he will put to the parliament and will the vote occur before the next...
- Child Care (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, it is a genuine thrill to get the call from you. My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister advise the House how the new families package will support...
- Marriage (9 speeches)
My question is the Prime Minister. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, in a submission to a Senate inquiry into a plebiscite on marriage equality, has said that putting the question of marriage...
- Infrastructure (7 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on what work is underway in Western Australia to create...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 5 of 2015-16 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Performance Audit Report No. 5 of 2015-16, entitled Implementation of audit recommendations: Department of Veterans' Affairs. Ordered that the report be made a...
- 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.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Economy (16 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for McMahon proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That order of the day No. 4, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Belconnen Magpies Football Club (1 speech)
For five years now, I have been a patron of the Belconnen Magpies Aussie Rules football club. It is a club with a proud history—originally known as Turner Football Club, then the Bees and...
- Braddon Electorate (1 speech)
The member for Fraser was going so well till the end! This weekend will see businesses, community organisations, sporting clubs and individuals come together for a heath check at the Rotary Club...
- Taxation (1 speech)
A week can be a long time in politics, and this week the government announced their new package for Family Tax Benefit and their new plans to cut Family Tax Benefit for many, many families here...
- National Security (1 speech)
So many Australians, including in my electorate of La Trobe, are greatly concerned about young people entering the path of violent extremism. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the men and women...
- Livingstone, Mr Donald Wallace (1 speech)
I would like to pay tribute to a good friend of mine who passed away on 15 October this year, Donald Wallace Livingstone. He was known as Don to all of us. Don was the Queensland state Labor...
- Housing Affordability (1 speech)
Housing its people is a fundamental duty for every government. This is why, as chair of the House Standing Committee on Economics, I commenced a home ownership inquiry. In a free enterprise...
- Trinity Christian School Trades Skills Centre (2 speeches)
Last Friday I had the great pleasure of attending the official launch of the Trinity Christian School Trades Skills Centre. Thanks to Labor a significant investment of $1.5 million was made in...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Guy, Mr Denis and Mrs Daphne (1 speech)
I rise today to speak in memory of two members of my constituency who have recently passed away. Denis and Daphne Guy grew up in adjacent villages in Hertfordshire, just north of London. During...
- Grass Ceiling Campaign (1 speech)
I rise today to offer my support to, and raise awareness of, an important campaign in my electorate—the Grass Ceiling campaign. The campaign has been the brainchild of the wonderfully...
- Corio Electorate: Greater Geelong Youth Council (1 speech)
This morning I want to inform the House about a trial that I am seeking to establish for a Greater Geelong youth council, which would be a forum for constituents living in the electorate of Corio...
- Bradfield Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
On Saturday, 7 November at 7 pm and on Tuesday, 10 November at 1.30 pm, two important events will occur at the Ku-ring-gai Town Hall in Pymble. The events will be a performance of a project...
- Canberra Electorate: Science (1 speech)
I have just returned to the parliament after enjoying a breakfast down at the Academy of Science's wonderful Shine Dome at the ANU. The breakfast was called to celebrate the winners of the Prime...
- Port Macquarie Swimming Club: Mr Tom Berryman, Yates, Mrs Pamela (1 speech)
Some weeks there are events that make you proud to be an Australian and proud to be part of a strong community. There was an event last week at the Port Macquarie Swimming Club in the Lyne...
- World Polio Day (1 speech)
I rise today in the House to acknowledge World Polio Day. World Polio Day is a very important occasion aimed at highlighting the need for the international community to focus on eradicating...
- Murray Electorate: Tongala (2 speeches)
I rise to tell the parliament and, through it, to remind the Australian people about the great work of a very old company, the food manufacturer Nestle. Nestle has a dairy factory in the Goulburn...
- Broadband (1 speech)
The Prime Minister BC—before the coup—in his previous incarnation as communications minister, promised all Australians they would have access to the NBN by the end of 2016. I know you...
- Forde Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
It is my pleasure to rise today and take this opportunity to acknowledge the terrific hard work of our volunteer firefighters in our Rural Fire Service, who are at this moment busily preparing...
- International Development Assistance, Climate Change (1 speech)
Throughout my electorate there are thousands of passionate activists concerned about the effects global poverty has on millions of people across the world. I am pleased to regularly meet with...
- Solomon Electorate: Palmerston Regional Hospital (1 speech)
The Northern Territory government is responsible for the management and the delivery of the Palmerston Regional Hospital project. Under the agreement, the Commonwealth makes payments against...
- Scullin Electorate: Health Care (1 speech)
Just over a week ago, I had the privilege of visiting the Northern Health Epping campus, the Northern Hospital site, with my great friend the member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, and the member for...
- Oatley Village Festival, Learning Links (1 speech)
I am pleased to highlight this morning a couple of fantastic organisations in my local electorate. Last Saturday, 17 October, I was privileged to attend the Oatley Lions Oatley Village Festival....
- Hobart International Airport, Rail Infrastructure (1 speech)
Just over two years ago, in the lead-up to the last federal election, we had the former leader of the Liberal Party come down to Tasmania with his candidates and his Liberal senators promising a...
- Nicholson Fine Foods, Indoor Cricket, Country Women's Association (1 speech)
Madam Deputy Speaker, as a member yourself from Central Queensland, I know you envy the Northern Rivers of New South Wales as a producer of great quality produce—like just about everything...
- Moss Vale Public School: Australian Flag (1 speech)
Moss Vale Public School in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales is a part of my electorate. Whenever I have visited the school I have found them to be a school that is made up of a diverse...
- Dobell Electorate: McHappy Day (1 speech)
Members in this place represent a broad spectrum of community involvement, with many different backgrounds represented. The diversity of our communities is often understated. However, last...
- Dyslexia (1 speech)
This week is Dyslexia Empowerment Week, and, last weekend on Sunday, I joined my state parliamentary colleague Maree Edwards in Bendigo at the beginning of Dyslexia Empowerment Week, our BOLD...
- Grandparents (2 speeches)
Today, I will speak about the issue of grandparents raising their grandchildren. This is not the first time that I have spoken about the issue and the circumstances of grandparents in this...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Middle East (1 speech)
In the last few weeks, young Palestinian jihadis have engaged in apparently lone wolf stabbing attacks against mainly Israeli civilians. These attacks appear to have much of the same...
- Kokoda Track (1 speech)
Only a few hours out of Kokoda stoically stand four black granite pillars, each with a single word: courage, mateship, sacrifice and endurance. It was at Isurava in 1942 that the Australian...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Whilst other countries and global business leaders step up their efforts to combat climate change, Australia continues to dither. That Australia does so under the leadership of the current Prime...
- Public Sector Reform (1 speech)
Last month I led the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit on a committee visit to Fiji and New Zealand. While the committee will produce a report of this trip, I want to speak about New...
- Myanmar (1 speech)
Myo Min Min and Naing Htay Lwin were sentenced to over two years in prison for their protests against unfair wages and unfair dismissals of garment workers. Khin Khin Kyaw, a lawyer representing...
- Sport (1 speech)
Australians love sport and they certainly love cheering on a team that kicks goals. Playing sport, being a part of a team and working together are what has helped build this great nation. Almost...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise today to share with the chamber some of the stories of people who will be affected if this government gets its way and its wish to cut penalty rates. We know they are going after penalty...
- Capricornia Electorate: Green Army (1 speech)
I want to outline some important green army projects that are underway in my electorate of Capricornia, in particular Mackay, Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast. The green army provides...
- Turnbull Government (3 speeches)
One of the greatest fortunes of this country is to inherit the parliamentary traditions of the United Kingdom, in particular the Westminster tradition. I remind members opposite and, indeed, the...
- Swan Electorate: Broadband (2 speeches)
This is the second time, recently, I have followed the member for Wakefield in this chamber. I know he was sincere when he spoke about his side of politics but he forgot to mention that no-one in...
- Hughes Electorate: Air Pollution (1 speech)
This morning I would like to talk about a most appalling, ill-considered decision by the New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission to approve a concrete-recycling plant at Moorebank. In this...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I would like to draw the House's attention to some very serious conversations that are happening in my community of Newcastle and, indeed, to congratulate those who were involved in organising...
- Hinkler Electorate: Tourism (1 speech)
My region is in need of a new tourist attraction—one that will increase domestic and international visitation, stimulate the local economy and create jobs. Wide Bay Burnett includes Lady...
- Israel (1 speech)
We are fast approaching the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin was a true warrior for Israel and visionary for peace. His death at the hands of a...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Tourism (1 speech)
Summer is not too far away, and where better to go in summer than the great beaches of Adelaide. Adelaide is regularly ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. Not only do we have...
- National Stroke Foundation: Dr Erin Lalor (1 speech)
On 14 October, the Friends of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, which the member for Lindsay and I are co-convenors of, held a barbecue. I was very sad to hear at that event that the CEO of the...
- Robertson Electorate (1 speech)
In my maiden speech as the member for Robertson, I pledged to stand up every single day to champion the concerns, the aspirations and the hopes of the people in my electorate. Two years in and I...
