House debates
Monday, 9 November 2015
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
Today I am going to talk about time lines associated with petitions and how these time lines interact with the parliamentary calendar. This is of particular relevance as we near the end of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Procedure Committee (1 speech)
by leave—I rise to update the House on the Procedure Committee's inquiry into the adequacy of provisions for nursing mothers in the House of Representatives. Members may be aware that there...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Remembrance Day (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that Wednesday 11 November marks Remembrance Day, the 97th anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I; (2) commemorates the sacrifice of the more...
- International Year of Soils (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS); (2) notes that: (a) the IYS aims to be a platform...
- Adhesive Arachnoiditis (5 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that thousands of Australians received a spinal injection of the chemical dye Iophendylate (marked as Pantopaque and Myodil) and that many now suffer from...
- Rural and Regional Newspapers (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the importance of rural and regional newspapers in providing a vital service to the towns and regional communities they cover; and (b) that maintaining a...
- Queensland: Urannah Dam (4 speeches)
I move the motion relating to Urannah Dam: That this House: (1) congratulates the Government on its support of development in north and central Queensland with its White Paper on Developing...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Australia Post (1 speech)
Last Friday I attended an Australia Post public listening session held at the Ingle Farm post office, where Australia Post representatives spoke with customers about proposed changes to mail...
- Trade Unions (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate this government once again on securing significant free trade agreements that will deliver major benefits to workers, businesses and consumers in my electorate of...
- Lalor Electorate: Deepavali (1 speech)
On this Saturday, 14 November, Wyndham Deepavali will occur at Presidents Park in Werribee. It is being sponsored by Wyndham City Council and the state government, with many more generous...
- Herbert Electorate: Trade with China, Japan and South Korea (1 speech)
It said all there needed to be said about what the Labor Party and the union movement hold closest as their core beliefs. Recently, Austrade came to Townsville and hosted a seminar on the...
- Indi Electorate: Red Hat Society (1 speech)
There is a famous poem that says: When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me. I am delighted to welcome into Parliament House...
- Trade Unions (1 speech)
I have two words: 'false' and 'misleading'. That is what the unions are all about. At a time when we see former union bigwigs sitting in jail or answering questions at the royal commission into...
- Canberra Electorate: Fashion Industry (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the importance of shopping local. As a former small business owner, I am a great supporter of shopping local to support local jobs, innovation and creativity and also...
- Trade Unions (1 speech)
Surprise, surprise: over the last couple of weeks we have had more union lies. Australian electorates were subjected to an expensive $3 million deceitful and pathetic attempt to embarrass the...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Maroubra Fun Run and Oktoberfest (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate all of the runners, walkers and wheelers who took part in the Maroubra Fun Run and Oktoberfest on 25 October. This event was first staged in 1996 by the Maroubra Chamber of...
- Trade Unions (1 speech)
What this country needs is a positive approach. What this country needs is an expansion of markets. Under this government and the trade minister, despite the negativity, there has been great...
- Richmond Electorate: Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I rise to talk about a very important issue in my community, which is raising awareness about domestic violence. Next week, in conjunction with the Tweed Valley Women's Service at Murwillumbah, I...
- Trade with China (1 speech)
I too rise to speak about the despicable act by the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, ACTU, Dave Oliver. I sent an apology to Mr Oliver on 20 October indicating I would be...
- Chisholm Electorate: Mr Joseph D'Onofrio (1 speech)
Vale, Maestro Joe—Joseph D'Onofrio, a great friend, and a great community member, has sadly succumbed to motor neurone disease. I want to pay my respects to him and pass on my deep sadness...
- Trade with China (1 speech)
Once again this year, it was a pleasure to host our stand at the Colac Show. It was a terrific success. One of the big talking points, particularly amongst dairy farmers, was our China-Australia...
- Fremantle Electorate: Leeuwin Barracks (1 speech)
The Department of Defence is in the process of selling Leeuwin Barracks in my electorate of Fremantle. This remarkable 14-hectare site is located on the Swan River foreshore in the town of East...
- Trade with China (1 speech)
Union opposition to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is the most recent example of unions not doing what is best for their members whereby they sacrifice their long-term economic...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The question I would like to put to this place is: why is the government continuing its ideological and confrontational approach in dealing with its own workforce? Why, for example, has the...
- Trade with China (1 speech)
I also rise to draw attention to the deceitful and dishonest campaign orchestrated recently by the ACTU across my electorate. As part of their continued xenophobic campaign against the...
- Hunter Wetlands Centre (1 speech)
On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the 30th anniversary of the Hunter Wetlands Centre in my electorate of Newcastle. I celebrated this milestone with some of the long-time volunteers and...
- Trade with China (2 speeches)
It is time for unions to stop playing silly games pretending the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will harm Australians. I will describe how they play their dodgy games. First, someone from a...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Member for North Sydney; Resignation (1 speech)
I inform the House that on Friday, 23 October 2015 I received a letter from the honourable Joseph Benedict Hockey resigning his seat as the member for the electoral division of North Sydney.
- North Sydney Electorate; Issue of Writ (1 speech)
On Monday, 26 October 2015, I issued a writ for the election of a member to serve for the electoral division of North Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, to fill the vacancy caused by the...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Sport (4 speeches)
I seek on indulgence to make some remarks about sporting matters and, in particular, the Melbourne Cup. It has always been the race that stops the nation. It is nearly as old as the city after...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that Minister Robb will be absent from question time today and tomorrow as he is attending the Northern Australia Investment Forum in Darwin. The P
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Christmas Island (2 speeches)
My question is to the
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister explain to the House the importance of providing strong economic leadership to promote jobs and growth?
- Goods and Services Tax (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that various advocates within the Prime Minister's party have suggested that an increased GST could pay for cutting personal income tax, cutting...
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How is the government's strong economic leadership building a stronger economy? Will the Treasurer update the House on how Australia is transitioning from the...
- Goods and Services Tax (13 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. According to the ABS, childcare costs in Brisbane in my electorate have increased 14 per cent since this Liberal government was elected. Will the Prime...
- Rail Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, you understand how rail is clean, eases congestion and links communities, but in Hobart—despite there being a pressing need, an...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister update the House on action the government is already taking to place innovation and science at the centre of...
- Goods and Services Tax (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Treasurer has promised an increase in the GST will not lead to an increase in the total tax take. This would require every dollar raised by the GST...
- Trade (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the series of recently concluded free trade agreements will boost Australia's prosperity and create...
- Goods and Services Tax (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. My electorate of Chifley in Western Sydney has amongst the highest rates of diabetes in metropolitan Australia. How will slugging people in my electorate...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister advise the House on Australia's response to the Syrian humanitarian crisis? How is the government's strong...
- Goods and Services Tax (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The admirably industrious member for Lyne, in a radio interview on 2 November, ruled out applying the GST to rent or nursing home payments. Will the Prime...
- Road Infrastructure (13 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects. Will the minister please provide the House with an update on the impact on Banks residents of the M5 East...
- Goods and Services Tax (11 speeches)
My question, genuinely without notice, is to the Minister the Agriculture and Water Resources.
- Centenary of Anzac, Remembrance Day (6 speeches)
My constituency question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Will the minister outline to the House how the government has been working to honour our veterans in this Centenary of Anzac...
- Goods and Services Tax (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. NATSEM modelling shows increasing the GST to 15 per cent would mean a family on about $26,000 a year would pay more than 20 per cent of its household income...
- Telecommunications (6 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to Mr Fletcher, the Minister representing the Minister for Communications. My question comes from a constituent who submitted it via my Facebook page after I asked the community...
- Goods and Services Tax (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. NATSEM modelling shows that an increase in the GST even when paired with a five per cent reduction in income tax still leaves almost two-thirds of Australian...
- Youth Allowance (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Can the minister please update the House on the progress the government is making towards fair and equitable access to youth payments for both...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are tabled in accordance with list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 6 of 2015-16 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 6 of 2015-2016 entitled Third follow-up audit into the Australian Electoral Commission’s preparation for and conduct of federal...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
I present a chart showing the program of sittings for 2016. Copies of the program have been placed on the table. I ask leave of the House to move that the program be agreed to. Leave granted. I...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Pacific Islands: Climate Change (1 speech)
When Australians speak of climate change they talk about a crisis that will hit us in the future—as something that will affect Australians' lives in 20 to 30 years. In the Pacific Islands...
- Calwell Electorate: Forced Marriage (1 speech)
Last Friday I participated in a theatre workshop at Roxburgh Park College in my electorate which addressed the issue of forced marriage and the rights of young people to determine their own...
- Dunkley Electorate: Frankston (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, I rise tonight to speak on a community well known to me, and I am sure you have great affection for my electorate in the Riviera of Melbourne, down at Dunkley. I want to particularly...
- Mackellar Electorate: Blackmores (1 speech)
Much has been said in this chamber in recent times about the success of a firm, Blackmores, which is based in my electorate. It is quite a remarkable firm in that it is a family dynasty, where...
- Blair Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
Volunteers do not help out because they want thanks or reward; they do it because of a desire to be part of their community, and to provide opportunities for others in schools, community groups,...
- Forrest Electorate: Diwali, Augusta Spring Flower Show, South West Rose Society Show, Heritage Park Dardanup (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge some wonderful events in my electorate and I want to start with the South West Indian Group and their Diwali festival of light that was held in Bunbury on Saturday evening....
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Electorate of Greenway: Deepavali (1 speech)
One of the great indicators of our fabulous, multicultural nation is the number of significant days for cultural and religious observances that have become part of the broader Australian...
- Mining (1 speech)
Today I rise to bring the House's attention to the mining industry in Western Australia and how important it is to our economy. The mining industry in WA produces around 45 per cent of the...
- Fraser Electorate: Indian Festival of Lights (1 speech)
Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights, is the most widely celebrated festival of the people from the Indian subcontinent and across the whole world. Diwali means 'rows of lights', and it is the...
- Cowan Electorate: Deepavali (1 speech)
This week, those of the Hindu religion and with origins in India will begin their celebration of Deepavali. Deepavali is one the biggest Hindu festivals, and it is celebrated with great...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate all those involved in, and who were awarded at, the Randwick City awards for excellence in sporting achievement. These awards represent our community's way of recognising...
- Capricornia Electorate (1 speech)
People in regional Australia live far from the big cities and it is important that they also be given a voice in federal affairs. My electorate of Capricornia in Central and Northern Queensland...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I rise today to voice my support for the City of Greater Dandenong's Walk Against Family Violence. I have had the great privilege of being a part of this community for many years. I have lived...
- Deakin Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Over the most recent parliamentary recess I was very pleased to welcome the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, to the Deakin electorate, where we had the opportunity to open the new Centre for...
- Aboriginal Legal Service (1 speech)
The Aboriginal Legal Service pioneered the model of community legal services in Australia. They began as an operation of volunteers, Australia's first free legal service, in Redfern in my...
- Robertson Electorate: Broadband (2 speeches)
I rise to update the House on a series of NBN listening posts that I have been holding across my electorate in the recent months. We have an outstanding story to tell about the rollout of...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Freedom of Information (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) expresses concern at the culture of secrecy prevalent in the Government and the serious undermining of the core principles enshrined in the freedom of information...
- Agriculture (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges: (a) and applauds the efforts of Australian primary producers as they work to protect and rehabilitate the natural environment, often in conditions of...
- Iraq and Syria (3 speeches)
It is obviously a great honour to speak in the Federation Chamber, but this is a debate that should be going on in the House. It is a debate that should be had with all the members of the House....
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Marriage Legislation Amendment Bill 2015; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I am very pleased to rise to speak in support of this very important piece of legislation. I am very pleased that I can put on record again my view in support of marriage equality and making...
- Lung Health Awareness Month (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) November is Lung Health Awareness Month; (b) 17 November 2015 is International Lung Cancer Awareness Day; and (c) 18 November 2015 is World Chronic...
- Australian Cities (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that Australia's state and territory capitals and other major cities are home to more than two in every three Australians; (2) notes that the population of...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Richmond Electorate: Byron Lighthouse Run (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the ninth Byron Lighthouse Run, held on 18 October in Byron Bay, which is part of my electorate of Richmond. This is a great local event that I strongly support, and it...
- Barton Electorate: All Saints Grammar School (1 speech)
On Friday night, I attended the 25-year celebration for All Saints Grammar School, an exceptional coeducational Orthodox Christian school in Sydney. Since its inception in 1990, the school has...
- Indi Electorate: Advanced CFA Youth Crew (1 speech)
I am delighted to tell the house about the Advanced CFA Youth Crew training, and the pleasure I had at attending their graduation day last Thursday at Tallangatta fire station. A cluster of three...
- Banks Electorate: St George Art Society (1 speech)
Last Friday night, I attended the St George Art Society's annual art show. We have many talented artists in the St George region, and indeed in my electorate of Banks. It was terrific to attend...
- Breast Cancer (1 speech)
) ( ): On Friday, 30 October, I held a breast cancer morning tea where over 100 women in the Belmont area came along and donated to breast cancer research. It was a fantastic morning and we had...
- Moore Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Construction works are well advanced on the Reid Highway upgrade project, which represents the long-awaited $108 million investment in local road transport infrastructure. The Reid Highway is a...
- Canberra Electorate: Baseball (1 speech)
I rise today to say, 'Go Cavs!' The Cavs, the Canberra Calvary, is Canberra's baseball team and, just yesterday, the Cavs beat the Sydney Blue Soxs in an absolute nail-biter to remain top of the...
- Corangamite Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Last Thursday I was delighted to tour the $6 million Shell Road Reserve sporting pavilion in Ocean Grove with the Greater Geelong Mayor, Darryn Lyons, and representatives of Ocean Grove sporting...
- West Papua (3 speeches)
I recently met with representatives of the National Council of Churches in Australia about human rights violations in West Papua. A delegation of 11 church leaders from Australia, the US and Fiji...
- Ataturk, Mustafa Kemal (1 speech)
Tomorrow, Australians of Turkish descent in my community of Reid, like Turkish people worldwide, will pause to remember and commemorate the life of a great visionary and one of history's great...
- Melbourne Electorate: Yarra City University of the Third Age (1 speech)
I stand in parliament today to congratulate the Yarra City University of the Third Age on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Since it was founded in 2005, the U3A Yarra City has made an...
- Petrie Electorate: Year 12 Students (1 speech)
I rise to quickly congratulate all the year 12 students in my electorate of Petrie. Well done on 12 years of education. You have worked hard, and I am sure the future will hold great things for...
- Richmond Electorate: Education Funding (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the success of Gonski funding in my electorate of Richmond. Of course, this funding is so important and so vital because it ensures that every Australian child gets a...
- Bruce Highway (1 speech)
The coalition government promised to get on with the job of fixing up Queensland's Bruce Highway, and that is exactly what we have been doing. Recently I had the pleasure of officially launching...
- Indi Electorate: Mars Petcare Australia (1 speech)
I rise to talk about manufacturing, which is alive and well in Indi. Particularly, today I would like to talk about Mars Petcare Australia and acknowledge their fantastic investment in...
- Swan Electorate: Bentley Hospital (1 speech)
I rise to speak about an important health service in my electorate, the Bentley obstetrics service. I recently got hold of Report on review of maternity services in metropolitan non-tertiary...
- Shortland Electorate: Charlestown Caring Group (1 speech)
The Charlestown Caring Group is a very important part of the electorate of Shortland. It provides services to frail aged people. In September I attended their annual general meeting. At that...
- Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry (1 speech)
Queenslanders from the Tweed to the Cape were shocked last week when the Labor state government chose to politicise child sexual offences and child exploitation in the Byrne Queensland Organised...
- Canberra Electorate (1 speech)
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending the annual Jennings Germans get together at the Harmonie German Club here in Narrabundah. I really enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with...
- Hinkler Electorate: Education (1 speech)
I had the great pleasure last week of opening the Mount Zion trade training centre at Shalom Catholic college. I congratulate Principal Dan McMahon, who has done a fantastic job to secure funding...
- Christmas Island (1 speech)
I would like to read to you this poem, written by a man detained on Manus Island. On the day that we have learned of the tragic death of Fazal Chegeni, I ask the House to reflect on these words....
- Deakin Electorate: Deepavali (1 speech)
One of the most exciting aspects of my electorate in Deakin is that it is such an ethnically diverse part of Melbourne, with people of so many cultural backgrounds. This of course means there are...
- Richmond Electorate: Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
I am very pleased to talk about a massive community victory that we had on the New South Wales North Coast. It really is a win for all of those who have been fighting harmful CSG mining in our...
- Forde Electorate: Canterbury College (1 speech)
It is always a pleasure to stand in this place and recognise some of the wonderful achievements of the young people in our communities. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate four...
- Shortland Electorate: Belmont Community Child Care Centre (1 speech)
On Thursday last week I officially opened the Belmont Community Child Care Centre's extension. This is a childcare centre that has been operating in the Belmont area for 26 years. It is run by...
- Dobell Electorate: Rural Fire Service (1 speech)
Over the last six months I have been honoured to meet the men and women of the numerous RFS brigades in my electorate of Dobell to personally thank them for their contribution to our community. A...
- Nallaratnam, Mr Sivarasa (1 speech)
It saddens me today to talk of the passing of Sivarasa Nallaratnam or Siva, as we all knew him, a towering member of the Tamil community in Victoria. I spent many happy afternoons with Siva at...
- McMillan Electorate: Project Enlighten (1 speech)
On Friday night it was a pleasure to be at the Anzac Centenary at the Yallourn Newborough RSL. For their project, the Enlighten Energy in the Park, together with an Unveiling and Light Dedication...
- Canberra Electorate: Little Wars Convention (2 speeches)
Yesterday I attended the Little Wars convention at the Vikings club in Conder. This was a new experience for me, where I got the opportunity to meet with war gamers who took the time to talk to...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
There being no speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of debate will be made an order of the day for the next day of sitting.
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (12 speeches)
It is a great pleasure to rise to speak on the retirement of Joe Hockey. Joe Hockey first expressed his political ambitions at about the age of 14 years when he announced as a schoolboy that he...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Liberal Government (1 speech)
(—) (): My grievance relates to Liberal Party governments' commitment to and fetish with small government and the impact that that is having in this country. Ms Henderson...
- Liberal Party, Mining (3 speeches)
I had one grievance, but I probably have another one now, after hearing that last speech. My goodness! To stand up in this place and argue for big government and to argue against small...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
Our population has grown and continues to grow, and this has led to a dramatic increase in the need for housing and more livable cities. We need a long-term plan for our infrastructure...
- Indi Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I congratulate the member for Hindmarsh on those inspiring words, which fit in very well with what I have to say, because I am also talking tonight about infrastructure—in particular...
- Free-Range Producers (1 speech)
The Lindsay electorate is home to one of the largest independent egg producers in Australia: Pirovic Family Farms. The Pirovic family produces in the vicinity of 600,000 eggs each and every day...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
Mental illness is prevalent in all aspects of society and no longer is it the shameful family secret to be locked away in the institutions of the past centuries. Mental illness does not...
- Australian Human Rights Commission (1 speech)
The Australian Human Rights Commission was established in 1986 as Australia's national human rights watchdog. While the commission's overall remit has expanded over time, its overarching role...
- Private Health Insurance (1 speech)
I wish to give voice to the grievance of millions of Australians with private health insurance who now find themselves the target of what can only be described as a push-poll designed to justify...
- Banks Electorate (1 speech)
I am very pleased this evening to have the opportunity during this grievance debate to talk about a number of important organisations in my local community that I have been able to visit in...
- Moreton Electorate: Road and Rail Infrastructure (3 speeches)
I rise to speak about transport in my electorate, an inner city electorate in the southern suburbs of Brisbane. I have a confluence of transport nodes in Moreton. My northern boundary is the...
- La Trobe Electorate: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
For many constituents in my electorate of La Trobe, one of the great frustrations we face is being stuck in traffic. I cannot think of something more frustrating, actually, especially every day...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 20:06.
