House debates
Monday, 29 February 2016
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Petitions, and in accordance with standing order 207, I present the following petitions:
- Statements (1 speech)
During the last year of a parliament there will be a period of time where there is a reduced timeframe for the completion of a full cycle of a petition. The cycle of a compliant petition...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Standing Committee on Procedure; Report (5 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Procedure, I present the committee's report entitled Consideration in detail of the main appropriation bill together with the minutes of proceedings. I am...
- Standing Committee on the Environment; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on the Environment, I present the committee's report on the visit to Singapore and Malaysia from 25 October to 30 October 2015, together with the minutes of...
- Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, Statements (2 speeches)
In the hope that our chair, the member for Murray, will be here shortly it gives me great pleasure to speak about our inquiry, which is the inquiry into educational opportunities for Aboriginal...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
In accordance with the wishes of the member for Hotham, I move: That Private Members' Business Notice No. 1 be postponed until a later hour today. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- International Women's Day (10 speeches)
I move: International Women's Day is a day for women around the world to seek equality for women around the world. I am really proud to be part of a labour movement and a political party that has...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- 25th Anniversary of the First Gulf War (2 speeches)
by leave—I rise to deliver this statement to remind the House of the debt of gratitude our nation owes to the brave men and women who served in the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991. The...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 7, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Nuclear Energy (1 speech, 1 comment)
The South Australian nuclear fuel cycle royal commission's tentative findings included: … it would not be commercially viable to generate electricity from a nuclear power plant in South...
- New South Wales: Water (1 speech)
I rise in the House today to speak about the importance of water security and, in particular, keeping up the momentum of the establishment of the dam in inland New South Wales. I spoke out...
- Indi Electorate: Rutherglen Economic Revitalisation Project (1 speech)
Colleagues, I ask you to join me in welcoming into Parliament House today the Mayor of Indigo Shire, James Trenery, and the CEO, Gerry Smith. As members would know, the jewel in the crown of the...
- Banks Electorate: St George Men's Shed (1 speech)
I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to speak about the St George Men's Shed, a really important group in my local community. I visited the Men's Shed in Penshurst just last week. As...
- Shipping (1 speech)
Australian shipping is at a crossroads. I struggle to find a time when Australian jobs are more at risk than what they are under this government. Reminiscent of Reith and his balaclava-wearing...
- Telecommunications (1 speech)
I would like to speak today on telecommunications. It has been interesting to watch the debate on the NBN this morning as members of the opposition tried to rewrite history about their ill-fated...
- Education (1 speech)
I rise to bring to the attention of the House today the news that has broken this morning that absolutely confirms this government's mismanagement of VET FEE-HELP that has allowed the VET rorts...
- Far North Queensland Regiment: 51st Battalion (1 speech)
In this Centenary of Anzac one battalion that deserves recognition is the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, which celebrated 100 years of service at the weekend with a parade down...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
Today a wonderful voice in my electorate of Newcastle, 1233 ABC Radio's morning presenter, Jill Emberson, told our community that she is battling ovarian cancer. I, like many in our community,...
- Ovarian Cancer, Defence White Paper (1 speech)
I also want to add my words of support from this side of the House to Jill. I wish her well in her recovery. Today I rise to speak about the great social and economic benefits that the defence...
- Trove Website (1 speech)
The Evening News of 20 December 1899 reports of a 'mishap' at Fort Gellibrand battery in my electorate. The battery was undertaking target practice and, while warning signals were deployed at...
- Bishop, Mr Leigh (1 speech)
There are few people in the towns across my electorate of Braddon who are as well known, or have such legend status, as Leigh Bishop. Leigh is known for his contribution to the sport of bowls in...
- Parramatta Electorate: Social Enterprises (1 speech)
All around the world, some of the smartest, most innovative minds are working out how communities can come together to solve their problems at grass-roots level with the emergence of new...
- High-speed Rail (1 speech)
In the age of infrastructure delivery I want to highlight to members of the House that high-speed rail is the answer and the solution to so many problems in our congested cities, but it is also a...
- Defence White Paper (1 speech)
Last week, after a terrible start to the week, the Prime Minister attempted to shift focus away from his failed leadership by releasing the defence white paper. I understand the white paper was...
- Foreign Investment (1 speech)
In the current economic climate, there is an imperative to attract additional investment in medium-scale projects across our nation, particularly in the $5 million to $20 million range, which...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
In a show of breathtaking hypocrisy, we have seen 41 coalition members and senators line up to open Labor's trade training centres. Indeed, they have put out media releases and featured in their...
- Canning Electorate: Peel Youth Services (1 speech)
Two weeks ago, I visited Peel Youth Services in Canning. It was a pleasure to meet with the executive officer, Be Westbrook, and her team. Be is passionate about caring for young people in their...
- Shipping (1 speech)
This morning I listened with interest when the member for Dawson introduced his amendment to Protection of Australian Flags (Desecration of the Flag) Bill 2003. He was moved, as he described in...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
Like Labor's failed mining tax and carbon tax, Labor's abolition of negative gearing on all existing residential property, a massive hike in capital gains tax, is more tax policy on the run....
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the latest instalment of the government's ongoing tax saga. The Prime Minister has now contracted the Treasurer's job out to the secretary of the...
- Defence White Paper (2 speeches)
I remind the Prime Minister that my electorate of Paterson contains many defence industry businesses, Defence personnel and their families. Will the Prime Minister inform the House how the...
- Taxation (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Thursday, the Australian Financial Review reported that the cabinet had decided it would not be spooked into releasing its tax plan before budget day. But...
- G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (6 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update that House on the recent G20 finance ministers meeting and the support of the world's economic leaders for structural reform and...
- Taxation (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the Treasurer has expressed a willingness to address excesses in negative gearing. Prime Minister, what are the excesses in negative gearing?
- Hospitals (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. I am seeking clarification about Indi hospital funding. As reported in the Wangaratta Chronicle and The Border Mail, there is a dispute between the...
- Defence White Paper (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister advise the House how the defence white paper and the defence industry policy statement have been received both in Australia...
- Taxation (24 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, given the Treasurer has refused to outline to the House what the excesses are in negative gearing, will the Prime Minister outline to the...
- Defence White Paper (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister advise the House of the role that defence plays in promoting science, technology, engineering and...
- Taxation (4 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Labor has ruled out retrospective changes to negative gearing. But on Thursday in question time the Prime Minister twice refused to rule out retrospective...
- Broadband (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the last election, the cost of the Prime Minister's second-rate copper NBN has nearly doubled, from $29½ billion to $56 billion; the time to build...
- Small Business (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer. Will the minister outline recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data about small businesses and what the government has...
- Broadband (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the last election the Prime Minister promised to deliver the NBN to all Australians by the end of this year. However, internal documents leaked to The...
- Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (2 speeches)
My constituency question is to the Minister for Health. Research has found that Australia has some of the highest rates in the world of babies born with permanent brain damage and other...
- Broadband (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister promised Australians that his second-rate copper NBN would be 'Fast. Affordable. Sooner.' Given that we now know that his second-rate...
- Illicit Drugs (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance. Can the minister update the House on how ice is impacting metropolitan and regional communities across Australia? What steps is the government taking...
- 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.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Department of Parliamentary Services (2 speeches)
I ask a question under standing order 103. I refer to confirmation from the ABC that the Australian Federal Police 'has been conducting inquiries with the Department of Parliamentary Services in...
- Questions in Writing (2 speeches)
I would like to seek your assistance in following up some unanswered questions from the Notice Paper. Response is required in 60 calendar days, so I would request that you write to the Prime...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Ethiopia: Oromo People (1 speech)
On this Saturday, 5 March 2016, the Oromia Media Network Pacific—the OMNP—in conjunction with the Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria has organised a celebration of the...
- Environment (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to talk about the subject of carbon pollution and the importance of us reducing our emissions of carbon pollution. When I say 'carbon pollution' I am not talking about CO2. I...
- Education Funding (1 speech)
Twenty-four thousand Newcastle children are halfway through term 1 of their schooling year. For some students it is their first year. They are finding their way through the alphabet and learning...
- Brisbane Broncos (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about an event I attended on Saturday night. It was the season launch for 2016 for the Brisbane Broncos, my home team. It was a wonderful occasion. There were some 750...
- Tropical Cyclone Winston (1 speech)
My Fijian heritage is something I am very proud of. My mother was born in Fiji. One of my brothers and my sister was born there. My father lived there for many years and I still have many...
- Solomon Electorate: Defence White Paper (2 speeches)
I take this opportunity to add to previous comments I have made in this House about the defence white paper and the enormous impact it will have on my electorate of Solomon, which takes in the...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
As we are only too aware, the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is one of the crucial elements ensuring a woman's survival. In 2016, it is estimated that 1,480 women will be diagnosed with ovarian...
- Forde Electorate (1 speech)
I think it is one of the privileges of being in this place that we get to stand here and share some of the stories of our electorates and some of the people who achieve significant milestones or...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I rise today to further highlight some of the issues being experienced by my electorate following the commencement of the National Broadband Network rollout. Malcolm Turnbull calls this...
- Trade with Indonesia (1 speech)
Today I want to talk about the ban in Indonesia on our mandarin citrus trade. The citrus industry is an important part of the Australian export economy and a huge driver of wealth and employment...
- Corio Electorate: Geelong (1 speech)
Geelong has a rich and proud history—from its beginnings as a port servicing the gold rush, to the centre of a wool industry at the time when Australia rode on the back of the sheep, to...
- Hindmarsh Electorate: Patawalonga Catchment (1 speech)
As a member of parliament, local issues are continually brought to my attention—some large, some small and some are rather concerning. I have been approached by a number of residents from...
- Shortland Electorate, Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
I, like yourself, Mr Deputy Speaker Southcott, will not be contesting the next election. I made that announcement yesterday. What I would like to put on record here in the House is my thanks to...
- Robertson Electorate: Police (1 speech)
I rise to support the outstanding work of the local police in my electorate, who serve and protect our community tirelessly and so well. It was only recently in this House that I was pleased to...
- Bendigo Electorate: Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival (1 speech)
On the weekend was the annual Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group's Sustainable Living Festival, held in Woodend. This year was a particularly special year, because it was also the launch of...
- Durack Electorate: Defence White Paper (1 speech)
I am very pleased today to speak about the Turnbull government's defence white paper released last week. With a record year for jobs last year and the unveiling of the northern Australia white...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Asbestos (4 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (the agency) revealed in recent reports that more than 64 building sites across Australia contain illegal...
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (7 speeches)
I move: That this House notes that: (1) May is Crohn's and Colitis month, designated to raise awareness of these life long gastrointestinal disorders that commonly present themselves in children,...
- Penalty Rates (5 speeches)
I am pleased to rise today to support the motion moved by the member for Wakefield regarding penalty rates and to stress the importance of penalty rates to families in my electorate of Lalor to...
- Tibetan Plateau (5 speeches)
I move the motion: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Tibetan Plateau is: (i) the largest source of freshwater beyond the Arctic and Antarctic; (ii) a major driver of the global...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about a fantastic local event that took place in my electorate last Saturday, the Far North Coast Rural Fire Service medals presentation. It was a great event, held at the...
- Canning Electorate: Working Holiday-makers (1 speech)
I rise to speak on behalf of the fruit growers and orchardists within the elected of Canning—in particular, the Hills Orchard Improvement Group and their spokesman, Brett DelSimone, who are...
- Shortland Electorate: School Leaders (1 speech)
On Friday, the state member for Charlestown and I held an afternoon tea to recognise the high school leaders in our area. It was a very inspiring event. Not only did we present them with a...
- Capricornia Electorate: Ms Ellie Kendall (1 speech)
I rise today to praise Yeppoon teenager Ellie Kendall, who I met recently during a visit she made to Parliament House in Canberra. Ellie, a year 12 student from St Ursula's College in Yeppoon,...
- Indi Electorate: Yea (1 speech)
Colleagues, today I would like to talk to you about the Yea Toil Art Stronger Communities round 1 project. It is based in the town of Yea, in my electorate of Indi, and it is flush with federal...
- Paterson Electorate: Local Government (1 speech)
With the redistribution that has just been handed down by the Australian Electoral Commission, it is with a great deal of sadness that I say goodbye to my constituents in the LGAs of Dungog,...
- Rare Disease Day 2016 (1 speech)
Today is international Rare Disease Day. In its ninth year, the theme and focus for 2016 is: 'Patient voice'—recognising the crucial role that patients play in voicing their needs and in...
- Moore Electorate: HBF Arena, Joondalup (1 speech)
Over the next 18 months, there will be a major $20 million upgrade to the sporting facilities at HBF Arena, Joondalup. The overall redevelopment includes construction of new clubrooms and...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I rise to speak about a concern that many local constituents raise with me all the time, and that is this government's very slow rollout of the NBN, particularly in regional and rural areas like...
- Banks Electorate: Football (1 speech)
I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to the football community within the Banks electorate. We are fortunate to have both the St George Football Association and the Bankstown District Amateur...
- Dowling, Mr Bob (1 speech)
At its best, politics is about community service—and few do it better than Bob Dowling, the worthy recipient of the Lion Frank Brown Memorial Award for Community Service to the Tuggeranong...
- Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
In the Great Hall on 16 November 2009, the then Prime Minister and opposition leader gave an apology to all the children who had been sexually and physically abused in institutions. Today, six...
- Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
Today is the last day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. It has been a month in which the parliament has concentrated to some degree on ovarian cancer. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Like Labor's failed mining tax and carbon tax, Labor's abolition of negative gearing on all existing residential property and massive hike in capital gains tax are more policy on the run. These...
- Indi Electorate: Mobile Phone Services (1 speech)
On 20 December 2015 a large fire broke out near Barnawartha and spread through the Indigo and Chiltern valleys, burning four homes, over 7,000 hectares, 500 livestock and 30 outbuildings. The...
- Melanoma (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about Orange farmer Wayne Petrie. Wayne is both an Orange farmer and a member of the Square Meaters Cattle Association. Last week at the Royal Canberra Show Mr Petrie donated...
- Euthanasia (1 speech)
Today I was pleased to join with colleagues in the all-party group for dying with dignity—my colleagues Alannah MacTiernan, the member for Perth; Andrew Leigh, the member for Fraser;...
- Macquarie Electorate: Shine Community Choir (1 speech)
Shine Community Choir from Springwood in the Blue Mountains will be travelling to New York in April for the opportunity of a lifetime. The choir have been invited to perform at the prestigious...
- Soldier On (1 speech)
Last Friday I joined the Prime Minister, the defence minister, assistant defence ministers, the shadow assistant defence minister—my colleague David Feeney—the British high...
- Murray Electorate: Rushworth War Memorial (1 speech)
In March 2017, I will have the great privilege of unveiling a new memorial at Rushworth honouring two local World War I heroes. Funding to help with the construction was provided by the...
- Shortland Electorate: Belmont Medicare Office (1 speech)
I thought I would bring the House up to date with my campaign for keeping the Belmont Medicare office open. The House may remember that the Howard government closed the Belmont Medicare office,...
- Lyons Electorate: Sassafras Heritage Farming Weekend and Koonya Garlic Festival (1 speech)
There were two wonderful events that I attended on the weekend. On Friday afternoon, an event that went over the weekend was the Sassafras Heritage Farming Weekend of the Historical Machinery...
- Indi Electorate: Renewable Energy (1 speech)
I would like to extend my congratulations and ongoing support for the amazing work being done by the community group in my electorate called Totally Renewable Yackandandah. TRY is an incorporated...
- Dawson Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
In 2011, I led a convoy of Liberal-National politicians, including former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, along the 1,700-kilometre...
- Australian Public Service, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1 speech)
Last week, in the course of the parliamentary sittings, I had the opportunity to wander down to the front lawns of Parliament House and meet with a range of workers. They were employees of the...
- Dobell Electorate: Mr Jordan Garner (1 speech)
It is always rewarding as a member to share with the House the achievements of people in Dobell, and none more so than the young people who are excelling in their chosen field. Jordan Garner, who...
- Gift of Life's DonateLife Walk (1 speech)
Last Wednesday, on a stunning Canberra summer's morning, I joined with over 5,500 Canberrans to take part in the Gift of Life's DonateLife walk. There were students from St Clare's College,...
- Petrie Electorate: Australian Citizenship Ceremonies, Private Member's Bill: Desecration of the Australian Flag (1 speech)
Last Thursday I had the opportunity to attend a citizenship ceremony within the Moreton Bay Regional Council's Redcliffe Cultural Centre, where over 100 people chose to become Australian...
- McMillan Electorate: Agricultural Shows (2 speeches)
I stand today to speak in praise of our agricultural shows, especially those around my area—from the Wonthaggi and district summer agricultural show to the Foster and District Agricultural...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Safeguarding Democracy Report (1 speech)
Last week, this parliament was the site for the launch of an important and also very challenging report, Safeguarding democracy, prepared by a very important community organisation, the Human...
- Second Sydney Airport (1 speech)
I rise to speak on Labor's deception regarding the Western Sydney airport. I wish to speak particularly with regard to the duplicitous behaviour from the Labor candidate in Macquarie regarding...
- Veterans (1 speech)
In the last week, around my electorate and other parts of Sydney, I have seen some rather large billboards being placed up, and these remind us of the significant problem that we have in our...
- Beazley, Ms Betty (1 speech)
I speak today in eulogy of Betty Beazley. Betty was born on 21 March 1921 in Fremantle, Western Australia, married in February of 1948 at Christ Church, Claremont, Western Australia, and died in...
- Employment (1 speech)
It is pretty shocking when a campaign is started because a person is sacked for being an Australian. That has become a campaign, and many workers are now saying that has been their circumstance...
- Barker Electorate: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
Madam Deputy Speaker Price, I should begin by congratulating you on your appointment to the Speaker's panel. We share the odd conversation in the House of Representatives, and I have been waiting...
- Homeownership (1 speech)
I congratulate the member for Fremantle on an excellent speech in a 20-minute grievance debate that she managed to deliver eloquently in 10. Congratulations. I want to turn to a more domestic...
- National Student Travel Concession Card (1 speech)
Tonight I would like to talk about the need for a national student travel concession card. It is an issue that is dear to the heart of the young people living in my electorate of Indi,...
- Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
Today, there were some pretty frightening statistics published by the Medical Journal of Australia online. That is in regard to ice usage through our community. In the past five years, since...
- Broadband (1 speech)
By now, my parliamentary colleagues would have heard me speaking about my constituents' frustrations when it comes to the NBN. They would have heard me talking about it—and they would have...
- Page Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
In my first speech in this chamber just over two years ago, I spoke about the remarkable resilience of the Kyogle community, a community that is so proudly self-reliant that in the late 60s when...
