House debates
Monday, 7 November 2016
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 3rd report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament. The report I present today is unlike any previous report tabled by the Petitions Committee. It is unique because it...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Deaths by Drowning (20 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that the number of drownings in Australia increased from 267 deaths in 2014-15 to 280 in 2015-16 as stated in the Royal Life Saving's National Drowning...
- Pensions: Deeming Rates (9 speeches)
I am proud to rise this morning to move the first motion in my name in this place. For the benefit of the House and those in my electorate who are affected by deeming rates I would like to read...
- Remembrance Day (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 11 November is Remembrance Day; (b) on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month Australians observe one minute's silence in memory of those who...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Turnbull Government (13 speeches)
I seek leave to move: That the House: (1) notes that: (a) the Senate is today sitting while it remains unclear which Senators were validly elected under the Constitution; and (b) the Government...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Richmond Electorate: Suffolk Park (1 speech)
I rise to call on the New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, and the New South Wales government to stop the sale of public land at Suffolk Park in my electorate of Richmond. The local community...
- Banks Electorate: All Saints Oatley West Soccer Club (1 speech)
On Sunday 16 October I attended the All Saints Oatley West Soccer Club presentation day at Oatley Park. It was good to attend the event at that very picturesque location and to present trophies...
- Rodgers, Mr Barry (1 speech)
In his 1984 book Gladiators of the Surf author Barry Galton described Barry Rodgers in these terms: In the surf he was the master and perfectionist. Some experts say no one has ever equalled his...
- Backpacker Tax (4 speeches)
I take this opportunity to again talk about the issue that is the backpacker tax. This issue has passed this House with a resolution which has the support and the backing of the industry itself,...
- Indi Electorate: Short Black Opera for Kids (1 speech)
Colleagues, I would like to tell you about a wonderful initiative called Short Black Opera for Kids. It is a program designed for Indigenous kids who love to sing, act, tell stories or all three....
- Wide Bay Electorate: United Synergies (1 speech)
Last week I met with Christopher John and Karen Phillips from the United Synergies organisation, whose head office is based in my electorate of Wide Bay. United Synergies is a great organisation...
- Oxley Electorate: Sporting Clubs (1 speech)
I rise to place on record my strong support for sporting clubs across the south-west of Brisbane and in the great electorate of Oxley. Today I acknowledge the efforts of hundreds of parents and...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival (1 speech)
Yesterday in Port Douglas more than 1,900 people took part in the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival. This wonderful event is getting more popular every year, with...
- Bass Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I rise today to tell you about the opening of the Blue Tier extension to the mountain bike trails in north-east Tasmania, trails which straddle the electorates of Bass and Lyons and will host a...
- Brisbane Electorate: Ronald McDonald House (1 speech)
On the weekend I was privileged to represent the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Sussan Ley, at the opening of the country's newest and biggest Ronald McDonald House, in...
- Tasmanian Headstone Project (1 speech)
On Friday, we will commemorate the sacrifice of men and women who gave their lives in the service of this country. As a nation, I think that generally we do well in commemorating the men and...
- Sharing Stories Foundation (1 speech)
I would like to recognise the tremendous work Liz Thompson from Palm Beach continues to do with the Sharing Stories Foundation. The foundation supports the maintenance and strengthening of...
- New South Wales: Hospitals (2 speeches)
The simple fact of the matter is this: Mike Baird has a plan to privatise hospitals in New South Wales, and Labor's Luke Foley has a plan to stop him. We do not have to wait until 2019, the next...
- Diabetes (1 speech)
Three weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting a brave young man with type 1 diabetes, Hayden Supple. I am so grateful to Hayden for taking the time to see me to talk about the struggles and risks...
- Herbert Electorate: Townsville 150th Anniversary (1 speech)
On 15 and 16 October 2016, Townsville celebrated its 150th birthday with a truly spectacular T150 Defence Force Air Show and Townsville Bulletin Sky Show—the biggest day The Strand has ever...
- Delabarre, Mr Martial, OAM (1 speech)
I wish to draw to the attention of the House that Gulgong RSL Sub-Branch was recently honoured by a visit from Martial Delabarre OAM and his wife, Catherine, who travelled to Gulgong all the way...
- Turnbull Government (1 speech)
Since last we met in this place, the shadow minister for homelessness, Senator Cameron, and the member for Greenway, the shadow minister for communications, have been to my electorate to hear...
- Singh, Dr Jiwan Steven (1 speech)
I wish to recognise in parliament the work of respected local surgeon Dr Jiwan Steven Singh in developing surgical instruments for laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, which are...
- Jagajaga Electorate: Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
On the weekend we saw a powerful demonstration of love and compassion by the residents of Eltham in my electorate. Members of the group Welcome to Eltham peacefully showed their support for the...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Goodluck, Mr Bruce John (1 speech)
I inform the House of the death on Monday 24 October 2016 of Bruce John Goodluck, a member of this House for the division of Franklin from 1975 until 1993. As a mark of respect to the memory of...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Special Minister of State. On 24 February 2014, the Department of Finance advised the Special Minister of State to reject former Senator Day's...
- National Security (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the government's efforts to counter the ongoing threat of people smuggling? Are there any impediments to keeping...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, and goes to items that are not covered in the document he just tabled. In May 2014 the Special Minister of State...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on the coalition government's commitment to strong...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister satisfied that the government's handling of Bob Day's electorate office in 2014 was appropriate?
- Energy Security (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Environment and Energy. A number of eminent Australians, including the head of Australia's biggest power company, AGL; a former Governor-General; and a former...
- Immigration (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on steps the government is taking to further strengthen Australia's border protection...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In light of the Prime Minister's refusal to endorse the coalition government's handling of Bob Day's electoral office in 2014, has the Prime Minister made...
- Iraq and Syria (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister please update the House on Australia's support to the international coalition to defeat ISIL in Mosul and Raqqa?
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Special Minister of State has today told the Senate that he informed the Prime Minister's office on 18 August this year that there was a potential issue...
- Building and Construction Industry (8 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer update the House on how ending lawlessness on our building sites will reduce costs and boost productivity in the building and construction...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has just confirmed that he was aware in August that Senator Day's election possibly contravened the Constitution. How can it be that since...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I would like to draw members' attention to the fact that the former member for Paterson, the Hon. Bob Baldwin, is with us with us in the gallery this afternoon. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister outline to the House the government's commitment to ensure that employer and...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the Prime Minister refused to answer my last question I will ask again: how can it be that for every single day that the 45th Parliament has sat the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister (10 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1) notes that: (a) the Prime Minister was willing to trade guns for votes with Senator Leyonhjelm; (b) the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Border Protection (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on steps the government has taken to remove dangerous criminal gang members from...
- Day, Mr Bob, AO (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training. I refer to reports that the grant to a trades training centre college linked to former senator Bob Day was...
- Tourism (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. What contribution does the construction industry make to Australia's tourism industry? Is the minister aware of any threats to...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 23 of 2016-2017 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Audit report No. 23 of 2016-17 entitled National Rental Affordability Scheme—administration of allocations and incentives: Department of Social Services....
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Days and Hours of Meeting (2 speeches)
by leave—I present a chart showing the program of sittings for 2017. Copies of the program have been placed on the table. I move: That the program for 2017 be agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That: (1) Mr Falinski be discharged from the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport and that, in his place, Mrs Wicks be appointed a member of the committee;...
- Economics Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Economics I present the committee's second report on the review of the Reserve Bank of Australia's annual report 2015, together with the minutes of...
- Economics Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (3 speeches)
() (): On the behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee's report, incorporating dissenting reports, entitled Report 163: Paris Agreement/Kyoto ProtocolDoha...
- Intelligence and Security Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the following reports: (1) Review of the re-listing of six terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code:...
- Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (7 speeches)
Sadly, I rise to speak about Manmeet Sharma, who so tragically lost his life on Friday 28 October in my home suburb of Moorooka at a bus stop that I walk past every morning when I am at home. Mr...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Defence Parliamentary Program, Bruce Electorate: Community Engagement (1 speech)
I would like to share with the House a little of what I did and learnt in two weeks away from this place. I have only been elected and here for a few months, but in that time I have already come...
- Corangamite Electorate: Bushfire Recovery (1 speech)
On Christmas Day last year, the communities of Wye River and Separation Creek, nestled in steep hills on the Great Ocean Road between Lorne and Apollo Bay in the Corangamite electorate, were...
- Age Pension (7 speeches)
For the last few months, my electorate office has been inundated with complaints about the processing time for applications for the age pension by the Department of Human Services. I know from...
- Page Electorate: Grafton Jacaranda Festival, Page Electorate: Karate, Page Electorate: Orara Valley Ball, Russell, Mr David (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, as I am sure you are aware, last week was the Grafton Jacaranda Festival. It was another great event and we had more international tourists this year—the numbers are growing...
- Diabetes (1 speech)
On Sunday, 30 October I joined thousands of South Australians for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation One Walk in my electorate in the suburb of Glenelg along the seaside to Somerton and...
- Petrie Electorate: Constituent Concerns (1 speech)
Mr Speaker, you know that we live in the best country in the world—we certainly do. One aspect that makes Australia great and unique is our democratic governance and accountability as...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Lowles, Mr Charles OAM (1 speech)
Sadly, the Blacktown community recently lost one of our own. Affectionately known as the 'Mayor of Mount Druitt', Charlie Lowles dedicated both his public and private life to the residents of the...
- Barker Electorate: Ice Epidemic (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the scourge of the ice epidemic and some of the great work being done in my community to address it. As a former criminal lawyer, I have seen firsthand the...
- Macarthur Electorate: Macarthur Legal Centre (1 speech)
I come here today to speak about the Macarthur Legal Centre. Nationally, and not for the first time, a coalition government is placing legal aid services across the country at risk. There are...
- O'Connor Electorate: Kalgoorlie-Boulder Leadership Summit (1 speech)
( On Saturday, the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, and I attended a leadership summit convened by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to address tensions that have been...
- Hunter Electorate: Bushfires, Centrelink (1 speech)
Most members in this place will be aware that, over the course of the weekend, bushfires threatened many communities in New South Wales, including my own home town of Cessnock and many of the...
- Grey Electorate: Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
Last week I was fortunate enough to have the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, visit the electorate. Apart from a bit of a misfire in Port Lincoln, I must say, where for the second time in a...
- Calwell Electorate: Greenvale Primary School (1 speech)
I recently attended a Writers' Festival Week held at Greenvale Primary School in my electorate. Writers' Festival Week is an innovative program organised by Ms Georgia Kroger, the English leader...
- Fadden Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
On Friday I had the enormous privilege of recognising the hardworking volunteers we have in my electorate of Fadden on the northern Gold Coast. Today I wish to acknowledge each and every one of...
- Braddon Electorate: NBN network (1 speech)
I rise to draw the chamber's attention to the ongoing saga of connecting the west coast of Tasmania to the NBN. The west coast is isolated and has a challenging climate. The local economy is a...
- National Adoption Awareness Week (2 speeches)
This week is National Adoption Awareness Week, which draws attention to the fact that 30,000Australian children are in need of a permanent, loving home. According to Adopt Change, these children...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Stroke (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) National Stroke Week: (i) ran from 12 to 18 September 2016; and (ii) is about raising awareness to prevent stroke in...
- Western Australia: Infrastructure Funding (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the parlous state of Western Australia's finances, brought on by the economic mismanagement of the Western Australian Government and a record low share of...
- Remembrance Day (9 speeches)
It is an honour to speak to the Remembrance Day motion moved by my friend, the member for Kingston and shadow minister. It is important that we recognise the sacrifice and commitment by those men...
- Forced Marriage (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) some young Australians are being forced into marriage against their will; (b) child marriage and forced marriage are forms of slavery; and (c)...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Homelessness (1 speech)
Homelessness rates are rapidly rising in Australia. The latest figures show 256,000 Australians sought assistance from homeless services, an increase of some 20,000 on the figures from the year...
- Maranoa Electorate: Swickers Fire (1 speech)
It is with sadness today that I rise in this place to speak about the tragic fire at the Swickers Kingaroy bacon factory in Queensland's South Burnett that destroyed the boning room yesterday...
- Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Australia's 40th Anniversary (1 speech)
On Saturday night I attended the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Australia's 40th anniversary dinner. The organisation was founded in 1976 for the purpose of providing support to...
- Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland (1 speech)
Recently I had the pleasure of representing the Senator The Hon. Fiona Nash, Minister for Local Government and Territories, Regional Communications and Regional Development in acknowledging...
- Community Legal Centres (1 speech)
I was recently contacted by one of my constituents, Suzanne, who works for the Youth Advocacy Centre, a community legal centre that specialises in free legal services for young people generally...
- Forde Electorate: National Youth Science Forum (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Canterbury College year 11 student William Glass, who has been chosen to represent South Brisbane at the National Youth Science Forum....
- Tallangatta Secondary College: Lightwaves (1 speech)
Colleagues, I have to tell you that young people in northeast Victoria are doing some of the most exciting and innovative work that I have seen in a long time. On Saturday, 29 October, I had the...
- Wide Bay Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I have recently had the pleasure of attending awards nights at Victory College, James Nash State High School and Gympie State High School. It was great to see the range of awards presented, and I...
- Mining Industry: Hazelwood Power Station (1 speech)
The Latrobe Valley has a very special place in my heart. My father was an electrician with the SEC in Yallourn in the 1960s. My little sister, my baby sister, was, according to my mother, the...
- Valli, Olivia (1 speech)
I stand today to pay tribute to a brave little girl from Nambour, seven-year-old Olivia Valli. Last week, Olivia was travelling with her mum, Amber, and her two little brothers, Mason and Flynn,...
- Local Council Elections: Victoria (1 speech)
Melbourne is greener than ever before. We are finishing this year with an incredible result for the Greens in the Victorian local council elections, as we increased Greens representation from 17...
- Maranoa Electorate: Swickers Fire (1 speech)
I join with the member for Maranoa in notifying the chamber of the fire that has gutted Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory in Kingaroy and the broader effects it may have on the economy in South...
- Bendigo Electorate: Maldon NBN (1 speech)
Today I call on the government to keep its word with the people of Maldon. Maldon is 'Australia's first notable town'. Its streetscape is precious, and for 150 years it has been preserved. Maldon...
- National Adoption Awareness Week (1 speech)
This week is National Adoption Awareness Week. As a father of two girls under seven, it is heartbreaking for me to hear stories of child neglect and abuse—stories that, unfortunately, we...
- Parliamentary Delegation to the Middle East (1 speech)
Over the past week and a half I have been lucky enough to be part of an Australian Defence Force parliamentary program visiting our troops in the Middle East, in the UAE and Afghanistan. During...
- Dreamworld (1 speech)
Almost two weeks ago my northern Gold Coast electorate was rocked by the tragic loss of four lives at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. To have such a horrific accident at a park that has brought...
- Moreton Electorate: Australians of Indian Heritage (1 speech)
I wish to inform the chamber about the exciting project that is taking place in my electorate under the banner of the Australians of Indian heritage war memorial monument and bursary project....
- Ober, Mrs Narelle Doris (1 speech)
Narelle Ober has been a source of inspiration for me since the moment I first met her. Recently diagnosed with untreatable and aggressive cancer, sadly, Narelle passed away last weekend. I met...
- Indi Electorate: Moyhu (1 speech)
In the lush King Valley, just to the east of Wangaratta, lies the beautiful community of Moyhu. On 24 October, I had the enormous pleasure of sharing pizzas at the Moyhu Hotel as the guest of the...
- Great Northern Football League (1 speech)
I am very pleased to speak about the Great Northern Football League, which is in the Mid West, in my electorate, and which I again sponsored in 2016. The Mid West has a great history with our...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I recently addressed this chamber, asking Canberrans to send me a screenshot of their internet speeds. I speak today to update the House on the response. The average Australian's download speed...
- Steel Industry (1 speech)
Last week I was very happy to receive a call from the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, from Korea, to inform me that he had just had a meeting with Posco in relation to...
- Melbourne Employment Forum (1 speech)
People in Melbourne's African Australian communities have for a long time told me about the barriers that exist in securing employment. Too often I have heard stories of qualified people sending...
- East West Link (1 speech)
Despite traffic in Melbourne getting worse by the week, after the last state election Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Bill Shorten shamefully turned their backs on this problem by cancelling...
- Indi Electorate: Yackandandah Theatre Company (1 speech)
In my local community of Yackandandah, the power of art and theatre to tell our stories is so strong. Last Saturday night I had the enormous pleasure of being part of the Yackandandah Theatre...
- Bonner Electorate: Gundala Kindergarten (1 speech)
I would like to speak today about Gundala Kindergarten, an outstanding local institution in Wynnum. Gundala is the only Indigenous kindergarten in the local area, and they have been meeting the...
- Solomon Electorate: Vietnam Veterans (1 speech)
I am very appreciative of an additional opportunity to make a contribution in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. Having recently returned from speaking directly with veterans in the Northern...
- Tangney Electorate: Reach Volunteer Group (1 speech)
Volunteering is such an important pillar of Australian society, and adds so much to individuals and to our local community. At the 2011 census, almost 20 per cent of all Australians said they...
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (1 speech)
The decision handed down last week by the Federal Circuit Court in Prior v QUT, in my opinion, only adds to the argument for not watering down section 18C. In his judgement, Judge Jarrett found...
- Fisher Electorate: 5th Light Horse Regiment Maleny Troop (2 speeches)
This Friday, 11 November, Australians will pause to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts. On this 99th anniversary it is fitting to reflect...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Northern Australian Tourism Industry and Small Businesses (18 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the northern Australians working within the tourism industry, which plays a vital role in supporting the northern Australian economy; (2) recognises that...
- Adelaide Plains Floods and Assistance to Growers (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) widespread flooding has devastated large food growing areas in the Adelaide plains; (b) the Adelaide plains are a major economic driver for South...
- Palm Oil (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that palm oil, because of its low cost, is a common ingredient in many packaged foods, often supplementing vegetable oil; and (b) the misleading labelling...
- Housing Affordability (10 speeches)
Before I start, I would like to acknowledge and thank the member for Newcastle for putting up this motion. It is a very important issue that we do need to discuss and we do need to dwell upon. It...
- Gambling Advertising (5 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) more than $800 million was lost by Australians on legal sports betting in 2014-15, an increase of more than 30 per cent from 2013-14; (b) while some...
