House debates
Monday, 21 November 2016
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers; Responses (1 speech)
I present the following ministerial response to a petition previously presented: Dear Ross Vasta Thank you for your correspondence of 12 October 2016 enclosing Petition PN0001, concerning...
- Statements (1 speech)
For the information of the House, I note that seven of the petitions originally presented on 7 November are being re-presented due to a technical issue with the signature count. I also present an...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- UNICEF 70th Anniversary (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) celebrates its 70th anniversary on 11 December 2016; and (b) it is mandated by the United Nations General...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Middle East (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system each year; (b) Human Rights Watch...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Report (1 speech)
() (): On behalf of the Senate Standing Committees on Economics, I present the following reports together with the minutes of proceedings: Review of the Australian Prudential Regulation...
- Economics Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I move: That the orders of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Road Safety: Diplomatic Corps (1 speech)
Last week a constituent wrote to me about an incident she had had in the car park of her local supermarket. The incident involved a collision between her vehicle and that of a Russian diplomat....
- Chisholm Electorate: Chinese Community (1 speech)
Every day in Chisholm the colour, vibrancy and warmth of the Chinese culture are evidenced by the Chinese community in their family, community and business life. The number of Chinese-speaking...
- Phelan, Mr Seumas (1 speech)
On Sunday, 13 November, Australian journalism lost one of its best. Seumas Phelan died at his home in Bundeena, surrounded by his loving family, just as he would have chosen. Seumas was a...
- Mallee Electorate: Storms (1 speech)
On the evening of Friday, 13 November, the area that I represent was hit by a severe hailstorm and small tornado that did a lot of damage to horticultural crops and to houses across the Sunraysia...
- Regional Development Australia (1 speech)
The northern regions of Melbourne are facing some significant challenges—in particular, issues around unemployment, underemployment and business growth. The departure of our nation's car...
- Wright Electorate: Rio 2016 Paralympics Medallist (1 speech)
I rise to shine a spotlight on a local Paralympian in my electorate. Claire Keefer is a 21-year-old short-statured athlete from Withcott in my electorate who recently competed in the Rio 2016...
- Northern Territory Football League (1 speech)
Last week I was proud to attend the St Mary's Football Club in Darwin, in my electorate, where we had a celebration to acknowledge a record for the Northern Territory Football League when Iggy...
- Dawson Electorate: Sugar Cane Industry (1 speech)
Despite having crops already in the ground and the best prices for years, most cane farmers have not signed cane supply agreements with Wilmar because Wilmar's proposed agreements deny farmers...
- Lindsay Electorate: Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak about a business organisation in my electorate of Lindsay, the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has been operating for nearly 90 years in our community, and...
- Banks Electorate: Zoning Rules (1 speech)
I would like to address a very serious issue in my electorate—namely, Canterbury Bankstown Council's proposal to create massive changes to zoning rules across many suburbs in my electorate....
- Medicare (1 speech)
In the dying days of the July federal election campaign, a desperate Prime Minister Turnbull assured Australians that they would 'absolutely not' pay any more to see a doctor, because of the...
- Dunkley Electorate: Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program (1 speech)
On Thursday, I was honoured to be present at the Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program graduation ceremony, held by headspace Frankston and supported by Chisholm TAFE, Anglicare, the Local...
- Prime Minister (1 speech)
The Prime Minister is not joining us in parliament today. He is not lost; he is in Lima for the APEC forum. But our Prime Minister has been a bit preoccupied in Peru. Instead of working with...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources on his letter to the South Australian Minister for Water and the...
- Indi Electorate: Back Roads (1 speech)
Spending by the ABC in rural and regional Australia is an investment, not a cost. I am looking forward to welcoming the chair, the CEO and the board of the ABC to Indi on Friday, 25 November, to...
- Mates4Mates (1 speech)
I wish to put on record the great work being done by the veterans support group Mates4Mates. Last week I attended the opening of the Brisbane family recovery centre and national headquarters in...
- Parramatta Electorate: International Olympiads (1 speech)
This year, 27 exceptionally gifted high school students, chosen from 150,000 students nationally, represented Australia at various International Olympiads. Of these 27 students, five were from...
- Boothby Electorate: Patritti Wines (1 speech)
In my maiden speech I noted that it was a particular honour to be elected this year because 2016 marks a number of public and personal anniversaries relating to my electorate of Boothby. One of...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan (2 speeches)
All South Australians were deeply disturbed by reports that emerged on Friday that the Deputy Prime Minister is planning to rip up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. He is walking away from returning...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Prime Minister will be away today, and I will be representing him ably and well.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Freedom of Information (11 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to an FOI request about paid parental leave submitted to the Treasurer's office when he was social services minister. This request was rejected because it...
- Water (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the Acting Prime Minister update the House on the investment that the Commonwealth is making...
- Paid Parental Leave (6 speeches)
Under this government's latest cuts to paid parental leave, a woman working at Coles would lose 10 weeks of paid parental leave, a loss of around $6,700. Can the Acting Prime Minister explain to...
- Economy (8 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how an efficient and productive construction sector promotes economic growth and creates jobs for hardworking Australians? What is the...
- Budget (3 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Reports today confirm that MYEFO will be released on 19 December and the deficit will be up. Why has the Treasurer today refused to confirm the...
- Climate Change (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Environment and Energy. At the recent global climate summit in Marrakech, the United States climate envoy said that, because of rapid melting in Antarctica,...
- Building and Construction Industry (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister outline to the House any recent examples of activities in registered organisations...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. If the government drops its plan for a big business tax cut which costs the budget $50 billion, will it be more or less likely that the budget will be in balance...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the member for Forde, I inform the House that joining us in the chamber this afternoon is a delegation of ASEAN parliamentarians. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Tourism (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline how Australians working in the tourism sector will benefit from the 2018 Commonwealth Games? What...
- Schools (8 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The National Party education minister in New South Wales, Adrian Piccoli, said about Labor's plan for extra school funding: … the Nationals...
- Economy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Will the minister advise the House why it is important to maintain the rule of law in Australian industry? How will the...
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Can he confirm that he doctored his Hansard, forced out the departmental secretary who dared to question his integrity, announced the relocation of...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer update the House on the importance of a strong economy to improve the budget and arrest Australia's debt? How does promoting investment in the...
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Yesterday, when speaking about the Acting Prime Minister's plan to dismantle the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Senator Xenophon said, 'Barnaby was...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform members of the House that we have present with us in the Speaker's gallery this afternoon former member for Macarthur, Mr Pat Farmer. Welcome back. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister please update the House on the importance of maintaining a consistent approach, to safeguard Australia's national security?
- Water (4 speeches)
My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. I refer to the Acting Prime Minister's previous answer. Given the 450 additional gigalitres is to be acquired through investment in on-farm...
- Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on further steps the government has taken to facilitate third-country resettlement of...
- Migration (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Last week, when speaking about his immigration portfolio, the minister for immigration said: The reality is Malcolm Fraser...
- Australia-United States Relationship (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Personnel. Will the minister advise the House what the impact of a change in the Australian-US relationship would have on Australia's Defence Force...
- Migration (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. I refer to his previous answer. Which people, from which country, does the minister believe should not have been allowed into...
- Employment (3 speeches)
My constituency question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer outline how the government is working to promote jobs for Australian workers in areas of high youth unemployment such as...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Harris, Mr Bernie (2 speeches)
I want to inform members of the recent death of Mr Bernard Harris. Bernie retired in 2002, having been the Chief Hansard Reporter. He worked in the parliament for 38 years, all of those with...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Governor-General's Speech (0 speeches)
- Address-in-Reply (11 speeches)
To go on from where I left off: the government has also committed to a $20 million jobs, infrastructure and training package for the Upper Spencer Gulf. At the same time, we have committed to a...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Petition: Victoria: Roads (1 speech)
I have a petition with 3,968 signatures. It has been examined by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions and found to be in order. The petition read as follows— To the...
- Herbert Electorate: Methamphetamine (1 speech)
I rise in this place this evening to talk about a growing and not-so-silent epidemic in my electorate of Herbert, and that is the scourge of methamphetamine or, as it is commonly known, ice. The...
- Health Care (1 speech)
On behalf of the Braddon electorate, I rise today to put the Turnbull government on notice in the critical area of health care. At the 2 July election, the Braddon community overwhelmingly voted...
- La Trobe Electorate: Crime, Joint Standing Committee on Migration (1 speech)
Sometimes, when you live in the electorate of La Trobe and you are being targeted by this crime wave and the Apex gang, you think that it was only happening to us. I was reading the other day in...
- Nuclear Weapons (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to reflect on an aspect of President Obama's leadership that may well be sorely missed in the near future, especially if countries like Australia are not prepared to act...
- Fisher Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the very important issue of mental health and to inform the chamber of a newly established facility on the Sunshine Coast that promises to become one of the leading...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Petition: Cowan Electorate - Internet Access (1 speech)
I rise to table a petition. The petition has 335 signatures and it speaks to the appalling state of the internet, particularly in the suburb of Greenwood in my electorate of Cowan, where homes...
- Dunkley Electorate: Peninsula Home Hospice (1 speech)
Today I rise to talk about a federal government election commitment that has recently been approved for a great local Dunkley organisation, the Peninsula Home Hospice. Last week I was thrilled to...
- Medicare (1 speech)
I rise again today to talk about our ongoing battle on this side of the House to save Medicare. Of course, we have seen the continued attack by the Liberal government on our universal health-care...
- Petition: Road Infrastructure (1 speech)
Today I want to bring to the attention of the parliament a petition by local residents in my electorate of McPherson on the southern Gold Coast to the Queensland Department of Main Roads and...
- Longman Electorate: Electrical Safety (1 speech)
Last week I met with a constituent, Derek Green, to discuss the importance of electrical safety, training and awareness. Derek runs a small business that operates as a registered training...
- Sharma, Mr Manmeet, Warren, Ms Elly (2 speeches)
This morning I want to talk about communities—specifically, about acts of crime and how they can tear communities apart or bring them even closer together. Two weekends ago, I represented...
- Centre for Quantum Computation & Communication Technology (1 speech)
Computer chips are becoming smaller and smaller, but the amount of information that they are storing is becoming larger and larger. People working with computer chips at the cutting edge these...
- Meningococcal Disease (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about meningococcal disease. This is a disease that has recently affected my communities of the Riverland and the south-east. Meningococcal disease is an acute bacterial...
- Shipping (1 speech)
I rise to propose specific solutions to the problem of cruise ship pollution in White Bay in my electorate. In June, I contacted the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, to...
- Saint Josephs Riverwood Sports Club, Bankstown District Amateur Football Association, Australian Air League (2 speeches)
Recently I attended the presentation day of Saint Josephs Riverwood Sports Club. This fantastic group in my electorate gives the local kids the opportunity to play a wide range of sports:...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Mahon, Hon. Hugh (8 speeches)
I am very pleased to move: That this House: (1) recognises that: (a) prior to the passage of the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 the Houses of the Australian Parliament had the power to expel a...
- Turnbull Government (16 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the Government won the election and has been getting on with the job of governing; and (2) congratulates the Government for the following...
- Employment (15 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that the unemployment rate in Australia has barely fallen from immediate post Global Financial Crisis levels; (b) Treasury projections that the...
- Cashless Debit Card Trial (17 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that reducing social harm caused by welfare-fuelled alcohol, drug and gambling abuse is a key priority nationally and for local communities; (2)...
- Working Holiday Visa Program (15 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the Fair Work Ombudsman's (FWO's) report Inquiry into the wages and conditions of people working under the 417 Working Holiday Visa Program (October 2016)...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Mavraganis, Mr Con (1 speech)
I want to pay tribute to my constituent Con Mavraganis, who recently passed away. Con was a stalwart of the local Greek community in Broadmeadows, and he made a significant contribution to our...
- Volunteer Grants Program (1 speech)
Volunteers play a critical role in our community. They work tirelessly for the benefit of others. It is estimated that around six million Australians volunteer each year, including around 20,000...
- Palestine (1 speech)
I rise to express my concern about the treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli military. Since 1967, Palestinians in the West Bank have lived under military occupation. Israeli soldiers,...
- O'Connor Electorate: Pingelly Memorial Walk (1 speech)
Recently, I had the privilege of being invited to the unveiling of the refurbished memorial walk and historical archives at Pingelly, one of the many close-knit communities in the Wheatbelt of my...
- Dismissal (1 speech)
Despite a lot of local talk, we do not yet know what Donald Trump's election means for Australia, but it does highlight the need for Australia to pursue our national interest within the alliance...
- Victorian Opera (2 speeches)
Today I rise to congratulate Victorian Opera on its incredible success. Victorian Opera is the shining star in the performing arts base, through innovation, technology and resourcefulness. We...
- Halit, Mr Patrick (1 speech)
Colleagues, I would like to congratulate, acknowledge, honour and thank 'Postman Pat' Halit after 60 years of service to delivering mail. He began work with the PMG, aged 15, at Warburton in 1956...
- Collins, Mr Wayne (1 speech)
It was with a tinge of sadness that, a fortnight ago, I was at the retirement of Wayne Collins, from ECHO, as part of St Mark's Church. Wayne has been in that role for over 12 years. I also thank...
- Chifley Electorate: Bidwill Shopping Centre (1 speech)
In the lead-up to Christmas, as we race to get things done, we also race to get the shopping done. I feel particularly badly this year for Bidwill residents, who will be forced yet again to...
- North Sydney Electorate: Research and Development (1 speech)
I am fortunate to represent an electorate which includes what is arguably Australia's third or fourth largest CBD in North Sydney, along with other major commercial centres like Chatswood. My...
- Jindalee Bowls Club (1 speech)
I rise to brief the House on a shocking violent crime that happened in my electorate on Saturday night. The Jindalee Bowls Club in the electorate of Oxley was robbed of $5,000 at gunpoint at...
- Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
I rise today to speak— Mr Perrett interjecting— We are never short of a comment from the member for Moreton. I rise today to speak about an important anniversary that occurred on 16...
- Pronia (1 speech)
On Tuesday night, last week, I was the keynote speaker at the annual AGM of the Australian Greek Welfare Society, which has been rebranded and is now known as Pronia. For over 40 years, Pronia...
- Victoria: Bushfires (1 speech)
As summer approaches, I take this opportunity to remind the residents of Menzies, especially those in the eastern part of my electorate in suburbs such as Warrandyte and Wonga Park, of potential...
- Australian Capital Territory: Bushfires (1 speech)
On the afternoon of Thursday, 10 November, the wind gusts here in Canberra neared 30 kilometres an hour. The wind was bending powerlines into the backyard of one family, and when the lines...
- Higher Education (1 speech)
As we near the year end, there are many year 12 students and university students who patiently await their results. In December, many university students will receive their results. Indeed, 12...
- Parliament House: Catering (1 speech)
It is traditional at this time of year to acknowledge the many thousands of people who make the work of parliamentarians possible: the cleaners, the security guards, the Hansard operators, the...
- Kenya Go The Distance? (1 speech)
I think that I probably speak on behalf of all members when I say that, when you represent people and you scratch the surface, you find all these really good news stories of things going on right...
- Bruce Electorate: Minaret College (1 speech)
Last Saturday evening I was delighted to attend the year 12 graduation of a school in my electorate, Minaret College, in Springvale, and witness 87 students, fine young Australians, complete...
- Cotton Industry (1 speech)
I would like to spend my 90 seconds on the Australian cotton industry, which is leading the world in quality, production and reduction in environmental care. It is very likely that all the people...
- Moreton-Rankin Unity Cricket Game (1 speech)
For the last three years the Muslim community in Moreton have played a game of cricket against the Muslim community in Rankin. Jim Chalmers, the member for Rankin, and I have been fortunate...
- Eaves Water System (1 speech)
If you live in regional Australia and you rely on rainwater then you know firsthand the annual pilgrimage that you will make up a ladder to clean the gutters out. My electorate is going to fix...
- Oxley Electorate: Veterans (1 speech)
I rise to brief the parliament on a round table that I hosted last Tuesday with the member for Kingston and the shadow minister for veterans' affairs to support veterans in my local community. I,...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The difference between full-time employment and working as a casual can be enormous. In the resource industry around the Bowen Basin, working as a casual usually means lower wages, inferior...
- Indi Electorate: Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
Nestled in the Ovens Valley in the foothills of the great Australian Alps lies the beautiful town and community of Bright. On Saturday, I had the amazing experience of being part of the annual...
- Banks Electorate: Banks Junior Short Film Festival (1 speech)
I recently held the second annual Banks Junior Short Film Festival, a competition which gives primary and secondary school students in my electorate the opportunity to showcase their filmmaking...
- Isaac Delivers (1 speech)
Isaac Peel is a young small-business owner here in Canberra. He runs a service called Isaac Delivers, which delivers light items to businesses around Canberra, including Fyshwick Toyota, the...
- Dunkley Electorate: Community Support Frankston (1 speech)
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting Community Support Frankston to see them in action and to see the full extent of services they have provided Frankston and the surrounding community for...
- Mayo Electorate: Kangaroo Island Students (1 speech)
On November 10, I was delighted to learn that the one millionth student to visit Parliament House was a young lady from my electorate, Isabella Jenke, from the Adelaide Hills. Isabella was able...
- Murray Electorate: Jobs and Investment Fund (2 speeches)
I had the opportunity last Friday to host a roundtable of economic development officers in Euroa. We had 13 local government areas from the Hume region, Echuca, Shepparton, Cobham, the committee...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Middle East (4 speeches)
I am pleased to support this motion moved by the member for Calwell. The motion reads: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested, detained and...
- National Security (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that as the terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, comes under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria, there is the risk that more foreign...
- Income Inequality (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes with deep concern that: (a) income inequality in Australia is growing such that currently the top 20 per cent of households receive half of...
- Battle of Long Tan (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) on 8 November at Government House the Governor-General awarded ten soldiers with military awards for actions at the Battle of Long Tan; and (b) these...
- White Ribbon Day (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that White Ribbon: (a) is a male led campaign to end male violence against women; (b) is now active in over 60 countries around the world; and (c) has...
