House debates
Monday, 13 February 2017
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the sixth report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament together with 37 petitions and 21 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. The terms of the petitions...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Statements (1 speech)
The act of citizens petitioning parliament about their grievances is centuries old. The practice came to Australia as part of our Westminster inheritance and remains as an important democratic...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Australia Day Honours (15 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large;...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the report of the committee relating to referrals made in October and November 2016. Report made a parliamentary paper...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Housing Affordability (6 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for McMahon from moving the following motion forthwith—...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Western Australian State Election (3 speeches)
In my home state of Western Australia today we have seen a Faustian bargain of grand proportions, and that is a preference deal between the Liberal Party and the One Nation party to put the One...
- Capricornia Electorate: Floods (1 speech)
Parts of my electorate welcomed the new year in with record thunderstorms and flash flooding. The township of Sarina endured chaos overnight on 3 January, as hundreds of millimetres of rain were...
- Bass Electorate: Medicare (1 speech)
In yet another example of the government's failure to effectively manage the administration of public services, the rate of complaints around Medicare refund delays in Bass has significantly...
- Tangney Electorate: Education Funding (1 speech)
Melville Senior High School in my electorate is an independent public school, recognised for their gifted and talented programs and their aviation studies, graphic design, media and music in...
- Bruce Electorate: Citizenship (1 speech)
Australian citizenship is precious, and the community must have confidence in how cases are considered and how it is granted. Integrity in the administration of the citizenship function is...
- Maranoa Electorate: Chinchilla Melon Festival (1 speech)
This week marks the commencement, in my home town of Chinchilla, of the iconic melon festival. The Chinchilla Melon Festival has a rich and proud history from its humble...
- Climate Change (3 speeches)
In 2009, the then opposition leader told the nation, 'I will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am.' In 2010, that same man said to 'effectively...
- Groom Electorate: Sports Darling Downs (1 speech)
I rise to speak of a wonderful hard-working community organisation in my electorate: Sports Darling Downs. On Saturday night about 400 of us attended their 18th annual awards ceremony and, once...
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (1 speech)
At last some light is to be shone on the shameless and blatant pork barrel that is the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority relocation from Canberra to Armidale. I am...
- Harinath, Dr Gorur Krishna 'Harry', OAM (1 speech)
Today I rise to congratulate Dr Harry Harinath on receiving a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from His Excellency, Pranab Mukherjee the President of India on 9 January this year. The Pravasi...
- Tasmania: Employment (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about a full-time jobs crisis that is consuming Tasmania. ABS figures for the year ending November 2016 showed Tasmania had lost 6,300 full-time jobs. There are no signs...
- Flynn Electorate: Men's Shed, Flynn Electorate: Building Better Regions Fund (1 speech)
Mr Deputy Speaker Coulton, I do hope that the fires in your electorate and in those other electorates that surround yours have cooled off today. I also hope that the mighty mare Winx can win her...
- Solomon Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
) ( ): Like some of my colleagues, I rise to speak of the inadequacy of the current government and, particularly, the current Prime Minister's work when it comes to growing our nation. Whether it...
- Wright Electorate: Aged Care (1 speech)
I rise to express my empathy for the residents and staff of an aged care facility in my electorate which is going to be closed down. On Thursday, PresCare announced its plans to close the Roslyn...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
It is 2017, we are a First World country and, under the Turnbull government, the national electricity system cannot get cheap, clean power to people's homes when they need it to keep their fans...
- Jake Garrett Foundation (1 speech)
In 2012 a good friend of mine, Helen Garrett, was leading a normal life, happily raising her two children, Jake and April. In March of that year, through circumstances beyond anyone's control,...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Australia Day Honours (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate and thank those Kingsford Smith locals who recently received Australia Day honours. They include: former CEO and Executive Director of Surfing New South Wales Mark 'Winny'...
- Dairy Industry (1 speech)
I rise to thank Dale Hanks and Graham Manning, the two dairy farmers who gave evidence at the Senate inquiry into the dairy industry recently. These are two of the four farmers who were told by a...
- New South Wales: Bushfires (1 speech)
For a great many Australians, the past weekend will be remembered for oppressive heat and record-breaking temperatures. But families in the central west of New South Wales who have lost homes,...
- Queensland: Leslie Harrison Dam (2 speeches)
Those of us representing regional and outer metropolitan Australia know just how attached we can get to our freshwater dams. Leslie Harrison Dam at Brisbane, just 25 minutes from the CBD, is a...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples (2 speeches)
Nine years ago, we met here in this chamber, here on Ngunnawal land, which we acknowledge every day, and heard Prime Minister Kevin Rudd deliver the apology to our First Australians. It was a...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Western Australian State Election (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: is the Prime Minister aware that the West Australian Liberal Premier has confirmed that the Liberal Party is preferencing One Nation at the forthcoming...
- Energy Security (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government's energy policies will keep power bills affordable and improve security for hardworking...
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that, in the last few months, One Nation has stated that being a single parent is a lifestyle choice which leads to an increase...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on how the government is working to reduce cost-of-living pressures for hardworking Australians; and is the Treasurer aware of...
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. One Nation has called for Australia to end its membership of the United Nations, and just last week Senator Pauline Hanson dismissed concerns...
- Medicare (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, your personal commitment to health care is compromised by the freeze on the Medicare rebate for a visit to the GP. Indeed, yours is a...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I would like to inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Rt Hon. Nick Herbert, member of the House of Commons for Arundel and South Downs. On behalf of the House, I...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Energy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on how a coordinated, national approach to energy policy is supporting secure and affordable...
- Western Australia State Election (14 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, because today he said of the WA One Nation preference deal: This is a disappointing move. I hope the architects of it clearly understand the...
- Agriculture Industry (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the minister update the House on the importance of energy security and affordability to...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government's announcement today that it will use the $3 billion it wants to cut from families, pensioners and new mums to fund the National...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I would like to inform the House we have present in the gallery this afternoon the former member for Durack, Mr Barry Haase. On the half of the House, welcome back. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Energy Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House how affordable and reliable energy supports Australian exports? How would alternative...
- Electricity Security (9 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister specifically confirm that on the day after the blackout in South Australia last year, the conference call between the Prime Minister's...
- Small Business (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. With the minister update the House on action the government is taking to protect small businesses from the impact of unreliable and expensive...
- Energy Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today we have learnt, through freedom of information, that the Commonwealth government was directly advised about the blackout in South Australia last year,...
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Sport. Will the minister update the House on recent listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme? How do these recent listings support hardworking...
- Energy Affordability (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer and I also refer to The Australian newspaper this morning which reveals that the highest price rises for...
- Donations to Political Parties (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry, representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister inform the House why it is important to bring a consistent and well thought out...
- 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.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
In summing up, I would like to thank speakers from both sides of the chamber for their contributions to the debate. The Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016...
- Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016; Consideration in Detail (11 speeches)
by leave—I move amendments (1) to (6) and (8) to (11) as circulated in my name together: (1) Clause 1, page 1 (lines 5 and 6), omit "Serious or Organised", substitute "Serious and...
- Transport Security Amendment (Serious or Organised Crime) Bill 2016; Third Reading (2 speeches)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
- Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I rise to support the Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016—even though I note that it is 2017 before we have got around to actually debating this legislation. As I indicated...
- Transport Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Agriculture and Water Resources Legislation Amendment Bill 2016, Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Honey) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016; Second Reading (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker Kelly, let me first thank members who have contributed to this debate. This bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016, contains amendments that relate to...
- Treasury Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2016; Second Reading (3 speeches)
The Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2016 enables certain members of the Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan, PSSap, who move to non-Commonwealth employment to choose...
- Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (2 speeches)
I rise to speak on the Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016. I say at the start: Labor will support this bill today which amends the Customs Act 1901, the Commerce (Trade...
- Customs and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Customs Tariff Amendment Bill 2016; Second Reading (6 speeches)
I say at the start that Labor will support this legislation. The Customs Tariff Amendment Bill 2016 amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 in four ways: it repeals schedule 1 of the tariff act, which...
- Customs Tariff Amendment Bill 2016; Third Reading (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Affordable Housing Agreement (1 speech)
The Liberal-National government are prepared to put billions of dollars into property speculation. But we heard on the weekend in a story given to The Australian that they are going to cut the...
- Petrie Electorate: Redcliffe Peninsula Line (1 speech)
I am a patient man. But I am not a patch on the people of Petrie: 132 years is a long time to spend waiting for a train, but that is exactly what generations of residents in my electorate have...
- Swan Electorate: City of South Perth, Swan Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to update the House on one of the local governments in my electorate, the City of South Perth. For those who are not familiar with the great state of Western...
- Climate Change (3 speeches)
For many people across the country, the weekend just gone was almost too hot to handle. I wish to pay tribute to the many volunteer services, in particular rural fire services, paid fire...
- Energy (1 speech)
We just heard from the member for Kingsford Smith how the Labor Party is putting the prosperity of this nation at such risk. He talks about the Labor Party's plan. Can you tell me, Member for...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about a very sad development in the politics of my home state of Western Australia. Colin Barnett and the WA Liberals have abandoned the WA National Party, the party they...
- Telecommunications (1 speech)
Right across the electorate of Mallee we have had a wonderful harvest. There is grain everywhere. We are now harvesting the table grapes. We are harvesting the nectarines. I encourage people to...
- Moreton Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
Gong xi fa cai. As you well know, the Chinese diaspora in Moreton, and across Australia in fact, has been celebrating Lunar New Year for a few weeks—dancing lions, fireworks, great food and...
- Durack Electorate: Infrastructure, Durack Electorate: Aged Care, Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
I am very pleased today to speak about the tropical town of Carnarvon, in my electorate of Durack. As I have said in this chamber on many occasions, Carnarvon is home to beautiful weather and...
- Clement, Ms Tricia (2 speeches)
On a sad note, I rise today to speak about someone who was such a great contributor to the electorate of Hindmarsh and the western suburbs and to senior citizens clubs in my electorate. I am...
- Grey Electorate: Rail (1 speech)
I rise today to give the House an update on the government's commitment to invest in the Adelaide-Tarcoola rail project, which falls within my electorate of Grey. As members are probably aware,...
- Medicare (1 speech)
For 33 years Australians have come to regard Medicare as a national icon. Governments have come and gone, but Medicare has survived, despite the fact that particular conservative governments have...
- Forde Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
It is always a pleasure to rise in this chamber and speak about the extensive progress that this government is making with the NBN rollout across the country, in direct comparison to those...
- Higher Education (1 speech)
I rise to place on record my support for the vital role that TAFE plays in education and training in my electorate of Oxley and right across the country. Just last month, I had the pleasure of...
- Queensland: Rail (2 speeches)
Obviously, I think both sides of politics are massive supporters of TAFE, but only one is going to get you there by train. For a long time, governments benchmarked themselves on whether the...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Turnbull Government (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) congratulates the Government for pursing an extensive technology reform agenda that will change the way Australians interact with Government services for the better;...
- Centrelink (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that; (a) it has been 41 days since the opposition formally requested that the robo-debt system be suspended while it was fixed; (b) the Minister for Human...
- Australia Day Honours (10 speeches)
What an honour it is to stand here today and congratulate those amongst us that have made an outstanding contribution to my own community and the nation at large. There is no shortage of men and...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Burt Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
Over the past six months in this place, I have spoken several times about the NBN rollout in my electorate and particularly in the suburb of Thornlie—or at least the lack of NBN rollout,...
- La Trobe Electorate: Little Athletics (1 speech)
I recently had the great pleasure to attend the Sherbrooke Little Athletics Annual Royal Children's Relayathon. Amazingly, the club ran an incredible 92 kilometres that morning to raise money for...
- Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
I rise once again to draw attention to the complete disregard that this government is showing my community through its plans to build the Western Sydney Airport. This is an airport that has been...
- Flynn Electorate: Boyne River (1 speech)
I rise today to raise awareness of the fight currently faced by farmers along the Boyne River in the Burnett region of my electorate of Flynn. The Boyne River is home to a suite of high-value...
- Bruce Electorate: Chinese New Year (1 speech)
'Xin nian kuai le', 'Gong xi fa cai' and 'Da jia hao'—these phrases which mean 'May you have a prosperous New Year', 'Happy New Year' and 'Hello, everybody' are ones which more and more...
- Lavender Bay Railway Line (1 speech)
Twenty-five years ago, Sydney's well-known 'red rattlers' were decommissioned from service following a final journey across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They were single-deck ageing trains without...
- Rugby League All Stars (1 speech)
I wish to pay tribute to the National Rugby League's All Stars program, which, following a week of terrific community events, culminated last Friday night in the Indigenous All Stars versus the...
- Durack Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
I am pleased to speak about my contribution to address one of the largest health issues in Durack: mental health. Last week, I announced that the Mid West Mental Health Service will have a...
- Wehbe, Ms Gabriella (1 speech)
On Australia Day a very special young woman became the 2017 Parramatta Young Citizen of the Year. Gabriella Wehbe was the assistant head girl of Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta and...
- Fairfax Electorate: Bushfires (1 speech)
So busy are the lives of everyday Australians that it sometimes takes a major event for us to pause, take a step back and reflect on how lucky we are and to remind ourselves of how fundamentally...
- Centrelink (1 speech)
I would like to take the opportunity to report to the House an initiative that has had a significant impact on many, not just in my electorate but across the country, and that is the government's...
- Fadden Electorate: Prawn Industry (1 speech)
In January this year we had an outbreak of white spot disease on the Gold Coast, which devastated the local prawn industry. The prawn industry at the Logan River on the GC produces about 25 per...
- Boochani, Mr Behrouz (1 speech)
Mr Behrouz Boochani has been imprisoned by the Australian government on Manus Island since 2013. I would like to tell the parliament some of his story. Boochani was a founder, editor and writer...
- Gilmore Electorate: Apprenticeship Challenge (1 speech)
In January we had the Gilmore Apprenticeship Challenge. The whole idea was to try and encourage 52 local businesses to take on an apprentice or a trainee. So with Guns and Roses going, we had a...
- McKay, Mr Ross, Johnston, Mr Jon (2 speeches)
I rise today to pay tribute to two outstanding members of our community who sadly recently lost battles with ill health. I recognise two great people of the mighty suburb of Inala: Ross McKay and...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Northern Australia Beef Roads Program (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Government has committed $700 million to improve roads in Northern Australia including $100 million through the Northern Australia Beef Roads...
- National Swimming and Water Safety Framework (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that Australians live by the water, and being in and around water is part of our nation's culture and our identity, but this regular exposure to water...
- National Stronger Regions Fund (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) congratulates the Government on the success of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF); (2) acknowledges the significant and positive impact that the NSRF is having...
- Schools (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the Government's failure in school education policy, including: (a) a cut of $30 billion from schools (Budget 2014-15 Overview, 13 May 2014, page...
- Safe Schools Declaration (6 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) children in conflict zones around the world are in danger and live in fear within their schooling environments as schools are being attacked or...
- Centrelink (Question No. 629) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Human Services, in writing, on 24 November 2016 In (a) the electoral division of Macquarie, and (b) New South Wales, how many people who are 55 years of age and over are...
