House debates
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Closing the Gap (3 speeches)
Yanggu gulanyin ngalawiri, dhunayi, Ngunawal dhawra. Wanggarralijinyin mariny bulan bugarabang. Today, we are meeting together on Ngunawal land and we acknowledge and pay our respects to their...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I acknowledge all of our guests in the distinguished visitors' gallery, on the floor of the House and in the speaker's gallery. I particularly acknowledge former Prime Minister Rudd, who joins us...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
I rise to speak on the government's plan for a consultative forum on Western Sydney Airport, FOWSA. The proposed make-up of FOWSA, yet again, shows that there is one rule for the eastern half of...
- Riverland and Mallee Vocational Awards (1 speech)
Last Friday night I attended the Rotary Club of Berry's annual Riverland and Mallee Vocational Awards. These awards are the largest of their kind in regional Australia, which underscores not only...
- Volunteer Firefighters (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to the work of volunteer bushfire brigades that cover my electorate and surrounding areas, who last week kept under control a blaze near Wungong and Bedfordale....
- Pilbara (1 speech)
Stability, jobs and economic growth—apparently, not very sexy words but these are the things I campaigned on and helped me to be re-elected in July 2016. By working hard, I am delivering in...
- Wills Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate those members of the community in my electorate of Wills who were inducted into the Order of Australia on Australia Day this...
- Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival (1 speech)
Every year for last 57 years, the city of Port Lincoln has staged the Tunarama Festival—originally to mark the departure of the tuna fleet. In more recent times, the industry that spawned...
- Macarthur Electorate: Climate Change (1 speech)
My electorate of Macarthur on the southern outskirts of Sydney recently experienced, like many other western areas, record high temperatures of 44 degrees and 46 degrees centigrade respectively...
- Shellharbour City Council (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate a part of my electorate which unfortunately is no longer part of my electorate—that is, the municipal area of Shellharbour City Council. Today, they received...
- beyondblue, Love Your Sister (1 speech)
I rise to talk about the important work done by two fantastic not-for-profits, beyondblue and Love Your Sister. Firstly, beyondblue is an independent association working to address the issues...
- Bonner Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
Today, I would like to discuss the important contribution volunteers make in Bonner. I would also like to talk about the first annual Bonner volunteer awards, which are starting soon. I have met...
- Indi Electorate: Writers, Readers and Poets' Weekend (1 speech)
Mr Deputy Speaker, you might know Beechworth, one of the favourite visiting places for many members of parliament. How absolutely honoured I was last Friday to open the Writers, Readers and...
- Agriculture Industry (1 speech)
I want to share some of the positive news for finger lime growers not only in my electorate but right around Australia. Just a few days ago I got a really excited call from Ian and Margie...
- Turnbull Government (1 speech)
In this House of Representatives, where governments are made and unmade, the largest single political party by far is the Australian Labor Party. The current Prime Minister only governs because...
- Fisher Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to speak about my continued commitment to reporting to the House what the people of Fisher have told me that they care about in my recent 11 listening posts conducted in the last week of...
- Lalor Electorate: Chinese New Year, Lalor Electorate: International Mother Language Day (1 speech)
I rise to celebrate two firsts in the electorate of Lalor on the past Saturday and two firsts for the city of Wyndham. For the first time in Wyndham we celebrated the Lunar New Year festival with...
- Robertson Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to bring to the attention of the House a snapshot of local issues that are important to people on the Central Coast. Over the last week more than 250 local residents and businesses have...
- Canberra Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
I have petitioned the government to prioritise Canberra on the NBN rollout map. I have written to the minister to prioritise Canberra on the NBN rollout map, and to date, despite the promise by...
- Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience (1 speech)
I rise today to commend the government's commitment to honouring a century of service by our armed forces through the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience. Earlier this month I had the privilege...
- Bendigo Electorate: Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Here we are back in parliament and yet there is still deafening silence from people on the other side, the government, about the growing trend of aggressive employers of big companies filing to...
- Bennelong Electorate: Lunar New Year (2 speeches)
Despite 42-degree heat in the shade last Saturday, the nation's greatest Lunar New Year celebration event was held in Bennelong, and it was a smashing success, with thousands braving the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is the Prime Minister holding the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme hostage to his cuts to families, carers, pensioners and young people?
- Energy Security (18 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government's responsible energy policies will help hardworking Australian families and businesses access...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the action the government is taking to promote investment that creates jobs and reduces cost-of-living pressures on...
- Energy Security (23 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Friday, a supply shortage in coal-dependent New South Wales meant power was cut to Tomago, Australia's largest aluminium smelter, in my electorate....
- Australia Post (2 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Communications. Pre corporatisation, the Australia Post CEO received $360,000 a year. Ahmed Fahour, the current CEO, enjoys $5.6...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon. Will Hodgman, and the Tasmanian Minister for Health, the Hon. Michael Ferguson, who is also...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Dairy Industry (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the minister outline to the House the importance of the Australian dairy industry to the economy...
- Energy Affordability (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. It has been reported that this year Queensland has experienced more than 23 times as many extreme power price spikes as South Australia and that New South...
- Employment (4 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 ensure that the 457 visa program is a supplement to,...
- Western Australian State Election (9 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday in question time, the Deputy Prime Minister ridiculed anyone who received preferences from the Greens political party. Given that the WA...
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Employment. Would he outline how the government's commitment to industrial relations reform will help protect the...
- Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is the Prime Minister choosing to harm 1½ million Australian families and threaten the National Disability Insurance Scheme instead of scrapping his...
- Climate Change (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister advise the House how high-efficiency, low-emissions coal technology is helping countries meet their Paris Agreement targets?...
- Paid Parental Leave (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Under the government's latest cuts to paid parental leave, a female police officer in Victoria will lose 12 weeks of paid parental leave. That is a loss of...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. How does the government's trade agenda create jobs for hardworking Australians and how important is affordable and reliable...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Now that the minor parties have joined with Labor to oppose the government's latest unfair cuts, will the Treasurer take his cuts to families, pensioners, carers...
- Energy Security (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on the government's actions to reduce emissions and lower electricity bills for hardworking...
- Education (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last night, the Senate passed a motion demanding the Minister for Education and Training immediately release the government's plan for school funding. When...
- Veterans: Mental Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Will the minister inform the House how the government is investing in support for veterans' mental health? Is the minister aware of any...
- Defence Land Acquisition (12 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday in the Senate, the Minister for Defence confirmed she was aware before the election of the potential requirements for the expansion of the...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (11 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 38 of 2016-17 (8 speeches)
I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 38 of 2016-17, entitled The approval and administration of Commonwealth funding for the WestConnex project: Department of...
- 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.
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Energy Security (30 speeches, 1 comment)
I have received a letter from the member for Port Adelaide proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government's failure to...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I rise to condemn this government for yet another round of calculated, cruel and callous cuts that the 'Trumble' leadership seeks to implement with its Social Services Legislation Amendment...
- Berowra Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
It is a privilege to represent the electorate of Berowra and to bring the views of the people of Berowra to this parliament on a daily basis. Over December and January, I conducted a community...
- South Australia: Electricity Security (1 speech)
Power outages have caused profound hardship in my electorate and for communities across South Australia. We want answers and we deserve solutions. But we are getting the same old blame game:...
- Capricornia Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
Life in rural and remote Australia is more difficult than in metropolitan areas. People here make do with fewer services and a lack of technology compared to their city counterparts. So it is...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about the impact this government is having on Centrelink. Those opposite often claim in this place to be business people. Well, they cannot run Centrelink, so I would hate...
- Bowman Electorate: Road Infrastructure (2 speeches)
The debate this evening is an opportunity to update the House on the connectivity issues in the seat of Bowman, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Bowman is an outer metropolitan seat. It includes...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Calwell Electorate: Monmia Primary School (1 speech)
Last week in this place I spoke about the many excellent schools in my electorate and the great achievements of their students and their dedicated teachers. Today I want to highlight another such...
- McPherson Electorate: Apprenticeships (1 speech)
In November last year, I informed the House of an ambitious project launched in my home city of the Gold Coast called the GC101 campaign. The campaign set out to sign up 101 local school leavers...
- Bass Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
The issue of mental health, and addressing the stigma associated with issues concerning mental health, is of real concern, particularly in regional Australia. Homelessness is a scourge....
- Bonner Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Last year I spoke here about important projects in my electorate the coalition government has committed to support. Today I would like to update the chamber about two projects that will boost...
- Thai Pongal (1 speech)
On 14 January, hundreds of Tamils in my electorate of Parramatta came together with family and friends to celebrate Thai Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival. I am pleased to inform the House that...
- Hume Electorate: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Digital Transformation (1 speech)
My electorate of Hume is full of bright young sparks. Last year, I presented my second annual STEM awards to recognise the amazing work of local students studying science, technology, engineering...
- Newcastle Electorate: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (1 speech)
Last Saturday I was really fortunate to be able to attend an important celebration with the KU preschool community in Mayfield. It was a celebration to mark the official certification of the KU...
- Deakin Electorate: Pink Stumps Day (1 speech)
In February each year cricket clubs across the country come together to support the important work of the McGrath Foundation by taking time from their schedules to host a Pink Stumps Day. An...
- Australia Day (1 speech)
The celebration of our national day, Australia Day, should be authentic and mature, where we can celebrate and mourn at the same time, honour all that is great about Australia and being...
- Flynn Electorate: Small Business (2 speeches)
Our mantra at the last election was 'jobs and growth', and it still is. Small business provides the jobs and growth the economy relies on. Small business is by far the biggest employer and it...
- Fowler Electorate: Assyrian Resource Centre (1 speech)
I acknowledge the great work of the Assyrian Resource Centre in delivering services and conducting a range of programs assisting refugees in my Western Sydney community. This organisation is of...
- Henty Machinery Field Days (1 speech)
Firstly, I want to say a very special thank you to all of our firefighters throughout New South Wales who worked around the clock protecting life and property in many areas of the state over the...
- Scullin Electorate: Citizenship (1 speech)
I rise to celebrate the great depth of community spirit that exists in Melbourne's northern suburbs, particularly in the Scullin electorate. I was very pleased to spend 26 January at Nillumbik...
- O'Connor Electorate: Flooding (1 speech)
I rise today to update the House on the flooding that wrought havoc in my electorate of O'Connor at the weekend, where the authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage. Before I go...
- Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
I rise to talk on an issue that is of great concern to not only my constituents but also a great number of Western Australians—and that is the recent grubby and desperate deal done between...
- Goldstein Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
I would like to report to the House three great events that happened in the Goldstein community in the past two weeks. We had the celebration of the Hampton United Cricket Club's 90th...
- Volunteers (1 speech)
This morning I attended the share-the-love-for-volunteer-support-services event hosted by Volunteering Australia. In attendance was my electorate's local volunteer support service, Volunteering...
- Petrie Electorate: Bounty Boulevard State School (1 speech)
Bounty Boulevard State School is represented by some 48 different nationalities in the North Lakes area, one of the fastest growing areas in the Moreton Bay region. The school itself has almost...
- Building Better Regions Fund (1 speech)
I had a glimmer of hope for my community groups, the tourism industry and local councils when I heard that the government was doing a Building Better Regions Fund. There can be no doubt that I...
- Prostate Cancer (2 speeches)
Today I had the very great privilege of meeting a remarkable member of the Ryan community, Mr Jim Marshall, who was at parliament with friends and fellow survivors, nurses, oncologists and...
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Closing the Gap (10 speeches)
I speak today in relation to the Closing the gap report. It is a very disappointing and profoundly despairing document that we have seen handed down by the Prime Minister today. I am aggrieved...
- Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
- Centrelink (1 speech)
Tonight I rise to discuss the pain that is being felt in my community over this government's Centrelink robo-debt-recovery-system failure. Sadly, this government has failed us yet again by the...
- Bangka Day 75th Memorial Service 2017 (2 speeches)
In the introduction to her book, Well may we say ... the speeches that made Australia, author Sally Warhaft observes: Even when we know that words are not enough, sometimes, offered humbly and...
