House debates
Monday, 27 February 2017
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I give notice of my private member's bill to protect the penalty rates of Australians.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
I present 11 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented:
- Statements (1 speech)
I present the seventh report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament together with nine petitions and 11 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. The terms of the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Higher Education (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) in the coming weeks, more than one million Australians will resume their university studies for the 2017 academic year; (b) the Government's failure...
- National Stronger Regions Fund and Victoria (10 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion on the Notice Paper on behalf of the member for Mallee. Leave granted. I move: That this House: (1) congratulates the Government on the success of the National...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement (1 speech)
I have received a message from the Senate that Senator Bernardi has been discharged from the Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement and that Senator Bushby has been appointed a member...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (12 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition introducing immediately a bill for an Act to amend the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Attorney-General (1 speech)
The disgrace that is the Turnbull government only got worse at the end of last week when the Commonwealth Attorney-General was outed by his Western Australian counterpart and fellow Liberal for...
- Petrie Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
The NBN rollout is fast gathering steam, with one in three Australian homes now having access and being well underway throughout my electorate of Petrie. In fact, in North Lakes and parts of...
- Warlike Service (1 speech)
I am disgusted with the government's continuing inaction on the reclassification of some peacekeeper service from non-warlike to warlike. I asked the Prime Minister in question time on 18 October...
- Swan Electorate: BARBECURE (1 speech)
If you throw your mind back to last year on 23 November, we had a BARBECURE event in the Senate quadrangle. It was a bit of a wet and miserable day, but it was a day where their staff convinced...
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
Last week, low-paid workers around this country were hit with a shocking decision that will see the take-home pay of 700,000 working people slashed right across this country. Considering that...
- Youth Jobs PaTH Program (1 speech)
Last week I had the great pleasure of hosting our employment minister, Senator Michaelia Cash, to launch a key part of the PaTH—Prepare, Trial, Hire—Program to get young people aged...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The decision to cut penalty rates for hospitality, retail, fast-food and pharmacy workers is a horrible blow to the 700,000 low-paid workers who rely on them. We have not seen a decision like...
- Schools (1 speech)
Now is a great opportunity to recognise high-gain schools in Queensland. The nomenclature for performance is moving from just counting top scores to identifying the student path and the student...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I have run a small business in the Macarthur electorate for over 30 years. My employees were all women with young families, and I know how much they and their families depended on their take-home...
- Capricornia Electorate: Commonwealth Bridges Renewal Program (1 speech)
I am pleased to report that work is underway to replace four old timber bridges along the Peak Downs Highway west of Walkerston, in the northern part of Capricornia. This is expected to create an...
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
This morning, the Prime Minister had the opportunity to stand up for low-paid workers. He failed the test. He failed the 42,000 workers in retail, in hospital and in food in my electorate and...
- Berowra Electorate: NorthConnex, MATES in Construction (1 speech)
Last Thursday, I visited the NorthConnex training hub in my electorate. NorthConnex is the missing link in our national transport system. Funded by the federal and state coalition governments in...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Margarita Murray-Stark has worked as a room attendant in some of the most expensive hotels in Melbourne for over 30 years, and she has worked every Sunday. When she was widowed, her Sunday...
- Maranoa Electorate: Longreach State High School (1 speech)
Today I rise to acknowledge the incredible results of the Longreach State High School. Proving that the tyranny of distance is not an issue, especially when the principal is as dedicated and...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Those opposite like to see themselves as good economic managers. That is the myth that they put out. Today, the Prime Minister's refusal to support the legislation put forward to protect the...
- Groom Electorate: Defence Housing (1 speech)
The Defence Housing Authority has announced plans for a new development in the north-east area of Toowoomba, on the edge of the escarpment, the site of a historic rifle range, bounded by Rifle...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I rise to join my colleagues to condemn this government and this Prime Minister for their sheer, rank indifference to the penalty rate cut, which will affect pharmacy workers, retail workers,...
- Tangney Electorate: Willetton Basketball Stadium (1 speech)
Willetton Basketball Stadium is home to one of the most successful basketball associations in Perth, with 300 teams and 3,500 players supported by over 1,000 volunteers. The stadium not only...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
The Prime Minister had an opportunity today to stand up for workers and chose not to, but, whilst low-paid workers in this country are going to suffer as result of the decision that was made and...
- Flynn Electorate: Bruce Highway (2 speeches)
The Bruce Highway is one of the nation's most important pieces of transport infrastructure, running between Brisbane and Cairns. It spans 1,652 kilometres, over 1,000 miles, including 277...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before we go to questions without notice, at the outset of question time, I just want to inform the House that the Rt Hon. David Carter, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the parliament...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last Thursday, the Fair Work Commission made a decision to cut the take-home pay of nearly 700,000 Australians. What is the Prime Minister going to do to...
- Australia-Indonesia Relationship, Australia-Israel Relationship (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how recent visits from world leaders have strengthened Australia's relationship with Indonesia and Israel? How...
- Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is the Prime Minister standing by and doing absolutely nothing to stop nearly 700,000 Australians from having their pay cut by up to $77 a week?
- Energy (2 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on what the government is doing to ensure that energy is affordable and reliable for Australian businesses and...
- Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In April of last year the Prime Minister legislated to overturn the decision of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the independent umpire for safe rates...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I call the member for Durack, I would like to inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon a parliamentary delegation from Lao. On behalf of the House I extend a...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Economy (3 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on action the government is taking to reduce the cost-of-living pressures for hardworking Australians? How are government...
- Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Prime Minister. How many women will have their pay cut because of the penalty rates decision, and what will this do to the gender pay gap in Australia?
- Dairy 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 contributions of Australia's dairy sector to the Australian...
- Workplace Relations (19 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Analysis by PwC, reported in The Australian, shows wages in regional Australia have grown three times more slowly than in major cities. Given regional...
- Energy Security (7 speeches)
Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Health and Minister for Sport. Will the minister outline to the House why energy security is crucial to providing reliable health care for...
- Workplace Relations (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister guarantee the decision to cut penalty rates in the retail and hospitality industries will not lead to the pay of Australians working...
- Energy Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister explain why it is important to have a stable and secure energy supply if we are to maximise the benefits of defence industry...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is this government giving big business a tax cut but doing nothing to stop workers getting a pay cut?
- Cost of Living (2 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on the government's actions to ensure an affordable supply of energy for hardworking families...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Premier of Western Australia has said: What I would like to see is reduce those excessive Sunday penalty rates. Does the Prime Minister support the...
- Energy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister update the House on the importance of reliable and affordable energy and how this creates the environment small businesses...
- Housing Affordability, Workplace Relations (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer has said that young Australians should get a high-paying job to buy their first home, why is the...
- Migration (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on how the government is maximising job opportunities for hardworking Australians? Why is...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Essendon Air Crash (3 speeches)
I wish to offer the condolences of the parliament to the loved ones of those killed in Victoria's worst civil aviation accident in 30 years. On Tuesday 21 February, just after nine o'clock in the...
- 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)
- Report No. 39 of 2016-2017 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's performance audit Report No. 39 of 2016-17 entitled, The Australian Border Force's use of statutory powers: Department of Immigration and Border Protection....
- Business (0 speeches)
- Orders of the Day (1 speech)
I declare that the following order of the day, government business, is referred to the Federation Chamber for debate: proposed address-in-reply to the Governor-General's speech: resumption of debate.
- Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
I move: That leave of absence for the remainder of the current period of sittings be given to the honourable member for Fowler on the grounds of ill health. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I present the committee's 460th report, entitled Public Sector Governance - Inquiry based on Auditor-General's report 29 (2015-16)...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Brand Electorate: Southern Communities Advocacy Legal and Education Service (1 speech)
The Southern Communities Advocacy Legal Education Service, or SCALES as it is better known, is a much needed, heavily relied on community legal centre which provides legal services predominantly...
- Western Australian Regional Liberals (1 speech)
I am very pleased to rise in the House tonight to speak about a group of people who are delivering for the bush in Western Australia like no other. I speak of the WA regional Liberals. The WA...
- Homelessness, Housing Affordability (1 speech)
Every Australian deserves a safe, welcoming home, but, unfortunately, not every Australian has one. As this government should know, access to housing is not just a promise that can be left to...
- Grey Electorate: Nonning Outback Ball (1 speech)
On the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Nonning Outback Ball, staged by the Gawler Ranges Progress Association. The Gawler Ranges are a stunning range featuring spectacular granite...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
There are thousands in my electorate who are going to be hurt by the scrapping of Sunday penalty rates. One member of my electorate told me that the government was...
- Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (1 speech)
My first career was as a high school science teacher, developing the curriculum and programs to promote science literacy. While there was not a noticeable gender imbalance in the science...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Centrelink (1 speech)
I rise today to outline yet another example of the manner in which this government has treated the Australian population with utter contempt, and I talk about the Centrelink debt debacle which we...
- Migration Settlement Services (1 speech)
The front page of today's Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper reveals the latest tragedy in relation to the Apex gangs in Victoria, with a headline that says 'Apex killed my son'. Unfortunately and...
- Herbert Electorate: Water Security (1 speech)
I rise in this place today to speak about a very important issue for the electorate of Herbert, and that is water security. The Ross River Dam, which was actually built as a flood mitigation...
- Chisholm Electorate: Leadership Awards (1 speech)
The month of February is the month of new beginnings for many children in Chisholm—going from kinder to primary school and indeed from grade 5 to grade 6 or to year 7 in secondary school....
- Isaacs Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
I have campaigned for many years on the poor quality of broadband in many parts of the great electorate of Isaacs. I have written to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield, and to the...
- McMillan Electorate: West Gippsland Arts Centre (2 speeches)
One thing you can trust the Turnbull government on is to deliver for local communities. Gippsland's regional arts network has received a significant boost with confirmation the coalition...
- Northern Tasmania: Health Care (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, I cannot top that! I rise today to speak about the health-care system in northern Tasmania. I also wish to acknowledge the achievement of a northern Tasmanian institution, which...
- Migration (1 speech)
One of the core guiding principles that led me into this place is a central tenet of liberalism: that all people are born with equal dignity and that the law and society must respect each...
- Kingston Electorate: Christmas Appeal (1 speech)
Today I rise to acknowledge the huge effort of my local community and to thank those that donated to our local Christmas appeal. Over the Christmas period, my office acted as a drop-off point for...
- Bennelong Electorate: Schools (2 speeches)
The jobs of the 21st century will require study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM subjects. That is why I have commissioned the inaugural 2017 Bennelong...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Victoria: Rail (5 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) for more than eight years, regional communities in northeast Victoria have been frustrated by significant engineering failings on the...
- EU-Australia Leadership Forum (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the 'EU-Australia Leadership Forum' was launched by Minister Bishop at Parliament House on 18 October 2016 following the European Union in Brussels,...
- Automotive Industry (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that on: (a) 20 October 2017 General Motors Holden will end automotive production at the Elizabeth plant; and (b) 3 October 2017 Toyota will end automotive...
- National Stronger Regions Fund (10 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...
- Poverty (9 speeches)
(): I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) poverty is an ongoing and serious problem in Australia; (b) recent figures by ACOSS found that 13.3 per cent of the population is living below the...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Citizenship (1 speech)
Australian citizenship is precious, and I have raised concerns before in this place about maladministration by the government. These concerns are growing. On Saturday I hosted a large community...
- Banks Electorate: Carlton South Public School (1 speech)
Recently I visited Carlton South Public School in my electorate, to meet with the P&C. Of course, Carlton south came into the Banks electorate after the recent redistribution. It was good to...
- Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
Figures released by the ABS today show that wages and salaries dropped by 0.5 per cent in December while company profits rose by more than 20 per cent. And what was the Turnbull Liberal...
- Calare Electorate: Rural Fire Service (1 speech)
On 18 February 2017, the Cudgegong Cruisers together with the Mudgee Lions Club held a community gathering for all Rural Fire Service personnel and anyone associated with the recent firefighting...
- Young Endeavour (1 speech)
Last week, I had the privilege of setting sail with the youth crew of the Young Endeavour after they had docked at Seaworks in my electorate of Williamstown during its circumnavigation of...
- Melanoma (1 speech)
My 90-second statement is in relation to melanoma. Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world. It is the third-most common cancer in men and women, and one person dies from...
- Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (2 speeches)
I want to congratulate the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria on not only another successful Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, which took place this weekend, but also on celebrating...
- Dobell Electorate: Merry Makers (1 speech)
Every Thursday night at the Entrance Public School up to 80 adults with an intellectual disability and their carers meet for the Merry Makers Dance. Merry Makers is a volunteer community charity...
- Wimmera Machinery Field Days (1 speech)
Next week on 7, 8 and 9 March is the Wimmera Machinery Field Days. I invite all my colleagues to come and visit the electorate of Mallee and see the field days. The people I represent in the...
- Oxley Electorate Spirit of Anzac Award (1 speech)
Today I am excited to update the House of the inaugural Oxley Electorate Spirit of Anzac Award. This is a competition open to students in year 11 across the Oxley electorate. They have been...
- McMillan Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
The Sand Road-Longwarry interchange, on the main highway to Gippsland, was always a very dangerous intersection in my electorate. It has just been finished, ahead of schedule. It fixed a...
- Parramatta Electorate: Refugees (1 speech)
Last year, I met with an exceptionally bright group of students and their teacher, Larissa Mitchell, from Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School. The concern of these students is...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
I rise to defend Australia's values and condemn anyone who ever thinks that it is okay to hit a woman. I refer to comments by the prominent Muslim leader Keysar Trad implying that violence...
- Somalia: Drought (1 speech)
I rise to inform the parliament about the urgent humanitarian situation facing Somalia as a result of the prolonged drought. Poor rainfall over the last year has led to failed crops and perishing...
- Bennelong Electorate: North Epping Sports Centre (1 speech)
Community spirit and the benefits of active recreation were on splendid display yesterday in North Epping, where I had the absolute pleasure of representing Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash in opening...
- Merriang Special Developmental School (1 speech)
The promise of Labor's National Disability Insurance Scheme is, of course, that every Australian counts, and every Australian must count. We must work harder to build a society that is truly...
- Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee (1 speech)
As Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I rise today to speak about aid. This area is of great interest to me....
- Medicare (1 speech)
Yet again I need to put on the record that Tasmania has felt the brunt of the government's Medicare bulk-billing freeze. There were over 383,000 fewer visits with bulk-scheduled fees across the...
- North Queensland Sugar Industry (1 speech)
The North Queensland sugar industry remains in limbo this afternoon after the foreign-owned miller Wilmar and sugar marketer QSL yet again failed to negotiate a deal at 9 am this morning. Without...
- Macquarie Electorate: Freemans Reach Public School 150th Anniversary (1 speech)
I rise to speak about Freemans Reach Public School, which has celebrated its 150th anniversary just this weekend. It was a privilege on Friday night to be at the school. This is a school that is...
- Cairns Regional Hockey Academy Singapore Development Tour (1 speech)
Last Wednesday I proudly presented uniforms to the Cairns Regional Hockey Academy Singapore Development Tour squad for 2017. These girls have been preparing and training hard for eight weeks, so...
- Moreton Electorate: Member of Parliament for a Day Competition (1 speech)
Madam Deputy Speaker, as I am sure you would be well aware, the life of a politician can be tough. There are 226 federal politicians in this building, 800-plus state and territory politicians,...
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (1 speech)
Last week I was fortunate to tour the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and have the opportunity to hear from some of the scientists at what is Queensland's largest medical research...
- National Multicultural Festival (1 speech)
Nearly one in four Canberrans volunteers each year, and it makes a whopping $1.4 billion contribution to the ACT economy on an annual basis. One of the best showcases of our spirit of...
- Lang, Mr John, OAM (1 speech)
You may not know John Lang, but every member of this House and every member of the other place knows a John Lang. John Lang is a stalwart of my Northern Beaches community. John's service to our...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Today, in this parliament Labor members have made a choice. We have chosen to take seriously the challenge the Fair Work Commission has handed down to all of us and to stand up for the 600,000...
- Boothby Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
Today I would like to congratulate Australia Day award recipients in Boothby from the City of Marion and the City of Mitcham. From Mitcham, I honour the Citizens of the Year, Rhys Roberts and...
- Great Barrier Reef (2 speeches)
I would like to read to the parliament a letter sent to the Prime Minister by my constituents: Dear Mr Turnbull, Our names are Clara Nutt and Rachel Nutt. We are eight years old, and we live in...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- International Development Assistance (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges Australia's important role in building a fairer and more equal world through its contribution to international aid; (2) notes that: (a) while the global...
- Disability Services (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the important work being done in Australia to support people with disability; (2) celebrates the winners of the Tenth National Disability Awards 2016; and...
- Queensland Working Women's Service (5 speeches, 2 comments)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the decision of the Fair Work Ombudsman not to fund the work of the Queensland Working Women's Service (QWWS) for vulnerable workers; (2) recognises that the...
- Remembrance Day (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) on Friday 11 November, Australia commemorates Remembrance Day; (b) the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is a significant anniversary for...
- Schools (13 speeches)
It is with great pleasure that I rise today to speak on the motion brought by my colleague and member for Sydney, in relation to schools funding. Before the 2013 election those opposite promised...
