House debates
Monday, 29 May 2017
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Today, I present the 11th report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament. I also present with this report, a corrigenda to report No. 10, which was presented on 22 May 2017.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
I present seven ministerial responses to petitions previously presented.
- Statements (1 speech)
This one petition that I presented today has over six and a half thousand signatures collected and signed by hand. I would like to thank all members of the public who took time out to engage in...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Coal (31 speeches, 1 comment)
I move: That this House recognises: (1) the long term global demand predictions for coal in providing reliable, secure and affordable baseload power; (2) that power prices in Queensland have...
- Communications Fees (18 speeches, 1 comment)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the rapid increase in the use of electronic communication technology in recent decades, including in commerce; (b) that access to electronic communication...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's report entitled, Report No. 5 2017:Referrals made December 2016, February and March 2017. Report made...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Ramadan (1 speech)
I make it a habit of standing up and wishing best wishes to the various cultural and religious festivals that are celebrated around the world. Many members would be aware that in the last few...
- Wilhelm, Mrs Shirley, OAM, PHF (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to Shirley Wilhelm, OAM and Paul Harris Fellow. Born in 1930, Shirley grew up on a farm at Monarto South before marrying Maurice Wilhelm in 1950 and moving to live on...
- Building and Construction Industry (1 speech)
We are going to try round 2. I will talk about phoenixing in a minute. First of all, for those playing 'name that MP' at home, now the microphones are working, with our good friends Kristina...
- Durack Electorate: Wynston Shovellor-Sesar (1 speech)
I rise today to speak of a constituent of mine, a ranger from the Kimberley, Wynston Shovellor-Sesar. Wynston was here in parliament last week for the National Indigenous Youth Parliament 2017, a...
- Medicare (1 speech)
Once again the Turnbull government's Medicare agenda has been exposed, with the government-appointed task force reportedly considering a proposal that would see the Commonwealth's public hospital...
- Adani Coalmine (1 speech)
I want to express to the House my appreciation of Adani for their commitment to purchase $74 million work of steel rail from Whyalla Steelworks. I am very concerned at the moment about the...
- Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
Last Saturday, 27 May, was the 50th anniversary of the successful 1967 referendum, which sought to ensure Indigenous Australians were included as respected members of the Australian community....
- Fadden Electorate: Landcare (1 speech)
I wish to highlight to the House some of the great work one of the local families—the Stewart family—on the Gold Coast is doing with Landcare. The Stewart family has been on the coast...
- Melbourne Electorate: National Sorry Day (1 speech)
Friday was an historic day. From Uluru, a powerful statement was made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: that in 1967 they were counted and in 2017 they were seeking to be heard....
- Gilmore Electorate: Berry Celtic Festival (1 speech)
On Saturday 27 May I attended the 11th annual Berry Celtic Festival. It was great to be chauffeured to the meeting point in Mike and Deirdre's 'chitty chitty bang bang' car and then to ride in...
- Bendigo Bank Community Bank (1 speech)
There is an alternative to the big four, than banking with the big four banks. I speak about the fantastic network of Bendigo Bank Community Bank branches. They are very different to our...
- Forde Electorate: Brigalow Country Community Club (1 speech)
I take this opportunity to congratulate one of the great organisations in the great electorate of Forde, the Brigalow Country Community Club, for their efforts hosting a stellar City of Logan...
- Foster, Mr Anthony (1 speech)
Survivors of child sexual abuse lost one of their greatest advocates last Friday with the death of Anthony Foster. Anthony passed away just a few months before the Royal Commission into...
- Sheldrake, Mr Kein (1 speech)
Today I would like to share the story of a very impressive young man who studies at Belmont State School in my electorate of Bonner. Kein Sheldrake has achieved amazing things at just 11 years of...
- National Broadband Network (1 speech)
I have been running a campaign called Send Me Your Speeds for about 12 months now. It is in response to the government's inability to put Canberra on the NBN rollout map. Finally we are on the...
- Member for Hasluck (1 speech)
Coming to Canberra in 2010 as a new member, I found the orientation somewhat disorientating. Similarly to the first day of school, I gravitated to those who seemed to share my level of...
- Oxley Electorate: Westside Christian College (1 speech)
Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the 40th anniversary dedication service at Westside Christian College in Goodna. Led by Principal Barry Leverton, the morning was a great success and...
- Central Coast Century Challenge Cycle Ride (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the outstanding work of the Rotary Clubs of Erina and Gosford North in my electorate of Robertson. Just last week the two clubs joined forces to host the 17th annual Central...
- Lalor Electorate: Baden Powell College (2 speeches)
I rise to share with the House a trip I did on Friday, visiting both campuses of Baden Powell College. The culmination of Baden Powell College's Education Week was a day celebrating diversity,...
- Saunders, Mr David (2 speeches)
As I travel around my vast electorate of O'Connor, I get to see some amazing volunteers making a huge difference in their communities. I was recently privileged to meet Dave Saunders and his...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Are there any questions? Our guest is just about to enter the chamber, so we might wait. So members know, I was not tardy in being here a minute after 2 o'clock!
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I thank members for their indulgence. I would like to inform the House that we have present in the chamber this afternoon distinguished United States Senator for the state of Arizona, Senator...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- (3 speeches)
Senator McCain, welcome back to Australia. It is such an honour to have you here on the floor of the House of Representatives. Senator McCain has led a life of leadership, of public service and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Disability Services (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. People with disability suffer far higher rates of violence than the rest of the community. Ninety per cent of women with intellectual disability have been...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the steps the government is taking to guarantee the services that Australians rely on, grow the economy and...
- Health Care (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. This morning the health minister said that the government's latest secret Medicare task force 'long predates me'. Prime Minister, how can your health...
- Budget (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer outline for the House the government's commitment to fully funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other services while bringing...
- Medicare (6 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. This morning the Minister for Health said he would put a stop to the proposal from the government's secret Medicare task force before the 24 March COAG...
- Victoria: Rail Infrastructure (2 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. On May 10, the Prime Minister assured the House that the government commitment of $100 million would fix the problem for the North...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on the government's broad-ranging disability reforms, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme and...
- Medicare (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. If the government's secret Medicare task force has been stopped, how come it is still going?
- Medicare, National Disability Insurance Scheme (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister outline to the house how the government is guaranteeing Medicare and fully funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme? Is the...
- Medicare (2 speeches)
Again, my question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer. How can this government claim the secret Medicare task force is no longer government policy when the...
- Mining (11 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia: Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline to the House how the Carmichael mine will...
- Deputy Prime Minister (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Prior to question time, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Deputy Prime Minister to apologise to the family of Larry Knight for his 'left them for...
- Mining (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on how the government is ensuring investment certainty for the Carmichael mine in Queensland while...
- Medicare (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. After the election, the Prime Minister said that he had learnt his lesson about his cuts to Medicare. So why does this health department document reveal that...
- Investment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister update the House on the importance of a stable investment environment to support major infrastructure projects,...
- Health (8 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. A health department document reveals that his GP freeze will stay until 2020 for critical mental health care plans. Why is the Prime Minister making...
- Defence (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister outline to the House how the government's investment in the defence industry will generate thousands of jobs for hardworking...
- Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. A health department document reveals that his GP freeze stays until 2020 for chronic disease health assessments. Why is the Prime Minister making Australians...
- Welfare Reform (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on the government's reforms to create a simpler, fairer welfare system that better supports people into work?
- 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)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Shortland Electorate: Mining (1 speech)
I am proud to represent the Hunter region, a region built on coal. Coal was discovered in Newcastle in 1797 and the first export coal in 1799, somewhat ironically given the Adani debate, was...
- Central Coast: Environment (1 speech)
The Central Coast is one of the most beautiful places to live and work, and one of the many reasons that families love our region is our incredible local environment. Whether it is our beautiful...
- Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
Last Friday the curtain was raised on the facade of one of the great examples of showtime consultation—the Forum on Western Sydney Airport, or FOWSA. This is a Turnbull government forum...
- Fisher Electorate: Defence Industry (1 speech)
The federal government is spending $200 billion on defence industry capability over the next 10 years. In every branch of our nation's armed forces we are acquiring new equipment and expanding...
- Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (19 speeches)
In March I referred the governance and operations of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to the Auditor-General for his consideration, and I am pleased to note that he has now placed...
- Cashless Debit Card (2 speeches)
I rise tonight to share my personal journey to being a strong supporter of a cashless welfare card trial in my electorate of O'Connor. As many would already be aware, the Minister for Human...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Donnelly, Mr Bob (1 speech)
It is my sad duty to inform the House of the passing away of Bob Donnelly last week on 24 May 2017. I would like to send my condolences to Robyn and his son, Chad. Of course, it was a very sad...
- Hume Electorate: Community Events, Hume Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
May is the month of Granny Smiths, butternuts and sebagos in Hume. It is when the southern part of my electorate celebrates truly unique annual events that draw thousands of visitors from...
- James, Mr Ray and Mrs Pauline (1 speech)
It is my pleasure to rise today to speak of one of the most hardworking and community minded couples in my electorate of Macarthur, Ray—also known as Jesse—and Pauline James. Ray...
- Bonner Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
Today I have some very good news for commuters in my electorate. I have recently received updates from the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and from the Department of Transport and Main Roads...
- Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre (1 speech)
Friday before last I attended the launch of the Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre, or ARC, a comprehensive sports and health facility right in the heart of the fastest-growing section of the...
- Forde Electorate: Eats & Beats, Forde Electorate: Beenleigh Town Square (1 speech)
At a time when communities across Australia and indeed across the world need spirits lifted, I would like to reflect on the great success of a regular event in my electorate which is fast...
- Greenway Electorate: Woman of the Year Awards (1 speech)
I rise today to praise the efforts of three remarkable women who have each been recognised as a local woman of the year for 2017. These awards recognise outstanding contributions made by women...
- University of the Sunshine Coast Clinical Trials Centre (1 speech)
On Friday of last week, I had the opportunity to visit the University of the Sunshine Coast—known as USC—Clinical Trials Centre and meet its director, Mr Lucas Litewka, and its staff....
- Adelaide Electorate: Millswood Infrastructure (1 speech)
One of the many things that annoys Australians about this place is the way that, too often, we members of parliament stand and make grand announcements and outline bold visions for the future,...
- Leader of the Opposition (2 speeches)
That was a very daunting contribution by the member for Adelaide, but I want to speak about an equally important issue, and it is trying to understand why Bill Shorten, the Leader of the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Tasmania: Petrol Prices (1 speech)
I recently asked the Prime Minister in question time to intervene on the price of petrol and LPG in Tasmania because prices are absurdly high compared to the mainland. The difference is often in...
- Tangney Electorate: Local Sporting Champions (1 speech)
Today I recognise Tangney's Local Sporting Champions. While the grant they receive of $500 does not go too far for young people in Tangney, who have to travel great distances to represent their...
- Springwood United Football Club (1 speech)
If you have raised children in the Springwood-Winmalee area in the Blue Mountains in my electorate of Macquarie over the last 50 years, chances are you have had at least one season with the...
- Jeff Morgan Gallery (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to thank Jeff and Miriam Morgan of Jeff Morgan Gallery in Hawker in the central Flinders Ranges for giving me the honour the last Friday of opening the latest addition...
- Passfield, Mr Pat (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate a local Oxley resident, Mr Pat Passfield, who is a true champion in our community. Last Friday I was delighted to host the shadow minister for ageing and mental...
- Country Fire Authority (1 speech)
) ( ): I rise to condemn the union attack, backed by Daniel Andrews, on Geelong and regional volunteer members of the Country Fire Authority. In last week's Geelong Advertiser, a full-page...
- Tasmania: Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
Tasmanians are very concerned, as I have raised in this place before, about the federal government's inquiry into the GST distribution. Tasmanians are rightly concerned about this because it...
- Page Electorate: Hockey, Lollback, Mr Neville (1 speech)
I would like to congratulate the Grafton men's over-50s hockey team that beat Bathurst two to one to win the New South Wales Masters state title recently. The team, which was led by captain...
- Lindsay Electorate: Red Shield Appeal (1 speech)
Yesterday, like so many Australians across the country, I volunteered to collect for the Red Shield Appeal in my community of Lindsay. I started my Red Shield Appeal volunteer collection career...
- Guteridge, Mr Kevin Robert (1 speech)
We were all saddened on Monday, 15 May 2017 when we learned that former senior sergeant of police and member of the Hervey Bay retired police association Kevin Robert Guteridge, 86 years old, of...
- Calwell Electorate: Tanderrum Gardens, Keilor Downs College (1 speech)
Last Friday I had the opportunity to officially open the Tanderrum Gardens at the Keilor Downs Secondary College. It is a great school in my electorate, with excellent teaching and learning...
- Swan Electorate: Aged Care (1 speech)
I rise today to update the House on how the Aged Care Approvals Round, or ACAR, of the Capital Grants Program for 2016-17 will positively impact Swan. Firstly, I would like to congratulate the...
- Member for Gilmore (1 speech)
Today I am taking the unusual step of calling on a National Party minister to guarantee $9.4 million in funding in a Liberal Party seat, or, that is, a seat that is currently held by a Liberal...
- Egypt's Coptic Community (1 speech)
Last Friday a group of around 60 Coptic Christians headed off in a convoy in two buses making their way to the Monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor, 135 kilometres south of Cairo. They were...
- Broadband (1 speech)
It is with utter exasperation that I rise today. It is rare that I reach the point with constituent issues of WTF, but now I simply do not know what to do. I am making a plea to the Minister for...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
I am rising on behalf of the 1,111 clubs around this country, the 2.4 million visitors to clubs and the 21,000 Australians who work in community clubs. There is a constant Labor Party attack on...
- Perth Electorate: HBF Run for a Reason (1 speech)
This may have escaped your attention, Madam Deputy Speaker Claydon, but today I have been hobbling around this place like a poor imitation of John Wayne! But I can assure you there is a very good...
- Queensland Government (1 speech)
We know the Palaszczuk government needs Greens preferences to stay in power, but this latest move is a blatant insult to long-suffering regions outside the south east corner, including my...
- Blair Electorate: St Edmund's College Ipswich Mentoring Program (1 speech)
Last Friday, at Brothers Leagues Club in Ipswich, I had the pleasure of attending the St Edmund's College in Ipswich for their 'Learning from the Professionals' mentoring program launch. It is a...
- Berowra Electorate: Arcadia Playgroup (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the official opening of the Arcadia Playgroup shed at the Arcadia Public School markets on 6 May this year, which I performed. I want to particularly acknowledge Karen...
- Mason, Mr Herbert (1 speech)
Just after dawn on Anzac Day, I was with many thousands of my constituents at Epping RSL, reflecting on a typically beautiful Anzac Day service, when Herb Mason, the president of the Epping RSL,...
- Brookes, Mr Lane (1 speech)
Last week I was honoured to welcome to Parliament House a young community leader, Lane Brookes, from Roma in my electorate of Maranoa. Lane and 49 other young Indigenous men and women travelled...
- Longman Electorate: Caboolture Neighbourhood Centre (1 speech)
I rise to give a statement in this final 92nd session in the Federation Chamber on a Monday afternoon. Opportunities to speak of the good of our electorates are important in representing the...
- Road Safety (1 speech)
Last Friday, I attended the Fatality Free Friday event in my city of Toowoomba, chaired by the deputy mayor, Carol Taylor, and addressed by our mayor, Paul Antonio. This was a most significant...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the diabolical farce that is the rollout of the National Broadband Network in my electorate of Grayndler. My office is currently inundated with requests from constituents...
- Moore Electorate: Aged Care (1 speech)
I welcome the announcement on Friday that the coalition government has allocated $9.5 million in federal funding for an additional 145 aged-care places within my electorate of Moore, including 60...
- Port Stephens Koalas (1 speech)
Port Stephens Koalas is a volunteer organisation in my electorate of Paterson that works tirelessly to rescue and care for sick and injured koalas. The urban threats to our koala population are...
- First Home Super Saver Scheme (1 speech)
Budget 2017 is a good budget. There has been a lot of talk about its demonstrated commitment to education, small business, infrastructure, jobs, families and seniors. But what about young people?...
- Yeronga State School Fete (1 speech)
On Saturday I went to the Yeronga State School fete and helped out on the barbeque stall. On behalf of the organising committee, I want to thank many of the volunteers connected with that...
- Fairfax Electorate: Seniors Advisory Committee (2 speeches)
There is no doubt that we Australians owe a great debt to our older citizens, our seniors. If it were not for them, our country would not be as safe, secure and prosperous as it is today. The...
- Bills (0 speeches)
