House debates
Monday, 14 August 2017
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Deputy Prime Minister; Qualifications of Members (1 speech)
Last Thursday afternoon the New Zealand High Commission contacted me to advise that, on the basis of preliminary advice from their Department of Internal Affairs, which had received inquiries...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 13th report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament, together with 42 petitions and eight ministerial responses to petitions previously presented.
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
- Statements (1 speech)
We continue to see people preferring to petition the House via our e-petitions system, with e-petitions comprising over 80 per cent of petitions in this report. It is very encouraging to see...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- North Korea (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) strongly condemns the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for: (a) ongoing development and testing of illegal nuclear and ballistic missile...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the importance of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) in returning the rivers to health; (2) condemns any plans to walk away from the MDBP that will...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Qualifications of Members (5 speeches)
by leave—I move: That pursuant to section 376 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the House of Representatives refer the following questions to the Court of Disputed Returns— (a)...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (3 speeches)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works I present the committee's report entitled Referrals made March 2017 (6th report of 2017). Report made a parliamentary paper in...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence from 14 August 2017 until 17 August 2017 be given to Mr O'Connor, for personal reasons. Members are already aware of the circumstances of the member...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Endometriosis (1 speech)
When I became an Endometriosis Australia ambassador, I made a pledge to end the silence on this insidious disease, a disease that affects one in 10 women throughout the world. Today I want to...
- Goods and Sevices Tax (1 speech)
I would like to make some comments about WA's pathetic share of GST, the work that WA Liberal members and senators have been doing to fix this and how, appallingly, our WA Labor members have...
- Mervyn, Mr Alfred Leslie (1 speech)
I rise today to speak of the great contribution of Alfred Leslie Mervyn to Australia's war efforts in World War II. I am so honoured that Alfred has been a lifelong constituent of Barton and a...
- Wide Bay Electorate: Bruce Highway (1 speech)
On Friday I officially opened the much anticipated Tinana interchange on the Bruce Highway. The new interchange was a $30 million election commitment made by my predecessor, the former member for...
- Charlottesville: Attacks (1 speech)
I rise to condemn the attacks in Charlottesville, Virginia, which have already claimed three lives. These attacks have brought hatred and bigotry to the world stage—hatred and bigotry that...
- National Science Week, Myanmar Mentoring Program (1 speech)
Last week we launched National Science Week and, as part of that, students from Ulladulla High School came to celebrate the completion of their work for Young Australians' Plan for the Planet....
- Veterans (1 speech)
I rise to express my gratitude to the shadow minister for defence personnel and veterans, Amanda Rishworth, the member for Kingston, for visiting my electorate during the winter break. With the...
- Harms, Sergeant Owen, Creed, Ms Leonie (1 speech)
I would like to pay tribute to Sergeant Owen Harms and Leonie Creed. Central Queensland lost two respected identities in the past week. Sergeant Owen Harms served 30 years in the Queensland...
- Tasmania: Health Care (1 speech)
Last week, the Royal Hobart Hospital lost its accreditation for psychiatric medical training. This is beyond embarrassing. It's a disaster. It's come just days after nine mental health patients...
- CASTEC Rural Pioneers (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak about the tremendous success of the CASTEC Rural Pioneers basketball team in Mount Gambier. My hometown of Mount Gambier has many things to be proud of, and our sporting...
- Care Leavers Australasia Network (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate Mr Ray Prosser on his 90th birthday. I dropped in yesterday to Ray's party on the way to the airport. It's a milestone worth celebrating for anyone. And as I said to the...
- Durack Electorate: Prime Minister's Visit (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the Prime Minister's recent visit to my electorate, to the beautiful Kimberley town of Broome. It was such a wonderful opportunity for the Prime Minister to visit my...
- Connors, Mrs Robyn (1 speech)
I rise to pray tribute to Mrs Robyn Connors, an educator who had a long history of service to New South Wales public schools. Robyn had been teaching since 1974. It is undoubtable that teaching...
- Grey Electorate (1 speech)
Along with Senator Anne Ruston, I'm very pleased today to host a delegation from my Upper Spencer Gulf cities of Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla. Mayors, CEOs and councillors came to...
- Marriage (1 speech)
Last week, I asked on my Facebook page: what would you do with $122 million rather than wasting it on a divisive, non-compulsory, non-binding postal vote on marriage equality? A survey! Guess...
- Fadden Electorate: Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (1 speech)
At end of July I was very pleased to represent the government and open stage 6 of the Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School—LORDS for short—building program. One of the reasons why I...
- Prime Minister (1 speech)
A few days ago we watched in amazement as the Prime Minister puffed himself up and told the press gallery that he was, indeed, a strong leader. It was unusual, because normally prime ministers...
- Queensland: Schools (1 speech)
There is such a thing as a slippery slope, and the Labor Party is doing its best to see Australia slide down it. A form of restrictive censorship was recently recommended to the Queensland state...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: South Sydney High School (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate the students, teachers and staff of South Sydney High School, who recently hosted their third annual multicultural flag day. I have often said that the best thing about...
- Volunteers (2 speeches)
It is one of the great privileges as a member of parliament to be able to acknowledge our wonderful community of volunteers. As we know, volunteers do more than just provide services for our...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Qualifications of Members (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the government has asked the High Court to determine whether the Deputy Prime Minister is constitutionally qualified to be a member of parliament. Can...
- Taxation (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the action the government is taking to lower the tax burden on households and businesses and to grow the economy,...
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Just before question time, the New Zealand internal affairs minister, Peter Dunne, confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister is a citizen of New Zealand. Now...
- Taxation (6 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House what action the government is taking to keep taxes under control in order to boost our economy? Is the Treasurer aware of...
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that the government has relied on its one-vote majority to block a royal commission into the banks and to block amendments to...
- Telecommunications (3 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Communications. The Productivity Commission's Telecommunications universal service obligation, report No. 83, recommends winding back...
- Agriculture Industry (24 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Northern Australia—
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Moments ago, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Bill English, has confirmed, unwittingly or not, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia is a New Zealand...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. Will the minister update the House on the importance of creating a tax setting that helps grow the economy and reduces the tax...
- Deputy Prime Minister (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. What is the difference between the legal advice received with respect to Senator Canavan and the legal advice received with respect to the Deputy Prime...
- Trade Unions (6 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister outline to the House why it is important that the leaders of unions always act in...
- Deputy Prime Minister (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he governs in this House with a majority of one, that he's formed that majority based on a secret personal deal with the...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Deputy Prime Minister (16 speeches)
I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Watson from moving the following motion forthwith— That the House: (1) notes: (a) today, this House...
- 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.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (10 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the Prime Minister's flawed copper NBN—an NBN that has experienced significant issues, including installation problems, outages and very slow speeds. As the...
- Barker Electorate: Building Better Regions Fund (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the Building Better Regions Fund, a fund that focuses on creating jobs, driving economic growth and building stronger regional communities into the future. Recently we had...
- Tasmania: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Last week I briefly spoke in this place on the issue of the Tasmanian government failing to stand up for our state and lobby the Commonwealth for funding for the Cradle Mountain Master Plan...
- Durack Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
This evening I rise to speak about the Building Better Regions Fund and its predecessor, the National Stronger Regions Fund. These two fine funding initiatives have brought great benefits to...
- Marriage (1 speech)
Tonight, I'm thinking about my lifelong friends—Tom and James, Kate and Julie, Zac and Simon, and all LGBTI sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, carers, friends, workmates and loved...
- Renewable Energy (1 speech)
Today in South Australia there was a rather significant announcement for my electorate with the state government announcing that they had done a deal on a purchase for renewable energy with a...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Holt Electorate: National Security (1 speech)
On 23 September 2014, terrorism visited my electorate when a young man tried to kill two police officers by stabbing them to death in front of the Endeavour Hills Police Station. The coroner...
- BlazeAid (1 speech)
In February this year, the communities of Dunedoo, Cassilis and Coolah suffered a catastrophic event—a bushfire that started to the east of Sir Ivan Dougherty Drive. Over the next several...
- Safety Bay Senior High School, Marriage Equality (1 speech)
In late July I had the chance to visit my old school, Safety Bay Senior High School. The grounds have changed a little. There are a few new buildings, and the uniform has changed for the better....
- Mental Health (1 speech)
As I make this speech here and now there are many women who are new mums in my electorate of Chisholm and across Australia who have suffered a sleepless night. However, their sleepless night is...
- Kingston Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
I rise today to congratulate all the award winners of the inaugural Hallett Cove Business Association Local Business Awards. In my electorate of Kingston, there are many small businesses that are...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Before I throw the call, I will acknowledge in the Chamber our guests, the deputy secretary-general to the Taiwan speaker. You're welcome here in the Federation Chamber. Honourable members: Hear,...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Corangamite Electorate: Building Better Regions Fund (1 speech)
I too acknowledge our guests from Taiwan in the chamber today. It's my great pleasure to rise and celebrate the wonderful projects that have been awarded funding under the Building Better Regions...
- Herbert Electorate: Energy, Townsville Fashion Festival (1 speech)
I rise in this place today on behalf of the many small businesses in my electorate. The fact is that the cost of electricity in my electorate of Herbert is rising and becoming more unaffordable...
- Bunyip & District Soccer Club (2 speeches)
The Coodabeen Champions ask every Saturday morning: what have you learnt today? I've learnt today that the people of Corangamite are in very good hands under the stewardship of their member,...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Australian Surfing Walk of Fame (1 speech)
One of the joys of representing the seaside electorate of Kingsford Smith is the wonderful surfing culture that we have in our community. Each year, members of our community gather together to...
- Lester, Mr Kunmanara, OAM (2 speeches)
Last week, Mr Kunmanara Lester was buried on his ancestral homelands on the APY Lands in South Australia. I am very sorry to have missed the occasion—I was here in parliament. I do express...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Aged Care (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the number of older Australians choosing to live in retirement villages is increasing faster than any other age-specific housing option; (b) the...
- Queensland: Trade (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) condemns the Queensland Government for its statement: 'the State Government would no longer be constrained or bound by free trade agreements'; (2) notes that: (a)...
- Renewable Energy (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) there is electorate wide support for renewable energy; (b) in March 2017, the Australia Institute reported that in a national poll 67 per cent think...
- North Korea (3 speeches)
Australia stands with the United States of America and Australia stands against the government of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. An editorial in the Global Times, published by the Chinese...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Indi Electorate: Philanthropy (1 speech)
Colleagues, I'd like to take this opportunity today to talk about the important role of philanthropy, particularly in rural communities, and to welcome to parliament this week some outstanding...
- Fisher Electorate: Sunshine Coast Business Women's Network Awards (1 speech)
On Saturday night, I attended the Sunshine Coast Business Women's Network awards at the Caloundra Events Centre. It was a fantastic night. The recipients of the various awards were: young...
- Battle of Long Tan: 51st Anniversary (1 speech)
I rise today to honour the service of the brave Anzacs in the Battle of Long Tan. This Friday marks the 51st anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, a battle which is a symbol of Australian...
- Robertson Electorate: Stronger Communities Program (1 speech)
The government's Stronger Communities Program is now returning for a third round in my electorate on the Central Coast. In this year's budget, the government has committed $22½ million for...
- Moreton Electorate: National Liberation Day of Korea (1 speech)
The anniversary of the Victory over Japan Day for Koreans is on 15 August and it is now celebrated as the National Liberation Day of Korea. On the weekend, I was delighted to attend the Korean...
- O'Connor Electorate: Esperance Ocean Safety and Support Group (1 speech)
I rise today to give a shout-out to some proactive community members in Esperance who aim to prevent further shark attacks along the Southern Ocean coastline of my electorate of O'Connor. Since...
- Marriage (1 speech)
I haven't met either of my friend Ben's mums, but this week I've been thinking about them a lot as I've heard that not having their relationship recognised at in law as a marriage has had awful...
- Star of the Sea College (1 speech)
I recently visited Star of Sea College in Brighton to have a consideration with year 11 and year 12 young women who are studying global politics and legal studies. I want to say what a wonderful...
- Lemnos Square (1 speech)
On Saturday, I was honoured to represent the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, at the official announcement of the naming of Lemnos Square in Albert Park. Saturday also marked the second...
- Barker Electorate: Primary Industry (1 speech)
) ( ): I rise today to congratulate both Primary Producers SA, or PAPAS as we know them, and the National Farmers Federation on their announcement last Friday of their new partnership. Primary...
- Petition: Health Care (1 speech)
I present with great pleasure this petition to the parliament. This petition has 550 signatures or thereabouts. The petition read as follows—
- Canning Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
Yesterday Laurie Oakes in his final column said that politicians need to get out more, need to speak with people, do town hall forums and visit businesses. I can say that, over the last six...
- Montgomery, Mr Bob (1 speech)
I recently met an amazing 73-year-old man, Bob Montgomery, who just completed his third solo bike ride. This time he rode from Darwin to Perth on a bicycle. Bob lives in the Blue Mountains in my...
- Bennelong Electorate: Education (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge a recent meeting I had in Parliament House comprising the visit of a very important delegation. St Charles Catholic Primary School's year 5 students fit me into their packed...
- Chifley Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
Western Sydney motorists are the most tolled motorists in the entire country. They are being robbed blind by tolls and, disgracefully, things are set to get worse. Last week I spoke about how...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
Life is what you make of it, so I'd encourage students from across Weipa to take full advantage of the new Western Cape Trade Skills Centre and create the future that they want. I officially...
- Ballarat Electorate: Australian Football League (1 speech)
I'm very happy today to speak about the inaugural AFL game for the Western Bulldogs in my home town of Ballarat this weekend. They will be taking on the Port Adelaide Power in front of a sold-out...
- Menzies Electorate: North East Link (2 speeches)
Following the member for Ballarat, it would be remiss of me, as the spouse of a long-time member of the Western Bulldogs, not to say 'Go Doggies', this weekend as well. But this afternoon I want...
- Health Care (1 speech)
No-one ever wants to contemplate the loss of their child. The parents of Riley Hughes and Dana McCaffery had the heart-wrenching experience of losing their children to whooping cough. The...
- Energy, Roads (1 speech)
On 1 July, my community of Lindsay and communities right across New South Wales, saw their power bills rise by up to 20 per cent. This is an insult to my community, which already faces a cost of...
- Operation Christmas Child (1 speech)
The second member for Mallee, a guy called Peter Fisher, who was a member of parliament from 1972 to 1993, used to say: the people of the Wimmera Mallee are very fair-minded people. I'm the...
- Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Crime (1 speech)
A few weeks ago, Australians turned on their televisions and, in horror, learnt of allegations of millions of dollars' worth of water that had been stolen out of the Murray-Darling...
- Wright Electorate: Springbrook Men's Shed Association (1 speech)
An interesting statistic: men take their own lives at four times the rate of women. That's five men a day on average taking their life. Recently, I had the great pleasure of attending the opening...
- Bruce Electorate: South Korean Migrants (1 speech)
Last week, I made the most satisfying emotional phone call to a constituent that I have had the privilege of making since being in this place. It was to the Lee family of Glen...
- Banks Electorate: Football (1 speech)
On 29 July, I attended the Revesby Rovers Soccer Football Club trivia night at Panania Diggers Club. It was the second year that the club has run this fundraiser. It was a great night. It was...
- Rossiter, Mr Dean (1 speech)
Today I rise on a very sad note—to talk about the passing of Dean Rossiter on 7 August. He is the former chairman of the great South Australian bootmaker, Rossi Boots, which is situated in...
- Mining Industry (1 speech)
The Bowen Basin economy is making a comeback on the back of rebounding coal prices, but the resurgence is restrained because big mining companies refuse to pay their bills on time. Ignoring their...
- Deputy Prime Minister (1 speech)
I was in the chamber this morning when the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Joyce, made that bombshell of a statement that he may not be a citizen of...
- Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, Gippsland Chapter (2 speeches)
On 20 August, next Sunday, it will be the Long Tan commemoration day for the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, Gippsland Chapter. Six of them began the organisation to give Vietnam vets the...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Ocean Conservation (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) that the international community came together to recognise the importance of our oceans at the 2017 United...
- Western Australia: Infrastructure (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) Western Australia has consistently been neglected by the Government; (b) despite promising $860 million during the federal election campaign for road...
- 50th Anniversary of ASEAN (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that 8 August 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has grown from its initial five members...
- Workplace Relations (30 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the retail trades industry is the second largest employment category in Australia, it employs 1.2 million, or one in nine, Australians and 52 per cent...
