House debates
Monday, 4 December 2017
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Today I present the 18th report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament, together with 58 petitions and 13 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. This report includes...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Responses (1 speech)
I present the following ministerial responses to petitions previously presented:
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Citizenship (3 speeches)
by leave—I move: That this House require all Members to provide statements in relation to citizenship in the following terms: Members ' statements in relation to citizenship (1) By not...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Queensland State Election (1 speech)
I am a proud Queensland Labor member and, after the state election last Saturday, I stand here proud of my Queensland Labor colleagues. The Queensland Premier always said this was going to be a...
- Bonner Electorate: Lindum Station Level Crossing (1 speech)
It has only been a month since I launched my petition to fix the Lindum Station crossing but, already, over 2,500 people have signed the petition. There has been an incredible outpouring of...
- Parliament House: Honey (1 speech)
It has already been an unbelievable day here in the parliament. In addition to the start of the marriage equality bill debate in here, the parliament is abuzz with excitement today as, just this...
- Petition: Schools (1 speech)
I present a petition certified by the Petitions Committee and signed by 48,985 Australians. This petition asks the House to thoroughly review programs such as the Safe Schools program and the...
- Climate Change, Nuclear Weapons (1 speech)
This year 200 Australian scientists issued a stark warning to the Australian people. In an open letter to the Prime Minister entitled 'Last call on the climate and nuclear twin perils', the...
- Chisholm Electorate: Community Organisations (1 speech)
The Chisholm community is home to thousands of Australians who uphold our nation's wonderful values of mateship, service and companionship, including two key groups which promote these values,...
- Bendigo Electorate: St Joseph's Primary School (1 speech)
A few weeks ago I got the chance to catch up with the year 5 and year 6 students from the St Joseph's Primary School in Quarry Hill. I asked the question: 'What would you do if you were Prime...
- Marrows, Mr Dudley, DSO, DFC (1 speech)
I often get the chance to wish someone a happy birthday, but very rarely do I get to talk on behalf of someone who I think is a giant of the Australian people. Mr Dudley Marrows will turn 100 on...
- Kingsford Smith Electorate: Kamay parkrun (1 speech)
I wish to congratulate the wonderful volunteers and runners who've taken part in the Kamay parkrun over the past 12 months. It celebrated its first anniversary on 25 November. 'Kamay' is the...
- Alexander, Mr John (1 speech)
I've been in and out of this place since 1990, and I've met a lot of good members of parliament. I have met no better member of parliament in this place than a fellow named John Alexander. Until...
- Broadband (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker, as you are more than aware, hundreds of Canberrans have taken part in my 'Send me your speeds' campaign over the course of this year. They've shared their experiences of life with...
- Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander, Mr John (1 speech)
I rise to offer my congratulations to none other than the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, for his re-election to the seat of New England. He also was a victim of the citizenship bus, as the...
- Tamburrino, Ms Mimi (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to Domenica Mimi Tamburrino after 37 years of service to the Parliament of Australia and to the Australian Labor Party. During her career, Mimi has worked for former...
- Banks Electorate: St George Meals on Wheels (1 speech)
On 24 November, I attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of St George Meals on Wheels. St George Meals on Wheels, of course, is located in Peakhurst, in the heart of my electorate, and has...
- Lalor Electorate: Lalor Heroes 2017 (1 speech)
I rise today to share with the House the names of the 2017 Lalor Heroes. These are people honoured by our great community for their work as volunteers in our community, representing either a...
- Dunkley Electorate: Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program (1 speech)
Last year, I told the House about a brilliant program run in my electorate of Dunkley: the Learn Engage Connect Young Parents Program. This program is run by Chisholm TAFE in conjunction with...
- Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce (1 speech)
. Today I rise very proudly to place on record my thanks to my local chamber of commerce. It's nice to be here and be able to do that. I want to thank the new committee that's coming in and also...
- New England By-Election, Health Care (6 speeches)
Labor were at their absolute worst on the weekend in Tamworth, where they had signs up around all the polling booths effectively saying that, if you want to support Medicare, you have to vote for...
- Queensland State Election (2 speeches)
I rise to congratulate the Queensland Premier and the Labor campaign on an outstanding campaign in the recent Queensland state election. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk demonstrated principle...
- HMAS Cairns (2 speeches)
I rise to applaud the Defence Force's recent announcement of a $300 million upgrade to the naval base at HMAS Cairns and also its announcement that it will be home-basing four of its new offshore...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Millar, Mr Percival Clarence 'Clarrie', AM, Hearn, Mrs Jean Margaret, Hutchins, Mr Stephen Patrick 'Steve' (1 speech)
I inform the House of the deaths of Percival Clarence 'Clarrie' Millar, AM, a former member, and former senators Jean Margaret Hearn and Stephen Patrick Hutchins. Clarrie Millar died on 28...
- Stephen, The Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Martin, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC (3 speeches)
I move: That the House acknowledge the passing on 29 October 2017 of former Governor-General the Right Honourable Sir Ninian Martin Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE QC, and place on record its...
- Fife, Hon. Wallace Clyde 'Wal'; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that since the House last sat, five weeks ago, he has cancelled parliament; ruled out a banking royal commission, then...
- Turnbull Government (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on actions the government is taking to ease the burden on families, to grow the economy and to create more jobs for...
- Donations to Political Parties (5 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the photograph of Mr Huang that was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 12 February 2016. Can the Prime Minister please identify the person...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer advise the House of recent economic data which highlights how the government is continuing to make the right choices to secure better days...
- Banking and Financial Services (2 speeches)
My question is for the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer confirm a report by Phil Coorey in today's Financial Review that the terms of reference for the banking royal commission were being worked on...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I would like to inform the House we have joining us in the gallery today Mr Matthew Groom, the state member for Denison in Tasmania. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm welcome to you....
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On 17 November at the handing down of the report into the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, Minister...
- National Security (24 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Defence. Will the minister outline to the House why a strong, stable and transparent policy approach is...
- Donations to Political Parties (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to Labor introducing a bill to parliament to ban foreign political donations over a year ago. I also refer to reports in The Daily Telegraph that Mr...
- Infrastructure (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure. Will the minister update the House on the government's approach to reducing congestion in our urban areas, including in my electorate of...
- Broadband (14 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and John Alexander promised voters in Bennelong before the last election that they'd all have the NBN by now, but last week NBN announced...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House what the government is doing to deliver for small businesses across Australia, including in the electorate of Bennelong,...
- Broadband (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. On 27 November 2017, NBN Co announced an immediate halt to HFC rollout because the technology still doesn't work properly. Can the Prime Minister confirm...
- Health Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister outline to the House the action the government is taking to ensure more Australians have access to their GPs, especially in my home...
- Broadband (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last week, NBN Co announced it was halting the HFC rollout of the Prime Minister's second-rate NBN. Can the Prime Minister advise just how many hundreds of...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 14, 15, 16 and 17 of 2017-18 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Audit report No. 14 entitled Performance audit—Design and implementation of the Community Development Programme: Department of the Prime Minister and...
- 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.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Questions in Writing (2 speeches)
Under standing order 105(b), where replies have not been received 60 days after a question first appeared on the Notice Paper, may I please request that you write to the Minister for the...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Resolutions of the Senate (0 speeches)
- Asylum Seekers; Consideration of Senate Message (38 speeches)
I have received the following message from the Senate: The Senate transmits to the House of Representatives the following resolution which was agreed to by the Senate on 29 November 2017: That...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Treaties Committee; Report (5 speeches)
It being directly after question time, it is time for committees. On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee's report, incorporating a dissenting report,...
- Economics Committee; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Economics, I present the committee's report entitled Review of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Annual Report 2016 together with the minutes...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I present the committee's interim report entitled Legal foundations of religious freedom in Australia. Report made...
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the committee's report entitled Report 8/2017: referral made September 2017. Report made a parliamentary paper in...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Broadband Network (1 speech)
As a federal member of parliament, I occasionally receive updates from private providers about the delivery of essential services in my electorate, and during November I received such a letter...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Wombinoo Station (1 speech)
On 23 November, just two days before Queenslanders went to the polls, the ABC broadcast a story on its 7 pm national news which was supplied to them by the Wilderness Society. They did this...
- Education (1 speech)
There is a real, stark difference between Labor and the coalition—in particular, the sheer disparity between Australia's two major parties on education. You see, Labor knows that the only...
- Hale, Mr Tom, Page Electorate: Grafton Jacaranda Festival (1 speech)
Tom Hale was a person of great wisdom, knowledge and strength who lived in the town of Bonalbo in my electorate. At age 95, Tom was one of the few remaining veterans of the Second World War....
- Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
I want to talk about a grave matter which is of increasing concern to the people of the Northern Territory. We see this government's apparent unwillingness, as evidenced by the Prime Minister's...
- Boothby Electorate: Sturt Country Fire Service Group (2 speeches)
We have had some very hot weather recently in South Australia, which has reminded everyone who lives in and around the Mitcham Hills, as I do, that it is now bushfire season. Tonight I want to...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
As a member of parliament I'm fortunate to be able to do and experience things that I could never have dreamed of in any other realm. Visiting Australian military bases in the Middle East,...
- Lottoland (2 speeches)
We have all seen the advertisements on television offering Australians the opportunity to bet on the outcome of foreign lotteries. One of the most prevalent lottery agencies offering such a...
- Marriage (1 speech)
Two and a half weeks ago I joined Canberrans in a park near my office as we waited for the results of the vote on marriage equality. The results were overwhelming. Compared with the 62 per cent...
- Health Care (1 speech)
I rise to speak about some encouraging news for local families in my electorate that has been delivered by the Minister for Health and highlights how this government is committed to Medicare....
- Australia Post (1 speech)
Booragul, Marmong Point, Teralba, Blackalls Park and Woodrising are all wonderful townships and communities in my electorate. They are all around the western side of Lake Macquarie. What else do...
- Franceschi, Ms Jennie (1 speech)
I endorse the comments of the previous speaker, the member for Hunter, and I am happy to work together to try and ensure that we have postal services in our regional towns. In my electorate of...
- Panagiotopoulos, Ms Zoe, Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation, Berwick District Woodworkers Club (1 speech)
In what is hopefully the last sitting week of the year, I wanted to mention some community champions and local achievers in my area. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Zoe...
- Banks Electorate: St Declan's Catholic Primary School, Banks Electorate: Picnic Point Pumas Netball Club, Banks Electorate: Australian Air League (1 speech)
On 15 November I attended the St Declan's Catholic Primary School's parents and friends annual general meeting, and it was a great discussion to have with the parents. St Declan's has been around...
- Tasmania: Health (1 speech)
At the moment, we are experiencing a health crisis in Tasmania, and it is a crisis that has been the making of the current Liberal state government. Premier Will Hodgman, in his first budget, cut...
- Gambling (2 speeches)
Today I rise to draw the attention of the House to an addiction that continues to infiltrate our suburbs and towns, and that is poker machines. I recently attended a public meeting of residents...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Veterans: Government Response to Report (6 speeches)
I'm pleased to be able to make a contribution to this discussion and want to commend the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for its comprehensive report and the...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- China (1 speech)
Over the last two years, there's been a turnaround to a more realistic view of our major trading partner, China, and its very different political nature from our Australian democracy. Both sides...
- Forde Electorate: Beenleigh Theatre Group (1 speech)
I remain blown away by the sheer talent that exists in my electorate of Forde. I'd like to take the opportunity this afternoon to acknowledge the wonderful work of the Beenleigh Theatre Group for...
- Multicultural Awards for Excellence (1 speech)
Last week, I attended Government House in Victoria for the annual presentation of the 2017 Multicultural Awards for Excellence. I want to congratulate members of my local community who were...
- International Day of People with Disability (1 speech)
Yesterday we celebrated International Day of People with Disability. I want to acknowledge the work of charities in my electorate who help to ensure that, in keeping with the themes of the day,...
- Brand Electorate: Christmas (1 speech)
Last Friday, 1 December, I had the pleasure of kicking off the Christmas season in my electorate of Brand, with the annual Mother Teresa Catholic College Christmas carols in Baldivis, alongside...
- Robertson Electorate: Christmas (1 speech)
The festive season is well and truly upon us. In my electorate of Robertson on the Central Coast, we kick-started this on Sunday with the wonderful Christmas fair at Kariong, at Mount Penang....
- Aviation (1 speech)
In September, cancellations for flights from Canberra to Sydney topped the nation at 8.1 per cent. In October, cancellations from flights from Canberra to Sydney reached 6.6 per cent. The...
- O'Connor Electorate: Students (1 speech)
As 2017 draws to a close, all around O'Connor students are finishing up the school year and looking forward to the Christmas break. I congratulate all of them on their hard work and hope their...
- Petition: Small Breweries (2 speeches)
I begin my contribution by tabling a petition of 1,477 signatures calling for an end to the current unfair tax treatment of small brewers in Australia. I do that to support the craft brewing...
- Goldstein Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
One of the great joys of being an elected representative in this place is being able to meet the wonderful school groups from the Goldstein electorate that come and visit Parliament House. All...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
It's been five weeks since this parliament last sat. This period must have seemed like an eternity to around 600 men on Manus Island—men who asked us for help and are entitled to just that....
- La Trobe Electorate: RidgeWalk Project (1 speech)
Last federal election, the Turnbull government committed $2.5 million towards the RidgeWalk project in the Dandenong Ranges. The 14 kilometres of walking trails will connect villages in the...
- Deslandes, Mr Timothy Nicholas (1 speech)
I rise today to note the sad passing of Timothy Nicholas Deslandes, loving husband to Moira Deslandes, dad to Ann, Michael, Luke, Clare, Amelia, Zoe, Melody, Will and Alex, and grandpa to Archie....
- Gilmore Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
Christmas is a time to buy something special for someone you love. Firstly, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and happy Christmas, a plea to stay safe and have a terrific...
- Macquarie Electorate: Public Transport (1 speech)
The lives of many commuters in the Hawkesbury have been turned upside down by the New South Wales government's new train timetable. How's this for a plan: let's make an already long...
- Menzies Electorate: Veneto Club (1 speech)
I was delighted yesterday afternoon to join some 500 people to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Veneto social club in Bulleen. The social club has been part of the fabric...
- Workplace Relations, Marriage (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly consider the highs and lows of this year. The low must have been on 1 July, when more than 700,000 Australians had their penalty rates slashed by...
- Melanoma (2 speeches)
I take my jacket off with some caution here. You'll have to bear with me to see where I'm going on this. Having been a farmer for 20 years, I found there is value in checking your arms. A couple...
- Ballarat Electorate: Marriage (1 speech)
I commend the member for Mallee for raising awareness about skin cancer in this place, particularly amongst those of us who live in the country. This week, of course, we will be debating marriage...
- Wright Electorate: Cancer Fundraising (1 speech)
I rise today because there are organisations that do some incredible work in my electorate, and I'm sure honourable members in this room get to witness similar types of work. But nothing fills me...
- Wills Electorate: Coburg West Primary School (1 speech)
Last week I spoke at the centenary celebration of Coburg West Primary School. The initial plans for establishing Coburg West Primary go all the way back to 1912, when the education department...
- McMillan Electorate: Marriage (1 speech)
There's a lot of consternation in my community at the moment because, even though the vote for same-sex marriage in my electorate was 61 per cent and about 40 per cent voted no, I, their federal...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Last week, by a vote of 51 to 49, the US Senate passed a major corporate tax cut. The bill has several similarities with the corporate tax cut being debated here. A survey by the University of...
- Wright Electorate: Christmas (1 speech)
It is the most wonderful time of the year—Christmas being something different for everyone. For most it's a joyous occasion, but it's not necessarily a great part of the year for all of our...
- Perth Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I'm sure I share with all of us here a lot of love in enjoying this time of the year. One of the reasons I do is being able to attend any number of school graduations in my electorate. I see my...
- Cervical Cancer (1 speech)
I rise today as a very proud member of the Turnbull government, a government that is delivering for all Australians. In fabulous news for Australian women, last Friday, 1 December, the new human...
- Fremantle Electorate: Community Groups (1 speech)
At the end of a big year, I want to pay tribute to all the community groups that do such good and important work in my electorate of Fremantle. They provide essential services; they fight for...
- Banks Electorate: Panania Senior Citizens' Centre and All Starz Performing Arts Studio (1 speech)
On 21 November, I had the pleasure of visiting the Panania senior citizens' group at the Panania Senior Citizens' Centre. As always, it was a fantastic visit, chatting with some of the ladies who...
