House debates

Thursday, 15 February 2018

• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (12 speeches)
    I move: That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Deputy Manager of Opposition Business from moving the following motion immediately—The House: (1)notes: (a)the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Crimes Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme — Worker Screening) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill creates exceptions to the provisions that prevent disclosure of spent, quashed and pardoned conviction for persons who work or seek to...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (14-month Regional Independence Criteria) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill makes a minor technical amendment to the Simplifying Student Payments Act 2017. The Simplifying Student Payments Act supported regional...
  • Social Services Legislation Amendment (Encouraging Self-sufficiency for Newly Arrived Migrants) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill gives effect to measures announced in the 2017-18 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which are designed to promote financial...
  • Intelligence Services Amendment (Establishment of the Australian Signals Directorate) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. There is no greater responsibility for any government than to ensure the safety and security of its people. Last year the Australian government...
  • Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Veteran-centric Reforms No. 1) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I am pleased to introduce the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Veteran-centric Reforms No. 1) Bill 2018. The bill comprises eight...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Consolidation Integrity) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill implements a package of measures to improve the efficiency and equity of Australia's business tax system by strengthening the integrity...
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Offences) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill reforms the penalty and offence framework in the Excise Act 1901 (Excise Act) to more effectively combat the illicit tobacco market....
  • Treasury Laws Amendment (2018 Measures No. 3) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today I introduce a bill to implement a series of reforms to support Australian consumers. Schedule 1 to this bill amends the Australian Consumer...
  • National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill establishes the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (the NHFIC), a new independent corporate Commonwealth entity which...
  • National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2018; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill deals with consequential and transitional matters arising from the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Bill 2018. In...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, I present the committee's report entitled Transitional Arrangements for the NDIS. Report made a...
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I rise to present the report from the Publications Committee, sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Report—by leave—agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2017-2018, Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2017-2018; Second Reading (16 speeches)
    I rise in continuation on Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2017-2018 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2017-2018. Yesterday evening I was talking about some of the challenges that we face in the northern...
• Statements by Members (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
    Last year, the ABC's Four Corners program exposed credible allegations of serious water theft from the northern reaches of the Murray-Darling Basin. The alleged theft occurred under the watch of...
  • Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat (1 speech)
    Tucked away in a tranquil pocket of forest in my electorate of Capricornia lies a little gem of the region, a hideaway for veterans who need to get away from it all or need someone to lean on....
  • Macquarie Electorate: Hope Walk (1 speech)
    This Saturday I will be joining members of my community in Hope Walk Hawkesbury. Suicide Prevention and Support Network Western Sydney is holding the Hope Walk to raise awareness about suicide...
  • Asquith Doctors Medical Centre (1 speech)
    The launch of a new bulk-billing clinic in my electorate is another win for the people of Berowra. Last month, I was delighted to officially open Asquith Doctors Medical Centre, headed up by...
  • Polson, Ernest 'Barry' (1 speech)
    One of the great honours in this place is being able to honour the things that have been done by average Australians, who gave so much of themselves to help fellow Australians, for no other...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
    Last night, the Senate passed a disallowance motion which drives a stake through the heart of the bipartisan Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a plan designed to give effect to a healthy, working...
  • Welcome to the Top End! (1 speech)
    Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Welcome to the Top End! expo hosted by the Defence Community Organisation in Darwin. Our kids had a heap of fun. There were lots and lots of...
  • Country Women's Association of Australia (1 speech)
    I am very proud to speak about one of the truly great regional organisations, the Country Women's Association. Two years after the CWA formed in New South Wales and Queensland, the first branch...
  • Tasmanian Government (1 speech)
    Many of my constituents are very concerned about the proposal for a cable car on kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and I share their concerns—not least because I'm unconvinced that a cable car will...
  • Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (1 speech)
    It was a great day yesterday in that the CFMEU, that lawless organisation, had two great decisions handed down against them, one by the High Court and one by the Federal Court. An honourable...
  • Qantas (1 speech)
    Today Qantas cancelled five flights from Canberra to Sydney and delayed one. It cancelled the 7.15 am, cancelled the 9.15 am, cancelled the 11.10 am, cancelled the 1.00 pm, delayed the 1.30 pm...
  • Political Correctness (1 speech)
    We Australians aren't a sentimental lot. We don't sit around all day talking about our identity, our culture or our way of life, but we do need to start talking about these things because they...
  • Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (1 speech)
    I rise today to bring to the attention of the House something strange that's going on in the ministry. There's no-one in this chamber who would be surprised that I have a bit of an axe to grind...
  • Freedom (1 speech)
    I rise today to talk about freedom. Yesterday's submissions to the Ruddock religious freedom review closed and today I want to re-affirm the Queensland Liberal National Party's commitment to...
  • Newcastle Electorate: NOVA for Women and Children (1 speech)
    I rise to say a big congratulations to Kelly Hansen and her fabulous team at NOVA for Women and Children in Newcastle. They were awarded the 2018 Newcastle Community Group of the Year during the...
  • Flynn Electorate: Springsure Doin' it for Dolly Charity Rodeo (1 speech)
    ) ( ): I rise to salute the organisers of the Springsure Doin' it for Dolly Charity Rodeo. The Doin' it for Dolly rodeo happened at Springsure last Saturday night. Springsure is a town 70...
  • Broadband (1 speech)
    While the Hatfields and the McCoys were slogging it out last week in National Party back rooms to work out who was going to be the next Deputy Prime Minister of this country, the small businesses...
  • Penola Bypass (1 speech)
    People in this place on both sides of the chamber would be sick of me banging on about the need to complete the Penola bypass. The Penola bypass is known as 'the half-built road to nowhere'. It...
  • Fall of Singapore: 76th Anniversary (1 speech)
    Today marks the 76th anniversary of the greatest military tragedy in Australia's history, the fall of Singapore. In the fall of Singapore, 5,000 Australians lost their lives fighting and 15,000...
  • Greensill, Mr Alexander David 'Lex', CBE (2 speeches)
    Today I want to congratulate Bundaberg's Lex Greensill, who was invested as a Commander of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace last week for his services to the economy. He was named in the...
• Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    The Deputy Prime Minister will be taking leave from Monday, 19 February, to Sunday, 25 February. Accordingly, he will not be able to be Acting Prime Minister while I'm overseas on Thursday,...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Economy (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government's economic policies are creating jobs, supporting small and family-owned business and reducing...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question's to the Prime Minister. Doesn't the Prime Minister's announcement just before question time about the arrangements for who'll be acting Prime Minister confirm that the Deputy Prime...
  • Economy (3 speeches)
    My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the latest job figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today? How is the coalition's economic plan helping...
  • Ministerial Standards (6 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. The ministerial standards require ministers to not to mislead the parliament. Four times the Deputy Prime Minister told the parliament that he did not...
  • Victoria: Railways (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. This week you met with the Victorian Minister for Public Transport and Minister for Major Projects, and...
  • Business (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to put in place policies which support Australian...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware of any taxpayer money going to businesses owned by Mr Greg Maguire? Did the Deputy Prime Minister, his office or...
  • Economy (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry, representing the Minister for Jobs and Innovation. Will the minister update the House on how the coalition government's policy settings have...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and I'll refer to his previous answer. Answers to questions on notice from Senate estimates make clear that an agency under the Deputy Prime Minister's...
  • Border Security (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the importance of taking a consistent approach to combatting people smuggling. Is the minister— Mr...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I inform the house that we have present in the gallery this afternoon a parliamentary delegation from the Bangladesh Public Accounts Committee together with His Excellency the High Commissioner...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answer. How can the Deputy Prime Minister claim he was unaware of the payment of more than $5,000 of taxpayers' money to a...
  • Infrastructure (5 speeches)
    It's good to be asking a question. My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline to the House how the...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answers. Would the Deputy Prime Minister advise the House whether he or his office played any role in selecting his close...
  • Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. Would the minister outline to the House how the coalition government's Regional Jobs and Investment...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (11 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister—and I refer to his previous answers. In addition to the over $5,000 of taxpayers' money, did Mr Maguire's business receive any more taxpayers'...
  • Energy (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on the importance of a national energy policy that encourages investment and creates a reliable...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I'd like to inform the House that we also have joining us in the gallery this afternoon His Excellency Orhan Tavli, Governor of Canakkale, and Ismail Kasdemir, President of the Gallipoli...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answers. Isn't it the case that, because of the decisions of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Maguire had at least $5,000 of...
  • Small Business (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business, Workplace and Deregulation. Will the minister please update the House on action the coalition government is taking to develop and...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answers. Clause 3.2 of the ministerial standards states: … Ministers are required to ensure that official decisions...
  • Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Minister, could you advise the House of the very serious implications of last night's vote in the Senate for the future of the...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (5 speeches)
    My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister, and I refer to his previous answers. In his statement to the House today the Deputy Prime Minister said: … basically, 'Mates don't pay...
  • South Australian: Health Care (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister update the House on the Turnbull government's record investment in South Australia's hospitals? Is the minister aware of any...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (10 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. When the Deputy Prime Minister stood beside the Prime Minister in Toowoomba and boasted about how cheap it was to live in Armidale, had the Deputy Prime...
  • Cybersecurity (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity. Will the minister update the House on the progress the coalition government has made in strengthening our nation's...
• Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (1 speech)
    I would just add to that answer about the Deputy Prime Minister's statement. It appears from the Register of Members' Interests that his disclosure, which included the reference to the premises...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Deputy Prime Minister (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. All this week the Prime Minister has expressed confidence in the Deputy Prime Minister. Given it's been confirmed this week that the Deputy Prime Minister...
  • Employment (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Will the minister update the House on action the coalition government is taking to ensure that Australians have the best...
  • Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Prime Minister has issued a stunning vote of no confidence in the ability of the Deputy Prime Minister to be the Acting Prime Minister. Therefore,...
• 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.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care (12 speeches)
    I have received a letter from the honourable member for Franklin proposing a matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The government's failure to address the...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017; Consideration of Senate Message (1 speech)
    ( I move: That the amendment be agreed to. Question agreed to.
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    ( by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) Bill 2017; Third Reading (1 speech)
    ( by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Joint Standing Committee on Treaties; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the following reports: Report 176: Air Force Training—Singapore; Deployment of Personnel—Solomon Islands; Space...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Richmond Electorate: Law Enforcement (1 speech)
    I rise today to highlight an issue of concern in my electorate, the massive cuts in police numbers on the New South Wales North Coast and how those severe cuts have resulted in a policing crisis....
  • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
    I'm the proud representative of river communities in South Australia, and that makes me the number one fan of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, because I know that it's South Australia and my...
  • Adelaide Electorate: Millswood Infrastructure (1 speech)
    It pains me to have to stand in this place and raise this issue once again, but, on behalf of my constituents, I will. I take the time to raise an important infrastructure issue in my local...
  • HMAS Darwin (1 speech)
    It's my melancholy duty to inform the House that, after 33 years of national service, HMAS Darwin FFG 04, an Adelaide class guided missile destroyer, one of four built in the '80s in the United...
  • Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
    Normally when I see Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld on TV, I'm full of trepidation that some terrorist incident has happened. This time, when I saw him a couple of nights ago, I was...
  • Gilmore Electorate (1 speech)
    Sometimes in this job you have to be all things to all people—and, of course, that never works. So my guiding principle is to get on with the job of helping as many in our community as I...
• Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
  • Workplace Relations, Taxation (1 speech)
    The good people of the electorate of Whitlam, covering the southern Illawarra suburbs and Southern Highlands of New South Wales, send me to this place to represent their interests and to ensure...
  • Forde Electorate: Logan House Residential Rehabilitation Facility (1 speech)
    I'm pleased to share with the House some great news for the electorate of Forde. In 2016 the government announced a $986,000 grant to construct six new family recovery units at Logan House...
  • Lindsay Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
    Today I come in here to congratulate the 2018 Penrith City Council Australia Day award recipients—the recognition of Lindsay residents and organisations who work tirelessly for our local...
  • Hume Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
    A telecommunications revolution is rapidly unfolding around Hume, bringing families closer together, making it easier to do business and making life safer for our communities. Dozens of villages,...
  • Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
    Every couple of months I'm out at railway stations in the electorate, and I watch commuters pile in to railway stations at Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill and Doonside. Sometimes the row is five deep...
  • Page Electorate: Surf Lifesaving (1 speech)
    The Woolgoolga Surf Life Saving Club will host the last round of the North Coast boat series on 17 March. They're a great club, and it was great in 2016 to give them $1 million of federal...
  • Moreton Electorate: Australia Day Awards (3 speeches)
    I'm proud that the Moreton Australia Day Awards have become a feature of the community calendar on Brisbane's south side. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the awards, we had a wonderful...
  • Duggan, Ms Donna (1 speech)
    Donna Duggan is an old girl of Moreton Bay College in my electorate who's been doing incredible humanitarian work in Arusha, Tanzania. Her story is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. Thirteen...
  • Fowler Electorate: Lunar New Year (2 speeches)
    Tonight I will have the pleasure of joining over a thousand Vietnamese families at the midnight celebration at the Phuoc Hue Temple in Wetherill Park to welcome in the Lunar New Year, or Tet, as...
  • Trade Unions (4 speeches)
    We all know 14 February of every year is Valentine's Day. Yesterday, Australia celebrated Valentine's Day. It is a very special day for lovers all over the country. But yesterday was not a good...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I am delighted to rise to speak on the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2017, which performs a vital community service insofar as it agrees to continue to support the...
  • Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) Bill 2017; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I would like to speak in favour of the amendments and obviously to indicate that Labor will be supporting the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) Bill. We're...
  • Communications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation and Other Measures) Bill 2017; Second Reading (3 speeches)
    With great pleasure, I make a contribution on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation and Other Measures) Bill 2017, which could be described as an omnibus bill providing what, on...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples: 10th Anniversary (1 speech)
    After the Tourism Australia ad that premiered during the Super Bowl, the member for Corangamite and I had fun last week with the idea of a new Crocodile Dundee movie being filmed in Geelong. This...
  • Wide Bay Electorate: Bruce Highway (1 speech)
    Members in this place will not be surprised that I rise to call for federal funding to be allocated in the 2018 budget to complete the final project of the Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra upgrade...
  • Health Care (1 speech)
    Tasmania's health system is in crisis. For the third night running, ambulance ramping at Royal Hobart Hospital has been out of control. Last night, at least eight ambulances were ramped, making...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    In September last year I spoke about the plight of maintenance workers at Esso, who, despite their company's booming profits, were deceitfully sacked. It's five months later, and I'm back in here...
  • Energy (1 speech)
    There's no easy fix for the energy problems facing every Australian; however, there must always be a plan to improve the situation. My 10-point plan identifies the issues and provides the...