House debates
Monday, 26 March 2018
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Today I present the 22nd report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament, together with 15 petitions and five ministerial responses to petitions previously presented.
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing order 113, I fix the next sitting Monday as the day for presenting the Fair Work Amendment (Making Australia More Equal) Bill 2018.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the XXI Commonwealth Games will commence on the Gold Coast with the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 4 April 2018 and the closing ceremony on Sunday,...
- Israel (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that 14 May 2018 is the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel, a seminal event that occurred in 1948, and congratulates Israel on an...
- Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Deputy Speaker (10 speeches)
I inform the House that I have received a letter dated 5 March 2018 from the honourable member for Parkes tendering his resignation as Deputy Speaker of the House. The next item of business is...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Environmental Conservation (1 speech)
I congratulate you on your new role, Deputy Speaker. Last week, the government completed what has been a four-year process in the largest removal of area under conservation that any government...
- Fuel (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the ongoing challenge of high petrol prices in my electorate. With around 30,000 commuters in our region, they often have daily reminders when they're driving along our...
- Makin Electorate: Pooraka Cricket Club (1 speech)
Yesterday, the Pooraka Cricket Club senior team won its third consecutive cricket grand final in the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association A1 division competition by very easily defeating...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Last week Australia was treated to more shameful politicising of natural disasters by the Greens. The burnt ashes of people's homes weren't even cold before Senator Di Natale alleged Australians...
- Butorac, Mrs Hazel Dawn, OAM (3 speeches)
I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary woman, Hazel Butorac OAM, who, on International Women's Day, on 8 March, was inducted into the Western Australian Women's Hall of Fame. Hazel has...
- Meningococcal Disease (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about meningococcal disease. It's my melancholy duty to inform the House of the death of six-month-old Jordan Braddock of Mount Gambier. Jordan died within hours of showing...
- Vizovitis, Ms Georgia (1 speech)
Over the weekend, Canberra lost a beautiful young girl in a tragic boating accident at Moruya on the New South Wales South Coast. Georgia Vizovitis was just 13 years old. She was a year 8 student...
- APY Art Centre Collective (1 speech)
It's good to see you in that chair, Mr Deputy Speaker Hogan. Last Friday was a special day for the arts centres of the APY lands and their contributing artists in the far north-west of South...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
Pensions for retired Commonwealth public servants and some military personnel increase twice a year, in line with the consumer price index. But using this indexation is obviously flawed because...
- Fadden Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I rise in the House of Representatives to recognise the 2018 school leaders from the northern Gold Coast schools—549 outstanding young Australians from 26 local schools have answered the...
- Petitions: Seismic Testing (1 speech)
Congratulations, Deputy Speaker Hogan. In the wake of the Turnbull government's savage attacks on marine parks with the largest removal of conservation area ever by any government in the world, I...
- Gilmore Electorate: Relay for Life (1 speech)
Congratulations Deputy Speaker Hogan. I've mentioned Shoalhaven Relay for Life before, and I congratulate them again for the work they do, along with relays in Eurobodalla, Kiama and Milton....
- Lalor Electorate: Flinders Street Station (1 speech)
Congratulations, Deputy Speaker Hogan, on becoming the Deputy Speaker. I rise today touched with sadness, as I saw on Facebook a post that has alarmed me greatly, and I speak on behalf of all the...
- Logan House Fire Support Network (1 speech)
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker Hogan, and congratulations on your elevation to the role of Deputy Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to commend the Logan House Fire Support Network and its...
- Western Australia: PROSH (1 speech)
Congratulations, Deputy Speaker Hogan. At a time when this Liberal government is attacking universities and students, I am pleased to acknowledge a great student-driven institution in Western...
- Bonner Electorate: Community Projects (1 speech)
Some of my proudest accomplishments have been securing funding for small-scale projects throughout my electorate. Despite the size of the funding, these projects still have a massive impact. I've...
- Solomon Electorate: Cyclone Nora (3 speeches)
Good afternoon, Mr Speaker!
- Fisher Electorate: Fisher Community Awards (1 speech)
Last week, I held the inaugural Fisher Community Awards to recognise the individuals and organisations who are helping to make Fisher the place to be for education, employment and retirement. I...
- Coalition Government (2 speeches)
The Senate is faced with a big choice this week: to look after the national interest, or to look after the interests of this government. What we're looking at is a $65 billion handout to...
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Members Sworn (1 speech)
I have received the return to the writ which I issued on 7 February 2018 for the election of a member to serve for the electoral division of Batman, in the state of Victoria, to fill the vacancy...
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- The Nationals (1 speech)
I inform the House that the honourable and hardworking member for Wide Bay has been appointed Nationals whip.
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I table for the information of the House a revised ministry list reflecting changes to the ministry made on 5 March. The document read as follows— TURNBULL MINISTRY Each box represents a...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (14 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Working Australians are already doing it tough, with this Prime Minister presiding over the lowest wages growth on record, so how is it fair that this Prime...
- Dividend Imputation (17 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Tony is a constituent in my electorate of Chisholm. His income is $32,000 from his self-managed super fund. Under Labor's retiree tax, he will lose $5,000....
- Renewable Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Minister, last week I was pleased to welcome you to Indi to meet with communities embracing renewable energy, pumped hydro and...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that joining us in the gallery this afternoon is the Sri Lankan State Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner to Australia. On behalf of the...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (9 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How does a competitive tax system help promote the investment needed to build on record jobs growth and lift wages for hardworking Australians? What risks are...
- Economy, Dividend Imputation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services: Will the minister update the House as to how the government plans to grow the economy for the benefit of all Australians? Is the...
- Taxation (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, how is it fair that the Prime Minister is hitting ordinary workers with a $44 billion tax increase to pay for his $65 billion big-business...
- Pensions and Benefits (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. How is it fair that this Prime Minister is making it even harder for pensioners who are struggling with their power bills by cutting the energy supplement of...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport: Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on the agreement reached with the Victorian government...
- Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Social Services. How many pensioners across Australia are worse off today because of this Prime Minister's changes to the pension assets test?
- Defence Procurement (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister update the House on how the recent announcement to acquire 211 combat reconnaissance vehicles will not only deliver the best...
- Pensions and Benefits (7 speeches)
My question, again, is to the Minister for Social Services. Can the minister confirm that this conservative government is cutting the energy supplement for 400,000 pensioners; is increasing the...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on how the government is creating jobs by delivering a more affordable and reliable energy system...
- Minister for Home Affairs (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs.
- Western Sydney (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities. Will the minister update the House on how the government is delivering its commitment to a City Deal for Western Sydney? How...
- Broadband (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: Last year, the NBN halted its HFC rollout because of ongoing problems. This year it was confirmed the cost of the HFC rollout had increased by another $310...
- Natural Disasters (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity. Will the minister update the House on the assistance the government is providing to communities impacted by natural disasters...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Billson, Mr Bruce (2 speeches)
This morning the Privileges Committee reported back on the inquiry concerning the former member for Dunkley, Mr Bruce Billson. In their report they've unanimously recommended a motion of censure...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (16 speeches)
The Manager of Opposition Business has indicated to me he's been misrepresented—
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 31 and 32 of 2017-18 (1 speech)
I present the following Auditor-General's performance audit reports for 2017-18: No. 31, Managing mental health in the Australian Federal Police, Australian Federal Police, and No. 32, Funding...
- Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
- Speaker's Panel (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing order 17(a), I lay on the table my warrant nominating the honourable member for Calare to be a member of the Speaker’s panel to assist the chair when requested to do so...
- 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.
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Timor-Leste, Trade (2 speeches)
by leave—On 6 March at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, I signed a maritime boundary treaty with Timor-Leste, on behalf of the Australian government. The treaty is an historic...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
I associate myself with the words from the member for Perth and acknowledge the leadership by Senator 'Wacka' Williams from the other place in that delegation. On behalf of the Parliamentary...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Whitlam Electorate: Railways (1 speech)
The Prime Minister has visited my electorate twice in the last three weeks, and we welcome the attention. He didn't come by train, and we all know his affection for catching a train. There's a...
- Cricket (1 speech)
As long ago as I can remember—as a very small boy—I remember my father playing cricket against the Pakenham Cricket Club. In finals, every match was important. We learned lessons out...
- Braddon Electorate: Electoral Boundaries (1 speech)
I rise this evening to welcome the communities of Bakers Beach, Harford, Hawley Beach, Moriarty, Northdown, Port Sorell, Sassafras, Shearwater, Squeaking Point and Thirlstane into the federal...
- Dividend Imputation (1 speech)
I rise today to call out Labor's favourite political tactic, and that would be the old class warfare dog whistle—rich versus poor; haves versus have-nots; a black and white, zero-sum game...
- Wills Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I'm regularly contacted by residents in my electorate of Wills regarding the pace of new developments in our neighbourhoods, and I hear their concerns about the pressure on open space and social...
- North Queensland: Insurance (2 speeches)
Exactly one year ago today, Cyclone Debbie was officially named as a tropical cyclone, and families in North Queensland began evacuating their homes ahead of it crossing the coast. While North...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Turnbull Government (1 speech)
This week the government is pushing their agenda of $65 billion worth of tax cuts to big business instead of investing vital funds into education and health care. This government has its...
- Carrick, Lady Diana Margaret 'Angela', AO (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the passing of a great Australian and somebody who was a selfless volunteer in the community of Bradfield. Lady Angela Carrick AO was at one stage Chief Commissioner...
- East Turkestan (1 speech)
On Thursday, 15 March, members of the East Turkestan community of South Australia, often referred to as Uyghur people, held a rally on the steps of Parliament House in Adelaide drawing attention...
- Cricket, South Africa (1 speech)
Without further building on the events of yesterday, I just want to note that the prevarication by Cricket Australia over this incident is very, very disappointing. We've had the Australian...
- Schools (1 speech)
There's been a lot of concern expressed in the community about the Liberal and National government's $17 billion in school funding cuts, and of course my community is no different. Labor has...
- Queensland: Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
The right to housing is an absolutely fundamental right of all Australian citizens. Sadly, the Queensland Labor government, in a campaign led by Jackie Trad, is more interested in playing...
- Cambodia: Human Rights (1 speech)
Last week, the ASEAN leaders' summit was held for the first time in Australia. Amidst a great triumph for our nation and what should have been a positive display of unity, there was a dark shadow...
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1 speech)
I've spoken here about before the promising breakthroughs in both treatment and prevention of HIV and my support for World AIDS Day, raising awareness for those who suffer from this disease, as...
- Barton Electorate: Save Marrickville South, Barton Electorate: F6 Action, Barton Electorate: Bay Community Garden (1 speech)
On Saturday, 24 February, I attended, along with the Mayor of the Inner West Council and many hundreds of local residents, a rally of Save Marrickville South against the proposed rezoning of...
- Mackellar Electorate: South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club (2 speeches)
Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining members of the South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club as they celebrated their 95th anniversary. The club was formed in 1923 by former members of the...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- International Women's Day (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a)International Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March; (b)the theme for 2018 is 'Press for Progress', recognising the strong and growing global momentum...
- World Tuberculosis Day (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day, and marks the anniversary of German Nobel laureate Dr Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the bacterium that causes...
- Age Pension (5 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the: (a) OECD: (i) calculates that the average old age dependency ratio in Australia was 25 in 2017, and is projected to increase to 41 by 2050; (ii)...
- Defence Industry (7 speeches)
I'm delighted to stand in the chamber today to support the member for Fisher with this motion, because I don't think there are many areas of policy that demonstrate the difference between this...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Indi Electorate: Renewable Energy (1 speech)
Last week I had the opportunity to welcome the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, to my electorate of Indi to meet with a wide and diverse community of representatives,...
- Calare Electorate: Cumnock Show (1 speech)
Cumnock is a strong and vibrant country community in the heartland of our nation. On 10 March, the Cumnock community came together for their annual show. You can't beat a country show, and...
- Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
I rise today to proudly stand with the early childhood educators right across Australia in opposition to the Turnbull government's mistreatment of the sector and undervaluing of early childhood...
- Fish Creek RSL Memorial Garden (1 speech)
Last Wednesday, we gathered at the Fish Creek RSL to open the garden created by the people on corrections in memory of Vietnam veterans and the special part of the garden to recognise 100 years...
- Petitions: Gambling (2 speeches)
Deputy Speaker, you may have seen the ads on TV for Lottoland, touting itself as the latest market disruptor, advertising jackpots in the hundreds of millions of dollars. It offers the US...
- Chisholm Electorate: Harmony Day (1 speech)
Last Wednesday was Harmony Day, where multiculturalism is celebrated all around the world. There is no greater place to celebrate Harmony Day than in our great country, Australia, the most...
- Forman, Mr Oscar (1 speech)
I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a great ambassador for the fantastic sport of basketball, NBL great—and one of Wollongong's favourites—Oscar Forman, who announced a...
- Beaudesert State High School (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure to attend the Beaudesert State High School's leadership induction ceremony and congratulated each of the students on reaching their final years in their step on their...
- Member for Batman (1 speech)
I want to congratulate Ged Kearney, today affirmed into this place as the new member for Batman. It has been my great pleasure to be campaigning alongside her for the past several weeks, and I...
- Dividend Imputation (1 speech)
And too bad about the North Queensland coal workers who got thrown under a bus! When the opposition leader opened another round of class warfare earlier this month, it was pensioners and...
- Conti, Ms Monique (1 speech)
Today I'd like to acknowledge a very talented young sportswoman, Monique Conti. On Saturday, Monique's team, the Western Bulldogs, defeated the Brisbane Lions in the first Australian Football...
- Clean Up Australia Day (1 speech)
Sunday, 4 March, was Clean Up Australia Day. Community groups all over Dunkley got involved to clean up our sunny natural landscape, from the beach to the bush. At least six different Clean Up...
- National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (1 speech)
Friday, 16 March, was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This year, more than 4,000 schools and community groups took a stand against bullying, among them Leura Public...
- Bourchier, Sir Murray William James, CMG, DSO, VD (1 speech)
Sir Murray Bourchier is a local Goulburn Valley war hero and former Deputy Premier of Victoria who served in World War I and led one of the most famous Light Horse charges in Australian history....
- Climate Change, Taxation (1 speech)
Coming up to Easter, my three little boys are looking forward to one of their favourite parts of the celebration—Easter eggs. I, on the other hand, prefer the other kind—the inside...
- Hinton, Ms Betty (1 speech)
I rise today to pay tribute to a much-loved and respected member of the North Daintree community, Betty Hinton. I'm proud to call Betty my friend. Betty is the owner of Floravilla Ice Cream...
- Defence Facilities: Chemical Contamination (1 speech)
While considering the ethical dilemmas brought to the fore by the former Deputy Prime Minister's recent personal turmoil, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed that he had sought the counsel...
- Dividend Imputation (1 speech)
The radical agenda of today's high-taxing, high-spending Labor Party is becoming clearer by the day. Labor's now unveiled this plan to abolish the tax concessions that so many retirees and...
- South Asian Public Affairs Council (1 speech)
I rise to record my appreciation of the South Asian Public Affairs Council for their literary evening on Saturday night. It's a beautiful annual community event—the third time I've...
- Austin Cove Baptist College (1 speech)
I rise to report on the recent opening of the Austin Cove Baptist College practical skills centre. Austin Cove is a primary to year 12 school located in South Yunderup in my electorate of...
- Parramatta Electorate: Newroz (1 speech)
I would like to wish a happy Newroz or Nowruz to all who celebrate it in Australia and around the world. Newroz is a Persian celebration of the new year and coincides with the March equinox and...
- Kennedy, Mr Robert 'Bob' (1 speech)
Last week, we lost a great South Australian. Robert 'Bob' Kennedy was a talented businessman, a great supporter of the arts and a kind and generous man. I wish to extend my condolences to Bob's...
- Darwin: Fuel (1 speech)
Petrol prices in Darwin are too high. As the NT News put it with admirable directness, as they are wont to do, Darwin motorists are being ripped off at the bowser. Today in Darwin the price of 91...
- School Chaplaincy Program (1 speech, 1 comment)
I wish to talk about school chaplaincy. There are 129 schools in the electorate of Mallee. A lot of those schools are reasonably stressed in their budget, but one of the things they are very...
- Dragons Abreast (1 speech)
If members haven't done so, I encourage them to go out for a paddle with their Dragons Abreast dragon boat club. I had the good fortune to join my local club, Nipples on Ripples, as we paddled on...
- Immigration (1 speech)
There is a large and prominent South African community in my electorate of Moore, representing the second-largest group of migrants behind the British and ahead of the New Zealanders. Respected...
- Cooper, Professor David, AO (2 speeches)
I rise to pay tribute to Professor David Cooper AO, who passed away on 18 March in Sydney. Professor Cooper dedicated his life to the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV and other infectious...
- Armenian Genocide (1 speech)
I would also like to associate myself with the comments previously made by the member for Sydney. Today we acknowledge the incredible contribution of Victorians and Australians toward the relief...
- Moreton Electorate: Broadband (2 speeches)
Time after time, we hear more revelations about this out-of-touch Turnbull government's sham copper based NBN—that's right, the internet network of the future that's using centuries-old...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Israel (2 speeches)
I want to thank the Speaker and the member for Fadden. This motion mentions the 70th anniversary of a very exciting, vital and happy nation of eight million people, but I'm not going to focus on...
- National Partnership on Remote Housing (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: This motion is in four parts. It observes the national partnership remote housing program. It notes that it expires on 30 June this year, which makes this motion very...
- ThinkUKnow (4 speeches)
As the shadow assistant minister for cyber security and defence, I welcome the opportunity to speak on cybersafety and cyberbullying. I thank the member for Forrest for raising this important...
- Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (7 speeches)
It's 10 days to go until the 21st Commonwealth Games begin on the Gold Coast. What an exciting time it is for Australia, for fans, for sportspeople—we have watched our sports progress over...
