House debates
Monday, 21 May 2018
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Resignation (1 speech)
I inform the House that on 11 May 2018 I received a letter from Rebekha Carina Che Sharkie resigning her seat as the member for the electoral division of Mayo. Consideration is being given to the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Today I present the 23rd report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament, together with 31 petitions and 57 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. I'd like to draw to...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Infrastructure (12 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the role of Government leadership in ensuring the productivity and liveability of Australian cities; and (2) notes: (a) the importance of public...
- Mining, Employment (21 speeches)
I move: that this House recognises that: (1) the Australian Labor Party has abandoned workers in Queensland, to chase Green votes in Victoria; (2) Opposition Leader Bill Shorten: (a) tells...
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in order to facilitate the work of the Federation Chamber in considering the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees.
- Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources; Report (2 speeches)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources, I present the committee's report, incorporating a dissenting report, entitled APVMA regulatory reforms: inquiry based on...
- Standing Committee on Procedure; Report (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee on Procedure, I present the committee's report entitled Maintenance of the standing orders: Interim report together with the minutes of proceedings. Report...
- Electoral Matters Committee; Report (4 speeches)
On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, I present the committee's report incorporating a dissenting report entitled Excluded: the impact of section 44 on Australian...
- Electoral Matters Committee; 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.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I seek indulgence to make a personal explanation. Pursuant to my statement by leave to the House on budget day, 8 May 2018, in my capacity as deputy chair of the Joint...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
Meddling with schoolchildren's savings accounts is the latest scandal to engulf our banks. On Saturday, Adele Ferguson reported that thousands of children's Commonwealth Bank accounts were...
- Boothby Electorate: Repatriation General Hospital (1 speech)
As a community member, a newspaper columnist, a candidate and the member for Boothby, I fought to save the Repat hospital. Last week, I joined my state colleagues the member for Elder, Carolyn...
- Grandparents for Grandchildren SA Inc. (1 speech)
In a miserly, penny-pinching decision, the South Australian Marshall Liberal government will end financial assistance to the organisation Grandparents For Grandchildren SA. The not-for-profit...
- McMillan Electorate: Community Services (1 speech)
They all said a citizens advice bureau couldn't be done, but Tina, with a chuckle, replied that maybe it couldn't but she would be the one who wouldn't say no till she tried. I was greatly...
- Scope, Mr Harry, JP (1 speech)
Today I want to recognise Harry Scope JP of Bateau Bay, who is 96 and has been a justice of the peace for 53 years. Harry's service was recognised on Saturday at the state conference of the New...
- Employment (3 speeches)
Recently there have been some amazing milestones that have been reached by both sides of the House. On this side of the House, Mr Speaker, we, the coalition government, have reached no less a...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
In August 2017, 2,400 sheep died in terrible conditions on a ship travelling from Fremantle to the Middle East. In July 2016, 3,027 sheep died due to heat stress on the same journey. This...
- Dawson Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
In 2012 I led a convoy of Liberal-National politicians, including former deputy prime minister Warren Truss, along the entire 1,700 kilometres of the Bruce Highway, highlighting the places that...
- Indi Electorate: Junction Support Services (1 speech)
Colleagues, I'd like to tell you about a support service in my electorate called Junction Support Services. Established in 1989, it is a not-for-profit and does fantastic work. It supports people...
- Budget (1 speech)
On the Friday after the budget, Treasurer Scott Morrison and I visited Seaford Senior Citizens Club and the University of the Third Age to talk about how we're helping seniors stay in their homes...
- Broadband (1 speech)
A member of my community who lives less than 20 kilometres from where I am standing here right now contacted me about the diabolical speeds he currently receives on ADSL2+. We're not even talking...
- National Volunteer Week (1 speech)
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers because this week is National Volunteer Week. I want to mention the fact that my parents were such amazing volunteers in my small town...
- Women in Politics (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to call for a raising of the standards in our politics from the point of view of gender. We have at the desk here with us today, fortuitously, the member for...
- Leichhardt Electorate: Cairns Businesswomen's Club (1 speech)
It gives me great pleasure to rise today to pay tribute to the fantastic businesswomen in my community. On Friday I attended the Cairns Business Women's Club business woman of the year awards....
- Oxley Electorate: Forest Lake (1 speech)
I rise today to record my opposition to a proposed high-rise development in my community at Forest Lake and to place on record my support for the Forest Lake action group, who are leading the...
- Mallee Electorate: Sea Lake (1 speech)
One of the great parts of my job is getting out, not just to inland cities but to the country towns. Recently I was in the township of Sea Lake. At Sea Lake I caught up with the Sea Lake...
- Centrelink (1 speech)
Ask any Australian who has had to contact or access Centrelink, and they will tell you of their own personal nightmare. We've heard stories of people waiting for weeks and even months for...
- West, Dr Richard, AM (1 speech)
In 2001, Dr Richard West, AM, was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine, particularly as a surgeon in the area of development of procedures for infection control in...
- Budget (1 speech)
For years there has only been one member for Banks in this House. But now there are 76 of them! There they are, all over there: 76 members for banks—big banks! These are the members who,...
- Energy (2 speeches)
In a nation like ours, rich with a range of energy resources, we should have some of the lowest electricity prices in the world and the most reliable electricity in the world. Yet, as we know,...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will be absent from question time this week and the Attorney-General will answer questions on her behalf. The Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources will...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Live Animal Exports (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that there are reports today that up to six government MPs support the member for Farrer's private member's bill to phase out live sheep exports, does...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: Will the Prime Minister please outline to the House how the government is strengthening the economy and backing business to create even more jobs for...
- Taxation (5 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister support Labor's bigger, better, fairer income tax cuts that will give a teacher earning $65,000 a year a tax cut of $928 a year,...
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How does a stronger economy create more jobs for Australians, including those in my electorate of Forde, and is the Treasurer aware of any alternative approaches?
- Taxation (11 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: Why won't this arrogant and out-of-touch Prime Minister support Labor's personal income tax plan that will give a married couple—one serving in our...
- Tasmania: Floods (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the damage bill from the severe weather event and subsequent flooding in Greater Hobart on 10 and 11 May has now reached many tens of...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on recent announcements of nation-building and...
- Taxation (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister: Why won't this arrogant and out-of-touch Prime Minister support Labor's personal income plan that would give a childcare worker earning $50,000 a tax cut of...
- Budget (5 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the government is acting to make sure retirees and pensioners are given more choice to live longer and healthier...
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry, representing the Minister for Jobs and Innovation. Will the minister outline to the House the results of the government's unrelenting focus on...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Given it is now almost two weeks since the Treasurer delivered his budget, can the Treasurer now provide figures for the year-by-year cost of each stage of his...
- Migration (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the Minister update the House on the steps the government has taken to protect Australian families from dangerous visa holders? Is the...
- Budget (7 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. What is the total cost of corporate tax cuts over 10 years from 1 July this year, both legislated and proposed to be legislated by this government?
- Vocational Education and Training (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In responding to Labor's plan to provide 100,000 fee-free TAFE places, the Minister for Education criticised vocational education prices that covered...
- Trade (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House the impact of the government's trade policies on job creation? Is the minister aware of...
- Vocational Education and Training (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will this arrogant and out-of-touch Prime Minister support Labor's plan to cover upfront fees for 100,000 TAFE places to train Australians for jobs that have...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. Will the minister update the House on how regional Australians, including in my electorate of O'Connor,...
- Skilled Migration Program (7 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
- Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Federal By-Elections (1 speech)
Before members leave, I'd like to make a brief statement to update the House. I have advised the House that, following the receipt of five resignations, of the members for Braddon, Fremantle,...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Reports Nos 38, 39, 40 and 41 of 2017-18 (1 speech)
I present the Auditor-General's Audit reports for 2017-18 entitled Audit report No. 38, Performance audit—Mitigating insider threats through personnel security: Across entities; Audit...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
A documents is tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the document will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (3 speeches)
by leave—I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Batman making a statement immediately and that the Member speak without limitation of time....
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the mismanagement by this government of the delivery of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Last week, we saw the Commonwealth Ombudsman's scathing report on the...
- Calare Electorate: Education (1 speech)
This evening I'd like to highlight to the House the critical importance of preschools and early education in our communities. The early years of a child's life can and do make all the difference...
- Eden-Monaro Electorate: Bushfires (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to update the House on the situation in regard to the Tathra fires, the great tragedy that occurred on the South Coast in my electorate just recently, which...
- Petrie Electorate: End of Financial Year Boot Camp, Petrie Electorate: Community Organisations, Petrie Electorate: Roads, Petrie Electorate: Kindergartens (1 speech)
I want to talk to those people in my electorate that want to know a little bit more about finances. On 7 June, I'm having my end of financial year boot camp because I feel that often a lot of...
- Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
Amongst the headline issues my electorate office deals with on a daily basis—constituent problems with Centrelink, complaints about the NBN, complex case management for NDIS...
- Page Electorate: Constituents (2 speeches)
I'd like to congratulation Casino's Karri Williams, who has just been named the Indigenous trainee of the year at the 2018 Hunter Valley Training Company Excellence Awards. Karri is 19 years old,...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Moreton Electorate (1 speech)
Since we were last in Canberra I've been walking and talking my way around the southside. I walked nearly 70 kilometres in six days around my electorate of Moreton. I walked from Eight Mile...
- Goldstein Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
Last week we hosted one of our regular Goldstein community morning teas. These gatherings are an important opportunity to honour those who contribute to our local community and to welcome those...
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
My community newsletter, The Bulletin, has been hitting letterboxes in Canberra across the last two weeks. On the front page is a story about the NDIS forum that I hosted in March with the shadow...
- Bonner Electorate: Bonner Volunteer Awards (1 speech)
It's volunteer week, and another good opportunity to recognise the outstanding contribution our volunteers make to our community. Last year, I had the opportunity to do just that with the first...
- Kingston Electorate: Urban Services (1 speech)
Having three levels of government in this country has been important in providing a lot of local services, but it can also be very confusing for local residents. That's why I have taken it upon...
- Citrus Canker (1 speech)
It is disappointing to hear that citrus canker has again been detected in Australia. This has happened seven times over the last hundred years. Within Flynn are several large citrus farms: 2PH...
- Weave Youth and Community Services (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to Shane Brown, who has recently retired after serving for 35 years as the CEO of Weave Youth and Community Services. Weave began as South Sydney Youth Services in 1976, set...
- Grace, Mr Robert (Bob) (1 speech)
I rise to speak about one of the true gentlemen of the Northern Beaches—Robert H Grace. There would be very few residents in most areas of Pittwater who would not recognise Bob Grace and...
- Dravet Syndrome (1 speech)
I'd like to bring the attention of the House today to an issue that is particularly important to me. I've been contacted by a parent of one of my patients—Dean Taylor, who has a daughter...
- Coalition Government (2 speeches)
I want to address today what I have referred to previously as the binary challenge for a federal government, and that of course is securing the nation's economy—a safe and secure community...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (14 speeches)
I move: (1) acknowledges that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): (a) supports a better life for hundreds of thousands of Australians with a significant and permanent disability, and...
- Mental Health (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) expresses its support for continued trials into suicide prevention in rural and regional Australia; (2) recognises: (a) the huge toll suicide takes on regional...
- Indonesia (5 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the importance of Australia's bilateral relationship with Indonesia; (2) notes that: (a) two-way investment between Australia and Indonesia was valued at...
- Mental Health (5 speeches)
I rise in support of the motion of the member for Fisher and I thank him for raising the issue of mental health in this House. Mental health issues affect Australians from all walks of life and,...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Middle East (1 speech)
Last week the world witnessed a massacre. On 14 May, Israeli soldiers shot and killed 58 Palestinians who were protesting near the fence that separates the Gaza Strip from Israel. Over 2,000...
- Page Electorate: GEMFEST (1 speech)
I'd like to congratulate the Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club on this year's 28th Lismore gem festival, better known as GEMFEST, for another successful event. Around 7,000 people, many from...
- Petrie Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
I was out last week in North Lakes in my electorate talking to people about the budget and how it will affect them. I had this chance with the Treasurer, who popped up to North Lakes. We met with...
- Employment (1 speech)
It's great to see the member for Moreton listening to our speeches. He's here on his own! The Liberal coalition government is focused on helping people off welfare and into work. This is seen via...
- Liddell Power Station (1 speech)
It was disappointing, but not unexpected, that we heard today that AGL has rejected an offer for the Liddell Power Station. It was only a few short years ago that AGL actually ascribed a zero...
- Leslie Harrison Dam, Liddell Power Station (1 speech)
I'll echo those words. AGL are complete economic crooks in deciding not to release Liddell, which they ascribed a value of zero to just a number of years ago. They are producing 1,600 megawatts...
- Capricornia Electorate: Palmyra Dragway (1 speech)
I recently had the pleasure of calling the president of Palmyra Drag Racing Club, Glenn Cunningham, to let him know the club was successful in obtaining $20,000 through the Stronger Communities...
- Fisher Electorate: Inspire Youth Forum (1 speech)
On Saturday, I was honoured to be asked to be a mentor at the Inspire Youth Forum in my electorate of Fisher. This forum is a valuable initiative of Sunshine Coast entrepreneur Vickie Magic which...
- Influenza Vaccine (1 speech)
It's important we remind our communities to find some time for their good health and that of their family by making sure everyone gets their 2018 flu vaccinations. Flu shots are now available...
- McNamara, Mr David John (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute to David John McNamara, a former police officer who was a loving husband to Karen and a loving father to Megan, Bradley, Kate and Amy. David's engineering career began in...
- Budget (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker Claydon, as I'm sure you would agree, there is no better state in Australia than Queensland. The importance of Queensland as a state was affirmed in this year's federal budget,...
- Citrus Canker (1 speech)
Madam Deputy Speaker, I won't put you under pressure like the last speaker did. It's disappointing to hear that citrus canker has again been detected in Australia. Yes, citrus canker has reared...
- Meals on Wheels (1 speech)
More than one in five members in our community volunteer in some form. As this week is National Volunteer Week, I take this opportunity to recognise the valuable role they play in building more...
- Royal Flying Doctor Service (1 speech)
Last Friday night I had the great privilege of attending the 90-year celebration of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Port Augusta at their hangar at the Port Augusta base. There was great...
- Employment (1 speech)
Some milestones have been reached of late. We on this side of parliament have reached a million jobs since coming to office. This is nothing to be sneezed at. This is an incredible achievement....
- South Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
I was incredibly disappointed to see in the recent budget no new real investment in infrastructure in South Australia. There was some money repurposed, but where did the promise of finishing the...
- Workplace Safety (1 speech)
Workers across the country are dealing with a number of issues—from little to no wage growth and insecure and casualised work to the loss of penalty rates, just to name a few. But an issue...
- Visas (1 speech)
Last year, the Turnbull government, in conjunction with Peter Dutton, the minister for the newly formed Department of Home Affairs, announced major changes to Australia's visa processing...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
Jane Grundy provides at-home care for elderly people in my electorate of Macquarie. She's been in parliament today to explain to MPs just how important getting improvements in funding for home...
- Oxley Electorate: Housing (1 speech)
I rise today to place on record my strong opposition to a proposed high-rise development in my community at Forest Lake, and to put on record my strong support for the Forest Lake Action Group,...
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (1 speech)
In April, I was pleased to visit the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, which is co-located with Liverpool Hospital, near my electorate. The institute opened in 2012, fulfilling the...
- Scullin Electorate: Ramadan (1 speech)
I rise to say Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Kareem to every Australian for whom this is a special time, to wish them a happy and also, importantly, a generous Ramadan. Ramadan, of course, is a...
- Lindsay Electorate: National Volunteer Week (1 speech)
This National Volunteer Week, I'd like to give a huge shout out to all of the volunteer groups in my electorate, but particularly to Team Colyton, a phenomenal community group which aims to...
- Kentwell, Mr Alister (1 speech)
I'd like to acknowledge the extraordinary role played by one of my constituents, Mr Alister Kentwell, in the forging of peace as Japanese forces surrendered in Borneo more than 70 years ago. Born...
- Middle East (1 speech)
I rise to make a statement about Australia voting against the UNHCR inquiry into the deaths of Palestinians protesters. I'd like to make it clear that I support Israel's right to exist and that...
- Whitlam Electorate: West Dapto (1 speech)
The New South Wales government has a plan to build a jail in West Dapto, one of the biggest urban development areas in New South Wales. It's the wrong plan for the wrong jail in the wrong place....
- Middle East (1 speech)
This month Palestinians commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Nakba. That is Arabic for catastrophe. During the violence surrounding the establishment of Israel, over 700,000 Palestinians lost...
- Canberra Electorate: Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
Canberra has a serious skills shortage crisis. Under the Abbott-Turnbull government the number of trainees and apprentices in Canberra has plummeted by 49 per cent—a cut in apprenticeships...
- Middle East (2 speeches)
The tragic death of nearly 60 and wounding of hundreds more last week shocked, saddened and horrified me. Human Rights Watch called it a bloodbath. Michael Lynk, the United Nations Special...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Myanmar: Rakhine State (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) recognises the deteriorating humanitarian crisis that has ensued between the Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State and Rohingya Muslims, since 25 August 2017; (2)...
- M1 Motorway Funding (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Australian Government: (a) is acting to provide critical upgrades to the M1 Motorway to deliver safer, less congested roads for the people of...
- Infrastructure (18 speeches)
I rise to support the motion that's been moved by the member for Gellibrand, because it is about Victorian rail infrastructure. I wanted to make a couple of points about how critical this is to...
