House debates
Thursday, 6 December 2018
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Vietnam (1 speech)
I present for the information of members a report of official travel I undertook to Vietnam from 23 to 25 July this year. I travelled to Vietnam at the invitation of Her Excellency Madam Nguyen,...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Indigenous Affairs (5 speeches)
by leave—Back when Prime Minister, I used to observe that to live in Australia is to have won the lottery of life—and that's true, unless you happen to be one of those whose ancestors...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Ryan Electorate: Christmas Card Competition (1 speech)
At this special time of the year, I would like to thank the many students in Ryan who've contributed to the Christmas spirit. Ryan's annual Christmas Card Competition has recently been 'wrapped...
- Tasmania: Hospitals (1 speech)
Overnight, we've seen the release of the Institute of Health and Welfare's annual hospital statistics, and they paint a disturbing picture for Tasmanian patients. One in 10 Tasmanians presenting...
- Telecommunications (1 speech)
I would like to say just how much I welcomed the tabling of the review into regional telecommunications a couple of days ago. It's a very fine body of work that recognises the good work that the...
- Queensland: Energy (1 speech)
I stand here today to fight against Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his LNP government, who want to sell Queensland energy assets. We have the former premier, Campbell Newman, reincarnated as...
- Deakin Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
At the end of the year I think it's timely to reflect on some of the local projects that we are undertaking in Deakin. We recently upgraded Canterbury Road in Heathmont, with $1.2 million for...
- Macarthur Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
The people of my electorate of Macarthur deserve a fair go. They deserve a fair go for our schools and our hospitals and an easing of pressure on their family budgets. They deserve...
- Bethania: Crematorium (1 speech)
At this time of year when we're looking forward to celebrating Christmas, sadly the community of Bethania in my electorate of Forde is less than pleased as they've seen the tasteless plans to...
- Prostate Cancer (1 speech)
Prostate cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer for Australian men, with over 17,000 Aussie blokes being diagnosed each year. However, compared to other cancers, prostate cancer has a high...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Many of my constituents have shared with me their concerns about Labor's plan to abolish negative gearing and increase capital gains tax by 50 per cent, and they have every right to be worried....
- Mayo, Dr Helen Mary (1 speech)
My heartfelt thanks goes to Dr Alistair Gratton for the gift of a sketch by Dr Helen Mayo, the namesake of my electorate. Mayo is one of the few electorates in the nation named after a woman, and...
- Wide Bay Electorate: Staff (1 speech)
This year has been a big year of achievements for Wide Bay. I've worked with local groups and businesses, and together we've chalked up some really big wins. These projects will build safer...
- Summer Holidays (1 speech)
As parliament winds up for the year, as school students begin their holidays and Australians begin their holidays, I wish to pay tribute to and thank those who will volunteer their time over the...
- Robertson Electorate: Australian Reptile Park (1 speech)
I rise to place on record my congratulations to the Australian Reptile Park, an outstanding local business in my electorate of Robertson on the Central Coast. The Reptile Park is an iconic...
- Energy (1 speech)
What we've witnessed in this chamber today is an absolute abomination of process. This is why the people of this country have lost faith in this parliament. After five years this government has...
- Telecommunications (1 speech)
Yesterday's release of the 2018 telecommunications review reinforces the government's strategy to invest in telecommunications to build stronger regional economies and help create jobs. The...
- Coalition Government (1 speech)
There's a new saying in this parliament and it's 'never say never' with the member for Fadden back on the front bench again under the Morrison government, but already back in protection. In...
- Fahey, Dr Michael (1 speech)
Fulbright scholarships foster cross-cultural academic exchanges. They offer Australia's best minds the opportunity to travel to the United States for research collaboration, cultural...
- Prime Minister (1 speech)
What we have now is a scheming, plotting Prime Minister who came up through the middle after Mr Dutton failed to become Prime Minister. They axed Mr Turnbull, and what we've got is an accidental,...
- La Trobe Electorate: Tour of Hope (1 speech)
I rise to again find a solution to the youth crime surge in the electorate of La Trobe. Together with Pastor Larry Sebastian from Casey City Church and Mr Beram Kumar, chairman and CEO of...
- Immigration Detention (2 speeches)
A few moments ago the Prime Minister gave a press conference, which has been described by some as swinging between offensive and febrile. He has threatened to distort the processes of parliament...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Morrison Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, since deposing Malcolm Turnbull, he has lost Wentworth, his majority and the member for Chisholm; and ensured just 10...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is also to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government has been able to implement strong policies that protect Australia's borders? What are the...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that yesterday Queensland LNP leader Deb Frecklington said about the government's plans to force Queensland to privatise its...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House how the government is acting to keep Australians safe from those seeking to do harm? What are the consequences...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that yesterday the Queensland Premier slammed his plan to force Queensland to privatise its electricity assets, saying: If he...
- Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, to our shame, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain one of the most incarcerated people in the world. Again this year, the...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the government's strong border protection policies are helping us balance the budget and deliver a strong economy? Is...
- Energy (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister please tell the House which clause in his divestment legislation prevents the government from forcing states to privatise their...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General please update the House on the importance of strong and consistent border protection measures? Is the Attorney-General aware of...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to my last question and the subsequent answer. If the government legislation prohibits the privatisation of state electricity assets, why is the...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Will the minister update the House on why the government's strong border security policies have been so...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question's to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister possibly expect Queenslanders to believe that he is not planning to force Queensland to privatise electricity assets when...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Can the minister update the House on how government is supporting the work of the Australian Defence Force with strong and consistent border protection...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he promised that privatising New South Wales electricity assets would bring down power prices, but they went up and up?...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the government is implementing strong border protection...
- Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that under his discredited forced divestment laws the government could force Tasmania to sell off its state owned electricity...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services. Would the minister update the House on how the government is able to support Australians in need through a strong social security...
- Energy (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his previous answer to the member for Sydney. If he and his government do not support electricity privatisation, why did the Prime Minister sign...
- Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister advise the House on how quickly people smugglers can respond to any changes in border protection policy, and also can he advise the...
- Energy (13 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, under his discredited forced divestment laws, the government could force Western Australia to privatise its state owned...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Energy (7 speeches, 1 comment)
I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for McMahon from moving the following motion immediately— That the House: (1) notes: (a) the...
- Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
- Report No. 15 of 2018-19 (1 speech)
I present Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 15 of 2018-19, entitled Human Services' compliance strategies: Department of Human Services. Document made a parliamentary paper in...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Access to Committee Documents; Presentation (1 speech)
Pursuant to the resolution of the Senate on 6 September 1984 and the House of Representatives on 11 October 1984, I present a report on access to committee documents.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Government Response (1 speech)
For the information of honourable members, I present a schedule of the status of government responses to committee reports as at 5 December 2018. Copies of the schedule are being made available...
- 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.
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence be given to every Member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of the next sitting. Question agreed to.
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I seek leave to make a personal explanation.
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Business (4 speeches)
Obviously the respect of the House goes completely to the words we've just heard. Mr Speaker, may I raise a different matter. There's a motion on the Notice Paper that the House has not yet...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (8 speeches)
Well, ho, ho, ho, Mr Speaker! It has been quite a year for all of us—for every single member of this House and the other place. All of us have the opportunity to serve here because of the...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Gorton proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Morrison Government (1 speech)
With the clock clicking to 4.30, this government just gave up. This government just decided that everything we were told for the last two weeks was not true. For the last two weeks, we were told...
- Energy (3 speeches)
I'd like to respond to some of the claims there. It's great to see so many people turning out for my adjournment speech. Obviously this House has passed the encryption laws that are needed for...
- Coalition Government (1 speech)
I don't normally take the adjournment, but today Australians deserve an explanation. They deserve an explanation as to why this government lurches from crisis to crisis, embarrassment piled on...
- United Kingdom: Pensions (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the inequitable pension freeze that affects British expatriates living in Australia. Glenhaven resident Dr Bernard Stone had an extensive and distinguished career as a...
- Coalition Government (3 speeches)
This morning there were people driving across cities with two kids in the back, dropping one to child care and one to school before they made the trip to work. There were people standing on...
- Groom Electorate (1 speech)
As the 2018 calendar year draws to a close, here in parliament I have the opportunity to be the last to address the House for this year. I was interested—quite impressed, in fact—to...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Eureka Stockade: 164th Anniversary (1 speech)
In the history of Ballarat there are many defining moments, but Eureka is one of the most significant. The events of the Eureka Stockade are well known across Australia, and this week marks their...
- Berowra Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
Berowra has 51 government, independent and Catholic schools teaching over 26,000 students. The teachers and staff do a remarkable job educating the children in our area. Berowra is bolstered by...
- Festive Season (1 speech)
As the year draws to a close I think all of our minds wander to the holiday season to come, that joyful time of the year where we can celebrate and spend time with our loved ones, our family and...
- Higgins Electorate: Christmas Card Competition (1 speech)
Christmas is fast approaching. Decorations are lining our local shopping strips and front yards as Australians prepare for the festive season. I was very pleased to host again my annual Higgins...
- Petition: Broadband (3 speeches)
In 2013, Malcolm Turnbull promised that every Australian household would have the NBN by 2013. That deadline and Mr Turnbull have come and gone, yet still many homes and businesses in Perth's...
- Brisbane Electorate: Sports Fields (1 speech)
I have an update on an important local issue in Brisbane relating to congestion, safety and parking issues and amenity along the sports fields that sit along Enoggera Creek from Downey Park in...
- Fuel Security (1 speech)
I rise today to highlight a critical issue to Tasmanian businesses, the Tasmanian community, the Tasmanian economy and Australia as a whole, and I would think everyone would want to listen to...
- Family Law (1 speech)
I rise to relate a truly remarkable story from Port Pirie in my electorate. It's a story that pulls on the heartstrings, but it's also one that epitomises how important it is to stamp out gender...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Climate change is real. Australians know that it's real. Age is no barrier to this reality. From young to old and everyone in between, the people of Australia, indeed the citizens of the world,...
- Energy (4 speeches)
In Queensland we've got state owned power generation, making us quite unique. It also means that all the profits are basically captured by the state government. We know it was about $2 billion...
- School Student Activism (1 speech)
Lionel Murphy put it best when he said, 'Mr Neal is entitled to be an agitator,' in support of the notion that our civil society is richer when we encourage people to dissent, to complain, to...
- Bundaberg Community Safety and Emergency Services Expo (1 speech)
The Bundaberg Community Safety and Emergency Services Expo will be held this Saturday from nine o'clock, beside the Bunnings Warehouse. This is a great opportunity for the people of my community...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
I rise on behalf of Mr Bolster from my electorate. He's 97 years old. He's lived in Dandenong for 50 years in an independent living unit—feeling well at home for the last 20...
- Moore Electorate (1 speech)
I inform the Chamber that my electorate office has this week relocated to new premises at 129 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup. The lease over the old office had expired and, after some 22 years, the...
- Lindsay Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
I would rather be using this three minutes to wish everybody in my community a really happy Christmas and to thank all of the Parliament House staff—the clerks, the drivers, the security...
- Fiji: General Election (1 speech)
I would like to start by congratulating the people of Fiji on the success of their national election on 14 November, their second since the return to parliamentary democracy in September 2014....
- Eden-Monaro Electorate: Forestry Industry (1 speech)
On Tuesday night I think we all enjoyed being together with the Parliamentary Friends of Forestry and Forest Products group for their Christmas drinks. I was particularly keen to attend that...
- Dunkley Electorate: Sports Facilities, Dunkley Electorate: Nepean School (1 speech)
Firstly, I want to wish all local residents in Dunkley a merry Christmas and a happy new year. It is an important time of year to spend time with our families, our parents, our grandparents and...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
Last week we had a visit to the parliament from people who work in a lot of low-paid industries—members of United Voice, workers—coming to tell us their experience of enterprise...
- Australian Junior Sedan Championship, World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation Academy World Cup, Tickled Pink High Tea (2 speeches)
Lismore Speedway is renowned Australia wide as the track of champions, and this was highlighted again recently when local junior drivers Josh Boyd, Brock Youngberry and Connor Reeves finished...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Electoral Matters Committee; Report (6 speeches)
This report which I'll be speaking on today, Report on the conduct of the 2016 federal election and matters related thereto, is an important document. It's an important document for democracy in...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Queensland: Arts (3 speeches)
I rise to speak today about a very important issue for the people of my electorate on the south side in Brisbane and the people of Queensland more broadly—that is, how Queensland deserves...
- Hinkler Electorate: Employment (1 speech)
I rise to speak on a matter of incredible importance to my electorate—that is, the provision of local jobs. Local jobs do not occur in regional areas without strong regional economies, and...
- Indi Electorate (1 speech)
Colleagues and people watching, I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and every good wish for 2019. My topic today is about the future of Indi. So many people are asking me,...
- Menzies Electorate (1 speech)
Recently, a number of constituents in my electorate of Menzies came to see me about a range of issues. Some of them are to do with climate change, renewable energy and the like, and they asked me...
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (1 speech)
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has been a pillar of the western suburbs of Adelaide since it was opened in 1954. Initially a maternity hospital to manage the huge western suburbs baby boom of the...
- Petrie Electorate (1 speech)
I want to take this opportunity in the last sitting week of parliament of 2018 to say to everyone in my electorate: thank you for your contribution to Australia over the last 12 months. To all of...
- Calwell Electorate (1 speech)
It has been a busy and interesting year. As we approach Christmas, I'd like to reflect on some of the significant moments in my electorate that have made my job as the local member enjoyable and...
- Climate Change (1 speech)
Over the past fortnight we've seen very disturbing riots on the streets of Paris, in France. Protesters have taken to the streets because of increased taxation on their motoring. I hope that we...
- Macquarie Electorate (1 speech)
For nearly 10 years I've been fighting for the people of Macquarie, both in this chamber and before coming to this parliament. Many things have changed. Prime ministers have certainly changed....
- Capricornia Electorate (1 speech)
Capricornia, as we all know by now, is a diverse and wonderful part of the globe—from golden beaches to arid interior; from coral to coal to cattle. As we reach the conclusion of this...
- National Security (1 speech)
The coalition government is in its sixth year of office, and over the last several years Labor has always worked cooperatively with the Abbott government, with the Turnbull government and with...
- Aqua Splash Fun Park (1 speech)
I'd like to take this opportunity to raise a concern that I have with the conduct of Gold Coast City Council in relation to the awarding of tenders for the Aqua Splash fun park in the Broadwater...
