House debates
Monday, 10 February 2025
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
I present the 37th report of the Petitions Committee for the 47th Parliament: The report read as follows— HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORT No. 37 Petitions and...
- Petitions (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
I present the following 87 petitions:
- Ministerial Responses (1 speech)
I present the following 58 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented:
- Statements (1 speech)
Today's report includes one paper petition, which relates to the Artarmon post office and which received more than 1,800 signatures. The 86 electronic petitions were ruled in order by the...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Migration Joint Committee; Report (1 speech)
I rise to present the report of the New Zealand and Vanuatu delegation of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration entitled Joint Standing Committee on Migration Delegation: New Zealand and...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Child Care (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) it has been almost three years since the Government was elected and the cost of child care has increased by a whopping 22.3 per cent; (b) since the...
- Medicare (11 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the Government is building Australia's future by building a stronger Medicare with: (a) free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, so that you and your...
- Taxation (3 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that billionaires and big corporations have too much power over our democracy; and (2) calls on the Government to tax billionaires and big corporations to fund...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
I move: That notice No. 1, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Pitt, Hon. Warren, AM (1 speech)
I rise here today to pay tribute to my very dear friend and colleague the Hon. Warren Pitt AM. Warren was a teacher. He was a serviceman in the Reserves before serving as the member for...
- National Redress Scheme: Jehovah's Witnesses (1 speech)
For some time now I have been engaging with Lara Kaput, a constituent of mine who's a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Over many years, Lara and her colleagues have undertaken...
- Albanese Government: Gambling Advertising (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government is out in the cold when it comes to a lack of commitment to the reduction of gambling harm. The opposition leader took leadership on this issue nearly two years ago....
- Werriwa Electorate: Macquarie Fields (1 speech)
The federal redistribution takes suburbs like Macquarie Fields into the seat of Hughes. From my first day as the member for Werriwa I have been proud to represent the hardworking people of...
- Indi Electorate: Energy (2 speeches)
Each summer when the temperature rises to 35 degrees or higher in towns like Bethanga, Bellbridge and Euroa, the power can simply switch off. Many towns across regional Australia are far too...
- Women's Health (1 speech)
Yesterday the government announced a $573.3 million investment in women's health to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women. The package of measures includes the first...
- Warringah Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
The people of Warringah are frustrated with outdated road infrastructure that fouls our area's needs. Heavy traffic congestion plagues residents across the electorate and will continue to impact...
- Fraser Electorate: Creative West (1 speech)
The Footscray community, within my electorate of Fraser, has long been a melting pot of cultural and personal expression. The area is home to many creative individuals and organisations who play...
- Farrer Electorate: Health Care (1 speech)
I rise on behalf of over 800 of my constituents from the town of Corowa. This community is like so many across Australia, struggling under a Labor government that has the wrong priorities and is...
- Goodall, Mr Stephen (1 speech)
I was honoured to attend a celebration of the life of a great Territorian, Stephen Goodall, last month in Darwin. I'm wearing one of his ties and his matching pocket squares here, and I want to...
- Federal Election (1 speech)
Regional Australia is under siege by the Albanese government, and, for the next election, the Nationals have endorsed strong candidates who'll stop the Labor rot and fight for our fair share....
- Szabo, Mr John (1 speech)
I rise to commend Gosford's oldest train driver, Mr John Szabo, who is this year marking 56 years of driving trains in New South Wales. John is an incredible public servant, whose career started...
- Microplastics (1 speech)
Professor Matthew Campen from the University of New Mexico has in a recent study come forward with a rather startling revelation that we may be walking around with up to a spoonful of...
- Black Saturday Bushfires: 16th Anniversary (1 speech)
Last week marked 16 years since Black Saturday, Australia's deadliest bushfire disaster. That tragic day is forever etched in our nation's memory. Fuelled by extreme heat, nearly 400 fires burned...
- O'Hara, Mr Terry, OAM, Cook Electorate: Sports Facilities (1 speech)
I congratulate Terry O'Hara on his OAM for 36 years with the St Vincent de Paul Society Oyster Bay conference. He also volunteers with TOFS, who organise outings for retired or semi-retired men....
- Reid Electorate: Women's Health (1 speech)
At a women's health forum I held with the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, women spoke openly about the challenges they've faced within the health system. They shared...
- Capricornia Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
The Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road is a critical lifeline connecting the Capricorn Coast to Rockhampton and beyond. It's a road thousands of locals rely on every day, but for too long it has been in...
- Liberal Party of Australia (1 speech)
There is a frustrating pattern in Australian politics at the moment, and it's coming from those opposite. They are a group so committed to saying no they should be rebranded as the blockers. If...
- Petrie Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
On Australia Day we witnessed an extraordinary moment of recognition for some truly outstanding individuals within the electorate of Petrie. Today I have the privilege of sharing with you the...
- Menopause (2 speeches)
I'm a bit sleep deprived. I woke up 2.30 this morning, fell back to sleep at about 5.30 and then the alarm went off at six. Thank you, menopause. I'm not on my own. Thousands of women are like me...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Tokataake, Hon. Willie (1 speech)
I'm pleased to inform the House that, on the floor of the House, we are joined by the Hon. Willie Tokataake, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Kiribati. On behalf of members, I wish you a...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Trade with the United States of America (2 speeches)
Peace and tranquillity, indeed! My question is to the Prime Minister. Did President Trump inform the Prime Minister that the United States would be imposing tariffs on Australian steel and...
- Women's Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. What investment is the Albanese Labor government making to support the health of Australian women? And is there anything that might undermine our health...
- United States of America (4 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. When the United States imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium in 2018, the coalition was able to work with the Trump administration to secure an exemption...
- Women's Health (2 speeches)
My question as to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care to Australian women? And...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Housing (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. In five years, rents have increased by 55 per cent and house prices by 49 per cent. The income a renter needs to buy a median priced house in a capital city...
- Health Care: Women (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering better health care for women? What has been the response to the government's policy?
- Medicare (12 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, Australians are currently enduring a crippling cost-of-living crisis that also includes both housing and power bill crises. Now they're...
- Business Innovation and Investment Program: Significant Investor Stream (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Why did the Albanese Labor government put an end to the 'golden ticket' visa scheme? What has been the response? And is...
- Crime: Mandatory Sentencing (9 speeches)
My question is to the Attorney-General. In October 2019, the now Attorney-General said in this place: Labor's opposition to mandatory sentencing is well known....
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Crime: Mandatory Sentencing (23 speeches)
The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.
- Cost of Living (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government helping Australians with the cost of living? What alternative economic approaches would leave Australians worse off?
- Albanese Government (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. The last time the Prime Minister stood with his close friend and factional ally Premier Jacinta Allen, the Prime Minister thanked the Premier for her...
- Early Childhood Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education. How is the Albanese Labor government reforming the early education and care sector to support families with the cost of living? Is...
- Intergenerational Equity (2 speeches)
My question is for the prime minister. For the first time in modern history our young people will be worse off than their parents. They face converging crises of climate, environment, housing,...
- Aged Care (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport. How is the Albanese Labor government investing to help aged-care workers upskill, earn more and keep more of what they earn?...
- Statements (0 speeches)
- 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.
- Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
- Valedictory (16 speeches)
I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people. I thank them for their strong and continuing stewardship. The first word I heard in this place was Aunty Matilda House-Williams saying 'Welcome'....
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Nicholls Electorate (1 speech)
Who knows? This could be the last week before the election—or we might have a few more sitting weeks; that's up to the Prime Minister. But we are definitely heading to an election soon, and...
- Aluminium Industry (1 speech)
They might say that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but I am an aluminium woman. It is interesting how themes run through your life. Aluminium does have a very special place in my heart. When...
- Queensland: Floods (1 speech)
I rise today to provide a brief brief on the major flooding events happening in the north of Australia at this present point in time. We are now in the recovery phase, although I'm asking...
- Werriwa Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
Victories as a local member come in all sizes, big and small. Small victories are just as important as the large ones, such as helping someone with Services Australia, the NDIS or a visa. But...
- Menzies Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
There are over 1.4 million Australians of Chinese heritage, and we have recently seen the culmination of the lunar new year festival period, also known as spring festival or Chinese new year. As...
- Fraser Electorate: Australia Day Awards, Fraser Electorate: Lunar New Year (2 speeches)
It isn't news that the electorate of Fraser is one of the most diverse in the country,. With diversity comes vibrance, and Fraser has never felt as vibrant as over the past month. One of the...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Insurance Industry (1 speech)
Households and businesses are experiencing some of the most difficult economic times in living memory. Many of us in this place have talked about the cost of energy, groceries or fuel or about...
- Burt Electorate: Health Care, Western Australia State Election (1 speech)
On Friday, I was so pleased to officially open Western Australia's eighth Medicare urgent care clinic in downtown Gosnells. It is Western Australia's largest urgent care clinic. Now our community...
- McDermott, Karen, Legends of Cricket Twenty20 (1 speech)
I'd like to acknowledge Karen McDermott, who has just retired after 35 years of service to the Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre in Casino. Karen started at Jumbunna as...
- Free TAFE Bill 2024 (1 speech)
The Free TAFE Bill 2024 was passed by the House last week and sits now with the Senate. Hasluck, and indeed Western Australia, look forward to the passage of the bill. The legislation lists seven...
- Cost of Living (1 speech)
It's a great honour to represent the people of Petrie here in federal parliament. There are some 130,000 voters, and, when you add children in as well, there are a lot of people in Moreton Bay...
- Tertiary Education (1 speech)
From the moment we came to government we made it clear that we would prioritise tertiary education and support students, reversing nearly a decade of ideological attacks from the Liberals and...
- Tasmania: Bushfires (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker Scrymgour, I'd like to hazard a guess and say that you understand completely the power of mother nature. Our thoughts and our support need to go to our brothers and sisters, our...
- Australian Public Service (1 speech)
When Labor took office, veterans seeking support faced a backlog of 42,000 claims, with some waiting over two years to have their case looked at. This was the direct result of a decade of public...
- Cook Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
I'd like to acknowledge some recent award recipients in the Sutherland shire. Most recently, John Veage was awarded the 2025 Citizen of the Year. If you've seen a photo of someone in the Leader...
- Wills Electorate: Medicare (2 speeches)
Medicare and bulk-billed urgent care clinics are so important for many in my community, after suffering a decade of cuts from Peter Dutton and the previous Liberal government. For too long,...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Road Safety (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that 1,300 lives were lost on Australian roads in 2024; (2) recognises that: (a) this is the highest road toll since 2012; and (b) the national road toll has...
- Western Australia: Economy (13 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the Government has created more than a million jobs; (2) commends the Government for standing up for Western Australia and for recognising that...
- Rural and Regional Australia: Medical Workforce (7 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the: (a) disgraceful rural doctor shortage crisis unfolding across rural Australia; and (b) devastating impacts this crisis is having on the health of...
- Apprenticeships (13 speeches)
I move, in relation to prioritising trade apprentices: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to supporting apprentices and addressing the skills shortage which was left...
- Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large;...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Australian Greens (1 speech)
At the next election, the share of the vote which goes to the two major parties will most likely be at a record low. There will be a minority government. The Greens could hold the balance of...
- Women's Health (1 speech)
On 8 March it is International Women's Day. This year's theme is Accelerate Action, and that is something that our government have been doing since we were elected in 2022. We've been working...
- DreamsEdge (1 speech)
Across the country there are thousands of entrepreneurial businesses making a difference to everyday Australians. One such business, in my electorate of Mayo, is DreamsEdge, a small Australian...
- Employment (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government is not just getting wages moving and reducing inflation; we're supporting more local jobs in Ipswich, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealing...
- Housing (1 speech)
Housing is vital for us to maintain a strong and vibrant economy and society. But, in my electorate of Warringah, it still remains an ongoing and pressing issue, as it is in many other places...
- Medicare (1 speech)
The government are delivering on our promise to strengthen Medicare, and nowhere is that more evident than in our investment in Medicare urgent care clinics. These clinics are revolutionising...
- Economy (1 speech)
Remember at the last election the then opposition leader was running around the countryside saying everyone was going to be better off under Labor? I ask you now: are you actually better off...
- Hughes, Mr Ron (1 speech)
Winston Churchill once remarked: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. On this measure, Ron Hughes, who sadly passed away earlier this year, lived a full life. Ron...
- Health Care (1 speech)
The coalition supports affordable and accessible health care for all Australian women. The government's announcement of $573 million in a women's health package is a welcome commitment, but let...
- Hunter Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
Australia Day has come and gone and the Cessnock City Council has announced its 2025 Citizen of the Year. This year, the title went to my good mate Liam Woods. Liam is truly inspiring. He's a...
- Nuclear Energy (1 speech)
I would like to give a great shout-out and a thank you to Grace Stanke, a US-trained nuclear engineer and nuclear fuel specialist who took leave from her job as a nuclear engineer in America to...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
The Ipswich CBD will soon begin its transformation, thanks to a $3.8 million investment from the Albanese government to fund detailed upgrade designs by the Ipswich City Council. I was pleased,...
- Gillin Boys Foundation (1 speech)
This Sunday, the Gillin Boys Foundation's Walk 4 A Cure will take place at 10 am, leaving from the Lady Bay Resort. So, for all those who aren't doing the Port Fairy marathon, make sure you get...
- Bean Electorate: Australia Day Honours and Awards (1 speech)
The residents of Bean are well known for our generosity and community spirit. So many Bean residents make a positive contribution to our neighbourhood, to the territory and to our nation. Each...
- Cowper Electorate: Child Care (1 speech)
With the ever-increasing pressures on the cost of living, the urgent need for both parents to actively earn income has never been greater. While those across the floor may congratulate themselves...
- Solomon Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
The Chinese lunar new year has been celebrated in Darwin and Palmerston for many years, and this year is the Year of the Snake. I've been delighted to attend a number of events around Darwin and...
- National Apology to the Stolen Generations: 17th Anniversary (1 speech)
Today marks the 17th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation made by Kevin Rudd in this place. It also coincides with the anniversary of my very first day as a member of...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
The Albanese Labor government has announced that 41 organisations across Australia will receive a share of $100 million for new crisis and transitional housing for women and children impacted by...
- Aged Care (1 speech)
I rise to speak this afternoon about the direct impact of bureaucratic failures and an inadequate aged-care workforce on people in acute need of help and support in my electorate of Mallee. I...
- Werriwa Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
My electorate is rich in diversity. It is home to nationalities from all over the world and is home to all faiths. My diary reflects this diversity. In January this year, I attended a Serbian...
- Whitford, Mr Deon (1 speech)
I rise to recognise the extraordinary act of bravery of young Deon Whitford, a 20-year-old proud Indigenous man who is a true hero in our community. Last Sunday, Deon was sitting in his ute in a...
- Kruger, Mr Norman Henry (1 speech)
I pay tribute to Norman Henry Kruger, who died at 93 years of age. I was pleased and proud to have spoken at his eulogy at his funeral. I want to pay my deepest condolences to his wife Jan and...
- Cost of Living, Cycling Without Age (1 speech)
Australia can't afford another three years of hard Labor. I'm worried that our country is heading in the wrong direction, with families struggling under Labor's cost-of-living crisis. I've...
- Werriwa Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
One of the great privileges of my role is being invited to community events. Over the weekend, for the first time, I attended the Vietnamese Tet festival at Fairfield Showground. The Tet festival...
- Moore Electorate: Local Government (1 speech)
I'm pleased to inform the House that, as the result of strong and effective advocacy, local government authorities in my electorate will receive a combined $16.5 million in federal financial...
- Oil and Gas Exploration (2 speeches)
I rise today with some great news for the Newcastle community. The petroleum exploration permit known as PEP-11 has been formally rejected, putting an end to the decade-long threat of oil and gas...
- Member for Groom (1 speech)
I'm so proud of the way that my staff take up the challenge of serving our community. I want to take this opportunity, as we head towards the end of this term, to thank them. We've gone through a...
- Belgrave Recreation Reserve (1 speech)
I've been working with the Belgrave Football Netball Club, the Belgrave Cricket Club, the Belgrave Junior Football Club and the Belgrave Men's Shed to upgrade the pavilion at the Belgrave...
- Wannon Electorate: Renewable Energy (1 speech)
I rise today to make sure the community knows about a really important announcement that the Leader of the Opposition and I made last Thursday—that is, if a coalition government is elected,...
- Cost of Living (2 speeches)
In less than three months, Australia will elect its 48th parliament. These last three years have seen the worst inflation in more than three decades. Grocery prices are up 30 per cent on 2020...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Child Care (5 speeches)
It's a real pleasure to be able to support the member for Moncrieff on this motion. Just so everyone knows and understands what this motion is about, it's about making sure that we get more...
- Agriculture Industry (16 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Government has been delivering for Australian farmers and producers, helping our nearly $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors...
- Victoria: Bushfires (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that bushfires have ravaged the Grampians National Park and associated tourist destinations including Halls Gap, Pomonal and Dunkeld in February 2024 and over...
- Education (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Government is delivering: (a) cheaper child care and boosting wages for early childhood educators; (b) record needs-based funding for schools across...
- Classroom Disruption (10 speeches)
BIRRELL (—) (): I move: That this House: (1) condemns the Government for failing to address the critical issue of classroom disruption in Australian schools which is severely impacting the...
- Taxation (6 speeches)
A message to Labor: you don't beat the far right and their billionaire and corporate mates by adopting their policies, taking their money in political donations and offering more of the same. We...
