House debates
Monday, 7 November 2016
- Homelessness (1 speech)
Homelessness rates are rapidly rising in Australia. The latest figures show 256,000 Australians sought assistance from homeless services, an increase of some 20,000 on the figures from the year... - Maranoa Electorate: Swickers Fire (1 speech)
It is with sadness today that I rise in this place to speak about the tragic fire at the Swickers Kingaroy bacon factory in Queensland's South Burnett that destroyed the boning room yesterday... - Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Australia's 40th Anniversary (1 speech)
On Saturday night I attended the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Australia's 40th anniversary dinner. The organisation was founded in 1976 for the purpose of providing support to... - Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland (1 speech)
Recently I had the pleasure of representing the Senator The Hon. Fiona Nash, Minister for Local Government and Territories, Regional Communications and Regional Development in acknowledging... - Community Legal Centres (1 speech)
I was recently contacted by one of my constituents, Suzanne, who works for the Youth Advocacy Centre, a community legal centre that specialises in free legal services for young people generally... - Forde Electorate: National Youth Science Forum (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Canterbury College year 11 student William Glass, who has been chosen to represent South Brisbane at the National Youth Science Forum.... - Tallangatta Secondary College: Lightwaves (1 speech)
Colleagues, I have to tell you that young people in northeast Victoria are doing some of the most exciting and innovative work that I have seen in a long time. On Saturday, 29 October, I had the... - Wide Bay Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
I have recently had the pleasure of attending awards nights at Victory College, James Nash State High School and Gympie State High School. It was great to see the range of awards presented, and I... - Mining Industry: Hazelwood Power Station (1 speech)
The Latrobe Valley has a very special place in my heart. My father was an electrician with the SEC in Yallourn in the 1960s. My little sister, my baby sister, was, according to my mother, the... - Valli, Olivia (1 speech)
I stand today to pay tribute to a brave little girl from Nambour, seven-year-old Olivia Valli. Last week, Olivia was travelling with her mum, Amber, and her two little brothers, Mason and Flynn,... - Local Council Elections: Victoria (1 speech)
Melbourne is greener than ever before. We are finishing this year with an incredible result for the Greens in the Victorian local council elections, as we increased Greens representation from 17... - Maranoa Electorate: Swickers Fire (1 speech)
I join with the member for Maranoa in notifying the chamber of the fire that has gutted Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory in Kingaroy and the broader effects it may have on the economy in South... - Bendigo Electorate: Maldon NBN (1 speech)
Today I call on the government to keep its word with the people of Maldon. Maldon is 'Australia's first notable town'. Its streetscape is precious, and for 150 years it has been preserved. Maldon... - National Adoption Awareness Week (1 speech)
This week is National Adoption Awareness Week. As a father of two girls under seven, it is heartbreaking for me to hear stories of child neglect and abuse—stories that, unfortunately, we... - Parliamentary Delegation to the Middle East (1 speech)
Over the past week and a half I have been lucky enough to be part of an Australian Defence Force parliamentary program visiting our troops in the Middle East, in the UAE and Afghanistan. During... - Dreamworld (1 speech)
Almost two weeks ago my northern Gold Coast electorate was rocked by the tragic loss of four lives at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. To have such a horrific accident at a park that has brought... - Moreton Electorate: Australians of Indian Heritage (1 speech)
I wish to inform the chamber about the exciting project that is taking place in my electorate under the banner of the Australians of Indian heritage war memorial monument and bursary project.... - Ober, Mrs Narelle Doris (1 speech)
Narelle Ober has been a source of inspiration for me since the moment I first met her. Recently diagnosed with untreatable and aggressive cancer, sadly, Narelle passed away last weekend. I met... - Indi Electorate: Moyhu (1 speech)
In the lush King Valley, just to the east of Wangaratta, lies the beautiful community of Moyhu. On 24 October, I had the enormous pleasure of sharing pizzas at the Moyhu Hotel as the guest of the... - Great Northern Football League (1 speech)
I am very pleased to speak about the Great Northern Football League, which is in the Mid West, in my electorate, and which I again sponsored in 2016. The Mid West has a great history with our... - Broadband (1 speech)
I recently addressed this chamber, asking Canberrans to send me a screenshot of their internet speeds. I speak today to update the House on the response. The average Australian's download speed... - Steel Industry (1 speech)
Last week I was very happy to receive a call from the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, from Korea, to inform me that he had just had a meeting with Posco in relation to... - Melbourne Employment Forum (1 speech)
People in Melbourne's African Australian communities have for a long time told me about the barriers that exist in securing employment. Too often I have heard stories of qualified people sending... - East West Link (1 speech)
Despite traffic in Melbourne getting worse by the week, after the last state election Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Bill Shorten shamefully turned their backs on this problem by cancelling... - Indi Electorate: Yackandandah Theatre Company (1 speech)
In my local community of Yackandandah, the power of art and theatre to tell our stories is so strong. Last Saturday night I had the enormous pleasure of being part of the Yackandandah Theatre... - Bonner Electorate: Gundala Kindergarten (1 speech)
I would like to speak today about Gundala Kindergarten, an outstanding local institution in Wynnum. Gundala is the only Indigenous kindergarten in the local area, and they have been meeting the... - Solomon Electorate: Vietnam Veterans (1 speech)
I am very appreciative of an additional opportunity to make a contribution in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. Having recently returned from speaking directly with veterans in the Northern... - Tangney Electorate: Reach Volunteer Group (1 speech)
Volunteering is such an important pillar of Australian society, and adds so much to individuals and to our local community. At the 2011 census, almost 20 per cent of all Australians said they... - Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (1 speech)
The decision handed down last week by the Federal Circuit Court in Prior v QUT, in my opinion, only adds to the argument for not watering down section 18C. In his judgement, Judge Jarrett found... - Fisher Electorate: 5th Light Horse Regiment Maleny Troop (2 speeches)
This Friday, 11 November, Australians will pause to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts. On this 99th anniversary it is fitting to reflect...
