House debates

Thursday, 18 September 2008

  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Drought (3 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
  • Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Other Legislation Amendment (Further 2008 Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Griffin, for Ms Macklin. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill will provide the legislation for certain further budget and other measures affecting the portfolios of Families, Housing, Community...
  • Financial Transaction Reports Amendment (Transitional Arrangements) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Debus. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Financial Transaction Reports Act was Australia’s original anti-money-laundering legislation. Importantly, the act provided for the...
  • Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Rudd, for Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (2 speeches)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Earlier this year we opened up the doors of parliament to the people of Australia for the Australia 2020 Summit. We did so looking for new ideas...
  • Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum (Annual Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum (Registration Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008; Offshore Petroleum (Safety Levies) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (10 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 17 September, on motion by Mr Martin Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Consideration in Detail (9 speeches)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Offshore Petroleum (Annual Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 18 June, on motion by Mr Martin Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Offshore Petroleum (Registration Fees) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 18 June, on motion by Mr Martin Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Offshore Petroleum (Safety Levies) Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 18 June, on motion by Mr Martin Ferguson: That this bill be now read a second time. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Treaties Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee’s report, incorporating a dissenting report, entitled Report 94—treaties tabled on 14 May 2008. Ordered...
  • Safe Work Australia Bill 2008; Safe Work Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (21 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 4 September, on motion by Ms Gillard: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Defence will be absent from question time today. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will answer questions on his behalf.
  • Beijing Paralympic Games (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, on indulgence, last night the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing came to a close. Our Australian team, the largest we have ever sent to an away games, continued the tradition of doing...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Age Pension (9 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has said that he would find it impossible to live on the pension of $273 a week, why won’t the Prime Minister...
    • Economy (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline the government’s response to developments overnight on global financial markets?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery today the former member for Prospect and former New South Wales state minister, Janice Crosio. On behalf of members, I convey to her a warm...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Private Health Insurance (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Given that more than 50 per cent of the income for major private health insurance companies comes from their investment portfolios, and given...
    • Local Government (5 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Prime Minister. I ask: how is the government working to forge a new alliance with Australia’s system of local government?
    • Private Health Insurance (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Will the minister advise the House how much money Medibank Private has lost on its investment portfolio over the last six months and...
    • Local Government (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Will the minister outline for the House the importance of partnering with local government...
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House the reasons the luxury car tax should be passed in the Senate as part of a responsible approach to economic management?
    • Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to reports from the Australian Food and Grocery Council that the government’s carbon tax will undoubtedly result in significantly...
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. How might threats to the government’s budget surplus undermine fiscal policy?
    • Workplace Relations (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Given that the budget forecasts that 134,000 jobs will be lost in the next 12 months and that the Reserve Bank has forecast...
    • Climate Change (28 speeches)
      My question is—
    • Grocery Prices (7 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, you are taking advantage of my kind nature here. My question without notice is to the  Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. Is the minister aware that food...
    • Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Minister for Social Inclusion and the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday the Deputy Prime...
    • Murray-Darling River System (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister and relates to comments made by the Prime Minister, senior ministers and scientists that a major part of the Murray-Darling crisis is caused by climate...
    • Alcohol Abuse (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister bring the House up to date on community concerns about alcohol and why urgent action is needed?
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Grocery Prices (3 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Documents are presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Dementia Awareness Week (2 speeches)
      by leave—Today I was very pleased to join Alzheimer’s Australia and the Parliamentary Friends of Dementia to launch Dementia Awareness Week, which will run from 19 to 26 September....
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Water (11 speeches)
      Mr Speaker has received a letter from the honourable member for Flinders proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Water (1 speech)
      I am very keen to follow the previous speaker in the MPI debate. It has been stated here in various ways that the Rudd government has a detailed water management plan. Let me put to the House...
    • Blaxland Electorate: Australian Hearing Centre (1 speech)
      Cynics say that governments do not deliver for what some might describe as a safe seats. But in nine months we have demonstrated what a difference a Rudd Labor government can make for a place...
    • Cowan Electorate: Kingsway Christian College (1 speech)
      On Monday, 22 September students from Kingsway Christian College will once again make the journey across Australia to Canberra from their school in the suburb of Darch, in my electorate of Cowan....
    • Deakin Electorate: Whitehorse Community Indigenous Plant Project (1 speech)
      I draw to the House’s attention the excellent work being undertaken in my electorate of Deakin to restore our local natural environment by the dedicated volunteers at Bungalook Nursery, in...
    • Keith and Shirley Lillee; Disability Employment Services (1 speech)
      I would first like to acknowledge the 60th wedding anniversary of Dennis Lillee’s parents, who live in my electorate of Swan. Keith and Shirley were married on this date 60 years ago and...
    • Mrs Linda Lavarch (1 speech)
      On Monday evening, the member for Dickson made some very generous comments in this chamber in relation to Linda Lavarch, the state member for Kurwongbah in his electorate who has announced that...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Fisher Electorate: Environment (1 speech)
      All of us in this parliament and indeed all of us around the country believe that we have to do more for our environment, both in Australia and on a worldwide basis, to make sure that the...
    • Sydney Electorate: Indigenous Employment (1 speech)
      The Rudd Labor government has made a commitment to enhancing the lives of Indigenous Australians. We have a closing-the-gap strategy. This commitment began with an apology to the stolen...
    • Swan Electorate: Manning Primary School; Mr Troy Cook; David Wirrpanda Foundation (1 speech)
      Last Friday I had the pleasure of presenting an Australian flag to the Manning Primary School at their weekly assembly in my electorate of Swan. I also took an Aboriginal flag to present to the...
    • Kingston Electorate: Feet on the Street (1 speech)
      I rise today to bring to the House’s attention the great work that is done by the Southern Junction Community Services group and particularly their current fundraising activity, Feet on the...
    • Kalgoorlie Electorate: Ord Stage 2 (1 speech)
      I rise to bring the House’s attention to the fact that last week I, along with 10 colleagues, visited, among other places, the Kununurra region of Western Australia. I made them aware of...
    • Bass Electorate: RSPCA (1 speech)
      There are many worthy and extraordinary organisations across my electorate in Northern Tasmania, but I would like today to pay tribute to the caring, tireless and often distressing work of the...
    • Cystic Fibrosis (1 speech)
      Today I wish to raise a matter of importance about a very special group of people: those in our society who are sufferers of cystic fibrosis. This issue is very close to my heart as two second...
    • Northern Territory Police (1 speech)
      I rise today to put on record my disappointment at comments made in the House of Representatives chamber on 2 September with regard to the performance of the Northern Territory police force....
    • New South Wales Local Government Elections (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about the recent local government elections that were held in New South Wales, including across my electorate. I believe that local government is the form of government that...
    • Mr Frank Bartley Walker (2 speeches)
      On 24 August, Australia lost a truly great Australian: Frank Bartley Walker. He was a man of exceptional principle, intellect, humanity and passion. He was a man who was a great human being. On...
  • Auslink (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (30 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 17 September, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
    • Inpex Liquefied Natural Gas Processing Plant (5 speeches)
      The ALP have fallen in Western Australia—victims of their own mismanagement, arrogance, incompetence and disgraceful corruption, continuing a pattern which has blighted state politics for...
    • National Security (1 speech)
      It is a great pity that the media coverage of the successful conclusion of the court case against Abdul Nacer Benbrika and his followers has been dominated by a beat-up about the comments of the...
    • Depression in the Aged (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about an issue that none of us should ignore. A recent study by Deakin University has revealed that clinical depression remains undiagnosed in up to half of the aged-care...
    • Water (1 speech)
      I rise today to inform the House of an exciting water project in south-east Tasmania. In July this year I was really pleased to announce a $10.5 million funding package to develop a recycled...
    • Indigenous Employment (1 speech)
      I want to speak in the parliament today about jobs and opportunities for Indigenous Australians. Today’s Indigenous unemployment rate is some 14 per cent. This is terrible, it is...
    • Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts Australia (1 speech)
      I would like to talk today about the organisation Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts Australia, otherwise known as DADAA. DADAA is a not-for-profit organisation based in my...