House debates

Thursday, 20 August 2009

  • Absence of the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      The ClerkI inform the House of the absence of the Speaker, who will be in attendance later this day. In accordance with standing order 18, the Deputy Speaker, as Acting Speaker, will take the...
  • Small Business (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I seek leave to move the following motion: That:(1)the Government’s:(a)award modernisation process has become a ticking time bomb for Australian small business who are going to find it...
    • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (7 speeches)
      I seek leave to move: That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Stirling from moving the following motion—
  • Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Swan. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Today I introduce legislation to improve the integrity of Australia’s foreign investment screening regime. The Foreign Acquisitions and...
  • Crimes Amendment (Working with Children — Criminal History) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Brendan O’Connor. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I rise to introduce the Crimes Amendment (Working With Children—Criminal History) Bill. This bill implements the agreement made by the...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
    • Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
    • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report from the Publications Committee sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Copies of the report are being placed on the table. Report—by...
  • Automotive Transformation Scheme Bill 2009; Acis Administration Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 19 August, on motion by Dr Emerson: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Automotive Transformation Scheme Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
      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.
  • Acis Administration Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 19 August, on motion by Dr Emerson: That this bill be now read a second time. 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.
  • National Consumer Credit Protection Bill 2009; National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2009; National Consumer Credit Protection (Fees) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (7 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr Bowen: That this bill be now 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.
  • National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr Bowen: 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.
  • National Consumer Credit Protection (Fees) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr Bowen: 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.
  • Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-Off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (42 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 24 June, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Senate Message (3 speeches)
      Bill returned from the Senate with amendments. Ordered that the amendments be considered immediately. Senate’s amendments— (1)    Schedule 2, item 8, page 14 (line 2),...
  • Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-Off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs will be absent from question time today as he is accompanying the Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Australian War Memorial. I...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Taxation (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his confirmation that, despite the Henry tax review being underway, cabinet this year considered increasing income tax. Will the...
    • Afghanistan (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on developments in Afghanistan surrounding their elections?
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his refusal to tell the Australian people about the government’s proposals to increase taxes by hiding behind the Henry tax review....
    • Liquified Natural Gas Exports (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on developments in Australia’s natural gas sector?
    • Taxation (24 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Given the Treasurer has indicated that he wants a mature debate on tax, does he agree with Dr Ken Henry that the states should be allowed to levy their own state...
    • Liquefied Natural Gas Exports (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Will the minister advise the House about the outlook for Australian LNG in the Asia-Pacific region?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Joan Child AO. Joan was the fourth woman to be elected to this House and its first female Labor member. She was the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer, and I refer to his earlier request to have a mature debate where he does not give an opinion. Given that the government was able to rule out an increase in the...
    • Emissions Trading Scheme (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change. How important is it for the renewable energy target legislation...
    • Taxation (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer, and I refer to his desire to have a mature debate on taxation reform without him giving an opinion. Does the Treasurer agree with the International Monetary Fund...
    • Immigration (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister please outline Australia’s approach to the admission of foreign citizens, and are there any challenges to this approach?
    • Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer the minister to media reports that she will intervene on behalf of the horticulture sector and possibly spare them...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (14 speeches)
      Under the standing orders, I will fill the void.
    • Indigenous Housing (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. I refer the minister to her promise of 12 April 2008 to build 750 houses for Indigenous...
    • University Fees (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth and Minister for Sport. What are the consequences of the Senate’s decision on the student services and...
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Does the minister have any plans to change the government’s proposal to cut funding for chemotherapy drugs given the strong opposition...
    • Renewable Energy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. What are the implications for Australian farmers of the government’s plans to promote renewable energy, and what are...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, how many families will miss out on IVF as a result of the government’s changes to the safety net?
    • Climate Change (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How has the response of local government contributed to the important objective of a...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Right of Reply (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to draw to your attention page 125 of the standing orders and a matter which relates to the original remarks of the Leader of the House in his recent reply. The standing order...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • 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.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Cook proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The impact on Australian...
  • Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-Off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The following notice was given:
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • McMillan Electorate: Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse (1 speech)
      Last week I spoke a little bit about remote living in Australia, the remoteness of the nation and how people deal with their isolation, but I did not go on to say that Ailsa and Chris Richter, at...
    • Robertson Electorate: Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
      I am pleased this morning to have the opportunity to talk about an issue that is extremely important in my community. Of the $77 billion that this government is spending to keep the economy...
    • Cowan Electorate: Ashdale Secondary College (1 speech)
      On Friday, 21 August, the newest school in the Cowan electorate will be officially opened. Ashdale Secondary College is a long-awaited and greatly appreciated addition to the education facilities...
    • Wards of the State (1 speech)
      Geoff Meyers is a constituent of mine. He is 73 years old, recently widowed and very proud of his four children, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He had a loving and long...
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      It is a great irony of the members opposite that their communications minister is apparently unable to effectively communicate. And it is a great irony that the same man should also be made...
    • Mr Peter Veness; Mr Fred Stolz (1 speech)
      Today I want to mention two functions I have attended during this week of sittings. Last night the parliamentary press gallery conducted a function at the Press Club to raise money to assist one...
    • Schools (1 speech)
      Today I rise to talk about healthy children and healthy schools. The Active After-school Communities program was an initiative introduced by the coalition in 2005 and began with 900 primary...
    • Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan (1 speech)
      I rise this morning to put on the public record the massive infrastructure investment that will benefit the people of my electorate, Franklin, now and well into the future. Of course, I am...
    • Macarthur Electorate: Ms Sarah Hilt (3 speeches)
      Before I get started, I will say that the member for Franklin is quite right about development in schools, and we in the coalition certainly support development in schools around the country.
    • Shortland Electorate: Supermarkets (2 speeches)
      As part of Fair Trade Fortnight in May this year, a competition was conducted to ascertain which supermarkets stocked the biggest range of Fairtrade certified and labelled products in Australia....
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 19 August, on motion by Mr Garrett: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
    • Higher Education (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Senate on rejecting the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009. This represents a great win for...
    • Telstra (1 speech)
      Last Thursday I rose in this place to put on record my disgust that Telstra is introducing a range of fees for people paying their bills across the counter. When I got home on Friday, I, like...
    • Homelessness (1 speech)
      I applaud the member for Braddon for his contribution. I too have had many calls from angry Telstra customers and I have done some work on my website about the same issue. I am sure the Telstra...
    • Coral Sea Heritage Park (1 speech)
      May 2012 will mark the 70th anniversary of one of the most significant naval battles of World War II, certainly as far as Australia is concerned, as damage inflicted on the Japanese Navy altered...
    • Western Australia (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on behalf of my state. Western Australia has long driven this nation’s economic development. Blessed with some of the world’s richest resource deposits and backed up...
    • Global Food Security (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about one of the most important challenges facing not only Australia but the rest of the world. Global food security is now coming onto our radars as a really serious...