House debates

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Intelligence and Security Committee; Membership (1 speech)
      I have received a message from the Senate informing the House that Senators Faulkner, Forshaw, McGauran and Trood have been appointed members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence...
  • Screen Australia (Transfer of Assets) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Crean. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The government places great value on a creative and viable Australian film and television industry, which produces high quality cultural content...
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 to give effect to two components of the Increased Medicare Compliance Audits initiative, which...
  • Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Amendment Bill 2000 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Amendment Bill 2010 seeks to make it an offence to advertise tobacco products on the internet and in other...
  • Australian Research Council Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Garrett. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Australian Research Council, the ARC, is a statutory authority within the Australian government’s Innovation, Industry, Science and...
  • Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Parenting Orders and Other Measures) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill responds to the High Court of Australia’s decision in the case known as MRR v GR [2010] HCA 4 which casts doubt on certain...
  • Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (22 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 November, on motion by Mr Gray: 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.
  • International Financial Institutions Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
      Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment, appropriation message having been reported; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this bill be considered immediately. Bill agreed to.
    • 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.
  • Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (11 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Mr Garrett: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Bonner Electorate: HubWorks (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about Wynnum Family Day Care and its innovative program and website, HubWorks. HubWorks is a web based childcare management system that allows parents and educators easy access to...
    • Reid Electorate: Trade Training Centres in Schools (1 speech)
      I am very pleased to note that my electorate, Reid, will once again benefit from the Labor government’s $2.5 billion Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. Last week the Minister for...
    • Remembrance Day (1 speech)
      Remembrance Day marked the 92nd anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended World War I. On November 11, at 11 am, many of us stopped what we were doing to remember the sacrifice of...
    • Tourism Directions Conference (1 speech)
      I bring to the attention of the House that this week the Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, officially opened the first ever Tourism Directions conference at Parliament House here in...
    • Forde Electorate: Beenleigh RSL (1 speech)
      The community of Forde prides itself on its community spirit and rich history, and this is epitomised by the work of the Beenleigh RSL. Recently, a rare World War I medal was found by Boronia...
    • Iran: Religious Freedom (1 speech)
      I wish to add my voice to those in this place, including those of the members for Blair and Fremantle, calling for improved human rights, in particular religious freedom, in Iran. I recently met...
    • Hasluck Electorate: Multicultural Fair (1 speech)
      I was proud to attend the 10th annual multicultural food fair organised successfully by the city of Gosnells. People from across the southern half of Hasluck came in their droves on Friday, 12...
    • MindMatters Inaugural School Recognition Event (1 speech)
      On 4 November I represented the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, at the MindMatters inaugural school recognition event at the Canberra Business Events Centre, Regatta Point....
    • Biosecurity: Kiwi Fruit Industry (1 speech)
      Australia’s kiwi fruit industry has thrived in a virtually disease-free environment protected by highly vigilant expert growers and our perfect climate and soil types. They in fact produce...
    • Perth: LNG 18 Conference (2 speeches)
      I would like to bring to the attention of the House that Perth has won the right to host LNG 18, the world’s biggest and most prestigious LNG conference. LNG 18, to be held in 2016, is...
  • Royal Engagement (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      On indulgence: I say to the House and more generally that the world awoke this morning to the happy news that Prince William and Kate Middleton have become engaged. They actually became engaged...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Electricity Prices (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to Labor national executive member Paul Howes’s statement that it is ‘a rubbish argument’ to claim that a carbon...
    • Education (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is investing in education crucial to the government’s reform agenda?
    • Gillard Government (30 speeches, 1 comment)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the comments of Karl Bitar, the National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party, when he said that Labor made some obvious...
    • Education (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, what reforms is the government undertaking to deliver a better education system?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Grace Portolesi, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation in South Australia. She is also the Minister...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Climate Change (19 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement by the Minister for Resources and Energy yesterday that a price on carbon is required to drive a transition in...
    • Schools (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. How will the My School website deliver greater transparency and information to parents?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from Mongolia led by Mr Nyamaa Enkhbold, Deputy Chairman of the State Great Hural. On...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Electricity Prices (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the New South Wales Energy and Water Ombudsman, who this week reported a 41 per cent increase in the number of people having...
    • School Infrastructure (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in his capacity as the Minister representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and...
    • Cost of Living (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Over the past 12 months, electricity prices have increased by 12.5 per cent, water and sewerage prices have increased by nearly 13 per cent, the cost of...
    • Education Funding (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Treasurer. I ask: will the Treasurer explain the importance of education investment to a stronger economy?
    • Interest Rates (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the fact that, after seven interest rate rises in a row under this government, a family with an average mortgage is now almost...
    • Vocational Education and Training (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. How is the government assisting to train workers around Biloela to take advantage of the job opportunities...
    • Tourism (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the small-business retail and domestic tourism sectors are under pressure right now from a combination of consumer online overseas retailing,...
    • Skills Training (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister explain the importance of skills to building a more productive economy?
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. In the gallery today there are three young women who are anxiously awaiting the government’s listing of the life-saving drug Soliris. One of those...
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the minister explain the benefits of the National Broadband Network and what it will deliver to schools and education?
    • Asylum Seekers (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that there are 5,360 people being detained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, an increase of more than 200 per...
    • Cost of Living (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. How is the government supporting families with the cost of raising children and how does this help...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report No. 6 (1 speech)
      I present the Selection Committee’s report No. 6 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members’ business on Monday, 22 November 2010. The...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (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. I move: That the...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Cost of Living (22 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for North Sydney proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
  • Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the bill be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. Question agreed to.
  • Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Senate Message (2 speeches)
      Bill returned from the Senate with an amendment. Ordered that the amendment be considered immediately. Senate’s amendment— (1)    Page 8 (after line 30), after clause...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That orders of the day Nos. 3, 4 and 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 4) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 15 November, on motion by Mr Shorten: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Consideration in Detail (70 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.
  • Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report No. 7 (1 speech)
      I present the Selection Committee’s report No. 7 relating to the consideration of bills introduced from 15 to 17 November 2010 and another matter. The report will be printed in...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It now being slightly past 7 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Wandin Yallock Primary School; Croydon Hills Primary School (1 speech)
      On Sunday, 7 November, I had the pleasure of attending Wandin Yallock Primary School’s 140th birthday celebration. Established in 1870, Wandin Yallock Primary School obviously has a...
    • Banks Electorate: Pole Depot Community Centre (1 speech)
      The Pole Depot Community Centre at Penshurst in my electorate of Banks has operated for 30 years, contributing to the local community in the St George and surrounding regions. It aims to create a...
    • Flinders Electorate: State Government Services (1 speech)
      This evening I want to raise three items of community dissatisfaction with the state government in Victoria. As we approach the eve of the election I have been approached by the community in...
    • Trade Training Centres (1 speech)
      I rise to speak tonight on the impressive trade training centre projects that I was honoured to open recently in my electorate of Bass. The Dorset Trade Training Centre and the George Town Trade...
    • Relay for Life (1 speech)
      I rise to acknowledge the random acts of kindness that happen continually in my electorate of Wright and, as I noted in my maiden speech, the numerous generous acts that happen on a daily basis...
    • Capricornia Electorate: Schools and Trade Training Centres (1 speech)
      It seems like we are on bit of theme here because I too want to talk about my school speech nights from the last couple of weeks and to talk about some great news that we have in Capricornia on...
    • Victorian Government (1 speech)
      It is a great privilege to represent the federal seat of Higgins and I will never tire of attending the citizenship ceremonies, the schools, the local fetes and the listening posts, whether in...
    • Prison Education Programs (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to acknowledge the importance of prison education programs for both prisoner rehabilitation and the welfare of Australian society. I commend the efforts of prison staff, justice...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      It is undeniable that Australia’s ageing population is presenting some big challenges for our aged-care sector. Australia has proportionally more people needing some form of assistance or...
    • Petrie Electorate: Redcliffe Community Association (1 speech, 1 comment)
      Tonight I wish to talk about one of the fantastic community organisations in my electorate and about the networking that is going on in my local community—and I touched on this briefly...
    • Bowman Electorate: Citizen of the Year Awards (1 speech)
      Each year in the 600 square kilometres of tranquil Brisbane coastline we call Redlands, we recognise outstanding residents through the annual Australia Day awards, which acknowledge...
    • O’Connor Electorate: Albany Community Care Respite Centre (1 speech)
      I would like to point out a significant issue in my electorate of O’Connor. The city of Albany, located in the south of O’Connor, has a brand new respite centre—the Albany...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      The following notices were given:
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Herbert Electorate (1 speech)
      There is a road in Townsville that is a two-way street. It is quite a pleasant drive and is also a link between the major industrial suburbs of Garbutt and the Bohle. Townsville’s economy...
    • World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (1 speech)
      Today I would really like to recognise the importance of road safety. It is something that I feel very strongly about and something that all Australians should feel very strongly about. This...
    • Longman Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      I want to take this opportunity to inform the House about two examples—two of many in the electorate of Longman—where local infrastructure has been overlooked by the state government...
    • Kingston Electorate: Essay Competition (1 speech)
      On 28 October the member for Mayo and I cohosted a program for student winners of the South Coast Local Service Area essay competition here at Parliament House. This essay competition, set up by...
    • Mayo Electorate: Local Government (3 speeches)
      I endorse the very fine remarks of the safe seat member for Kingston. It was a good day and I thank her for her cooperation in organising it. I rise today to reflect on the council elections in...
    • Home and Community Care Services (1 speech)
      I would like to draw the Committee’s attention to the recent boost of $1.3 million in funding for Home and Community Care services in the ACT. The additional funding will bring the federal...
    • Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (1 speech)
      It is with regret that I rise today to expose Labor’s unconscionable treatment of a very valuable community group in my electorate of Bonner, the Bulimba Creek catchment group. This Labor...
    • La Trobe Electorate: Primary Schools (1 speech)
      Over the last few weeks I have had reason to focus again on education, excellence in teaching and the opportunities for lifelong learning that are available in my electorate of La Trobe. Since...
    • Hasluck Electorate: Midland and Gosnells PCYCs (1 speech)
      I rise to speak today about some fine examples of groups and organisations that are working hard to provide opportunities for young people in my electorate of Hasluck in a bid to reduce crime. I...
    • Lyne electorate: employment (1 speech)
      I am pleased to hear the member for Hasluck talking about Midnight Basketball; it is a widely supported program, and is expanding on the Mid North Coast. I strongly endorse his words as to the...
  • International Financial Institutions Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 28 October, on motion by Mr Shorten: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (23 speeches)
      Debate resumed on the proposed address-in-reply to the speech of Her Excellency the Governor-General— May it please Your Excellency: We, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of...