House debates

Thursday, 29 November 2012

• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Few actions in public life give me greater pleasure than introducing the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill does today. The scheme to be...
• Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Migration Amendment (Reinstatement of Temporary Protection Visas) Bill 2012 (1 speech)
    I seek leave to move: That private Members' business notice No. 22 standing in the name of the Honourable Member for Cook be called on immediately and be given precedence over all other business...
  • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (12 speeches)
    I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent private Members' business notice No. 22 standing in the name of the Honourable Member for Cook being called...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Improving Electoral Administration) Bill 2012; Second Reading (4 speeches)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. On behalf of the Special Minister of State, I present a bill to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act and the Referendum (Machinery Provisions)...
  • Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 4) 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 4) 2012 amends five acts across three portfolios. It is the 12th financial framework...
  • International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill 2012; First Reading (1 speech)
    Today I introduce this bill, which will amend the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 and give the force of law in Australia to new bilateral taxation agreements with India, the Marshall...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No. 6) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill implements a range of improvements to Australia's taxation laws. Schedule 1 confirms that income tax is not payable on certain native...
  • Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support Bonus) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Australian government recognises that households reliant on income support benefits as their main source of income can find it hard to manage...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Reducing Illegal Early Release and Other Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Reducing Illegal Early Release and Other Measures) Bill 2012 amends the Superannuation...
  • Income Tax Rates Amendment (Unlawful Payments from Regulated Superannuation Funds) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Income Tax Rates Amendment (Unlawful Payments from Regulated Superannuation Funds) Bill 2012 imposes the superannuation fund non-complying...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Service Providers and Other Governance Measures) Bill 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Service Providers and Other Governance Measures) Bill 2012 represents the final, the last tranche of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That notice No. 6, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; Second Reading (1 speech)
    I rise to speak in the debate on the National Gambling Reform Bill 2012 and cognate bills. As in most bills brought before this place by the Labor government, there are two sets of consequences...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    (): I move: That business intervening before notice No. 8, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Special Minister of State, 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...
  • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Special Minister of State, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary...
  • Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Special Minister of State, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, and by reason of the urgent nature of the works, it is...
• Parliamentary Zone (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, I move: That, in accordance with section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, the House approve the following...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present the report of the Publications Committee sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Copies of the report have been placed on the table. Report—by...
  • Document (1 speech)
    As required by resolutions of the House, I table copies of notifications of alterations of interest received during the period 28 June 2012 and 28 November 2012.
  • Public Accounts and Audit Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee's report entitled report 435: Review of the Auditor-General's reports Nos 33 (2011-12)to 1 (2012-13). I ask...
  • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
    On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee's report entitled Report 131: treaties tabled on 21 August, and 11 and 18 September 2012 and I ask leave of the House...
  • Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report (3 speeches)
    On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, I present the report entitled FASD: The hidden harm—inquiry into the prevention, diagnosis and management of foetal...
  • Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee; Report and Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012; Consideration of Senate Message (1 speech)
    I move: That the amendments be agreed to. The Senate amendments to the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Bill 2012 will change certain items in schedules 1, 2 and 4 of the bill....
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Constitutional Recognition of Local Government Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    Madam Speaker has received a message from the Senate acquainting the House that Senators Bushby and Fawcett have been appointed members of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition...
  • Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
    Madam Speaker has received a message from the Senate informing the House that the Senate concurs with the resolution of appointment of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of...
  • Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee; Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That Mr Wyatt be appointed a member of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Question agreed to.
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; Second Reading (17 speeches)
    At the outset, I should place on the record that my wife has recently been appointed as a director of the St George Leagues Club Ltd, which is a well-known club in my electorate and one arm of...
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012, National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
    I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill. I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (20) as circulated together. Leave granted. I move government...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That standing order 43 be suspended for this sitting and government business have priority. Question agreed to. by leave—I move: That standing order 31 (automatic...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012; Consideration in Detail (11 speeches)
    by leave—I move amendments (1) to (13) as circulated in my name: (1) Clause 13, page 16 (line 7), omit "2016", substitute "2018". (2) Clause 13, page 16 (line 14), omit "2020", substitute...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    I welcome to the gallery this afternoon members of the International IDEA Democracy Forum who are visiting the Australian parliament today. I welcome them to the House. Also in the gallery this...
• Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
  • Standing Orders (1 speech)
    A member has raised with me standing order 62. Members moving in the chamber must promptly take their seats and they must not be standing during a division—except to notify tellers of a...
• Bills (0 speeches)
  • National Gambling Reform Bill 2012; 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 Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012; Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
    I earlier presented, as part of the precious supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill, the explanatory memorandum to these amendments. I move—by leave—government amendments...
  • National Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 1) 2012; 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 Gambling Reform (Related Matters) Bill (No. 2) 2012; 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.
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Prime Minister (18 speeches)
    by leave—I move: That the Leader of the Opposition address the House for a period of 15 minutes to substantiate his claim that the Prime Minister has breached the laws of Western Australia,...
• Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • (1 speech)
    On behalf of honourable members, I welcome the kids in the House from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. I congratulate you on another outing. Hopefully, we will one day find a cure. Thank you...
• Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
  • Prime Minister (13 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister claim that she never made false representations about the AWU Workplace Reform Association when the application for incorporation...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government working to transform the lives of people with disability, their families and carers? What difference will this make to people in my...
  • Prime Minister (7 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister of her confession to Slater & Gordon in her exit interview of conduct which appears to be in breach of the WA—
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and for Disability Reform. Will the minister update the House on progress to transform disability care and...
  • Prime Minister (21 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her statement this week that she always witnessed documents properly when a partner at Slater & Gordon. As required under...
  • Newstart Allowance (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, as the rest of us looked forward to a break over Christmas, on 1 January up to 150,000 single parents are due to be pushed onto the dole, the...
  • Economy (4 speeches)
    My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House the importance of investing in our economy and our society? Will he update the House on how the government is doing...
  • Prime Minister (9 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister made the representations that established the AWU Workplace Reform Association that then enabled a fraud to occur, will she...
  • Nation Building (2 speeches)
    My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government is getting on with its policies and plans to help build Australia's future?
• Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
  • Ponting, Mr Ricky Thomas, AO (9 speeches)
    On indulgence, I note in the parliament that Ricky Ponting has announced his retirement in Perth. I have not had the opportunity to watch any of the coverage about that, but the Perth test will...
• Documents (0 speeches)
  • Presentation (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 and I move: That the House take note of...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
    I move: That leave of absence be given to every Member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting. Question agreed to.
  • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
    On indulgence, for the information of members about procedures this afternoon, we will have a restricted debate, by agreement, on the matter of public importance. Then the disallowance motions on...
• Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
  • Division Process (6 speeches)
    Madam Speaker, earlier today, prior to question time, I raised with you the issue of a member or members entering this chamber after the order was given to shut the doors during a division...
• Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
  • Speaker's Panel (1 speech)
    Pursuant to standing order 17, I lay on the table my warrant nominating the honourable member for Corangamite to be a member of the Speaker's panel to assist the chair when requested to do so by...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Government Response (1 speech)
    For the information of honourable members, I present a schedule of outstanding government responses to reports of House of Representatives and joint committees, incorporating reports tabled and...
  • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
    I present report No. 73 of the Selection Committee relating to private members' business and referrals of bills to committees. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today, and the...
  • Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Committee, Education and Employment Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
    I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip, from Mr Oakeshott and from Mr Bandt that they are nominating members to be members of certain committees.
• Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
  • Australia's Future (10 speeches)
    I have received a letter from the honourable Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the...
• Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
  • Christmas (6 speeches)
    By indulgence—We are now commencing that section of business at the end of the parliamentary sitting which is Christmas valedictories. I know, to many people who are listening, this will...
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Membership (1 speech)
    by leave—I move: That: (1) Mr Wyatt be appointed a supplementary member of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for the purposes of the committee's...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (1 speech)
    I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the private Members' business notices, by the Member for Riverina and the Member for Kennedy, relating to...
• Motions (0 speeches)
  • Murray-Darling Basin Plan; Disallowance (3 speeches)
    I move: That the Basin Plan made under the Water Act 2007 and presented to the House on 26 November 2012, be disallowed. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan has generated a wealth of fear and...
• Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
  • Stirling Electorate: Balga Early Learning Centre (1 speech)
    I rise today to congratulate the Salvation Army Balga Early Learning Centre on its recent achievement of receiving the highest rating possible under the National Quality Framework for Early...
  • Grayndler Electorate: Father Joachim Rego (1 speech)
    I rise today to congratulate Father Joachim Rego from the parish of St Brigid's Marrickville in my electorate of Grayndler for his election in Rome at the Superior General of the Passionist Order...
  • Bushcare (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the topic of Bushcare in Bradfield and the importance of caring for native bush. The electorate of Bradfield is very fortunate in that almost everybody in the electorate lives...
  • Cafferkey, Ms Sarah (1 speech)
    It is with great sadness that I rise today to reflect on the murder of one of my constituents, young Sarah Cafferkey of Bacchus Marsh. Sarah's mother Noelle describes Sarah as a happy, bubbly...
  • Tourism (1 speech)
    I raise an issue of national importance that will affect our national interest. By that I mean the tourism and hospitality industry, which employs nearly one million Australians and produces $95...
  • Exports (1 speech)
    Good morning, colleagues. My region is well known for its many excellent business enterprises, and three of those businesses were selected recently as national finalists for the prestigious...
  • Riverina Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
    I rise today to say that last Friday I had the absolute pleasure to officially open the Temora Medical Complex in Hoskins Street. This was the realisation of a six-year dream for Temora, and...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    I rise to mark the importance of today being the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978. The day marks an occasion and an...
  • Australia Post (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on the circumstances of the Wanneroo post office in my electorate of Cowan. This is not the first time that I have spoken on the Wanneroo post office, its inadequacies and its...
  • Type 1 Diabetes (1 speech)
    I rise to acknowledge two very special young people who are battling type 1 diabetes, Tess Macartney and Nici Cairney. They have come to Parliament House this week as part of Kids in the House...
• Business (0 speeches)
  • Rearrangement (1 speech)
    I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 4, committee and delegation reports, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
• Committees (0 speeches)
  • Economics Committee; Report (7 speeches)
    The review by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics of the Reserve Bank of Australia 's annual report was tabled in the House on the last Thursday of the last sitting week...
• Adjournment (0 speeches)
  • Dame Mary Gilmore DBE (1 speech)
    Next Monday will mark 50 years since Australia lost Dame Mary Gilmore, the female face of our $10 bill, our first 'lady of letters' and a champion of social justice. She spoke for the...
  • Scullin Electorate: Domestic Violence (1 speech)
    I congratulate the member for Cook on a very splendid contribution to a great Australian woman. Regrettably, I have to report to the Federation Chamber that on a week that commenced with White...
  • Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants (1 speech)
    I congratulate the member for Scullin and the member for Cook for their contributions on both the items they addressed. I guess the member for Scullin's was a segue into what I am going to speak...
  • Cremation Ceremonies (1 speech)
    I was recently approached by Surinder Singh, a member of the Sikh community in my electorate, who raised an issue relevant to the carrying out of the sacred death rituals of Sikhs, Hindus and...
  • National Archives of Australia (1 speech)
    This year, 2012, has been a very exciting and successful year for the National Archives of Australia. It has been an honour for me to continue representing the House of Representatives as a...
  • Calwell Electorate (1 speech)
    It has been a very busy year in my electorate of Calwell. As part of what we all refer to as the 'round up' of the year's events I refer to some of the more recent events in my electorate that I...
  • Middle East (1 speech)
    In so many ways the conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists is a struggle between the enlightened values of a modern democracy and the benighted values of mediaeval theocracy; a struggle...
  • Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (1 speech)
    At the Seymour Centre in Sydney on Tuesday, 20 November I was a member of a privileged audience who witnessed an outstanding performance of young talent. This was the 2012 music theatre showcase...
  • McTernan, Mr John (1 speech)
    Today I rise to speak in relation to my role as a scrutiny of government spokesperson for the coalition and a flagrant abuse of taxpayers' money. Earlier this year, the new SA Premier did a rare...
  • Our Stories: 52 Stories in 52 Weeks (1 speech)
    In May this year, I spoke in this place about a project that I commenced in February called Our Stories: 52 Stories in 52 Weeks. This project aimed to highlight the stories of those in our...
  • Renewable Energy (1 speech)
    In the short time I have available today I raise the cost-of-living issues that are affecting many Australians out there today. One example is Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is almost an international...
  • Petition: Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
    The three boxes beside me contain over 60,000 signatures to a petition which has been considered by the Standing Committee on Petitions and approved for tabling, and which I now table. The...
  • Riverina Electorate: Youth Events (2 speeches)
    Australia's youth are wonderful and this is certainly so in the Riverina. I opened the Shout Out regional New South Wales Youth Summit at Griffith last Wednesday and then spent an absorbing time...
  • Shortland Electorate: Hunter Sports High School (1 speech)
    On Tuesday 20 November, Hunter Sports High School held their 14th annual sports award presentation. Hunter Sports High School has 900 students, and 424 of those students are enrolled in the...
  • Herbert Electorate: Bruce Highway (1 speech)
    We are coming towards Christmas, and Christmas in North Queensland means the wet season. The wet season also means that the Bruce Highway will be cut a number of times this year. This affects our...
  • Shortland Electorate: Hunter Sports High School (1 speech)
    Could I add to the speech I made earlier that the female recipient of the 2HD Senior Sports Person (Female) Award was Mariah Williams; she was the member of the NSW All Schools under-16 hockey...
  • Queensland Government (1 speech)
    A place to call home is fundamental. Home is a base from which we raise our kids, from which we become members of our community and where we seek to build our lives and our careers. However, for...
  • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
    I rise today to speak about the Perilya zinc and silver mine in Broken Hill in my electorate of Farrer and the very serious effect of the carbon tax on its operations. I just want to talk about...
  • Thomas, Mr Brian (1 speech)
    I rise to pay tribute on the occasion of the passing of a great Labor man, whom you will know, Madam Deputy Speaker Owens: Brian Thomas of Blacktown. On Remembrance Day I received the news that...
  • Palestine (1 speech)
    Australia will shortly face a vote in the United Nations: whether or not to elevate the Palestinian Territories to observer status, bringing it in line with the Vatican City. The reasons are wide...
  • Operation Slipper Farewell Parade (1 speech)
    On 13 October, it was my great honour to represent the Minister for Defence at the 1st Brigade's farewell parade for Operation Slipper at the RAAF base Edinburgh. I was joined by Senator David...
  • Wannon Electorate: Warrnambool Exchange Fire (1 speech)
    I rise today to place on the record an incident which occurred a week ago, which was a fire in the Warrnambool exchange. The impact that that fire has had on south-west Victoria has been...
  • Protect (1 speech)
    Last Wednesday, 21 November, I was grossly and maliciously defamed by Senator Helen Kroger, the Liberal Party's chief whip in the Senate in an adjournment speech. Senator Kroger made several...
  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission (1 speech)
      The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has failed in its duty to several of my constituents, who have contacted me over the course of the past 12 months. On ASIC's...
  • Australia-China Forum (1 speech)
    Earlier this month it was my pleasure to attend the second annual Australia-China forum. Established during a difficult period in the bilateral relationship, the forum provides an opportunity for...
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
    Today I rise to speak on the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The coalition strongly supports the recommendations of the Productivity Commission for an NDIS and has pledged to work...
  • Renew Newcastle (1 speech)
    I rise to update the House on the progress of an incredibly successful initiative in my electorate, Renew Newcastle. Marcus Westbury, founder of Newcastle's national This Is Not Art festival,...