House debates

Thursday, 25 September 2014

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      Today I rise to call on this government to stop the cuts to child care. The government were elected telling the Australian public that they would make child care more affordable. But what have...
    • Flynn Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Last Thursday, 18 September, I was delighted to inspect and open the newly upgraded section of the Bruce Highway between Cabbage Tree Creek and Carman Road, north of Gin Gin in Central...
    • Child Care (4 speeches)
      Working families in the Scullin electorate and right around Australia are facing real cost-of-living pressures—pressures which have been exacerbated by the cruel budget handed down by...
    • Central Queensland: Employment (1 speech)
      Central Queensland faces a jobs crisis on a scale not seen for 30 years. As coal prices continue to dive due to global issues, up to 15,000 coal related jobs have been lost in the past two years....
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      There are more families in the electorate of Rankin that rely on the childcare benefit than in any other electorate in the entire nation. Seven thousand five hundred families in Rankin rely on...
    • Bougainville (1 speech)
      Yesterday during question time, Madam Speaker welcomed three remarkable women to this chamber—the Hon. Rose Pihei, the Hon. Joan Jerome and the Hon. Elizabeth Burain. These women are...
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      I echo the sentiments across the chamber. However, I rise today to condemn this government and this 'PM for women', and that they act to limit women's participation in the workforce by their...
    • Beswick, Mr John (1 speech)
      I rise to pay tribute to the Hon. John Beswick, a former deputy premier of Tasmania, who recently announced his retirement as a councillor on the Dorset Council in my electorate of Bass. John was...
    • RIRDC Rural Women's Award (3 speeches)
      I would like to make a warm welcome to this House to all of the participants of the RIRDC Rural Women's Award and to their partners and sponsors. We had a most wonderful occasion in the Great...
    • Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (1 speech)
      September is prostate cancer awareness month, and yesterday I had the privilege of hosting the parliamentary Big Aussie Barbie. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is dedicated to...
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      The Abbott Liberal government has launched an extraordinary $1 billion attack on Australian families and the productivity of our nation through their savage cuts to early learning and childcare...
    • Banks Electorate: St George Basketball Association (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the St George Basketball Association on its great success in the 2014 season and on its recent presentation night. The presentation night, which was held at Penshurst...
    • Child Care, Education (1 speech)
      Recently I was approached by a very impressive young Geraldton woman who wanted to talk about the Abbott budget. She felt it was very tough on single parents who needed more help to build their...
    • Environment (1 speech)
      Last Sunday I was very pleased to hold a community listening post in Anglesea, thanks to Angair. It was an important opportunity for local residents to discuss the importance of a strong,...
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      Supporting women to return to the workforce after they have had children is one of the most important things a government can do to improve productivity. Key to this is ensuring affordable, high...
    • Braddon Electorate: Burnie Shines (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker Scott, you really do need to visit the City of Burnie in my electorate over the next few weeks; it will do you the world of good. Burnie comes alive in the early weeks of spring,...
    • National Rugby League (1 speech)
      One-tenth of the population of the greater Townsville region in North Queensland regularly attend Cowboy matches and up to half a million people watch the NRL on television every weekend. Rugby...
    • Petrie Electorate: Walk for Kids (1 speech)
      Two weekends ago, I participated in a 100-kilometre Walk for Kids event. This event encourages people to walk 100 kilometres over two days to raise money for the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at...
    • Child Care (1 speech)
      Today we have heard from several speakers about how this unfair budget will strip a billion dollars from child-care and learning programs. We have heard how the changes to the Child Care Benefit...
    • Schultz, Ms Penny, South Australian Rural Woman of the Year (2 speeches)
      With the small amount of time I have I would like to acknowledge that I was honoured to spend time yesterday with Penny Schultz from Field in the Upper South East of South Australia. Penny is the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. The Acting Prime Minister said yesterday that we are an inclusive and tolerant society. But, today, Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi is co-sponsoring a...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Will the Acting Prime Minister please update the House on what the government is doing to support international efforts to combat the threat posed by...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (2 speeches)
      My question is again to the Acting Prime Minister. Just now the Acting Prime Minister ruled out the government moving legislation giving the green light to racist hate speech, but he failed to...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the international coalition's efforts to combat ISIL and other terrorist organisations in Iraq and Syria?
    • Higher Education (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Yesterday the minister challenge the opposition to ask the Australian Technology Network of universities about the minister's university changes. The...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call the honourable member for Melbourne, I would like to advise the chamber that we have with us in the Speaker's gallery His Beatitude the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarch and His...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Security (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Has joining the war in the Middle East increased the threat of terrorism in Australia and made us less safe?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to advise the House that we have with us 25 staff cadets from the Royal Military College Duntroon who are members of the Neville Howse VC Platoon, a rehabilitation unit for cadets...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Higher Education (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Yesterday the minister called on the opposition to ask Universities Australia about the minister's unfair university changes. Universities Australia...
    • Temporary Protection Visas (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on how the government is fulfilling our election commitment to introduce temporary...
    • Higher Education (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Yesterday, the minister rejected suggestions that his unfair HECS changes would deter low-income students from going to university. But Central...
    • Budget (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. What does the 2013-14 final budget outcome tell us about the state of the budget inherited by the current government? How will fixing the budget help my...
    • Higher Education (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. I refer to a letter signed by 317 staff at the University of Western Sydney, which states: … it is expected that most will increase fees by...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. What does the final budget outcome for last financial year show us about the need to repair the budget? What are the alternative approaches to fixing the budget?
    • Higher Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Does the Acting Prime Minister agree with an editorial from the Dubbo Daily Liberal today, which asks, in relation to the government's unfair...
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Small Business. I ask the minister to inform the House what steps the government has taken to ensure savings from the repeal of the carbon tax are passed on,...
    • Higher Education (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. In a Senate submission about the government's higher education changes, the Western Australian National Party has said: … the social costs on...
    • Shipping (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on how changes to the coastal shipping regulations will...
    • Higher Education (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Yesterday the minister lauded the United Kingdom's university changes as his inspiration, but the minister's own regulation impact statement found...
    • East West Link (32 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on the status of the East West Link? What benefits will this vital...
    • Defence Procurement (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Prime Minister. Before the last election the current Minister for Defence promised, 'The coalition is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide.' This...
    • Health Care (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. I refer the minister to this article in the Adelaide Advertiser that raises concerns about the Noarlunga GP Super Clinic, labelling it a 'white...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: (1) Mr Porter be discharged from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs and that, in his place, Ms Price be appointed a member of the committee; (2) Mr...
  • 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.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Budget (16 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The devastating impact of Tony...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs; Membership (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That Ms ML Landry be discharged from the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs and that, in her place, Mr Coulton be appointed a member of the committee. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Mulock, Hon. Ronald Joseph 'Ron', AO (2 speeches)
      I did not know Ron Mulock personally; I knew him by reputation. It has been said of reputation that the great difficulty is to first win that reputation, the next is to keep it while you live and...
    • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
      The Abbott government's refusal to recommit to construction in South Australia of the replacement submarines is a betrayal of all South Australians. Prior to the 2013 federal election, the...
    • Swan Business Awards (1 speech)
      I rise today to extend my congratulations to the winners of the highly competitive 2014 Hanson Swan Business Awards. Congratulations to Campbell Giles of Giles Jones First National Real Estate in...
    • Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
      Today I wish to highlight some of the Centenary of Anzac local grant recipients in my electorate. As members would know, the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program provides up to $125,000 per...
    • Competition Policy (1 speech)
      Earlier this week the Harper committee released a draft report following their review of our nation's competition policy. Without wanting to criticise the report and noting that it is only a...
    • Australian Football League (2 speeches)
      Australia's greatest football nursery, the Riverina, will again will be well represented on sport's greatest stage, the MCG, on Grand Final Day. Luke Breust, Matt Suckling, Isaac Smith and Harry...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women's Award (1 speech)
      It is with great pleasure that I rise to congratulate Jackie Jarvis. Jackie is a Western Australian woman who last night was runner-up in the national finals of the Rural Industries Research and...
    • Australian Student Prize (1 speech)
      I am delighted to rise today to congratulate the 12 recipients of the 2013 Australian Student Prize living in my electorate of Higgins. This award is a significant honour, recognising 500...
    • Holt Electorate: Doveton Show (1 speech)
      Last Sunday, along with the Mayor of the City of Casey, I had the pleasure of opening the 10th annual Doveton Show at a brilliant community farm called Myuna Farm, in Doveton. This is held on a...
    • Bradfield Electorate: Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter (1 speech)
      I am very pleased to rise to speak about the planned Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter, which will provide temporary supported accommodation for women in times of crisis, such as homelessness...
    • Gellibrand Electorate: Domestic Violence (1 speech)
      I would like to start by congratulating the member for Bradfield in his work on this important issue. I, too, rise to speak on the issue of men's violence against women in our community. Since...
    • Drought (1 speech)
      There is a statement I want to make and it is to do with the drought policy and the worsening drought in many parts of my electorate and other parts of Australia. Can I first of all say that, if...
    • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
      Today I rise to call on the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Industry to explain why another defence contract has gone overseas. A few weeks ago we heard that a $170 million defence...
    • Ryan Electorate: BUSHkids (1 speech)
      I rise today to bring to the attention of the House the Royal Queensland Bush Children's Health Scheme, otherwise known as BUSHkids. This is a Queensland based not-for-profit organisation...
    • Fremantle Electorate: Maritime Industry Reform (1 speech)
      The electorate I represent has an incredibly rich and significant maritime history. Fremantle is a working port, is the largest general cargo harbour in WA and home to the largest branch of the...
    • Hindmarsh Electorate: Locals Sporting Champions Program (1 speech)
      The Hindmarsh electorate is proud about the number of its exciting young sports stars. Last week, I had the honour of meeting some of our young sports men and women and presented them with the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • National Security (7 speeches)
      It gives me no pleasure really to speak in this debate because it is a debate we would want otherwise not to have. Nevertheless, it is the case that we now have committed Australian forces yet...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Multiculturalism (1 speech)
      In recent days we have all been rightly shocked and appalled by the threat of terrorism on our shores, perpetrated by those who adhere to the twisted and repugnant ideology of extremists. The...
    • Forde Electorate: Abbott Government (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on a year of government in the electorate of Forde. Mr Perrett interjecting— I think it has been a very productive and energising year not...
    • Moreton Electorate: Vandalism (1 speech)
      I rise to condemn the gutless people who vandalised a prayer hall at Rocklea in my electorate of Moreton a few days ago. They snuck in like thieves in the night and damaged a community prayer...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
      I rise on a matter of public interest and concern in a bid to right a grave injustice done to one of Australia's pre-eminent medical researchers by Dr Norman Swan on the ABCs Science Show...
    • Trade with China (1 speech)
      The Minister for Agriculture and I have each said on a number of occasions, very publicly, that we would like to keep the politics out of the sector and the portfolio and work as best we can to...
    • Broome (1 speech)
      Broome is open for business—to quote the local Broomites. Durack boasts the unique town of Broome, situated on the west coast of the Kimberley in Australia's north-west. Over the years, it...