House debates

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Hines, Private John 'Barney' (1 speech)
      On Thursday, 19 September, the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Marie Bashir, delivered a special address dedicated to someone who was at risk of being forgotten, World War I digger...
    • 2014 Telstra Australian Business Awards, 2014 Australian Institute of Management Excellence Awards (1 speech)
      The Northern Territory, and indeed my electorate of Solomon, punches above its weight when it comes to business innovation and achievement. It is on that theme that I rise today to acknowledge...
    • Batman Electorate: Yappera Children's Centre (1 speech)
      Recently I had the privilege to visit the Yappera Children's Service in my home electorate of Batman. Like so many child-care centres across the country, Yappera provides a safe and supportive...
    • Robertson Electorate: Umina Beach (1 speech)
      This year marks the centenary of Umina Beach, a suburb of the beautiful Peninsula on the Central Coast. Umina Beach is one of the most picturesque locations on the coast and is a veritable hub of...
    • Wyatt, Mr Cedric (1 speech)
      Last Friday Western Australia lost one of its great Aboriginal leaders, Cedric Wyatt. I met Cedric over 30 years ago when he was a senior official with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and I...
    • Ryan Electorate: University of Queensland Advanced Engineering Building (1 speech)
      Thank you Deputy Speaker Scott—and to his relative, the member for Hasluck. I was delighted to be asked to represent the Minister for Education recently to open the University of...
    • Social Cohesion (1 speech)
      The great strength of Australia has been and remains the positive contribution made by each of the groups which comprise it. Whilst our personal narratives may be unique, our destiny is shared....
    • Bass Electorate: Local Sporting Champions (1 speech)
      I recently had the pleasure of meeting 15 promising young Northern Tasmanian sportsmen and women—and their parents—who were the latest recipients of $500 grants under the government's...
    • Ebola (1 speech)
      As it fights desperately against the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF, have said clearly to Australia and other countries that they do not want our money. But they...
    • Braddon Electorate: Phillips, Mr Matthew (1 speech)
      I am back with even more great news about the electorate of Braddon. There is something pretty special about this electorate of Braddon, but I don't need to tell you, Deputy Speaker Scott. I...
    • Brien Holden Vision Institute (1 speech)
      I congratulate the board, staff and supporters of the Brien Holden Vision Institute, which is situated in the University of New South Wales and recently hosted me on a visit. The staff of this...
    • Hasluck Electorate: Coffee with Ken (3 speeches)
      I rise today to speak about my upcoming round of Coffee with Ken meetings for Hasluck residents at local coffee shops throughout the region from Monday 13 October to Thursday 16 October. I buy...
    • Clark, Mr Darian (1 speech)
      I will take the member for Hasluck up on that offer. For the last 11 weeks, I have been lucky enough to host Darian Clark in my office as part of the Australian National Internship Program....
    • Hughes Electorate: Craig Kelly Bowls Open Day (1 speech)
      On 26 October I will be once again holding the Craig Kelly bowls open day, along with my friends, at Picnic Point Bowling and Social Club. The open day will jam-packed full of family fun and...
    • Indi Electorate: Head in the Hole Festival (1 speech)
      Last Sunday, a beautiful, sunny spring day in my gorgeous electorate of Indi, the township of Barnawartha—population 518; just south of Wodonga on the Hume Highway—hosted the...
    • Higgins Electorate: Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (1 speech)
      For many Australians, a childhood growing up kicking the footy, swimming in the local creek and running free with your mates presents an idyllic image. Two weeks ago, I witnessed a community of...
    • Newcastle Electorate: Stockton Bowling Club (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Stockton Bowling Club in my electorate of Newcastle which is celebrating its centenary this year. The club began shortly after the declaration of World War I when...
    • Berowra Electorate: Pacific Hills Christian School (1 speech)
      During the last fortnight break, I had the opportunity of attending one of my schools, the Pacific Hills Christian School, to attend its initiative of Thank You Week. I am sure other members have...
    • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
      I was outraged to receive a political campaign text on 1 September from my electricity provider, AGL, claiming that customers just like me would receive an average 8.9 per cent reduction in their...
    • Durack Electorate: Karratha (2 speeches)
      Recently, I addressed the Karratha business community at a breakfast hosted by the new City of Karratha. These Pilbara folks certainly understand the need for a long-term view in their planning....
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Middle East (2 speeches)
      on indulgence—I would like to update the House on our forces in the Middle East. As a peaceful democracy, Australia is reluctant to reach out to conflicts thousands of miles away. But, as...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Ebola Virus (13 speeches)
      My question is to be Minister for Foreign Affairs. Australia co-sponsored a unanimous UN Security Council resolution, calling on all nations to, 'Facilitate the delivery of assistance, including...
    • Iraq and Syria (2 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the contributions other countries are making to combat ISIL and other terrorist...
    • Budget (14 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. The Treasurer was asked about further budget cuts this morning. 'Question: are you looking at new ideas in case you can't get some of these...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I wish to advise the chamber that we have with us today in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Right Honourable John Bercow MP, the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, and...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister update the House on the government's actions to give our federal law enforcement and security agencies the tools they need to combat...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to comments of his finance minister today. Is the Prime Minister firmly committed to all of the budget measures that were outlined in the budget and...
    • Border Protection (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on steps the government is taking to process the remaining 30,000 illegal maritime...
    • Age Pension (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his plan to cut the indexation of the age pension?
    • Criminal Investigations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General. Is the minister aware that since September 2013, the home of stud breeder, Heather Brown Pascoe, national campaigner for protection of prime farmland has...
    • Budget (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the importance of sound budget management to repair the legacy of debt and deficit left by the previous government?
    • Infrastructure (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline how the government's commitment to building the...
    • Health Care (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his unfair GP tax?
    • Infrastructure (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. I ask the minister to update the House on the latest developments on the East West Link in Melbourne. I...
    • Budget (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his $5.8 billion in cuts to universities that will mean young Australians will pay $100,000 for a uni degree?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call the member for Deakin I would like to advise the House that we have with us Ms Kristina Sogavare, Chair of the Solomon Islands Young Women's Parliamentary Group. We make her most...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Electricity Prices (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister outline how councils have been passing on savings from the repeal of the world's biggest carbon tax to ease electricity price...
    • Pensions (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister abandon his plan to make Australians work until they are 70 to get the pension?
    • Medicare (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister inform the House regarding what the government is doing to make Medicare sustainable? Can the minister also inform the House what...
    • Budget (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. In question time today the Prime Minister recommitted the government to every one of its unfair budget measures. And today the Treasurer has revealed that he...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline how the government is delivering the necessary...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Liberal senators Cory Bernardi and Dean Smith are cosponsoring a private senator's bill that will give the green light to racist hate speech. In plain...
    • Agriculture (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. Will the minister outline how the government's policies are contributing to the growth and prosperity of agriculture in Australia? How is this...
  • Statement by the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Member for Fraser (1 speech)
      Yesterday the member for Fraser raised a point of order under standing order 68 in relation to remarks made about him by the Prime Minister. I said after the member raised the point of order I...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Responsibilities of Speaker (2 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, my question is to you and it goes to your responsibilities as the Speaker. At 1.17 today the member for McEwen tweeted: LNP MP says "why should we listen to industries". Arrogance...
    • Reflections on Members of the Judiciary (2 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, I refer to page 520 of the practice regarding reflections on members of the judiciary. There was a lot of noise at the time, but I would ask you to have another look at the answer...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call the Leader of the House, I would like to say we had in the chamber earlier today three young people—Andrew Short, Patricia Kay and Jared Horvath—who were the...
  • 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.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report number 14 of the Selection Committee relating to private members’ business on Monday, 20 October 2014. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today and the...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Superannuation (42 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for McMahon proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government undermining...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Spirit of Doveton (1 speech)
      Tonight I want to talk about the comment on the pride of the suburb called Doveton. In a recent article in that most excellent paper, the Berwick News, a former Doveton resident—and author,...
    • Solomon Electorate: Fuel Pricing (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to point to disparities in Northern Territory fuel pricing that have been causing considerable disquiet in my electorate of Solomon and, indeed, across the whole of the Northern...
    • McMichael, Prof. Anthony (1 speech)
      Emeritus Professor Anthony J. McMichael AO passed away on 26 September 2014 at the age of 71. Tony was a world-famous Australian epidemiologist who most recently was at the Australian National...
    • Central Queensland: Employment (1 speech)
      Last week, I told parliament that Central Queensland faces a jobs crisis on a scale not seen for 30 years. Tonight, I want to spend more time outlining this situation and explain what actions I...
    • Serana (WA) Pty Ltd (1 speech)
      On 25 March 2014, the Prime Minister, in an address to the Asia Society in Canberra, reflected positively on a Western Australian company which was exporting to Asia. He spoke about the company:...
    • Education (2 speeches)
      A significant milestone for year 12 students on the Central Coast has been reached, because they are now marking their final moments in high school. Over the past several weeks graduation...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Scullin Electorate: Muslim Community, Muslim Leadership Program (1 speech)
      Last Friday I visited the Thomastown Mosque, in my electorate. I was prompted to do so by reports that mosques and Muslims in other parts of the country have been subject to racist attacks and...
    • Wyatt, Mr Cedric (1 speech)
      Last Thursday, 25 September, Aboriginal elder, Indigenous leader, father, grandfather and my cousin, Cedric Wyatt, passed away. He will be missed by his wife, Janine, and both his children, Ben...
    • Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
      Yesterday, the people of the North Coast had a huge community victory and I rise today to congratulate them. Yesterday, the New South Wales state Labor leader, John Robertson, came to Lismore on...
    • La Trobe Electorate: ECHO Youth and Family Services (1 speech)
      On Saturday, 5 July I went to the ECHO Youth and Family Services organisation to celebrate their 30th anniversary. I had a wonderful evening with a great group of local people. I must first pay...
    • Women's Legal Centre (ACT & Region) Inc. (1 speech)
      I recently received an email from a constituent of mine regarding funding cuts to community legal services. Due to issues with apprehended violence orders she asked that I not mention her name....
    • School Chaplains (1 speech)
      Some considerable time ago I spoke of a special door in a school, with a special name on it. As life throws up its difficulties for children in schools, I spoke about that door having a sign on...
    • Lalor Electorate: Little River Primary School (1 speech)
      I am pleased to follow the member because I am going to speak about one of my very small schools, Little River Primary School. I spoke about the reclassification that this school has seen, which...
    • Royal Australian Navy (1 speech)
      I rise to speak today in recognition of the tireless and often thankless service undertaken by the men and women of the Royal Australian Navy. No-one can be in any doubt that the world has become...
    • Shortland Electorate: Northern Lights Family Fun Day (1 speech)
      On Monday of this week we held the second annual Northern Lights festival at San Remo on the Central Coast. It was an outstanding success, as was the one last year. The community came together...
    • Petition: Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      I rise to present a petition to the Australian parliament. One of my roles is to serve and to represent, and that is to re-present. Whilst I might not always agree with every detail in every...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)