House debates

Monday, 13 February 2023

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the fifth report of the Petitions Committee for the 47th Parliament. The report read as follows— HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORT No. 5 Ministerial Responses...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Responses (1 speech)
      I present the following 23 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented:
    • Statements (1 speech)
      Today I am only tabling ministerial responses. Because of the timing of committee meetings over December and January, there are no petitions ready to present. However, the holiday period did not...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Housing (4 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) Australia's housing stock has lagged behind that of many countries in terms of its thermal performance and the performance of heating, cooling and other...
    • Albanese Government (12 speeches)
      I move: That this House notes that the Government: (1) has been delivering on its plan for a better future over the 2022-23 summer break; (2) is being a responsible and honest government,...
    • Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023 (13 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023 being introduced into the Senate by Senator Price; (2) recognises the need for immediate action to address...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      The Albanese Labor government has cut 10 additional Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions introduced by the coalition through the Better Access initiative to support those experiencing...
    • O'Brien, Mr Graeme (1 speech)
      Graeme O'Brien joined the Westbrook rural fire brigade in 1971. In 1976 Graeme was elected to the position of secretary/treasurer, which he held until 1988, when he was elected captain of the...
    • School Savvy Program (1 speech)
      The cost of living is the issue for the people that I represent. It is issue No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and all the way to 100. I want to bring to the attention of the House the School Savvy program, run...
    • Albanese Government (1 speech)
      Right around Australia people are dealing with sharp cost-of-living pressures, and for those on low and fixed incomes, for pensioners and single parents and young people earning the minimum wage,...
    • Grimwade, Sir Andrew Sheppard, CBE (1 speech)
      HAINES () (): I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Sir Andrew Sheppard Grimwade CBE late of Mansfield, who passed away aged 92 on 30 January. Andrew's contributions to Australian science,...
    • South Australia: Defence Procurement (1 speech)
      Last Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister made an important statement about securing Australia's sovereignty in which he spoke about the importance of defence partnerships and sovereign...
    • Warringah Electorate: Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
      I rise to speak in proud support of the Warringah LGBTQIA+ community. We are at the eve of Sydney WorldPride, an incredible opportunity to champion our rainbow communities. WorldPride is a major...
    • Bull, Ms Brigette (1 speech)
      I have some very exciting news to share with the House today about someone who is much loved by all of us here in the parliament: Brigette Bull, better known as Brigette from Aussies. There was...
    • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
      During last week's question time I asked the Minister for Social Services a question regarding Labor's decision to scrap the cashless debit card in the East Kimberley and how it was leading to...
    • Schools (1 speech)
      'It's not what we teach,' said educator Alfie Kohn. 'It's what they learn.' All over this country today, students are learning more than just the lessons from their teachers; they are learning a...
    • Just Like You, Only a Little More Different (1 speech)
      Madam Deputy Speaker, with your tolerance, I have a small book with me, a child's book. It's called Just like you, only a little more different, and it was written by Brook Seal, a farmer from...
    • Tulliallan Primary School (1 speech)
      On Friday I had the pleasure of attending Tulliallan Primary School's assembly and leadership award ceremony. Tulliallan is the largest primary school in my electorate and the second-largest...
    • Energy (1 speech)
      One of my constituents, Ron, wrote to me this morning: 'I just received advice from my electricity supplier, EnergyAustralia. From 1 March my energy bill will rise by an additional $361.51.' The...
    • Turner, Aunty Buster (1 speech)
      With the permission of her family, I rise to pay my respects to Aunty Buster Turner. Aunty Buster was born Maude Charmaine in 1955 to Kaurna parents who had been removed from their land and sent...
    • Sturt Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      I rise to update the House on the exciting progress of two really important intersection projects in my electorate—those at Cross Road and Fullarton Road, and at Fullarton Road and Glen...
    • Temporary Protection Visas (1 speech)
      Today we delivered on our commitment to provide permanent protection to those who are on temporary protection visas and safe haven enterprise visas, exactly as we said we would. This will affect...
    • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
      We're seeing now the outcome of Labor's ideological decision to abolish the cashless debit card. Last year we warned of the consequences. We foreshadowed the horror that is now the reality for so...
    • Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Voice (1 speech)
      I rise in the House today to acknowledge the 15th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generations by former Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr Kevin Rudd. This significant and powerful apology...
    • Prime Minister's XI Versus the Press Gallery (1 speech)
      The annual Prime Minister’s XI versus the Press Gallery cricket fixture for 2023 was played again on Sunday afternoon. The contest in which we of course play for the Peter Veness Memorial...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      Before I start, I'd like to acknowledge Auntie Robyn, up in the gallery today. I had the great pleasure of meeting her for the first time. She is, of course, the member for Robertson's...
  • Shadow Ministry (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      by leave—For the information of the House, I present a revised list of the shadow ministry, reflecting changes announced yesterday. The document read as follows—
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Temporary Protection Visas (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the government's decision to abolish temporary protection visas. When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took a similar decision in 2008 the result was...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government responding to the inflation challenge in the economy and addressing any barriers to the government's plan?
    • Migration (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the fact that this Prime Minister has spent decades as an activist seeking to change Labor policy on border protection, including campaigning...
    • Manufacturing Industry (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. What action is the Albanese Labor government taking to create manufacturing jobs, and what challenges is it facing?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Today, 19,000 refugees received the wonderful news that they would be granted permanent protection in...
    • Manufacturing Industry (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How will the National Reconstruction Fund boost the Australian economy and help us to make our future here?
    • Interest Rates (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The IMF has expressly warned against Labor's $45 billion in off-budget spending because it will lead to higher inflation, which of course pushes interest...
    • National Security (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How are the Australian people paying for the inaction over the last 10 years of the former government when it comes to national security? What are the...
    • Interest Rates (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. In May last year, in response to a single rate rise, the Prime Minister said Australians were facing a full-blown cost-of-living crisis. Given that the RBA...
    • Renewable Energy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. How will the National Reconstruction Fund help Australia's status as a renewable energy superpower and how has it been received? How...
    • Telecommunications (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to Labor's first round of the Mobile Black Spot Program, open this month in 54 target locations. Why is it that 74 per cent of these target locations...
    • Housing (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness. How will the Housing Australia Future Fund help get more Australians into homes, and how has it been received?
    • Medicare, Cost of Living (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. People in my electorate of Brisbane are struggling to see a doctor, as the number of bulk-billing GPs in my community plummets. Treasurer, will you scrap the $250...
    • Western Australia: Floods (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Northern Australia. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting communities impacted by flooding across Western Australia's Kimberley region? Why is it...
    • Energy (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Back in December, when the government recalled parliament to pass its energy market intervention, it promised direct relief to the energy bills of millions...
    • Australian Defence Force: Natural Disasters (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence Personnel. What support has been provided by the Australian Defence Force to support natural disasters that have occurred over this summer, and how is...
    • National Reconstruction Fund (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Industry and Science. The stacking of Commonwealth government boards and entities with party-friendly appointments has become all too common and undermines the...
    • Aged Care (2 speeches)
      REID () (): My question is to the Minister for Aged Care. How is the Albanese Labor government working to improve transparency and accountability in the aged-care sector after nearly a decade of...
    • Energy (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the report from the St Vincent de Paul Society showing that combined gas and electricity bills for the average Victorian household have soared...
    • Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Government Services. What has the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme uncovered in relation to warnings of the robodebt scheme's unlawfulness?
    • Pensions and Benefits (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Social Services. In question time last week, the minister responded to a question from my friend the member for Durack and informed the House that the...
    • Vocational Education And Training (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Skills and Training. How is the Albanese Labor government's delivery of fee-free TAFE and vocational education and training helping to produce a skilled workforce?
    • Mental Health (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Almost half of young women aged 16 to 24 experienced mental health issues in the last financial year. With more than one-third of women...
    • Broadband (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications. What is the government doing to ensure more Australians can access high-speed broadband?
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Ash Wednesday Bushfires: 40th Anniversary (2 speeches)
      Reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday fires, at the staging point at Akoonah Park Beaconsfield, my truck was stopped and told to stand aside, by the district group officer,...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Questions In Writing (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, in accordance with standing orders 105(b), I wish to draw your attention to questions in writing which I gave to the Minister for Resources back on 15 December regarding the closure...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (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.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Western Australian Government (1 speech)
      Since July last year, I have risen five times in this chamber to speak about the McGowan government's failure to address WA's hospital crisis. In the 7½ months since I first spoke, nothing...
    • Chisholm Electorate: Lunar New Year (2 speeches)
      I've enjoyed the last couple of months celebrating some momentous occasions with the local Chinese Australian community in my electorate of Chisholm. At the end of last year, we came together to...
    • Mitchell Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to continue to consistently speak, over the time I've been here, on infrastructure needs in Western Sydney and north-west Sydney, in my electorate of Mitchell. It continues to be...
    • Adelaide Electorate: Arts (1 speech)
      Adelaide is home to Australia's biggest arts festival, the Adelaide Fringe, and it is about to start this Friday. It is unique in Australia. It takes place in around 350 venues, with 1,200-plus...
    • Prime Minister (3 speeches)
      I rise today to say how lucky we are to have such a hip prime minister. I've been contemplating just how lucky we are. I saw him at Woodford one year in a black T-shirt—lately in a white...
    • Gilmore Electorate: Agricultural Shows (1 speech)
      It's my favourite time of year again—it's showtime! Ag showtime, that is! Over the last few weeks I have had the absolute pressure of attending some of the wonderful agricultural shows that...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Trove (1 speech)
      Today I speak to voice the concerns of many of my constituents about the imminent threat to Trove, an extraordinary information service provided by the National Library of Australia. Trove is a...
    • Hawke Electorate: Australia Day Awards, Hawke Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
      A few short weeks ago, some local Sunbury champions were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia. Marianne and Neil Williams started the Sunbury Neighbourhood Kitchen 10 years ago. Initially a...
    • Canning Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      Every Australia Day we celebrate our great country, our democratic values, our freedoms, our beautiful landscape and our national character of strength and resilience forged over many years....
    • National Apology to the Stolen Generations: 15th Anniversary (1 speech)
      I rise today in this chamber to acknowledge the 15th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generations delivered in Parliament House by former prime minister the Hon. Dr Kevin Rudd in 2008....
    • Inland Rail (1 speech)
      A couple of weeks ago it was my birthday. As a special treat we caught the train from Moree to Willow Tree. I had lunch at the Willow Tree Inn with my family and then caught the train back again....
    • Gilmore Electorate: Moruya Cycle and Pathway (1 speech)
      One of my biggest passions as the member for Gilmore has always been safety on our roads. Country roads are notorious for all the wrong reasons, and it just doesn't have to be that way. In 2008,...
    • Leichhardt Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I rise on a more positive note here to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding achievements from some of our local citizens in Cairns, Port Douglas, Cooktown, Weipa and the Torres Strait. These...
    • Canberra Forum (1 speech)
      I rise today to update the House on the progress of the Canberra Forum, which is my Australian-first deliberative panel, which is being run by democracyCo. Emma Fletcher and Emily Jenke from...
    • Moreton Electorate: Clubhouse Moorooka (1 speech)
      On the weekend, the Clubhouse Moorooka celebrated its first anniversary. Happy birthday, and a big thank you. Of course, the clubhouse is the old Moorooka Bowls Club, which had to close its doors...
    • Lyne Electorate: Australia Day Awards (2 speeches)
      I'd like to congratulate and give a big shout out to some outstanding volunteers who were honoured in the recent Australia Day awards. Dungog Shire Council's Gwen Rumble was named Young Citizen...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Australia Day 2023 Honours List (11 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large;...
    • Black Saturday Bushfires (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that Tuesday, 7 February 2023 marked 14 years since the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfires that saw: (a) 173 lives lost; (b) 414 injuries; and (c) over 3,500...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Nicotine Vaping Products (6 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) increased use of unregulated nicotine vaping products (vapes) in Australia, particularly among young people; (b) serious health implications of the...
    • Volunteering (9 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) according to Volunteering Australia's Key Volunteering Statistics, volunteers contributed almost 600 million hours of voluntary work to local...
    • Mental Health (11 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) serious mental health issues are often at their highest two to three years after a crisis, pandemic or natural disaster; (b) the previous Government...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2022 (1 speech)
      I recently conducted a survey of Mackellar, and it shows that integrity in politics is still the second most important issue for my electorate. Since the last election, parliament has...
    • Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (1 speech)
      It is so welcome that we are finally doing away with the senseless, punishing limbo that has been inflicted on so many through temporary protection and safe haven visas. For 10 years, there have...
    • Donations to Political Parties (1 speech)
      Last week was quite the week for great media reveals of previously undisclosed donations to political parties and campaigns. On Thursday we heard that Sportsbet, one of Australia's gambling...
    • Spence Electorate: National Military Vehicle Museum (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a real hidden gem located within my electorate of Spence, one which, as a veteran myself and co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans,...
    • Apology to the Stolen Generations: Anniversary (1 speech)
      On Friday morning, I heard the power of truth in storytelling as I attended the Memories in the Mall commemorative ceremony hosted by Liverpool City Council and the Gandangara Local Aboriginal...
    • Cunningham Electorate: Vietnamese Lunar New Year (1 speech)
      On Saturday night the member for Whitlam, the state member for Wollongong and I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Vietnamese Community in Wollongong's Lunar New Year celebrations,...
    • Bradfield Electorate: Triple H Sport (1 speech)
      I rise to express my congratulations to Bradfield's very own Triple H Sport for winning the Troy Garner Memorial Award for Excellence in Sports Programming Award at the Community Radio Awards...
    • Macquarie Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
      Finally, upper Blue Mountains residents are going to have the benefit of full-fibre internet as part of the Albanese Labor government's commitment to expanding access to 1.5 million additional...
    • Braddon Electorate: Devonport Waterfront Precinct (1 speech)
      On Saturday night music lovers from all over the coast descended on Devonport for one of my personal favourites, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra's Symphony on the Waterfront. This was the first...
    • Fee-Free TAFE (1 speech)
      Thanks to two great Labor governments, the Albanese federal government and the Andrews state government, there are now 55,000 fee-free TAFE places available in Victoria, and people in my...
    • Bowman Electorate: Safer Communities Fund (1 speech)
      The federal Labor government has cut $150 million from the Safer Communities Fund, a program that was used by the previous government to deliver CCTV cameras in my community of the Redlands. The...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      We all know about the famous exploits of the member for Hume, the now shadow Treasurer, and his blatant decision to deliberately hide electricity price rises from the Australian people during the...
    • Hinkler Electorate: Local Sporting Champions Program (1 speech)
      Ethan Parry is one of our Local Sporting Champion grant recipients, and he'll be representing Australia later this year at the 2023 Virtus Global Games in France. The Virtus Games are usually...
    • National Apology To The Stolen Generations: 15th Anniversary (2 speeches)
      Today in parliament, we acknowledge the 15th anniversary— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Proceedings suspended from 16 : 32 to 16 : 49
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Motorsports (7 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the significant contributions made by the more than 180,000 Australians who participate in a variety of motorsports nationwide, every year; (2)...
    • Melanoma (8 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) skin cancer, particularly melanoma, is and remains a greatly concerning health problem in Australia; (b) Australians require more equitable access to...
    • Housing (5 speeches)
      If we are really seeking to achieve our goals in regard to climate targets then I urge the Australian government to speed up the electrification of residential homes and businesses. We will be...
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (9 speeches)
      by leave—On behalf of the member for Robertson, I move: That this House: (1) notes the Government will have delivered cheaper medicines from 1 January 2023 with millions of Australians...
    • Nuclear Energy (10 speeches)
      I rise to support the member for Lyne's motion. I also wish to speak about what the nuclear industry could mean for Australia, particularly in my electorate of Flynn in Central Queensland....