House debates
Thursday, 28 August 2008
- Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Economics Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip that he has nominated Mr Ciobo to be a member of the Standing Committee on Economics in place of Mr Turnbull.
- Auslink (National Land Transport) Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- First Reading (0 speeches)
Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Albanese. Bill read a first time.
- Second Reading (1 speech)
I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill that the government is introducing today demonstrates our ongoing commitment to road safety and local road infrastructure. The bill...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
- Tax Laws Amendment (2008 Measures No. 4) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (27 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 August, on motion by Mr Bowen: 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.
- Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; 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.
- Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (14 speeches)
Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr McClelland: 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.
- Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (6 speeches)
Debate resumed from 26 June, on motion by Mr Bowen: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, why are more Australians losing their jobs since the Rudd government came to office?
- Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline the importance of the government’s education revolution to Australia’s future?
- Economy (7 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, why has the cost of petrol and groceries increased since the Rudd government came to office?
- Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Will the minister detail the government’s progress in...
- Economy (5 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why has business confidence in government policies collapsed since the election of the Rudd government?
- Education (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline what opportunities the budget provides to help parents meet the everyday costs of their children’s education?
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister again to the latest Sensis survey showing that business confidence in his government has collapsed. I quote the survey,...
- Rail Infrastructure (6 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Will the minister inform the House about the government’s plan to support growth in...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has accepted responsibility for Australians being worse off since the election of the Rudd government, does he stand by his...
- Dental Health (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister outline to the House the impact of the opposition’s actions in the Senate on dental care?
- Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. I refer the minister to the 257 jobs lost at Riviera Marine in my electorate of Fadden. Can the minister inform the House...
- Housing Affordability (2 speeches, 3 comments)
My question is to the Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women. Will the minister outline progress on measures to improve housing affordability for Australians and their...
- Mining (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and relates to coalmining exploration licences that have been granted on the Liverpool Plains region of northern New...
- Infrastructure (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. How is the government providing for Australia’s future needs? Are there any threats to the government’s approach?
- Employment (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Today’s Sensis Business Index states that four in 10 businesses are slashing full-time employment because of the...
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Will the minister update the House on the implementation of PBS cost recovery and its impact on the budget?
- Fuel Prices (2 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to recent statements by automobile clubs in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory who said...
- Employment (3 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation. How is the government supporting the Australian Employment Covenant to employ 50,000 Indigenous Australians?
- Grocery Prices (12 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his GROCERYchoice website, which he said will help to bring down the price of groceries for all Australian consumers....
- Indigenous Communities (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister update the House on any breakthroughs in the government’s efforts to...
- Broadband (2 speeches, 1 comment)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister explain why his government has failed to keep its election promise to complete a tender process for a national broadband network...
- National Literacy and Numeracy Week (19 speeches)
My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on events and reading opportunities during National Literacy and...
- National Literacy and Numeracy Week (0 speeches)
- (4 speeches)
Mr Speaker, on indulgence, I rise in relation to the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister to the last question. I regard the member for Higgins as a great Australian who made an enormous...
- Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
- Standing Committee on Communications (2 speeches)
Mr Speaker, as a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications I ask that you take action on the less than satisfactory performance of this committee. It is not...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (32 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable member for Kennedy proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failures of the current...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip that he, Mr Price, is nominated to be a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works in place of Mr Hale.
- Protection of the Sea Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Therapeutic Goods Legislation Amendment (Annual Charges) Bill 2008; Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
Order! It being approximately 4.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
- Nuclear Energy (1 speech)
Yesterday, I drew attention to significant flaws in the Rudd-Wong emissions trading scheme and the danger it poses to our economy and jobs. I would like to add to that comments by Geoff Carmody,...
- Port Adelaide Electorate (1 speech)
I rise to talk about a couple of recent initiatives by the Rudd government, particularly by our outstanding Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. These initiatives are resonating in my electorate...
- Parkes Electorate: Mining (1 speech)
I rise tonight to speak about a matter of great importance in my electorate, which is the need for an independent hydrological study into the impact of mining on the Liverpool Plains,...
- Dobell Electorate: Longwall Coalmining in Wyong Shire (1 speech)
I did not work this out in advance with the member for Parkes, but a general theme is emerging. I wish to bring to the attention of the House a serious issue in my electorate, which is the plan...
- Flynn Electorate: Aramac Community (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the declining quality of life in rural communities with the diminishing availability of infrastructure and everyday services to ordinary Australians. My electorate of...
- Newcastle Electorate: Veterans (2 speeches)
This morning I had the great honour of participating in a special wreath-laying ceremony with students from Waratah West Primary School at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier at our very...
- Notices (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The following notice was given:
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Paterson Electorate: MRI Licence (1 speech)
I rise today to raise the issue of an MRI licence for Maitland. An MRI scanner is an important piece of equipment in the evaluation of tissue in the body. Back in September 2007 Tony Abbott, the...
- Wakefield Electorate: Car Tariffs (1 speech)
On 18 August I joined the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, and the South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, in celebrating the seven millionth Holden...
- La Trobe Electorate: Australia Post (1 speech)
I rise today to discuss the urgent need for an Australia Post office in Parkhill Plaza in Berwick, which is part of the Timbarra Estate. The population of Berwick, especially in the Timbarra...
- Lindsay Electorate: Vietnam Veterans Day (1 speech)
I rise to pay a special tribute to the Vietnam veterans in my electorate, whose service and sacrifice were honoured at a special Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony at St Marys on Monday, 18 August....
- Barker Electorate: Water (1 speech)
July and August have certainly seen a lot of spin from the Rudd Labor government about the South Australian River Murray communities and, in particular, the lower lakes. It all seems to be words...
- Charlton Electorate: Pensioners (1 speech)
During the parliamentary break I had a number of sessions with senior citizens and pensioners in my electorate of Charlton. Of course, the adequacy of the pension is something very much on their...
- Flinders Electorate: Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre (1 speech)
I rise to speak in support of the Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre. This project is a proposal to provide the people of Rosebud, Rye, Dromana, McCrae, Tootgarook, Blairgowrie and Sorrento with a...
- Ms Kim Wilcher (1 speech)
I would like to recognise the recent passing of Ms Kim Wilcher, who resided in my electorate of Maribyrnong. Kim’s story was brought to my attention by her husband, Mr Joe Palermo. They met...
- Broadband (1 speech)
Despite the overblown rhetoric in opposition, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Stephen Conroy, have undoubtedly become the...
- Shortland Electorate: Belmont Hospital (2 speeches)
On Friday, 15 August I attended the Belmont Hospital Auxiliary’s 40th anniversary, and it was a very special day. The Blue Ladies have worked tirelessly at Belmont Hospital for 40 years...
- Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
- Second Reading (3 speeches)
Debate resumed from 25 June, on motion by Mr McClelland: That this bill be now read a second time.
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
- International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (1 speech)
I would like to draw attention to the fact that International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is observed across the USA and parts of Canada where the memory of lost babies can be...
- Meals on Wheels (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on a great Australian icon—that is, Meals on Wheels. Yesterday, 27 August, was National Meals on Wheels Day. There were many activities in this House, and I know that...
- Defence: Leopard Tanks (1 speech)
I am simply appalled at the delays by the Rudd government, in particular the Minister for Defence, and their failure to make a decision—a very simple decision and one that has already in...
- Blair Electorate: Local Councils (1 speech)
I rise to speak in relation to the record funding announced by the Rudd Labor government to help local councils maintain vital infrastructure in my electorate. My electorate contains two-thirds...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I am pleased to speak in the parliament again on behalf of the people of Ryan. I will be speaking on a topic that I know the people of Ryan will be very interested in. I know that my friend here...
- World Youth Day (1 speech)
I rise to speak about World Youth Day. Along with my wife, Vicki, on 17 July I attended the public welcome for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour. Being at Sydney...
- Recognition for Australian Prisoners of War (1 speech)
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs recently announced that, subsequent to the findings of the inquiry initiated by the Howard government, Harry Smith, Commander, D Company 6RAR, will be...
- Youth Homelessness (1 speech)
I rise to speak about the issues of homelessness and to acknowledge the wonderful work being done in my electorate. This week the parliament has heard many speakers from the opposition talking...
- Dental Health (1 speech)
In September last year the coalition government introduced the Medicare dental scheme—a program which gave people with chronic and complex health problems, with dental conditions being a...
- Moreton Electorate: Holland Park Mosque (3 speeches)
Holland Park Mosque on Brisbane’s south side will celebrate its centenary this weekend. I am pleased to recognise this significant event in the life of Queensland’s Muslim community....
- Grey Electorate: Energy Resources (1 speech)
My electorate, Grey, is the home of some of Australia’s greatest natural resources. Enormous reserves of energy, particularly clean energy, will become increasingly important to the...
- Petition: Poverty; Petition: Reconciliation (2 speeches)
Today it gives me great pleasure to speak to two petitions that were presented to me during the parliamentary recess. The first is from a group belonging to the Make Poverty History group and...
- Swan Electorate: Homelessness (1 speech)
Two speeches ago the member for Petrie mentioned that no-one from the coalition was talking on homelessness. Well, I am here to talk on it. I have raced up just to talk about homelessness in my...
- Paralympics; Page Electorate: Income Support Forum (1 speech)
Last night I talked about Olympic silver medallist Jacqui Lawrence, and today I want to talk about a remarkable young man, Adam Sanders. Adam aspires to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games. In...
- Flinders Electorate: Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance Unit (1 speech)
I rise to raise concerns in this parliament about serious cuts to the mobile intensive care ambulance unit, based at Frankston, which serves the Mornington Peninsula. The MICA unit is fundamental...
- Deakin Electorate: EastLink Tollway (1 speech)
Recently, the EastLink tollway was officially opened by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Brumby, in my electorate of Deakin. This massive $2.5 billion infrastructure project was opened five...
- New England Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I would like to bring to the attention of the House a situation that is common across many country areas of Australia, and I would like to use the example of the community of Wellingrove in my...
- Petition: Pensions and Benefits; Forde Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I want to talk a little bit today about the issues that I spoke about on previous occasions—pensioners, their concerns and their inability to make ends meet. Those that I mentioned...
- Miss Taya Gibson (1 speech)
Yesterday I was shocked to learn of a tragic fire in the early hours at Nelson Bay which claimed the life of a young child and which injured her grandmother who heroically tried to save the...
- Women in Parliament (1 speech)
I am proud to stand here today as someone who has always been an advocate for women and women’s rights and representation. While it is an amazing privilege and honour to be one of the 1,055...
- Gippsland Electorate: Drought Assistance (1 speech)
I rise today to speak on behalf of Gippsland’s farmers, who are urging the federal government to continue to provide drought assistance in my electorate. I say at the outset that Gippsland...
- Mail Contractors (1 speech)
I would like to use this opportunity today to inform the House about an issue which has been raised with me by several of my constituents, which is the increased costs faced by mail contractors,...
- Sex Slavery and People Trafficking (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about an issue of great importance: sex slavery and the trafficking of people within Australia. The High Court today is set to deliver a landmark judgement that will tell us...
- Maranoa Electorate: Meeting of Minds Forum (1 speech)
I rise here in the Main Committee today to inform the House of an event I held in my electorate of Maranoa. Last month, I hosted the Meeting of Minds Forum in Dalby, on Queensland’s Darling...
- Fadden Electorate: Beijing Olympics; Sport and Fitness (1 speech)
I rise to acknowledge the sterling efforts made by young people of Fadden in the recent Beijing Olympics. Amidst the world’s best, these impressive young people from the northern Gold Coast...
