House debates

Monday, 1 December 2014

  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Responses (1 speech)
      Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
    • Statements (1 speech)
      As we approach the end of 2014, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the petitions received so far in the 44th Parliament. Since the 2013 federal election, the Petitions Committee...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Trade Training Centres (16 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises the critical role that Trade Training Centres (TTCs) play in introducing young people to vocational education at school and assisting them to achieve...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth; Membership (1 speech)
      Madam Speaker has received a message from the Senate informing the House that Senator Lazarus has been discharged from the Joint Select Committee on Trade and Investment Growth and Senator Wang...
    • Public Works Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works I present the following reports 7 of 2014—Referrals made September 2014, and Parliamentary delegation to Indonesia and...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers: Children (1 speech)
      There are currently 435 children in immigration detention in Australia: 327 on the mainland and 108 on Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Island. There are also 167 children in detention on...
    • Capricornia Electorate: My First Speech Competition (1 speech)
      I am delighted to inform the House that Chay Conaglen from Rockhampton State High School, in Capricornia, has won the Australian parliament's My First Speech competition. The 17-year-old was one...
    • Rankin Electorate: Cricket (1 speech)
      Yesterday I had the privilege of hosting, with my great mate here, the member for Moreton, a cricket game with players from the Muslim communities in our electorates. The game was played in the...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (3 speeches)
      Last week there were some funding announcements with relation to the ABC. I just want to reiterate that, over the next five years, there will still be $5.2 billion flowing to the ABC, which is...
    • Moreton Electorate: Cricket (1 speech)
      I too rise to acknowledge the great game of cricket that we had in the electorate of Moreton yesterday, where the Muslim community from Moreton took on the Muslim community from Rankin. For the...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      I was watching the Australian Story on Bob Hawke. Barry Cassidy said 'Bob Hawke was elected to bring the nation together.' Indeed he was. But he was also elected to provide income tax cuts,...
    • Workplace Safety (1 speech)
      I rise today, sadly, to draw attention to two terrible and tragic workplace deaths that have occurred recently in the electorate of Adelaide. Just recently we saw 21-year-old Jacob Porter...
    • East West Link (1 speech)
      I rise to acknowledge Victoria's election result on the weekend, and in particular the Premier-elects untenable position on the East West Link. I would urge Dan Andrews to think long and hard...
    • Lalor Electorate: Education (1 speech)
      I rise, like the member for Deakin, to celebrate an event that occurred in Victoria on the weekend. On Saturday I did an impromptu tour of schools in the electorate of Lalor and I was absolutely...
    • Durack Electorate: Youth (1 speech)
      Following their visit to Parliament House, I asked year 6 students from Strathalbyn Christian College in Geraldton what they would do if they were Prime Minister for a day. Here are some of their...
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce share a political message: 'If you don't vote for us, the kid gets it!' Just as the Nationals could not support SPC in Shepparton—because they did not...
    • Parliamentary Friends of Motoring, Hughes Electorate: Hughes Charity Car Show (1 speech)
      Tomorrow, Senators Muir and Lundy, along with the hardworking and most effective member for Lindsay, will as co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Motoring be hosting a car show on the lawns...
    • Indi Electorate: Wodonga (1 speech)
      Today I would like to pay tribute to the largest city in my electorate, Wodonga, and to the role of private sector investment in making Wodonga on the one of the fastest-growing regional centres...
    • Barker Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
      I rise today to report on the exceptional Shop Small campaign, which promoted small businesses across Australia and particularly in my electorate of Barker. Shop Small, as you know Mr Deputy...
    • Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
      I rise today to alert the House to some concerning results of recent reports into Indigenous disadvantage in Australia. The 2014 Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage report by the Productivity...
    • King, Ms Judy, OAM (1 speech)
      There are people on this earth who are born with a passion to help others, and Judy King OAM from Smithton in my electorate of Braddon was one such person. Sadly, Judy passed away recently after...
    • Greste, Mr Peter (2 speeches)
      Today is Peter Greste's 49th birthday. Instead of celebrating it with the people he loves, he will mark this day as he has the last 337 days—in an Egyptian jail cell. Our first thoughts...
    • Defence Personnel (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on an issue I have been campaigning on for the past six weeks—the government's unfair and insulting ADF pay and conditions offer. Today the Prime Minister backtracked on...
    • Corangamite Electorate: Broadband (2 speeches)
      I rise to celebrate the great news that some 34,000 premises across Corangamite will receive fixed-line NBN more cheaply and quickly under out 18-month rollout plan announced today. I was very...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Victoria State Election (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The member for Gippsland said about the Victorian election result: … the tough measures in our Federal Budget certainly had an impact. You would have...
    • Economy (18 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House actions the government has taken in 2014 to strengthen the economy and deliver real benefits for families and...
    • Victoria State Election (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to comments in today's Geelong Advertiser from a local Liberal party official. I quote: 'Tony Abbott was a poison. He was...
    • Trade (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House how the government's free-trade agreements with Japan, Korea and China will benefit the Australian...
    • SPC Ardmona, Victoria State Election (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture. I refer to the minister's comments that the responsibility for the future of SPC's fruit cannery lay fair and square with the Liberal Party. Given...
    • Water, Infrastructure (3 speeches, 2 comments)
      Prime Minister, 80 per cent of Australia has only 80 million megalitres of water; North Queensland has 200. Current irrigation proposals include the Chinese entrepreneurial Ord to Gilbert....
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the success of Operation Sovereign Borders and any recent actions to prevent illegal...
    • Road Infrastructure (10 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's threats to Victorians to withdraw the $3 billion of Commonwealth funding for infrastructure if they did not vote...
    • Infrastructure (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the government's plans to build the infrastructure of the 21st century? What are the economy-wide benefits of this plan?
    • Higher Education (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister explain how the government's higher education reforms are important to students in universities, both in my electorate of Page and...
    • Budget (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why did the Prime Minister take so long to discover that his cuts to Defence allowances were unfair? Given that funding for a real wage increase was included...
    • Minister for Defence (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the Defence pay debacle, will Senator Johnston still be the defence minister next February or does the buck stop with you?
    • Regional Development Australia Fund (10 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on the findings of the recently released Australian National...
    • Sinodinos, Senator Arthur (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Under what circumstances will Senator Sinodinos return as Assistant Treasurer? Will the Prime Minister reappoint the Assistant Treasurer if ICAC makes a...
    • Child Care (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Education. Will the minister update the House on the government's action to restore affordability, flexibility and accessibility to the childcare sector?
    • Budget (30 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer confirm whether his mini-budget will include revenue from the GP tax even though it has no chance of passing the Senate?
    • Superclinics (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. I refer the minister to the empty paddock in my electorate where the Caboolture GP superclinic should be. I thought perhaps he could update the House on...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Earlier in question time, we did have a parliamentary delegation from the Kenyan parliament. They were on a study visit and the delegates are members of the Joint Parliamentary Broadcasting and...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Budget (1 speech)
      I wish to add to an answer. The total permanent force of the Australian Defence Force is increasing by 735 over the next four years. This is why the budget for salaries has gone up. In addition...
  • 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.
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Collins, Ms Louisa (1 speech)
      In January 1889, Louisa Collins of Botany walked calmly to the gallows at Darlinghurst Gaol. After an incredible four trials and a conviction for murdering her two husbands, Louisa became the...
    • WestConnex (2 speeches)
      I rise this evening to talk about a critical piece of infrastructure for my electorate of Banks: the WestConnex project, which is absolutely fundamental to the motorists of my region. The record...
    • Electorate of Longman (3 speeches)
      As this is the last sitting week of the year, I think it is really important that we reflect on what has been an amazing year of achievement locally. Probably the biggest difference that I have...
    • Blair Electorate: Disability (1 speech)
      My electorate of Blair is blessed to have many fine disability service providers who work tirelessly to improve the lives of people with disability in the Ipswich and Somerset region. Last...
    • Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (1 speech)
      I wish to raise tonight, for the second time in just over a week—because last Monday I drew the House's attention to competition policy—a critical issue for the future of our nation,...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • L'Arche (1 speech)
      On Saturday I had the privilege of launching a book that was written by Geoff Rigby, Stephen Rigby and David Treanor. This book is called My Home in L'Arche. It is a book of stories that come...
    • Glowrey, Dr Sister Mary (1 speech)
      A few weeks ago I was visited by a constituent, Robyn Fahy, and a friend, Karin Clark, wife of Robert Clarke, member for Box Hill. They came to inform me of an exciting new development which has...
    • Seniors: Health Care (1 speech)
      I recently held four seniors morning teas in my Isaacs electorate as part of Seniors Week celebrations. I find these events an excellent opportunity for me to talk to seniors in the Isaacs...
    • Petrie Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
      I want to quickly talk about the 3,000-plus small businesses that operate within the federal seat of Petrie. I want to thank them for the staff they employ and for their valued contribution to...
    • Brisbane Storms (1 speech)
      On the night of Thursday, 27 November, Brisbane was hit by a terrible storm, a storm with wind gusts of more than 140 kilometres per hour, with golf ball sized hail, that led to dozens of people...
    • Lyne Electorate: Expressway Spares (1 speech)
      I rise to bring to the attention of the House a major milestone for a major local company operating in my electorate of Lyne. Recently Expressway Spares celebrated 50 years of successful...
    • Bendigo Electorate: Saltworks Community Dinner (1 speech)
      Today I rise to congratulate the community of Eaglehawk, who came together recently to raise funds for their community Saltworks dinner. Over 120 people joined Jacinta Allan MP, Maree Edwards MP...
    • Solomon Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
      The Essington School in my electorate of Solomon recently had its preschool graduation ceremony for its modern Montessori pupils. Fifty-two young, bright minds attended the ceremony to perform...
    • World AIDS Day (1 speech)
      I would like to put on record and recognise the fact that today is World AIDS Day. I know that members across this parliament remember that today is World AIDS Day and pay tribute to all the work...
    • Small Business (2 speeches)
      Small business makes an incredibly important contribution to our economy. There are more than 13,000 registered small businesses in the electorate of Ryan, providing tens of thousands of jobs and...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Cyclone Tracey (4 speeches)
      I move: (1)acknowledges that 24 December marks 40 years since Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin, killing 71 people and destroying 70 per cent of buildings, including 80 per cent of residential...
    • Palestine (12 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that as of 1977, the United Nations made 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People; (2) recognises 2014 as the United Nations...
    • Coastal Shipping (15 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (l) acknowledges the detrimental results of the former Labor Government's coastal shipping regulatory changes introduced between 2009 and 2012 which have significantly...
    • Lung Health Awareness Month (7 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that November is Lung Health Awareness Month; (2) acknowledges that lung disease contributes to more than 10 per cent of the overall health burden in Australia,...
    • Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope Project (4 speeches)
      I move: That this House:   (1) acknowledges the key role that Australia is playing in the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project to build the world's largest radio...
    • Shop Small Month (6 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) November was Shop Small month; (b) Shop Small is an annual event designed to encourage people to explore their local small businesses; (c) small...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Transport Workers Union and Virgin Australia (2 speeches)
      I rise today to congratulate the Transport Workers Union and Virgin Australia for their leadership in creating a workplace environment that supports employees experiencing family violence. Under...
    • Boothby Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
      The NBN Co today released their national rollout plan to June 2016. There are a large number of suburbs in the electorate of Boothby where the fixed line build will commence over the next 18...
    • World AIDS Day (1 speech)
      Today is World AIDS Day. This year's global World AIDS Day theme is 'Getting to Zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths'. Today we recognise the tireless...
    • Burns, Mr James Drummond 'JD' (1 speech)
      Yesterday the Casey Electric paid tribute to a local Anzac, JD Burns, who had grown up the Lilydale electorate. He joined up in February 1915, arrived in Gallipoli in September 1915 and was...
    • Member for Fraser: Staff (1 speech)
      Politics is a team sport. In 2014 I am fortunate to have had an exceptional group of people assisting me with speeches, articles, policy ideas and electoral engagement for the most populous...
    • Hasluck Electorate: Men's Sheds (1 speech)
      My electorate of Hasluck in Western Australia is lucky enough to have men's sheds in the Foothills, Gosnells, Kalamunda and Hillside regions. Men's sheds are an established part of the health...
    • Dudley Public School: Victoria Cross Recipients (1 speech)
      During the First World War only 63 Victoria Crosses were awarded to members of the Australian armed forces. Very specially, two were awarded to former students of Dudley Public School. That is...
    • Anzac Centenary (1 speech)
      Since I last updated the House, I am pleased to congratulate a number of new recipients in the Higgins electorate of the government's Anzac Centenary local grants program. The program is helping...
    • Indi Electorate: Kiewa Valley Primary School (1 speech)
      In response to a carefully scripted letter from students at Kiewa Valley Primary School, in Tangambalanga, asking me for a new national flag, earlier in November I drove to their school and...
    • Solomon Electorate: Education (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about the great opportunities being provided to schools around Darwin and Palmerston, in my electorate, through the Capital Grants Program. Five schools in my electorate...
    • Canberra Electorate: Post and Ante Natal Depression Support and Information (1 speech)
      During Postnatal Depression Awareness Week in November, I had the great honour of visiting PANDSI, which provides support to families in my electorate of Canberra. PANDSI aims to improve the...
    • Hinkler Electorate: 2014 (1 speech)
      This year, 2014, has been a great year in the Hinkler electorate, and I have delivered on each of the election commitments that I made to my constituents. Ministers, assistant ministers and...
    • Wardle, Mr Clinton and Mrs Trish (1 speech)
      On Saturday, 6 December, I will be attending a farewell function for Clinton and Trish Wardle, who will be moving on after a decade as ministry team leaders of the Churches of Christ Modbury. The...
    • Longman Electorate: National Broadband Network (1 speech, 1 comment)
      Today the communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and I were proud to announce that we are adding Goodwin Beach, Sandstone Point, Ningi and Beachmere to the rollout of the NBN. This is on top...
    • Scullin Electorate: Bubup Wilam (1 speech)
      I spent most of Friday helping out on prepoll in the Victorian state election, but I was pleased to take a brief break to attend the Christmas celebrations for the Bubup Wilam early childcare...
    • International Day of People with Disability (2 speeches)
      The third of December is International Day of People with Disability. There will be a number of events in Macarthur to celebrate this day and raise awareness of the challenges people living with...
    • Victoria State Election (1 speech)
      I want to put on the record my appreciation for the phenomenal Labor candidates who stood in the state seats that make up my federal seat of Chisholm. Given that I live within a sea of blue in...
    • Braddon Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
      Today marks yet another positive day in the life of this government and in the life of the NBN Co. The NBN is back on track. If it had not been for the intervention of this government, the...
    • Mission Australia Youth Survey 2014 (1 speech)
      This morning I attended Mission Australia's release of their Youth Survey 2014. It was rather a disturbing set of figures that were released. The survey was conducted across 13,600 respondents....
    • Townsville Enterprise (1 speech)
      In Canberra last week, it was my pleasure to host the mayors from my region. Bill Lowis from the Burdekin, Jenny Hill from Townsville, Rodger Bow from Hinchinbrook, Frank Beveridge from Charters...
    • Great Victorian Bike Ride (1 speech)
      There is no better way to experience North-East Victoria than to take in the sights on a bicycle. On Sunday, about 4,000 bike riders started the 2014 Great Victorian Bike Ride. They wound their...
    • Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
      Earlier this year I had the enriching experience of participation in the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program, spending a week attached to the 51st Battalion Far North Queensland...
    • World AIDS Day (1 speech)
      I commend the member for taking part in that fabulous program. I rise today to mark World AIDS Day. HIV can affect anyone. I think back to the 1980s when AIDS gripped this nation. It was an...
    • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
      Good government is about vision and planning. The aim is to make sure that our final outcome is always of benefit to the Australian nation. Just before the election in 2013 we were assured by the...
    • Indi Electorate: Pangerang Community House (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Pangerang Community House art students on the diverse and colourful art exhibition opened on Friday, 24 October at the Wangaratta Library. Everybody should be...
    • Bowman Electorate: Charity Work (1 speech)
      Indisputably the best place in Australia to live, work and play, Redland city, and its council, have had some extraordinary partnerships with the non-profit sector in 2014. Led by the...
    • Shortland Electorate: Breast Cancer, Shortland Electorate: Seniors Forum (1 speech)
      I would like to share with the House two fantastic events that took place in the Shortland electorate. On 30 October this year I advised the House that I would be holding a breast cancer morning...
    • Wright Electorate: Road Safety (1 speech)
      I rise to offer a challenge to every single resident of my electorate of Wright as we move into this Christmas break. Earlier today I was looking at last year's road toll statistics. In the year...
    • Community Living Project (1 speech)
      I was so pleased yesterday to attend the 30th birthday of the Community Living Project. This is a project that supports people with a disability to live full and independent lives. Indeed, it was...
    • Gilmore Electorate: National Broadband Network (2 speeches)
      Today is an exciting today. For more than two years now we have been wondering about what is going to happen with the NBN, with an extended delivery notice of 2019, 2021, 2024 and so on. But now,...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 5, committee and delegation business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Education and Employment Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      It is important today that I rise to talk on the report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment inquiry into TAFE and its operations, which was recently...
    • Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry; Report (7 speeches)
      I take the opportunity to make some brief remarks about the report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry, A clearer message for consumers. I appreciated being a member of the...
    • Standing Committee on Economics; Report (2 speeches)
      I rise to speak on the report of the Standing Committee on Economics entitled Report on foreign investment in residential real estate.I want to begin by thanking all of the committee staff who...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Vietnam (1 speech)
      As International Human Rights Day falls next week, it is appropriate for us to think about the many thousands of innocent people that are being harassed, abused and imprisoned for seeking to...
    • Banks Electorate (1 speech)
      I am looking forward to the opportunity this evening of informing the House about a number of community organisations in my electorate who have been doing some fantastic work. Before I do that,...
    • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
      I want to thank the member for Fowler just now for reminding us that it is international Human Rights Day next week on 10 December and for once again honouring and speaking up for the victims of...
    • Lyne Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      As we pass through the last sitting week of parliament for this year, I thought it was appropriate that I bring to the attention of the House some of the local achievements in the Lyne...
    • Abbott Government (1 speech)
      Those great philosophers, Jagger and Richards, wrote and sang in 1965: 'I can't get no satisfaction'. Australian voters might be reminding themselves of this today, as they consider the...
    • Moore Electorate (2 speeches)
      In speaking to this adjournment debate, I wish to place on record the main challenges facing the Moore electorate and set out a vision for improving the standard of living for my constituents....