House debates
Thursday, 19 March 2015
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- New South Wales State Election (1 speech)
This government cries crocodile tears when it comes to pensioners and families, and this is particularly evident to families and pensioners in Western Sydney. All the 15,000 pensioners there know...
- Wannon Electorate: 39th Port Fairy Folk Festival (1 speech)
This month saw the 39th Port Fairy Folk Festival take place in my electorate of Wannon. The Port Fairy Folk Festival is one of the jewels in the calendar of events along the south-west coast of...
- New South Wales State Election (1 speech)
The Abbott government's cuts are hurting the people of New South Wales, particularly in regional areas like my electorate of Richmond. One of the worst affected by these cuts will be age...
- Forde Electorate: Beenleigh State High School (1 speech)
I am proud to be able to acknowledge the students of Beenleigh State High School, who have become champions of agriculture through a unique on-farm learning scheme. The Show Team is an ongoing...
- New South Wales State Election (1 speech)
The Abbott government has waged war on the people of New South Wales, and the Baird Liberal government has done absolutely nothing to protect them. In Shortland electorate there are 21,877...
- Greek Independence Day (1 speech)
I wish to inform the house that this Sunday, 22 March, there will be a memorial service for Greek Independence Day. This Sunday will be of special significance in the electorate of Barton, where...
- New South Wales State Election (2 speeches)
In nine days time, the people of New South Wales will be given the opportunity to send a clear message to Tony Abbott through his surfing buddy, Mike Baird, a man who has been completely gutless...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- New South Wales State Election (1 speech)
New South Wales Premier Mike Baird, the good friend of the Prime Minister, and his coalition government have forgotten the people of Western Sydney that I represent at a federal level. The things...
- Bonner Electorate: Mobile Phone Towers (2 speeches)
I would like to commend a grassroots action group in Bonner for their dedication to protecting residents and wildlife in Gumdale and Wakerley. The No Telstra Tower near Gumdale School group was...
- Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
- Tunisia: Terrorist Attack (3 speeches)
On indulgence, I wish to inform the House that there has been a terrorist atrocity in Tunisia. There has been an attack on the national museum in Tunis in which many people have been killed or...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
I inform the House that the Minister for Trade and Investment will be absent from question time today due to illness. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will answer questions on his behalf.
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Abbott Government (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will he take his plans for $100,000 degrees to the next election? Will he take his plans for $6,000 cuts to family payments to the next election? Will the...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on action the government is taking to strengthen our national security?
- Budget (10 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to an ABC report titled Federal officials concerned budget process is adrift two months before it is delivered. If it is five minutes to midnight,...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the terrorist attack in Tunisia and the threat posed by violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters?
- Economy (3 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why was net debt of 13 per cent of GDP a 'debt and deficit disaster' but net debt of 50 to 60 per cent of GDP a 'pretty good result'?
- Broadband (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Communications. In my electorate of Indi there is great support for the NBN, and constituents regularly call my office for information. While I know that the...
- Budget (4 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said, 'a ratio of debt to GDP at about 50 or 60 per cent is a pretty good result'. Does the Treasurer agree with Captain Chaos?
- Child and Forced Marriage (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister advise the House of steps the government is taking to stop children being forced into marriage.
- Budget (9 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister—if he chooses to answer.
- Economy (10 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the state of the Australian economy. How will a strong economy help all Australians, including in my electorate of Banks?
- Budget (23 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the Prime Minister said: … a ratio of debt to GDP at about 50 or 60 per cent is a pretty good result … But isn't it the case that Tony...
- Motions (0 speeches)
- Prime Minister; Attempted Censure (24 speeches)
I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House condemns the Prime Minister for: (1)leading a chaotic and incompetent government which seeks to: (a)slug Australian students with...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Presentation (2 speeches)
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)
- Indigenous Affairs (11 speeches)
I have received a letter from the honourable the Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The need to...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- National Close the Gap Day (1 speech)
I will continue with my speech earlier in relation to closing the gap. I note the comments of the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee co-chair, Mick Gooda, and the comments of campaign...
- Gilmore Electorate (1 speech)
Getting back to the electorate for a week wedged between a set of two sitting fortnights helps put a reality flavour back into the work of being in politics. My first Saturday began with an...
- Corporate Taxation (1 speech)
Since coming to office, the Abbott government has given $1.1 billion of tax breaks back to multinationals while cutting family payments for low- and middle-income households and cutting the wages...
- Foreign Investment (1 speech)
This afternoon I want to draw the attention of the House, again, to an important issue that a number of residents in my electorate of Deakin have taken the time over many months, indeed years, to...
- Iraq (1 speech)
In parliament two weeks ago the Prime Minister announced that Australia will commit 300 further personnel on the ground in Iraq to provide training to the Iraqi Army, even though, when...
- Intergenerational Report: 2015 (2 speeches)
I rise today to reflect on some opportunities and challenges identified in the 2015 Intergenerational report. In particular, I want to reflect on some of my biggest learnings from almost 20 years...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Health Services (1 speech)
I rise to talk about palliative care, an important issue for my own electorate, but also an important issue for the country. Last week I was down in Tasmania, in Longford, discussing elderly...
- Bass Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
While campaigning full time over two years as the Liberal candidate for Bass, I would often be asked, 'What are your key priorities, the things you intend to fight for should you become our local...
- East West Link (1 speech)
Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard frequently stated that, when it comes to elections, the electorate always gets its pretty much right. So I rise today to ask members opposite,...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
The statistics around mental illness in this country are most concerning. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, mental health and substance use disorders account for about half the...
- Parramatta Electorate: North Parramatta Heritage Precinct (1 speech)
There is a growing disbelief and indeed anger in my community about the state government's plans to redevelop the North Parramatta heritage precinct. The planning process has been, shall we say,...
- Australian Natural Disasters (1 speech)
Deputy Speaker Scott, what I am about to speak on comes as no surprise to you because we share boundaries, between Maranoa and Flynn, and there is a stark contrast between our areas. Maranoa has...
- Australian Public Service (1 speech)
As I stand here today, every single enterprise agreement across the entire Australian Public Service has expired—that is, across 117 agencies. Out of those 117, only 19 agencies have tabled...
- Reid Community Cup (1 speech)
I was delighted on Sunday to have launched the inaugural Reid Community Cup at Timbrell Park in Five Dock, a five-a-side soccer tournament with eight teams representing Reid's local charities and...
- Health Funding (3 speeches)
I am rising today to talk about the shocking health cuts in New South Wales. The first Abbott budget slashed $50 billion from public hospitals around the country—cuts, of course, that every...
- Durack Electorate: Pollinators (1 speech)
City Hive in Geraldton in the mid-west region of the electorate of Durack is the home of Pollinators, a robust centre of innovation, connectivity and community. On the back of receiving federal...
- Environment (1 speech)
I frequently receive representations from my constituents in Fremantle regarding their concern for the crisis in the marine environment. Factors such as population growth, increasing consumption,...
- International Women's Day (1 speech)
In the spirit of International Women's Day, I want to share with the House some of the extraordinary women from my electorate. Pearl Ogden OAM, a well-known passionate Territory researcher,...
- Petition: Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
I present to the House a petition I have received from the Wills Chapter of the Grandmothers against Detention of Refugee Children. The petition read as follows— To the Honourable The...
- Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
Anzac Day 2015 will be a special moment in our nation's history, as we commemorate the 100 years since diggers stepped foot on the beaches at Gallipoli and as we mark the centenary of our...
- Vietnam: Human Rights (1 speech)
Yesterday I attended the human rights rally that was organised by the Vietnamese Community in Australia to raise awareness of the widespread human rights violations that are currently occurring...
- Robertson Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
We are just over a month away from a very significant day in our nation's history—a day where, across the Central Coast, tens of thousands of people will pause on the Centenary of Anzac to...
- Holt Electorate (1 speech)
Today I wish to praise the quality, the enthusiasm and the capacity of our young people in the Casey region. It was again on display in two recent events. One was a Grand Prix event at Mossgiel...
- Mallee Electorate (1 speech)
One of the great things about being a member of parliament is the people you meet and the people you get to represent, and that goes for all sides of the parliament. I am very biased about my...
- National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (1 speech)
Tomorrow, Friday 20 March, is National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. I will be attending the launch of the booklet A safer nation for every generation, along with the CEO of the...
- Forde Electorate: Volunteers (2 speeches)
It was some time ago now that I partnered with Do Something Near You, to launch a website making it easier for people to volunteer locally. This is a fantastic initiative, especially in my...
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Calwell Electorate: Food and Beverage Growth Plan Melbourne's North (1 speech)
At a time when the manufacturing sector is undergoing significant challenges with thousands of jobs going overseas as major manufacturers relocate offshore and Australia's overall unemployment...
- Hasluck Electorate: Baseball (1 speech)
During my time serving the people of Hasluck, I have had the opportunity to meet with many inspiring people. One of those people is a fellow Western Australian who is little-known in the...
- Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre (1 speech)
On 11 March this year, the Central Coast Community Women's Health Centre made a presentation to the Senate Select Committee on Health. This is an organisation that delivers on-the-ground services...
- Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
The coalition government will resettle 13,750 refugees in Australia this year. We are increasing the size of our humanitarian program to 18,750 places by 2018-19. This will allow an extra 7,500...
- Harmony Day (1 speech)
A few weeks ago in this chamber, I spoke about some of the disturbing incidents in which some law-abiding Australian citizens have been made to feel like they do not belong in our society,...
- Wright electorate: Education (1 speech)
I acknowledge the previous speaker's contribution to this national Harmony Day, the impact that it has in this place and more broadly across our great nation, and the contributions that everyone...
- Indi Electorate: Financial Assistance Grants (3 speeches)
I would like to second the comments of the member for Wright. It is just fantastic to see the passionate interest he has in education and to see him acknowledging all those wonderful people who...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
I often refer to a concept I call the 'country-city compact'—basically, the recognition that country Australia needs to have a fair share of attention and resources. It is about ensuring...
- Blair Electorate: Ipswich Motorway (1 speech)
Why have the Prime Minister and the Liberal-National Party government reneged on their promises to fix the Darra to Rocklea section of the Ipswich Motorway? This is the remaining bottleneck on...
- Dobell Electorate: Lifeline (1 speech)
I rise today to share the story of Lifeline Newcastle and Hunter and the Steel Magnolia Awards. Lifeline on the Central Coast was established in 1966, when Reverend John Chegwidden received a...
- Bendigo Electorate: Financial Assistance Grants (1 speech)
I was going to speak today about the NBN and the lack of NBN service in Bendigo—the fact that Bendigo has been knocked off the map. But I want to take a moment to pick up on the...
- Mainwaring, Mr Robert Geoffrey (Bob) OAM, JP (1 speech)
I rise to offer my thoughts on the wonderful life of Bob Mainwaring OAM, JP who passed away on 11 March—only last week. I had the privilege yesterday of attending his funeral. It was a...
- Electorate of Fraser: Employment (1 speech)
Prime Minister Abbott told a press conference this week that the upcoming budget would be 'much less exciting' than last year's. This suggests to me that the Prime Minister found it exciting to...
- Broadband (1 speech)
I was delighted earlier this week to receive an update on the rollout of the National Broadband Network from both the Minister for Communications and the Department of Communications. Prior to...
- Domestic Violence (1 speech)
In my discussions with stakeholders as shadow parliamentary secretary to the shadow Attorney-General, the Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC, I have sadly found that family law and domestic violence,...
- Queensland: Cyclone Marcia, Beef Australia 2015 (1 speech)
The recovery continues in my electorate of Capricornia following the devastating impact of Cyclone Marcia on 20 February. It impacted on primary producers, small business and the general...
- Lalor Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
I rise today to talk about the multiplicity of difficulties that we are having in my electorate in telecommunications. I say it is a multiplicity of difficulties because it is very difficult to...
- Barton Electorate: Harmony Day (1 speech)
I rise to inform the House that this Saturday, 21 March is Harmony Day. Harmony Day is a very special celebration of our multicultural Australia, a nation we share with people from many different...
