House debates

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

  • 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...
    • Public Works Committee; Report (3 speeches)
      I understand we should have the member for Moreton here to present the Public Works Committee report. I note he is not present. I make the point that it is the responsibility of members to make...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That business intervening before order of the day No. 7, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Catholic College Wodonga (1 speech)
      I am very pleased to welcome to the Australian parliament today students, staff and two foundation members of Catholic College Wodonga. They are visiting parliament today. I have a very close...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Treasurer on last night's budget announcements, which will support our Australian families, our most disadvantaged, our senior Australians and those who, like me...
    • Nepal Earthquake (1 speech)
      On 25 April, while Australia commemorated the Centenary of Anzac, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the worst natural disaster to strike Nepal since 1934. Casualties were also reported...
    • Environment: Bull Creek Reserve (1 speech)
      I recently visited the Bull Creek Reserve in my electorate of Tangney where the National Landcare Program is making a significant difference. The $2 billion program aims to enhance the...
    • Infrastructure (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Victorian Labor Andrews government for their infrastructure programs—for the Melbourne metro project, demonstrating that they are serious about public...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      Just a couple of weeks ago, just before Anzac Day, a group from my region spent a week in southern China, in Guangdong Province. It was organised on the back of Trade and Investment Queensland....
    • Newcastle Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
      I was delighted to recently host an awards ceremony for local sporting champions in Newcastle. It was such a pleasure to meet with these young athletes and their parents, coaches and supporters....
    • Special Broadcasting Service (1 speech)
      In the last fortnight, we saw a lot of controversy surrounding SBS with its program Struggle Street, and we saw a lot of garbage trucks go across to the SBS headquarters to protest against it....
    • Australia Council (1 speech)
      This budget is an unfair attack on the independence and integrity of the Australia Council. Arts funding decisions at arm's length from government and free of political interference have been...
    • Capricornia Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Last night's federal budget was measured, responsible and fair. In a vast place like Capricornia, one important factor is roads. Capricornia, Isaac, Rockhampton, Livingstone, Whitsunday and...
    • Working Holiday Visas (1 speech)
      Over the parliamentary break a number of issues were raised in the media, including on the Four Corners program, about the exploitation of temporary workers, people who come here in good faith,...
    • Australian Defence Force (1 speech)
      Today I rise to commend Army, Navy and Air Force, the three services that now finally remember those who made the supreme sacrifice by presenting their next of kin with a remembrance or...
    • Australia Council, Shop Local (1 speech)
      I join with the shadow arts minister in condemning the Abbott government's cuts to the Australia Council and the creation of what appears to be a cultural fiefdom. I rise today to speak about the...
    • Reid Electorate: Concord Briars Cricket Club (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about a great local sporting club in my electorate: the Concord Briars Cricket Club. Founded ten years ago, the club is an excellent example of a community focused sports...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      In last night's budget the Abbott government continued its refusal to invest in public transport. The misallocation of $925 million in the budget for the Perth Freight Link is proof that the...
    • Youth Allowance (1 speech)
      Changes announced in the federal 2015-16 budget last night have improved access to youth allowance under the independent criteria for more regional students. This is something I have fought for...
    • Community Pharmacies (1 speech)
      Last week, it was a real pleasure to catch up for a cup of coffee with one of my local community pharmacists, Russell Harding. Russell runs Harding's Pharmacy in Annerley, in my electorate of...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the government's budget announced last night—in particular, on the Growing Jobs and Small Business package which will assist employers to grow and to employ young job...
    • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
      Residents in my electorate are outraged over the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection's decision to deny a boat full of Vietnamese asylum seekers due process. About three weeks ago,...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      I rise today to pay tribute to the success of this year's budget and highlight a few measures that will be of great benefit to those living in my electorate of Macarthur. As the Treasurer...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Budget (42 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said in May of 2014, 'Every day in the lead up to the last election, I said to people that we were going to get debt and deficit under...
    • Indi Electorate: Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. I would like to say how good it was to see the Partnership for Regional Growth report...
    • Budget (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer inform the House how the government is encouraging jobs growth in the nation and, in particular, in my electorate of Wannon?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call the honourable member for Jagajaga, I would like to advise the House that we have with us today in the Speaker's gallery, Mr Steve Georganas, the former member for Hindmarsh....
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Budget (19 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree with the Minister for Social Services that mums who get more than 18 weeks paid leave at home with their new babies are...
    • Paid Parental Leave (31 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that Woolworths workers have negotiated an extra eight weeks parental leave? Why does the Prime Minister want to take this extra...
    • Budget (5 speeches)
      My question is for the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister inform the House how the budget will strengthen the economy, encourage investment and grow jobs in the small business sector?
    • Paid Parental Leave (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Victorian nurses have negotiated, in return for forgone wages, an additional 10 weeks of parental leave on top of the...
    • Budget (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister inform the House how the budget is supporting Australians making the choice to support themselves rather than rely on...
    • Paid Parental Leave (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Does the minister stand by the statement that he made on television where he said, 'In many cases I think it is a rort', where parents take...
    • Budget (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Will the minister inform the House how the government's universal access reforms will deliver certainty and consistency for parents and...
    • Paid Parental Leave (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Thousands of private sector employees at Myer have negotiated an additional six weeks parental leave on top of the government's paid maternity leave. Will...
    • Budget (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House on how the government's budget is bringing certainty to Australians with superannuation, and are there any...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 23 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday, 25 May 2015. The report will be...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Documents are presented in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (2 speeches)
      I move: That leave of absence for the remainder of the current period of sittings be given to the honourable Member for Wills, on the ground of ill health. Question agreed to.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Budget (23 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 failure of the...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Appropriations and Administration Committee; Membership (5 speeches)
      I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip nominating Mr Buchholz to be a member of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration in place of Mr Ruddock.
    • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights—another obligation I have assumed—I present the committee's 22nd report of the 44th Parliament entitled Human rights...
    • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, chaired by Senator Dean Smith, I present two reports: the first is the committee's Report 3/2015: Fit-out of new leased premises...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Fraser, Rt Hon. John Malcolm, AC, CH (2 speeches)
      I rise today to recognise the life of the Rt Hon. John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH and place on record my appreciation of his long and highly distinguished service to the nation and contribution to...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Centenary of Anzac (11 speeches)
      It is very rare for one word to be enough to arouse or inspire a nation, and 'Gallipoli' is one of those words. For Australia, Gallipoli is a kaleidoscope of memories and emotions, of debates and...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Maranoa Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
      I rise in this adjournment debate to talk about the lead-up to Anzac Day in my own constituency of Maranoa. First of all: 25 April 1915 gave birth to a legend—a legend that we as...
    • Holt Electorate: Police (1 speech)
      I address this chamber tonight to discuss a subject very dear to my heart, and I know the Australian community's heart: that is, the welfare of our police forces around the country—in...
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      Today, I take the opportunity to update the House on the NBN rollout in my electorate of O'Connor. It is timely to do so because we are now starting to see all three of the technologies starting...
    • Corio Electorate: National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      Like the member for O'Connor, I am awaiting eagerly what the Abbott government has in store for the rollout of the NBN to people in my electorate of Corio. It is certainly good news to hear that...
    • Hindmarsh Electorate: Budget, Hindmarsh Electorate: Health (1 speech)
      Firstly I would like to thank the Treasurer and the Prime Minister for the good work they have done in putting together this year's budget. Again, South Australia will receive more money from the...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      Last night in this place we saw a budget delivered. We saw a budget that was not about jobs for Australians but really about saving the Prime Minister's job. We saw a budget that really was about...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Budget (1 speech)
      I rise this morning to speak about the government's budget. The first budget exposed the big lies told to the electorate by those opposite to get the big jobs, to get government. They promised no...
    • Beef Australia 2015 (1 speech)
      Last week, Rockhampton and Capricornia hosted our nation's biggest cattle industry expo: Beef Australia 2015. I rise today to report this event as the most successful ever held in showcasing our...
    • Centenary of Anzac (2 speeches)
      This year, the Centenary of Anzac saw services held across Australia that were attended in record numbers, and had an understandably special intensity. That was certainly the case in Fremantle,...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      This is not the horror budget we saw last year, but it is still a bag of sugar and poison. For instance, the government's determination to cut family payments will hurt low-income families. A...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about an issue that faces many in our community—that is, mental health. I had the opportunity in the past week or so to visit a number of services that provide mental...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      Today I want to talk about the budget. I acknowledge that there are some positives in the budget. The economy has been tanking and the reintroduction of accelerated depreciation will be a...
    • Repatriation General Hospital (1 speech)
      The South Australian government seems to be living in a fantasy land when it comes to the Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital in my electorate of Boothby. This is a 300-bed local hospital that...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      During the autumn recess of the parliament, I have been holding street corner meetings in the suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor in the Scullin electorate. I have done so to make sure that I am...
    • Working Holiday Visas (2 speeches)
      Last week Four Corners examined an issue of great concern to me and the people of my electorate. I would like to reiterate a few points about the exploitation of seasonal and foreign workers in...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Walsh, Hon. Peter Alexander, AO (8 speeches)
      When the former Senator Nick Minchin retired from politics, he was sure to let everyone know that he was doing so as the country's longest serving finance minister. When asked who was the best in...
    • MacKellar, Hon. Michael John Randal, AM (4 speeches)
      I wish to be associated with this condolence motion. Michael MacKellar was a friend, a friend that I served with in this parliament till he left us in 1994. I served with him for some 20 years in...
  • Statements (0 speeches)
    • New South Wales and Queensland Storms (12 speeches)
      I rise today to reflect on the storm events that occurred in the week preceding Anzac Day. My electorate of Paterson bore, perhaps, the brunt of the storm that occurred in New South Wales. But I...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 13:00