House debates

Monday, 17 August 2015

  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Responses (1 speech)
      Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
    • Statements (1 speech)
      Speaker, as you are aware, in my capacity as Chair of the Petitions Committee, each sitting Monday at this time I present petitions and ministerial responses to the House. This morning there is a...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Youth With a Mission Medical Ships Australia (5 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the MV YWAM PNG was commissioned by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, the Hon. Peter O'Neill MP, on 21 April 2015; (2) notes that the ship has been...
    • Australian Hearing Awareness Week (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House notes that: (1) Australian Hearing Awareness Week runs from 23 to 29 August 2015; (2) Australia has world class hearing services including those which have been delivered...
    • Australian Defence Force (9 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges and supports the deployed Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel currently serving overseas; (2) recognises that: (a) there are currently well over...
  • Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
    • Canning Electorate; Issue of Writ (1 speech)
      I inform the House that earlier today, Monday, 17 August 2015, I issued a writ for the election of a member to serve for the electoral division of Canning in the state of Western Australia to...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Bright P-12 College (1 speech)
      It gives me great pleasure today to talk about leadership in rural and regional Australia and to welcome into this House eight outstanding leaders from Bright in the beautiful Ovens Valley:...
    • Gilmore Electorate (1 speech)
      You have to love being back in the electorate when you see the re-opening of the Ulladulla marine rescue facility as the lead event on Saturday morning. Quite literally, Ken Lambert and his team...
    • Netball World Cup (1 speech)
      I rise to congratulate Netball Australia and the International Netball Federation on a fabulous netball World Cup, held in Sydney across 10 days with record-breaking crowds watching 16 teams play...
    • Deakin Electorate: Deakin Community Awards (1 speech)
      Over the parliamentary recess, I was pleased to host the annual Deakin Community Awards. These awards are something that I really enjoy being part of. They provide a fantastic opportunity for the...
    • Chifley Electorate: Blacktown City Council (1 speech)
      I am a proud son of Blacktown. I grew up there, was schooled there and bought my first home there. From time to time we have had people suggest our city change its name. But I have never been...
    • Hume Electorate: Mobile Phone Towers (1 speech)
      The Wollondilly area in my electorate is a hive of activity. Sitting on the edge of Sydney, this area faces fantastic growth opportunities with the development of the Badgerys Creek airport, the...
    • Greenway Electorate: Blacktown City Council (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker, I am proud to say I was born in Blacktown. I am proud to say I live in the City of Blacktown. My time as a councillor and deputy mayor gave me a deep appreciation for the...
    • Wannon Electorate: Mobile Phone Service (1 speech)
      It is with great news that I rise today and tell the House that we are going to get 12 new or upgraded mobile base stations in the electorate of Wannon. In particular, we are going to get them at...
    • Kingsford Smith Electorate: NSW Policy Legacy and Eastern Suburbs PCYC (1 speech)
      On behalf of our community, I wish to congratulate and thank the officers and staff of the Eastern Beaches Police Local Area Command who hosted a masquerade ball on Saturday evening to raise...
    • Schaenzel, Mr Luke (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to recognise an outstanding resident from Forde who is heading to Brazil this month to represent Australia at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition. Mundoolun...
    • Canning Electorate: Jobs (1 speech)
      In a month's time, the people of Canning will have the opportunity to pass judgement on the Abbott government and let Tony Abbott know whether or not they agree with his assessment that he has...
    • Barton Electorate: Parking (1 speech)
      Barton residents have many things to be proud of: the proximity of the St George region to the Sydney CBD, the multitude of amenities in the area—including bike tracks, walkways, local...
    • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
      The Abbott government's recent, vague announcement in Adelaide that work on the offshore patrol vessels and the Future Frigate Program would be brought forward to 2018 and 2020 respectively and...
    • Bonner Electorate: EACH (1 speech)
      Today I would like to bring attention to a very special organisation in Bonner. The EACH social activity club has made a huge difference to the lives of a number of people in Wynnum and...
    • Indian Independence Day (1 speech)
      One of the things that I love about my multicultural community is the way we are linked through our people with some of the great events that have shaped the modern world. We have from our...
    • Master Builders Housing and Construction Awards (1 speech)
      The Master Builders' awards may well have been held in Hobart on Saturday night, but the winners were from the north-west and the electorate of Braddon. How those Hobartians are feeling today, I...
    • Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards (1 speech)
      Last month, I had the great pleasure of recognising some of Newcastle's most dedicated volunteers at the 2015 Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards. These awards are a terrific way for the Newcastle...
    • Netball (2 speeches)
      I rise to join the chorus of congratulations for our Aussie Diamonds netball team, who yesterday were triumphant winners over New Zealand at the World Cup final at the Sydney Olympic Park. This...
    • Domestic Violence (2 speeches)
      Domestic violence and violence against women must not be tolerated in our community. We, as a community, must work together to combat this. I was proud to join the Zonta club in arranging a...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Netball World Cup (2 speeches)
      On indulgence, I certainly join with the Leader of the Opposition, who has already spoken and may have a little more to add in a moment, to celebrate the extraordinary victory of the Diamonds...
    • World War II (3 speeches)
      On further indulgence, Mr Speaker, I seek to acknowledge the 70th anniversary, on 15 August, of victory in the Pacific and the end of the Second World War. The Second World War changed our...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Leave of Absence (1 speech)
      I advise the House that the Minister for the Environment will be absent until Thursday of this week as he is travelling to Papua New Guinea to conduct a series of bilateral meetings with...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, is it the case that Dyson Heydon AC, QC after he had been appointed royal commissioner accepted an invitation to speak at an event knowing...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the government's plan to strengthen the Australian economy and create opportunity in my home state of Queensland?
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer. He said: 'Once he became aware that it was a Liberal badged event he withdrew.' I also refer to the...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how the government is working to create a strong and prosperous economy, and what threats are there to the government's plans for jobs...
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. In an extraordinary statement today, Dyson Heydon AC QC has confirmed that he accepted an invitation to speak at a fundraiser knowing full well it was...
    • Nauru: Surveillance (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration. Whistleblowers last week reported that up to eight people extensively spied on Senator Hanson-Young over three days, including in her hotel room....
    • Trade with China (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House why it is important that the government's landmark free trade agreement with China comes into force...
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. In an extraordinary statement today, Dyson Heydon AC QC not only confirmed that he agreed to speak at a Liberal Party fundraiser over a year ago, while he...
    • Migration (15 speeches)
      Thank you, Mr Speaker, and, as this is my first opportunity, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment as Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection....
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to Dyson Heydon AC, QC agreeing to be the keynote speaker at a Liberal Party event. Will the Prime Minister direct his ministers and the New South...
    • Building and Construction Industry (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for Employment. Can you please update the House on the measures the government is introducing to restore the...
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's defence of Dyson Heydon AC, QC by repeatedly referring to comments by Julian Burnside QC. Is the Prime Minister aware that Mr...
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment. My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the Assistant Treasurer update the House on the government's action to strengthen the economy?...
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. An email from Gregory Burton, chair of the lawyers branch of the Liberal Party of New South Wales, of 10 April released by Mr Heydon today confirms that Mr...
    • Shipbuilding Industry (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister inform the House how the naval shipbuilding strategy announced by the government in Adelaide recently will help secure Australian...
    • Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How much is the Prime Minister's royal commissioner, the honourable Dyson Heydon AC QC, being paid?
    • Illicit Drugs (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Counter-Terrorism. Will the minister inform the House of action the government is taking to tackle the...
  • 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.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Centenary of Anzac (12 speeches)
      In the foyer of the Australian War Memorial sits an old lifeboat. It has been part of the collection since it opened. Most visitors would have passed it. At first glance it is unremarkable. Yet...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Schultz, Mr Albert John (23 speeches)
      I am honoured to speak today about one of the gentlemen of this House, Mr Alby Schultz, who sadly passed away on 13 July this year. Born in Melbourne in 1939 to a working class family, Alby did...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
    • Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance (1 speech)
      At 4.30 pm today I presented myself to His Excellency the Governor-General as the choice of the House as its Speaker, and His Excellency was kind enough to congratulate me. His Excellency also...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Tasmania: Economy (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, congratulations on your elevation to that high office. Tasmania's economy currently paints two very different pictures. It stands at a crossroads. There has been significant...
    • Higher Education (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, can I add my voice to the many congratulations, particularly today, when you have been formally recognised by the Governor-General as the Speaker of the House. I rise today to draw...
    • Moreton Electorate: Yeronga State High School (1 speech)
      On Friday 14 August I attended Yeronga State High School's Multicultural Day. This day celebrates the unique cultural diversity that exists at Yeronga State High. This school includes students...
    • La Trobe Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to discuss three major road projects urgently needed in my electorate of La Trobe. I know about these from speaking to local residents, from hearing from those who have...
    • Greenway Electorate: Type 1 Diabetes (1 speech)
      During the parliamentary recess, I had the opportunity to meet with some families in Greenway whose lives have been changed by the diagnosis of a family member with type 1 diabetes. The life of...
    • Sporting Schools (1 speech)
      I acknowledge the member for Greenway for her valuable contribution in bringing what is a debilitating disease to the attention of the House. I thank you for your contribution. I acknowledge you,...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Men's Sheds (1 speech)
      Last month I had the pleasure of visiting the Cardiff Early Education and Care Centre. It was a special day for the centre, because they were taking delivery of some new toys. These were not just...
    • Ice Epidemic (1 speech)
      Australia is in the midst of an ice epidemic. Every state and local government is affected, with the devastating effects of ice destroying young people and families across the country....
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      I rise today to hold the government to account for failing to keep their promises on broadband, which is having a very significant effect on the lives of the people living in my electorate and...
    • Tourism (1 speech)
      I am pleased to inform the House that there are a number of industries in Tasmania showing promising growth and green shoots of economic recovery. The tourism industry in particular is kicking...
    • Brand Electorate: Community Services (1 speech)
      I would like to talk today about the Abbott government's cuts to community service organisations and the devastating effect they are having on my community of Brand and the communities of...
    • Ahearn, Mr Brian (1 speech)
      Vale Brian Ahearn. I do not remember whether it was Neil or Isobel Trease who said to me, 'You should come out to Lyrebird Walk to see what's going on and see what the men are doing out there.' I...
    • Road Safety (1 speech)
      I rise in the House today to highlight and congratulate the Australian Medical Association and the Australasian New Car Assessment Program—ANCAP—who have joined forces. Last week in...
    • Tasmania: Wine industry (1 speech)
      I would just like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of the wine industry. What a vital industry it is—not only to our nation but, particularly, to my state of Tasmania....
    • Education (1 speech)
      Seven preschools attached to the Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges have recently undergone an assessment and rating, as part of the national quality framework for early childhood development. The...
    • Petrie Electorate (2 speeches)
      The North Lakes and Mango Hill area in my electorate of Petrie is a beautiful part of the world, and I would like to touch on a few of the projects I have been working on with locals in this...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Small Business (9 speeches)
      It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak on this motion moved by the member for Reid. Small and medium businesses are the engine room of the Australian economy and, of course, the engine...
    • Lyme Disease (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that May was Lyme Project month, a time when the Lyme Disease Association of Australia raises awareness and funds to provide ongoing advocacy for people living...
    • Trade (17 speeches)
      I seek leave to speak again without closing the debate. Leave granted. I welcome the opportunity to once again highlight the trifecta of mutually beneficial free trade agreements concluded by the...
    • Indigenous Marathon Project (6 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) established in 2010, the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) plays a valuable role in promoting healthy lifestyles in Indigenous communities, creating...
    • New Colombo Plan (5 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises that travelling and living overseas has been a rite of passage for young Australians for many years and has raised awareness of and respect for foreign...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Calwell Electorate: StartSmart Program (1 speech)
      Today I rise to speak about the Commonwealth Bank's StartSmart Program. The StartSmart Program is delivered to students across primary, secondary and vocational education settings and aims to...
    • Solomon Electorate: Darwin Skills Development Scheme (1 speech)
      Today the people of the Darwin Skills Development Scheme will be making final preparations to open their new premises tomorrow. I was delighted to receive an invitation to the opening, but I had...
    • National Science Week (1 speech)
      On Friday I attended St Mary's Catholic school at Gateshead—it is a year 7 to 10 school—for the launch of National Science Week. The thing that is so overwhelming about it is that the...
    • Kozak, Mr Austin (1 speech)
      It is my pleasure to inform the House of the achievement of Austin Kozak, a student from Lakes Grammar School in my electorate, who recently won the Chinese bridge speaking competition. The...
    • Business Excellence Awards Tweed Shire (1 speech)
      It was fantastic to attend the Business Excellence Awards Tweed Shire, or BEATS, on Saturday night. Our local small businesses are the heart of our local economy and our communities, and the...
    • Defence Procurement (1 speech)
      I rise to welcome the government's decision to implement a continuous build of surface warships in Australia but especially the construction of the Future Frigates in South Australia. I have been...
    • Macedonia (1 speech)
      On 30 March this year, Australians all over the country sat down to watch the Socceroos play a friendly football match on television. It would have caught many Australians by surprise, however,...
    • Dawson Electorate: Abbot Point (1 speech)
      I have been calling for our legal counteroffensive to stop the extreme green groups out there from engaging in 'lawfare,' or legal warfare, against job-creating projects. I issued the call due to...
    • Edwards, Mr Gregson Raymond (1 speech)
      It is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to one of Australia's great public servants and public diplomacy professionals, my friend and mentor the late Gregson Edwards, who...
    • Nepean-Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (1 speech)
      Today I rise to pass a bouquet to a wonderful local community organisation. They got me out of a spot of bother on Friday night. I was in my electorate doing various things when I managed to get...
    • Disability Housing (1 speech)
      In Bendigo, like many areas, we are trying to get on top of a problem which is a ticking time bomb. We, like many areas, have a number of ageing parents who are still caring for profoundly...
    • Aircraft Noise (1 speech)
      ) ( ): Today I rise to talk about aircraft noise in Western Australia. Airservices Australia has come in for criticism in the past seven years for the way they have handled Perth flight path...
    • Belmont Public School Art Show (1 speech)
      On Thursday, 6 August I attended Belmont Public School for their art show. This is the second art show that the school has conducted; the first was in 2013. I was overwhelmed with the quality of...
    • La Trobe Electorate: Upwey-Tecoma Community Recreational and Sporting Hub (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on a fantastic project in my electorate, and that is the Upwey-Tecoma Community Recreational and Sporting Hub. Not long ago I turned up with 300 local residents to show our...
    • Lyme Disease (1 speech)
      I rise today to acknowledge the debilitating and devastating impact of Lyme disease, which I only recently found out about through one of my community forums, where I met Marie Huttley-Jackson....
    • Environment (1 speech)
      Not only is Mallee the biggest electorate in Victoria; it is the most fun. Over the weekend I had to go to the Australian vanilla slice competition and, as their local representative, had to...
    • Women's Football (1 speech)
      Yesterday, many people—particularly in the states of Victoria and WA—would have turned on their TVs to watch the telecast of football. AFL is big in our states. But yesterday, if you...
    • Banks Electorate: M5 Motorway (1 speech)
      I am thrilled to have the opportunity to speak on an extremely important issue in my electorate. It is time that the easterly-direction ramps to the M5 at Riverwood were opened. At the moment you...
    • Vietnam Veterans (1 speech)
      Last weekend I attended two remembrance ceremonies for Vietnam veterans. The member for Dobell attended one of those with me—yesterday, when we attended the ceremony at the Keith Payne...
    • Page Electorate: Clarence Valley Business Excellence Awards (1 speech)
      I would like acknowledge a few people today: Adam Gordon, Erica Fletcher, and the whole team who put on the Clarence Valley Business Excellence Awards, on Saturday night at the Yamba Golf &...
    • Canberra Electorate: Subcontinental Community (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to wish Canberra's subcontinental community a happy Pakistan Independence Day, for last Friday, and Canberra's Indian community a happy Indian Independence...
    • Banks: Deposit Guarantees (1 speech)
      The Financial Claims Scheme played a vital role in stabilising investor and consumer confidence during the GFC, and Basel recommendations internationally now are that banks must prepare for the...
    • Bendigo Electorate: Medicare (1 speech)
      This government's attacks on Medicare are starting to be felt in our community, particularly in relation to the Medicare rebate being frozen until 2017. I would just like to read out a letter...
    • Robertson Electorate: Victory in the Pacific Day (1 speech)
      It was a great honour to pay respect to our servicemen and servicewomen on the Central Coast yesterday on the 70th anniversary of VP Day. On that day, 70 years ago, Japan surrendered...
    • Shortland Electorate: Centenary of the Battle of Lone Pine (1 speech)
      On Sunday, 9 August I attended Mannering Park's commemoration of the centenary of the Battle of Lone Pine. The service was conducted by Doyalson RSL in conjunction with the Mannering Park...
    • Herbert Electorate: Victory in the Pacific Day (1 speech)
      VP70 commemorations went off with a bang in Townsville as well. My congratulations to the Townsville City Council and all their partners who did such a fantastic job in bringing this fantastic...
    • Canberra Electorate: Tara Costigan Foundation (1 speech)
      Earlier this year, Canberrans were shocked to the core at the death of Tara Costigan through what is suggested was family violence. In response to that, the outpouring of grief and shock but also...
    • Trade with China (1 speech)
      This morning, union protesters rallied outside my office against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. I want to set the record straight on what the agreement means to the people of Flynn....
    • Bendigo Electorate: State Emergency Service and Victoria Police (2 speeches)
      My electorate and the town of Bendigo in recent weeks have been hit by two shocking incidents. In one, a woman lost her life—she was murdered in her own home in the early hours of the...
    • Grey Electorate: Economy (2 speeches)
      Today I would like to reiterate something that I have brought to the House's attention on a couple of occasions lately. Particularly difficult economic times are happening in the north of my...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Employment (1 speech)
      Last week we saw unemployment rise to over 800,000. This is simply not good enough. Our unemployment is too high, our youth unemployment is too high, our long-term unemployment is too high and...
    • Maranoa Electorate: Waltzing Matilda Centre (1 speech)
      I rise in the chamber in the grievance debate this afternoon to talk about the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton. There is the history, the story and the custodians, and of course it has recently...
    • Uber (1 speech)
      I am really here in this chamber tonight to speak about concerns that have been raised by my local taxi community, and they relate to the rise of the service called Uber and also its lack of...
    • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
      On 18 June 2015 the Senate referred the Water Amendment Bill 2015 provisions for inquiry and report. The closing date for submissions was Friday, 31 July. Given that this was, in effect, one of...
    • National Broadband Network (3 speeches)
      I rise to grieve about the absolute duplicity and dishonesty of this government and in particular the communications minister with regard to the National Broadband Network long-term satellite...
    • Voluntary Euthanasia (1 speech)
      Jay Franklin lives in constant pain and has all his life. He has a congenital bowel disease known as Hirschsprung disease. As a result, his pelvic cavity is riddled with infection, even after...
    • La Trobe Electorate: Community Grants (1 speech)
      I wish to inform the House of grants I recently announced, the Dandenong Ranges environment and bushfire fuel management community grants. In fact, the program will see a massive $2.4 million...
    • Macarthur Electorate: 100th Anniversary of Women in the New South Wales Police Force (1 speech)
      I rise today to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of women in the New South Wales Police Force. The anniversary marks a significant milestone for the force, which is celebrating the evolution...
    • Immunisation (1 speech)
      I was not really planning to speak in this grievance debate tonight, but I thought I would turn my mind to an issue that I think is very important within our community, and that issue is...
    • Research and Development (1 speech)
      I am going to continue in the theme of the member for Shortland, who will be delighted with more good news from Queensland when it comes to science research. Earlier this year I rose in this...
    • Trade with China (1 speech)
      I think it is important at this moment in time in this country that I put on record the concerns that I have with the China free trade agreement that this government has negotiated. It is unlike...