House debates

Monday, 24 November 2014

  • Run for Your Lifeline Canberra 2014 (1 speech)
    It was my pleasure yesterday to participate in the Lifeline Canberra half-marathon on the about-to-be-opened Majura Parkway. It was a great sporting event, and I pay tribute to the Lifeline team,...
  • White Ribbon Day (1 speech)
    Tomorrow is White Ribbon Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence, particularly violence against women and children. I call on our community to continue to work together to...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech, 1 comment)
    I was devastated today when I learnt how the Abbott government's cuts to the ABC were going to impact on my local area. ABC Newcastle 1233 has been downgraded from a metropolitan station to...
  • Capricornia Electorate: Cathedral College Boarding Facility (1 speech)
    Country families from remote parts of Capricornia and the city's economy in Rockhampton will benefit from a new $6.5 million Rockhampton school-boarding facility. Recently I had the pleasure of...
  • Small Remittance Companies (1 speech)
    I rise to inform the House today that thousands of small remittance companies are facing closure. One by one, Australian banks have closed the accounts needed to facilitate international...
  • Moorambilla Voices (1 speech)
    Moorambilla Voices tells the story of the outback choir that was put together by artistic director Michelle Leonard. The documentary that is on ABC next Sunday night, 30 November, charts a small...
  • Cunningham Electorate: Fifty Plus (1 speech)
    I would like to report to the House that, in October 1998, some Wollongong citizens who attended the NewDay Church, which was formerly known as the Wollongong Church of Christ, commenced a...
  • Dawson Electorate: Coal Industry (1 speech)
    There is a downturn in Australian coal, mainly due to global prices being down, which was brought on by an oversupply of the market, but it has not been aided in the last few years by high input...
  • Such, Hon. Dr Robert Bruce 'Bob' (1 speech)
    Today I pay tribute to Dr Bob Such, who died on 11 October whilst in office as a member of the South Australian parliament after a lengthy period of poor health. Bob Such was the independent...
  • New South Wales Central Coast (1 speech)
    I rise to congratulate the Daily Telegraph and the Central Coast Express Advocate on their campaign for a better future for the Central Coast. In doing so, I commend Gosford City Council, the New...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    I rise today to express my outrage that news of job losses and program cuts at the ABC as a result of the Abbott government's funding cuts. The ABC is set to lose up to 10 per cent of its...
  • Deakin Electorate: Community Cup (1 speech)
    I wish to record my congratulations and thanks to everyone who took part in the inaugural Deakin Community Cup. It was my pleasure to host this event in partnership with the Box Hill Reporter...
  • Bendigo electorate: Youth Choir (1 speech)
    Last Friday, the Bendigo Youth Choir celebrated its 30th year. It celebrated in typical Bendigo Youth Choir style by hosting a concept at the Bendigo Capitol Theatre. In attendance were many of...
  • Domestic Violence (1 speech)
    I was privileged to be able to join the Limestone Coast Family Violence Action Group for their annual White Ribbon breakfast last Friday in Mount Gambier. I want to acknowledge the efforts of...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service (1 speech)
    I too rise today to condemn this Liberal-National government's harsh cuts to the ABC and SBS. As we all know, this is another broken promise. Speaking on SBS news the night before the election,...
  • Page Electorate: St Mary's Church Centenary (1 speech)
    At 9.30 this Sunday, 30 November, I will be at mass to celebrate the centenary of the St Mary's Catholic church in Grafton. The church was opened on 29 November 1914. This was in fact after the...
  • Indi Electorate: Yea Community Garden (1 speech)
    Yea is one of the wonderful communities in my electorate of Indi, and today I would like to pay tribute to the Yea Community Garden in celebrating its first anniversary. This dynamic community...
  • Calare Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
    As we fast approach Christmas and the end of the school year, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the schools, students and teachers in my electorate. I have found that each...
  • Makin Electorate: Croatian Festa (1 speech)
    On Saturday, 6 December, the South Australian Croatian community will host its annual Croatian Festa at their clubrooms and grounds at Sports Park in the Makin electorate. It is a day of Croatian...
  • Bennelong Electorate: Camp Quality (1 speech)
    I rise to tell the House about Camp Quality, a charity based in my electorate of Bennelong. Camp Quality's purpose is simple: to create a better life for every child living with cancer in...
  • Shortland Electorate: Northlakes Public School (1 speech)
    On Wednesday, 5 November I attended Northlakes Public School and officially reopened their special playground area, their fenced play area. They have a support unit at Northlakes Public School...
  • Mallee Electorate: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
    So often, when people buy a vehicle in my electorate, they will tune it to the ABC and they will drive that vehicle for a duration of time. They will, of course, when they trade it in, still have...
  • Dawson, Ms Liz OAM (1 speech)
    Last Sunday, the tenacious social advocate and feminist Liz Dawson OAM died after a long battle with bowel cancer. Liz leaves an enormous legacy, including Common Ground, which is supported...
  • Pamela Hergenhan Exhibition (1 speech)
    As a lover of art, I am proud to share a story today about a local artist in my electorate who had the opportunity to showcase an impressive array of her artwork during the G20 Leaders' Summit in...
  • Bendigo Electorate: Mount Alexander Solar Homes (1 speech)
    The latest edition of MASH, Mount Alexander Solar Homes, is great news. Another 680 solar panels were delivered to Castlemaine last Tuesday, with the number of solar panels delivered to MASH...
  • Lyne Electorate: Agriculture (1 speech)
    I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people from the Lyne electorate in the agricultural sector who participated in a number of forums last week. On Wednesday, the Minister...
  • Into Our Hands Foundation (1 speech)
    Philanthropy is about giving, and Indi is well and truly into giving. Following the 2009 fires, when the whole of Australia gave, the Into Our Hands Foundation was established to support the...
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
    Today Mark Scott of the ABC chose to take the low-hanging fruit instead of making the tough decisions with the ABC, in my opinion, by closing the production studios in Adelaide and winding down...
  • Northern Women's Health Centre (2 speeches)
    On Thursday, 13 November I visited the Northern Women's Health Centre at Wyong. I note that the member for Dobell, the member for Robertson and Senator Deb O'Neil have all attended this centre...