House debates

Thursday, 3 March 2016

  • Animal Welfare (1 speech)
    It is very fortuitous that you are in the chair, Deputy Speaker O'Neil. We have been shocked at the too-frequent revelations of needless cruelty in foreign abattoirs to Australian processed...
  • Foreign Investment (1 speech)
    I rise today to address the concerns raised by an increasing number of constituents in Barker regarding foreign ownership of agricultural land. These concerns are being expressed to me via my...
  • Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
    At the outset, I want to make it very clear that I strongly support drug law reform—our prohibitionist policies have not worked. Indeed, one of my very real concerns, shared by many who...
  • Medicinal Marijuana (1 speech)
    Last year I was invited—and took pleasure in accepting the invitation—to attend a forum in St Marys on medicinal cannabis. Around 50 people attended to advocate for changes to...
  • Blair Electorate: Ipswich Motorway (1 speech)
    Over the last decade, 20 per cent of Australia's economic and employment growth has occurred in South-East Queensland. One in seven Australians now live in the region, and by 2031 it will be one...
  • Durack Electorate: Port Hedland (1 speech)
    I am very pleased today to speak about one of the fabulous towns in my electorate, Port Hedland. Later this year Port Hedland will celebrate its 120th birthday. In one of Australia's most...
  • Holt Electorate: Community Organisations (1 speech)
    In the outer suburbs of Melbourne in my electorate of Holt and in many other electorates, it is vital that we support and invest in community organisations. The Cranbourne Information and Support...
  • Capricornia Electorate: Water Infrastructure (1 speech)
    I am often talking up the need for this government to support water infrastructure in Capricornia. In the southern part of my electorate I have been pushing for Commonwealth and state funding for...
  • Taxation (1 speech)
    Today's BIS Shrapnel report is yet another attempt by the coalition's dirty tricks department to discredit the Labor Party's evidence based and very sound negative gearing policy. The Liberal...
  • International Women's Day (2 speeches)
    Today we are acknowledging the significance of women on International Women's Day, which is celebrated or acknowledged on 8 March annually. This morning with many of my colleagues I had the...
  • Royal Canberra Show (1 speech)
    Last year I had the pleasure of meeting with a number of bread bakers and bread-making judges at the Canberra Show. I was out there working on a Labor stand, and I gravitated, as I always do, to...
  • Exports, Lismore Samson Fitness Challenge (1 speech)
    The beef industry is very important to my region, not only to the producers but also to the over 1,000 people who work at the local meatworks in Casino. I say to the locals who work there, 'What...
  • Canberra International Flights (1 speech)
    Travel broadens the mind. One reason Canberra is such a cosmopolitan city is that it is a city of travellers. Canberrans have always traded confidently in the international marketplace of...
  • The Essington School (1 speech)
    I rise to advise the House of a visit I had last Friday to The Essington School in my electorate of Solomon. It was a great opportunity for me to meet with the new student leadership team. I was...
  • Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
    An unemployed constituent in my electorate has contacted me and is greatly concerned about the practices of agencies that mark themselves as jobs boards and use job seeker contact details to push...
  • Taxation (3 speeches)
    Housing is central to the Australian economy for a whole range of historical reasons, so today's BIS Shrapnel report on Labor's negative gearing policy and economic data released today bring this...