House debates

Thursday, 2 March 2006

  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
      I move: That, for the sitting of the House on Monday 27 March 2006:(1)proceedings commence at 1 pm (instead of 12.30 pm), unless otherwise notified by the Speaker;(2)the timing of all existing...
  • Health and Other Services (Compensation) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill presented by Mr Abbott, and read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The bill proposes to amend the Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995, known as the HOSC Act. The act was passed to ensure that those...
  • General Insurance Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill presented by Mr Dutton, and read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The government recognises the importance of ensuring that consumers are able to access affordable insurance. Insurance helps individuals,...
  • Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill presented by Mr Hunt, and read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2006 amends the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (the act) to implement the...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill 2005 (0 speeches)
    • Report from Main Committee (27 speeches)
      Bill returned from Main Committee for further consideration; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this bill be considered immediately. Amendment— That all words after...
    • Consideration in Detail (30 speeches)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (38 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 1 March, on motion by Mr Dutton: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Oil for Food Program (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. I refer to my three questions yesterday about when the Deputy Prime Minister first became aware of the contents of the 10 April...
    • Exports (5 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Would the Deputy Prime Minister advise the House how the coalition government’s strong economic management has...
    • Oil for Food Program (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to his statement to parliament on 31 October last that: ‘As far as the government is aware, the first knowledge of Alia and...
    • Corporations Law (2 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer update the House on threats to business confidence and regulation in Australia? How could this affect Australia’s economy and...
    • Oil for Food Program (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. I refer to his answer to my previous question. Given the Deputy Prime Minister’s admission for the first time today that...
    • Fiji Elections (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Minister, what is Australia doing to ensure that the 2006 Fiji elections will be free and fair? Are there any alternative policies?
    • Oil for Food Program (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Can the minister confirm that his statement on 24 July 2002 that he was ‘in constant dialogue with the Iraqi...
    • Health Insurance (34 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister advise the House how the government’s private health insurance rebate is taking the pressure off public...
    • Mr Trevor Flugge (2 speeches)
      Can the Deputy Prime Minister confirm whether Mr Trevor Flugge or Mr Flugge’s team transported over $1 million in cash from Kuwait to Baghdad between May and July 2003? How much cash did Mr...
    • Australia-United States Alliance (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the planned visit to Australia by the United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. What...
    • Mr Trevor Flugge (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and follows my earlier question to the Minister for Trade which he suggested I should address to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to a...
    • Commonwealth Games (4 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Attorney-General. Would you inform the House what the government is doing to ensure the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games will be as safe and secure as they can...
    • Wheat Exports (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will the Deputy Prime Minister give a guarantee to Australia’s wheat growers that, before any changes are contemplated to wheat export...
    • Defence (5 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. Could the minister update the House on the government’s commitment to securing and protecting Australia?
    • Mr Trevor Flugge (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Can the minister confirm whether or not the $1 million contract of Mr Trevor Flugge, paid for out of the Australian aid budget, was taxable?
    • Families (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. What benefits are available to families as a consequence of the policies of the government? Are...
    • Oil for Food Program (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s comments on 28 February that Mr Cole has: ... made it very clear that he has all the power ... to make findings of fact...
    • Welfare Fraud (2 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Minister for Human Services. What action is the government taking to crack down on welfare fraud?
    • Oil for Food Program (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and it relates to a matter that is not being considered by the Cole royal commission. I refer to reports in the United States congress that...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Question Time (3 speeches)
      Yesterday the member for Fraser sought clarification on a ruling made in relation to a question asked by the member for Griffith during question time. I consider the second part of the question...
    • Hansard (3 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, in recent months, or perhaps years, Hansard has requested the assistance of members by asking them to provide, if they are available, advance copies of draft speeches in electronic...
    • Question Time (7 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, in question time today and yesterday the Minister for Health and Ageing referred to a number of issues regarding the Cambodian community, obviously to seek some political advantage or...
    • Hansard (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I would like you to note that I too would like my name associated with the comments by the member for Denison.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Days and Hours of Meeting (1 speech)
      I move: That:(a)the arrangements for Monday 27 March and Tuesday 28 March 2006 agreed to earlier be revoked, and that the usual times of meeting and order of business as provided for by the...
  • Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report Nos 32 and 33 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report Nos 32 and 33 of 2005-06 entitled No. 32—Management of the tender process for the detention services contract—Department of...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Documents are tabled as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. I move: That the House take note of the...
  • Special Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the House, at its rising, adjourn until Monday, 27 March 2006, at 12.30 pm, unless the Speaker or, in the event of the Speaker being unavailable, the Deputy Speaker fixes an...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Government Accountability (24 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Brand proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The lack of accountability,...
  • Leave of Absence (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That leave of absence from 27 March to 7 August 2006 be given to Ms Livermore on the ground of maternity leave. Question agreed to.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2005 Measures No. 6) Bill 2005 (0 speeches)
    • Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
      Message received from the Senate returning the bill without amendment or request.
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Dental Health (8 speeches)
      This week we see the government celebrating 10 years in office. For many Australians it is not a celebration but a commiseration. I am going to concentrate on just one area today—that is,...
    • Mallee Electorate: Road Accident (1 speech)
      I wish tonight to make a few remarks about the terrible motor vehicle accident which occurred at Cardross, near Mildura, on 18 February this year. It was such a dreadful tragedy, and it has had...
    • Howard Government (1 speech)
      The cliche is that a day is a long time in politics. The way the parliament, the media, and the Australian public engage in issues and non-issues makes this statement, at times, most appropriate....
    • Howard Government; Dental Health (1 speech)
      I was going to speak on some other matters, but I cannot let pass some misleading by the Labor Party, including the two Labor Party members who have spoken here tonight. The member for Hindmarsh...
    • Howard Government (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the adjournment to mark the anniversary of the election of the Howard government to office 10 years ago today. Like many Australians, I am disappointed that the Howard...
    • Hawkesbury River (2 speeches)
      I rise to speak on a matter of great concern to my electorate—the health of the Hawkesbury River and its catchment. This river catchment is one of immense importance environmentally,...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The following notices were given:
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Welfare to Work (1 speech)
      Today, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Howard government, I thought I would share with the House the impact of Howard government legislation and the way it has changed the life of one...
    • Howard Government; Ryan Electorate (1 speech)
      Ten years ago today, on 2 March 1996, the people of Australia elected the coalition government to office to look after the affairs of this nation. In so doing, the people of Australia also...
    • Diabetes (1 speech)
      According to the Department of Health and Ageing website, chronic illnesses, including diabetes, are shaping up as one of the greatest health challenges for Australia in the 21st century. It is...
    • Hayley Robinson (1 speech)
      Today I am here to talk about a local business operator on the Sunshine Coast who is doing a wonderful job in the face of adversity. Sister, an organic cafe owned and operated by Hayley Robinson,...
    • Prostate Cancer (1 speech)
      I want to take this opportunity to thank my local community for their incredible effort in supporting awareness of a very important men’s health issue, prostate cancer. Tragically, prostate...
    • Australian Organ Donor Register (1 speech)
      It seems that we are in health mode this morning. I commend the member for Richmond for her work on prostate cancer; I think it is marvellous for a member of parliament to do that. I want to talk...
    • Indonesia: Film-Making (1 speech)
      Indonesia has only recently emerged from a period where freedom of political and cultural expression was seriously curtailed and at times censored. The Jakarta International Film Festival started...
    • Clean Up Australia Day; Deakin Electorate: Recycling Centres (1 speech)
      This Sunday is Clean Up Australia Day and a lot of us will be participating, I am sure. We will be assisting our local, urban based or rural and regional groups to be part of a magnificent day,...
    • Multiculturalism (1 speech)
      In question time on Tuesday we saw remarks by the Minister for Health and Ageing that I know will distress many Australians. He made a statement that made it very clear that he believes that, if...
    • Gilmore Electorate (2 speeches)
      To some, 10 years is a long time. For me it has been truly an honour and a privilege to serve the community of Gilmore, and the time has just flown by. It seems like only yesterday that the...
  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 8 February.
    • Second Reading (31 speeches)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 makes a number of small but in some cases quite significant changes to four acts, particularly to...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
    • Private Health Insurance (1 speech)
      I take this opportunity in parliament today to raise concerns that have been expressed to my office by numerous constituents about the impact of increased private health insurance costs on their...
    • McPherson Electorate: Springbrook (3 speeches)
      I recently had the opportunity to join in with the Springbrook community at the official dedication of the Springbrook Centenary Parklands and book launch of North from Cobargo, the history of...
    • National Heroes (11 speeches)
      History and tradition are important. They are important for political parties, they are important for the remembrance of our national heroes and they are important for planning our future. I...
    • Councillor Steve Dickson (1 speech)
      Most honourable members would be aware of the problems in Queensland as a result of the systemic failures of the Beattie Labor government. Thankfully, the Liberal Party—and, I imagine, the...
    • Work Choices Legislation (1 speech)
      Last week I met with representatives from the trucking industry at Revesby in my electorate. Not surprisingly, they are concerned and, indeed, angry over the new industrial relations laws....
    • Howard Government (1 speech)
      On the 10th anniversary of the election of the Howard government and the 10th anniversary of the opposition in opposition, the remarks of the previous speaker, the member for Banks, indicate why...