House debates

Wednesday, 31 May 2006

  • Health Legislation Amendment (Private Health Insurance) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Abbott. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (36 speeches)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Health Legislation Amendment (Private Health Insurance) Bill 2006 will amend the National Health Act 1953 to improve consumer protection in...
  • Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Brough. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The purpose of the bill is to make changes to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, which will provide more choices in life...
  • Education Services for Overseas Students Legislation Amendment (2006 Measures No. 1) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Julie Bishop. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, the ESOS Act, and its complementary legislation regulate the international education and...
  • Defence Force (Home Loans Assistance) Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Billson. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill seeks to extend the operation of the Defence Home Owner Scheme (the scheme), which is governed by the Defence Force (Home Loans...
  • Royal Commissions Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 30 May, on motion by Mr Turnbull: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Ms Roxon moved by way of amendment: That all words after “That” be omitted...
    • 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 (Personal Tax Reduction and Improved Depreciation Arrangements) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (39 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 11 May, on motion by Mr Costello: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
    • Third Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
  • Fisheries Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fishing Offences) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (40 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 25 May, on motion by Mr McGauran: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Queensland Liberal and National Parties (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and refers to matters dealt with by him in question time yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister, doesn’t this plan released...
    • Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Would the Prime Minister inform the House whether he has further information regarding workers at the Teys Bros meatworks?
    • Queensland Liberal and National Parties (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. I refer the Deputy Prime Minister to the release of the agreement that will see the Liberal Party in Queensland take over the...
    • Workplace Relations (12 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister advise the House how Work Choices interacts with state occupational health and safety laws? Is...
    • Queensland Liberal and National Parties (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. I refer the Deputy Prime Minister to the release of the agreement that will see the Liberal Party take over the Queensland...
    • Trade Skills Training Visas (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General in his capacity representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Would the Attorney-General advise the House of government initiatives...
    • Export Crops (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Is the Deputy Prime Minister aware of a recent government publication Managing vertebrate pests: rodents, which shows rats...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer outline to the House recent data on the Australian economy? Treasurer, what does this indicate about the Australian economic outlook?
    • Workplace Relations (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the government’s $55 million advertising campaign, which included the Work Choices booklet, which stamps the following...
    • East Timor (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister update the House on recent political developments in East Timor?
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister recall this booklet, stamped ‘Protected by law’, produced as part of his $55 million advertising campaign? Is the Prime...
    • Trade (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Would the Deputy Prime Minister outline to the House how the government is working for a successful conclusion to the...
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to a statement by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations on Friday of last week in response to the Spotlight 2c an...
    • Mental Health (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister advise the House on the government’s commitment to improving mental health services?
    • Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
      My question is again to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister recall the Cowra Abattoir case which occurred during the first week of operation of the government’s industrial relations...
    • Avian Influenza (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister update the House on action the government has taken to combat avian influenza in our region? Are there any...
    • Wheat Exports (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. I refer the minister to his personal explanation—
    • Whaling (10 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Would the minister inform the House of recent steps the government has taken to strengthen the protection of whales?...
    • Indigenous Communities (14 speeches)
      Is the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs aware that in 1989 the Queensland Auditor-General effectively had no problems with any of the 28 Aboriginal community...
    • Education (3 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Education, Science and Training. Would the minister inform the House of the steps the government is taking to uphold academic standards in Australian...
  • Former Senator Ken Wriedt (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to extend an apology to a former member of the Senate and a former minister in the Whitlam government, Senator Ken Wiedt. Yesterday, I mistakenly referred to...
  • Parliamentary Behaviour (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Earlier today the House suspended the Manager of Opposition Business for 24 hours for defying the chair. The circumstances were that the opposition manager moved a motion including...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Behaviour (8 speeches)
      I have a question to you, Mr Speaker, in relation to the statement you have just made. Do I understand, from your statement, that that is in effect a rebuke of the Leader of the House for the...
    • Parliament House: Airconditioning (7 speeches)
      Reluctantly, Mr Speaker, I ask you two questions. Firstly, I hope I did not mishear what happened today, but early on in question time I think the member for Bass said something along the lines...
    • Parliamentary Behaviour (2 speeches)
      Can I seek further clarification on the same topic, because in this House—and the member for Hunter will probably agree with me on this—people have often called out, ‘Tell the...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (17 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Hansard (8 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I refer to the earlier discussion relating to the motion that is currently on the books in Hansard and refer you to House of Representatives Practice, page 588, where it says:...
  • Parliamentary Behaviour (0 speeches)
    • (29 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I do not think your position on this is unreasonable. Therefore, other action needs to be taken. Accordingly, I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      A document is tabled as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the document will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Auditor-General’S Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 43 of 2005-06 (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General’s Audit report No. 43 of 2005-06 entitled Performance audit: assuring Centrelink payments—the role of the random sample survey program: Department of...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Political Instability (22 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Griffith proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The effect of political...
  • Superannuation Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Assent (0 speeches)
      Message from the Governor-General reported informing the House of assent to the bill.
  • Fisheries Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fishing Offences) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (34 speeches)
      Debate resumed.
    • 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.
  • Plant Health Australia (Plant Industries) Funding Amendment Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      Debate resumed from 25 May, on motion by Mr McGauran: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 7.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Cunningham Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
      I rise to address the House in the adjournment debate today to report on a very important issue in my local electorate and across the Illawarra region. On 2 May this year, just a few weeks ago,...
    • Mrs Edith Swaby (1 speech)
      One of the honours of being a member of this great chamber and one of the responsibilities that it brings is that you get to meet some really wonderful Australians. As the House adjourns tonight,...
    • South Melbourne Centrelink Office (1 speech)
      The future of the South Melbourne Centrelink office, the only Centrelink office in my electorate of Melbourne Ports, is a matter of abiding concern to me. Some people at the eastern end of the...
    • Dental Services; Media Standards (5 speeches)
      I will delay what I intended to speak about to reply to some comments made by the honourable member for Cunningham. I note that members of the Labor Party continue to peddle misinformation about...
    • Reverse Mortgages (1 speech)
      Two of the previous speakers, the member for Mallee and the member for Melbourne Ports, referred to aspects of older Australia. Of course, that reflects in some degree the ageing demographic of...
    • Deakin University Medical School (1 speech)
      I am pleased to rise in this place tonight to recognise and commend the government’s decision to provide 120 medical school places to Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus within the...
    • Reverse Mortgages (1 speech)
      Existing laws, including the uniform consumer credit code, do not adequately protect reverse mortgage consumers and there is little protection provided by such alternatives as dispute resolution...
    • Mrs Ivy Emma Sharp (2 speeches)
      I missed most of today’s proceedings because I was at the funeral in Melbourne of Ivy Emma Sharp, who died last Friday two days short of 99 years and 11 months. I ask a little indulgence...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      The following notices were given:
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Telecommunications (1 speech)
      I have previously spoken in this chamber about phone towers and their effects on our communities. Unfortunately, I feel the need to revisit some of those comments today and emphasise how...
    • Port of Brisbane Motorway Project (1 speech)
      I rise this morning to make mention of an extremely important project that I am currently working on in my electorate. The Bayside of Bonner takes in the port of Brisbane, the third-busiest and...
    • Mick Young Scholarship (1 speech)
      Recently I had the opportunity to attend the presentation of the Mick Young Scholarships at Mount Druitt TAFE campus. I was inspired by the moving personal account of one of the students, Philip...
    • Mr John Kellock (1 speech)
      Today I would like to recognise the outstanding contribution of a resident of my electorate of Hasluck, Mr John Kellock of Walliston. John is the Suburb Manager for the Walliston Neighbourhood...
    • Health: Smoking (1 speech)
      Today, 31 May, is World No Tobacco Day. It is a day when we promote no smoking. I felt very strongly about speaking about this topic as I have now been a reformed smoker for approximately 22...
    • Cowper Electorate: Lions Club (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I was delighted to attend the Lions changeover dinner for district 201N1. At that function I was presented with a hearing dog tie by Lion Harry Mills of the Nambucca Lions Club, and...
    • Australian Vocational Student Prize (1 speech)
      I wish to congratulate several school students from the electorate of Banks. Four students were among the 467 Australian Vocational Student Prize winners for 2006. Anita Kemp of Revesby Heights,...
    • Flinders Electorate: Environment; Flinders Electorate: Marine Biosecurity Program (1 speech)
      Today I want to acknowledge two environmental achievements within the electorate of Flinders. The first is in relation to the Sunshine Reserve Conservation and Fireguard Group. This is a group in...
    • Wests Sports Council: Annual Presentation (1 speech)
      Last Saturday night I had the opportunity to attend the Wests Sports Council award night. It is a great opportunity not only to recognise some of the good sports in our area and some of our...
    • Detective Senior Sergeant William John Bourke (2 speeches)
      It gives me great pride to stand up today and talk about a former member of the Victoria Police force and one of my bosses, William John Bourke, who retired from the Victoria Police force as...
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2006-2007; Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2006-2007; Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2006-2007; Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2005-2006; Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2005-2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (59 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 30 May, on motion by Mr Costello: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Mr Swan moved by way of amendment: That all words after “That” be omitted...