House debates

Thursday, 9 August 2007

  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Protecting Services for Rural and Regional Australia into the Future) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (21 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 8 August, on motion by Mr McGauran: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • 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.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Health and Ageing Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, I present the committee’s report entitled The best start: report on the inquiry into the health benefits of breastfeeding, together...
  • Main Committee (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I present the committee’s report, incorporating a supplementary comment, entitled Statutory oversight...
    • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
  • Australian Technical Colleges (Flexibility in Achieving Australia’S Skills Needs) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 20 June, on motion by Mr Robb: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Small Business and Tourism will be absent from question time today. She is interstate on official business. The Minister for Industry, Tourism and...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Interest Rates (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister’s refusal to acknowledge that he and his party made a promise to the Australian people at the last election to keep...
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      My question today is addressed to the Prime Minister. What is the government’s response to the latest employment statistics? Prime Minister, are there any threats to this 33-year low in...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Grant Tambling, Administrator of Norfolk Island and a former member of the House and senator for the Northern...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Interest Rates (8 speeches)
      My question is again to the Prime Minister. I again refer to his 2004 election promise to keep interest rates at record lows. Is the Prime Minister aware that, barely one hour after the Prime...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer outline to the House the results of the July labour force survey? What does this indicate about the benefits of the...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Indonesia. On behalf of the House I extend a very warm welcome to...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Interest Rates (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that interest rates were too high when they reached 17 per cent in 1989, just as interest rates were too high when they...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Treasurer. Would the Treasurer outline to the House all the elements of the government’s fiscal policy? Are there any alternative proposals that could damage...
    • Interest Rates (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister seen the AAP report of 1.51 today entitled: ‘People better able to deal with rate rises now: Turnbull’? Following his...
    • Local Government (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister’s attention been drawn to the attitude of the Queensland government to this government’s offer to authorise and...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Latvia led by His Excellency Mr Indulis Emsis, Speaker of the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Housing Affordability (4 speeches)
      Does the Prime Minister stand by his statement that working families in Australia have never been better off, given that according to the Urban Development Institute of Australia, in the five...
    • Local Government (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Would the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on any representations from concerned...
    • Dental Health (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Ageing—who seems to be ageing in place down here. My question relates to the National Seniors Australia launch of its election priorities in Parliament...
    • Hospitals (23 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister explain to the House the lasting health benefits of the Commonwealth’s proposal to create a...
    • Climate Change (8 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. Would the minister advise the House of government action to address climate change through protecting forests?...
    • Hospitals (5 speeches)
      My question is again to the Minister for Health and Ageing. I refer to comments of the Tasmanian Australian Medical Association president, Professor Haydn Walters, in the Australian about the...
    • International Security (5 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on Australia’s international security policies?
    • Interest Rates (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister and refers to his continued claim that the Liberal Party will always have lower interest rates than the Labor Party.
    • Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Would the minister inform the House how the government’s workplace relations laws are helping employers...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Employment (3 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (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 and I move: That the House take note of...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • (15 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Melbourne proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government’s...
  • Federal Magistrates Amendment (Disability and Death Benefits) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Report from Main Committee (1 speech)
      Bill returned from Main Committee with amendments, appropriation message having been reported; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that this bill be considered immediately. Main...
    • 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.
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Advertising and Other Matters) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Report from Main Committee (0 speeches)
      Bill returned from Main Committee without amendment; certified copy of the bill presented. Ordered that the bill be considered at the next sitting.
  • National Health Amendment (National HPV Vaccination Program Register) Bill 2007; Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Amendment (Cosmetics) Bill 2007; International Tax Agreements Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007; Customs Tariff Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007; Corporations Amendment (Insolvency) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
      Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
  • Crimes Legislation Amendment (National Investigative Powers and Witness Protection) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill received from the Senate, and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
  • Australian Postal Corporation Amendment (Quarantine Inspection and Other Measures) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill received from the Senate, and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
  • Therapeutic Goods Amendment Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill received from the Senate, and read a first time. Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting.
  • Australian Technical Colleges (Flexibility in Achieving Australia's Skills Needs) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007 (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Chaffey Dam (6 speeches)
      I asked a question of the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources during question time yesterday about the upgrade of Chaffey Dam, which is the major source of water for Tamworth and the...
    • Small Business (1 speech)
      As a former small businessman, I know that small businesses are the engine room of Australia’s $1.1 trillion economy. The coalition government knows that the key to small business success...
    • International Development Assistance: TEAR (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak on international development assistance and the work of the TEAR group in raising awareness about the plight of the less fortunate in our world. As members will be aware,...
    • Hospitals (1 speech)
      The choice of the Mersey hospital as an innovative pilot for a community governed model has been based on sound reason and research. Whilst, due to serious mismanagement by state government...
    • Liberal Party (1 speech)
      On 21 June this year Mark Textor provided one of his research reports to the government. It found that the government was arrogant, complacent and reactive. Mark Textor told the government that...
    • Internet Security (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to draw to the attention of the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in the Senate, Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, several matters of concern about...
    • Mr Harry Pereira (2 speeches)
      On 23 June I had the pleasure of attending the Marrickville Anzac Memorial Club. There the family of Harry Pereira had gathered for his 100th birthday celebrations, which occurred on Monday, 25...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Consumer Protection (1 speech)
      In the decade or so since coming to power the Howard government has obsequiously followed the orthodoxies of neo-liberalism. Australian consumers have been amongst those hardest hit. Consumer...
    • Shangri-La Wildlife Rehabilitation Shelter (1 speech)
      On 19 May I had the great privilege of going to the Shangri-La Wildlife Rehabilitation Shelter in my electorate in the suburb of Macclesfield. I must give a plug to the local Mail newspaper....
    • Education (1 speech)
      Education has become history in a small area of Tasmania. Finding Woodsdale and Levendale on the map would be hard for the uninitiated, yet those two settlements have a long and rich history....
    • South Australia: Roads (1 speech)
      In Adelaide, infrastructure upgrades have not kept up with population growth. This is clearly evident today. The roads are increasingly congested and we still have in the metropolitan area the...
    • Australian Air League (1 speech)
      On 27 July this year I was privileged to attend the dinner marking the 50th anniversary of the Australian Air League Riverwood Hornet Squadron. My state colleague Kayee Griffin MLC, a former...
    • University of Western Sydney (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about a matter which has united my community. In late June this year the board of directors of the University of Western Sydney, without consultation with stakeholders, the...
    • Asbestos (1 speech)
      I raise a matter that should be of serious concern to all members today. Australia is facing a growing public health burden due to asbestos related diseases. In the past, Australians were heavy...
    • Queensland: Roads (3 speeches)
      I wish to outline to the House the latest sightings of a complete lack of concern, interest and, indeed, understanding of the key issue within the electorate of Moreton, and that is the way our...
    • Centrelink; Interest Rates (1 speech)
      I would like to raise an issue of great concern to me and a number of people within my electorate, and that is the lack of communication from and accountability upon Centrelink, whereas...
    • Leader of the Opposition (2 speeches)
      Queenslanders should never forget the Leader of the Opposition’s role in the former Goss government and that government’s treatment of people in regional areas. Let’s look at...
  • Federal Magistrates Amendment (Disability and Death Benefits) Bill 2006 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (18 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 March 2006, on motion by Mr Ruddock: That this bill be now read a second time.
    • Consideration in Detail (1 speech)
      Bill—by leave—taken as a whole.
  • Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Advertising and Other Matters) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (16 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 22 March, on motion by Mr Ruddock: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Ohs) Bill 2007 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (6 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 28 May, on motion by Dr Stone: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 12.30 pm, I propose the question: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      I wish to raise yet again the appalling state of broadband provision within Australia. In particular, I want to highlight two cases within the electorate of Scullin. I remind members that Scullin...
    • Protection for Police (1 speech)
      I rise in this House today to call on state and territory governments around the country to do more to protect our police officers. The murder of Constable Brett Irwin quite recently in Brisbane,...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      I want to talk today about an issue that is becoming increasingly critical in my electorate—that is, aged care and the lack of beds within our homes and hostels for the aged. This week I...
    • Crime (1 speech)
      I rise to talk about an issue that I think is increasingly the No. 1 concern of people in my electorate of Stirling. That is the issue of crime and, specifically, the lack of availability of...
    • Lone Fathers Assocation of Australia National Conference (1 speech)
      Today I would like to speak about an important conference that I had the honour of addressing yesterday. It was the Lone Fathers Association conference organised by Barry Williams, President of...
    • Local Government (1 speech)
      Friday, 27 July was a very sad day for communities across Queensland. It was the day that the guillotine fell on councils across the state, echoed by the shameful guillotined debate on the...