House debates

Monday, 18 February 2008

  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (15 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 14 February, on motion by Mr Hale: That the Address be agreed to.
  • World Youth Day (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, on indulgence, I would like to take the opportunity on behalf of the government and the parliament to recognise the event which occurred today in the Great Hall. This was the official...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mr Brian Burke (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the fact that Mr Brian Burke is the disgraced former Labor Premier of Western Australia and a convicted criminal. Does the...
    • Pakistan (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister inform the House of the importance of today’s election in Pakistan to both regional and international security?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon His Excellency Zacarias Albano da Costa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. On...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mr Brian Burke (2 speeches)
      Could I firstly, on indulgence, strongly endorse the remarks of the Prime Minister in relation to Pakistan and the democratic elections. It is not overstating it to say that the outcome of not...
    • Workplace Relations (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Will the minister detail the waste associated with the production of the WorkChoices booklet?
    • Mr Brian Burke (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to reports yesterday of his relationship with Brian Burke. Did the Prime Minister at any time seek the advice of the convicted...
    • Climate Change (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House of how the government is tackling climate change and why decisive action is needed now?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Tony Stewart, Deputy Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. On behalf of the House I extend to him a...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Mr Brian Burke (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to Brian Burke’s offer on 11 October 2005 and again on 22 November 2005 to organise a journalists dinner with the Prime...
    • Foreign Investment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline the government’s approach to foreign investment in Australia by state owned enterprises, including by sovereign wealth funds?...
    • Mr Brian Burke (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister confirm that, on the night of the postponed journalists dinner on 12 December 2005, he stayed in Perth? What was the purpose of this...
    • Aged Care (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Ageing. What is the latest information on the April 2007 gastroenteritis outbreak at Broughton Hall nursing home?
    • Economy (29 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Treasurer. I refer to the recent 35-year record low in unemployment, of 4.1 per cent, and the record high in labour force participation, of 65.2 per cent. Given...
    • Fuel Prices (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer. What has the government done in its first few months in office to introduce greater transparency into the petrol industry?
    • Newcastle Electorate: Roads (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. In light of the government’s views that removing infrastructure bottlenecks is...
    • Kosovo (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on recent developments in Kosovo?
    • Investing in Australia (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer the minister to the damning report of comments he made to a New York meeting on 25 January, when he warned off more than 200 prominent...
    • Trade (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade. Could the minister advise the House of the likelihood of a successful outcome to the WTO Doha Round and why this is important to Australia and the global...
    • Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. I refer the minister to the John Holland Aviation Services...
    • Skills Shortage (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy. In February 2005 and again in February 2006 you noted that $20 billion worth of major infrastructure and resource projects could be in...
    • Days and Hours of Meeting (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has just had a pay increase of some $95,000 and that in his capacity as Prime Minister he has had two free houses and a private...
    • Skills Shortage (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation. Could the minister advise the House of how the government is addressing the skills shortage through its employment services policy?
    • Vocational Education and Training (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his pledge to the Australian people in this House on 10 May last year where he promised ‘to build new trades training...
    • Bombing of Darwin: Anniversary (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Can the minister explain to the House the significance of the bombing of Darwin, which is being remembered tomorrow, and the...
  • Fuel Prices (0 speeches)
    • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (10 speeches)
      I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Honourable Member for Cowper from being called forthwith to address the House on the following Matter...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Quorum Requirements (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I would direct your attention to the case of the Attorney-General of Western Australia and Marquet. This case is germane to the action of the government in suspending quorum...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Speaker’S Panel (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Pursuant to standing order 17(a), I lay on the table my warrant nominating the honourable members for Menzies, Brisbane, Cunningham, Hindmarsh, Page, Hume, Fisher, Wills, Hughes and Moore to be...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 1) Bill 2008; Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 1) 2007-2008; Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) Bill (No. 2) 2007-2008 (0 speeches)
    • Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
      Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker has received a message from the Senate informing the House that the Senate concurs with the nine resolutions of the House relating to the appointment of joint committees and informing...
  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (29 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 14 February, on motion by Mr Hale: That the address be agreed to.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 8.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Paradise Point Bowls Club (1 speech)
      I have spoken before in this House about the great electorate of Fadden being the fastest-growing electorate in the nation. Indeed, community groups, volunteer organisations and sporting groups...
    • National Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (1 speech)
      In September 2006 DEST funded a scoping study entitled A strategy to attract young people into careers in primary industry through tertiary science. It was built on a model funded by the Grains...
    • Cowan Electorate: Blackmore Primary School (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about a travesty of good education in my electorate of Cowan. Specifically, I would today like to talk about the Blackmore Primary School, in the suburb of Girrawheen. Blackmore...
    • Shortland Electorate: Homelessness (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, as this is the first time I have spoken since you have been in the chair, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election to the position of Speaker. Last year, the...
    • Local Grants Scheme (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to raise my concerns about the Australian government’s failure to renew funding for the Local Grants Scheme as part of the previous coalition government’s Working...
    • Ballarat Electorate: Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (2 speeches)
      I am pleased to stand here this evening to welcome the honouring of a very important promise by the Rudd government to my electorate and to the ex-prisoner of war community across Australia. At...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (8 speeches)
      The following notices were given:
  • Apology to Australia’S Indigenous Peoples (0 speeches)
    • (26 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 14 February, on motion by Mr Rudd: That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.We reflect on their past...