House debates

Thursday, 26 February 2009

  • Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2008-2009 (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Message from the Governor-General transmitting particulars of proposed expenditure and recommending appropriation announced.
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Bowen. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Since the introduction and passage of the nation-building and jobs bills, it has become necessary to introduce a further two annual appropriation...
  • Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2008-2009 (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Message from the Governor-General transmitting particulars of proposed expenditure and recommending appropriation announced.
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Bowen. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2008-2009 provides additional funding for payments of a capital nature, such as for the purchase of administered...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Reference (2 speeches)
      At the request of the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Kelly, I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be...
    • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report from the Publications Committee. Copies of the report are being placed on the table. Report—by leave—agreed to.
  • Privilege (0 speeches)
    • (24 speeches)
      On Tuesday, 24 February 2009, the member for Sturt raised, as a matter of privilege, an alleged interference with members performing their duties as members due to certain arrangements put in...
  • Telecommunications Amendment (Integrated Public Number Database) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (11 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 23 February, on motion by Mr Albanese: 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.
  • Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 24 February, on motion by Ms Kate Ellis: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Special Air Service Regiment (1 speech)
      by leave—Yesterday I was asked in question time by the shadow minister for foreign affairs: Is the minister aware that, as recently as four weeks ago, due to debt recovery action by the...
  • Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities, and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his industry minister’s declaration to all Australian workers, broadcast on Radio 3AW this morning, that none...
    • Victorian Bushfires (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Assistant Treasurer. Will the minister give an update to the House on progress of insurance claims of those affected by the Victorian bushfires?
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement by his Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research yesterday that he had been told by Pacific Brands...
    • Nation Building and Jobs Plan (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the Prime Minister’s recent statement: I don’t want to be Prime Minister of a country that doesn’t make things anymore...
    • Climate Change (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. What steps is the government taking to assist our agricultural industries to prepare for climate change and are there any...
    • Employment (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to an announcement by Lend Lease just before question time that they are going to cut 1,700 jobs, including 340 jobs in Australia. I ask the...
    • Infrastructure (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. What investment is the government making to fast-track the construction of a central...
    • Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Happiness Seminar (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Is the minister aware that while the government was forecasting...
    • Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Would the Deputy Prime Minister detail progress made to date with...
    • Special Air Service Regiment (2 speeches)
      My question without notice is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, your defence minister gave assurances to this House that no SAS soldier would be financially disadvantaged and there would be...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the impacts of the global recession on business investment and jobs?
    • Special Air Service Regiment (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence. I refer the minister to his statement to the House yesterday on the pay scandal when he said the only representation to him or his office from an SAS...
    • Nation Building and Jobs Plan (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment Participation. How will the training and learning bonus and other measures announced as part of the government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan...
    • Special Air Service Regiment (2 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. In light of the Minister for Defence’s answer to the previous question that he was aware of only one communication from an SAS family number,...
  • The Prime Minister (0 speeches)
    • Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders (25 speeches)
      I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition moving immediately that this House censures the Prime Minister for his failure...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Building and Jobs Plan (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. How is the government fast-tracking support for green jobs through the Nation Building and Jobs Plan?
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister—and thank you for continuing question time. Prime Minister, with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council now laying off up to 70 long-term staff—in large...
    • Nation Building and Jobs Plan (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Why does the government believe the Nation Building and Jobs Plan is the most appropriate strategy for supporting jobs and sustaining...
  • Member for Herbert (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      I would just like to clarify a point of procedure. In doing so, I want to assure the member for Herbert that I am not trying to embarrass him—he did the crime; he did the time. Earlier in...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      I table for the information of the House a revised ministry list reflecting changes to the ministry, all of which relate to parliamentary secretary appointments following the resignation of The...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Indigenous Affairs (3 speeches)
      by leave—I acknowledge the first Australians, on whose lands we meet and whose cultures we celebrate as the oldest continuing cultures in human history. A year ago, at the opening of the...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      A document is presented as listed in the schedule circulated to honourable members. Details of the document will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the House do now adjourn. Question agreed to.
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Swan Electorate: Queens Park Junior Football Club (1 speech)
      Last year I attended the Queens Park Junior Football Club in my electorate to present some trophies. I went there as a representative of the Perth Football Club as I am the director of junior...
    • Youth Membership in Political Organisations (1 speech)
      The following words were written for me by a very bright young woman, Melissa Westbrook, who spent a day in my office recently. They are about how young people might be best served by federal...
    • Interest Rates (1 speech)
      I rise to raise an issue regarding second-tier lenders and interest rates, and I particularly want to raise the plight of one of my constituents, Eric Charlier, who is a director of a company...
    • Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
      Yesterday all members of the House wore a blue ribbon to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer has been known over the years as a silent disease, but it is not quite as silent as...
    • New South Wales Floods (1 speech)
      I rise to talk about the floods that have taken place on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales, to say a few thankyous and to give a report to the parliament on an event of last week that might...
    • Lowe Electorate: Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (1 speech)
      Today, I rise to speak about the Rudd government’s community infrastructure program. I am delighted to record that the Enfield Olympic Swimming Pool in my electorate of Lowe will receive...
    • Macarthur Electorate: Camden Hospital (1 speech)
      Camden Hospital used to be a place of new life, with a fully operational maternity ward and an emergency ambulance drop-off. But, sadly, due to the New South Wales Labor government’s...
    • Wakefield Electorate: Rotary Club of Kapunda (1 speech)
      I rise to congratulate the Rotary Club of Kapunda on having their 50th anniversary on 31 January this year. It was held at the Dutton Park club rooms, the home of the Bombers, my old football...
    • Victorian Bushfires (1 speech)
      I rise to convey my deep regrets to and sympathy for all those involved in the recent Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria. In particular, I mourn for those who lost their lives in this horrific...
    • Franklin Electorate: Urban Black Gum Reserve Rehabilitation and Community Education Project (2 speeches)
      I want to talk about a project that I was fortunate enough to launch in the southernmost municipality in Australia last week, in the Huon Valley. It is a Green Corps project. It is a partnership...
  • Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008 (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Main Committee do now adjourn.
    • Mr Norman Jennings (1 speech)
      I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a great Australian and a great member of our community in Mitchell. Saturday, 14 February 2009, was the day Australia lost an ingenious inventor and...
    • Sydney West Area Health Service (1 speech)
      I would like to speak in the adjournment debate. I will start by expressing my serious lack of confidence in Sydney West Area Health Service, particularly its top executives. I do so for two...
    • Ryan Electorate: Victorian Bushfires (1 speech)
      Ryan residents, families, businesses and community groups can hold their collective heads up very high, and as the federal member for Ryan I am very proud of all of them because the true spirit...
    • Banking (3 speeches)
      Last week the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr Glenn Stevens, appeared before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics and commented on some impending reforms to ATM fees. The...
    • Flinders Electorate: Red Hill Community Centre (1 speech)
      I rise to give my support to a magnificent community vision for Red Hill. The vision is a very simple one. The Red Hill community have approached me, through the showgrounds committee, through...
    • Nation Building and Jobs Plan (1 speech)
      I want to speak about the Rudd government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan, which was rightly passed by the parliament last sitting week, and, in particular, the positive effects on...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Post Office (1 speech)
      I rise today to raise two particular issues of concern to the Dunkley community. You could be forgiven for thinking it is groundhog day. Ten years ago our community rallied and fought to protect...
    • Werriwa Electorate: Community Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Today I rise to speak on the Rudd government’s commitment to support jobs and boost the local economy of the south-west of Sydney. The Rudd government last week approved more than $4...
    • Swan Electorate: Youth Focus Foundation (1 speech)
      I congratulate the member for Werriwa for the basket of goodies he has just told us about. I rise today to talk about the issue of youth suicide and the efforts of a charitable organisation...
    • Victorian Bushfires (1 speech)
      The horrendous bushfires in Victoria and the devastation that they have wrought have caused great concern throughout the community. There was a great sense of hopelessness yet a strong feeling...
    • Water (1 speech)
      I would like to speak on the issue of water security for Adelaide and the Murray-Darling river system. We now have a situation where the Murray River ceases to flow through the Murray mouth 40...
    • Robertson Electorate: Marine Discovery Centre (1 speech)
      I rise today to inform members of the merits of the proposed marine discovery centre at Terrigal, in my electorate of Robertson, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. This centre will provide...