House debates

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

  • Business (0 speeches)
  • Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Amendment Bill 2009; Crimes Amendment (Working with Children — Criminal History) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. Question agreed to.
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That consideration of government business order of the day No. 1, Fair Work Amendment (State Referrals and Other Measures) Bill 2009, and government business order of the day No. 2,...
  • Health Insurance Amendment (New Zealand Overseas Trained Doctors) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Roxon. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Health Insurance Amendment (New Zealand Overseas Trained Doctors) Bill 2009 will amend the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the act). The bill...
  • Fair Work Amendment (State Referrals and Other Measures) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Gillard. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Rudd Labor government promised in Forward with Fairness to abolish the coalition government’s unfair Work Choices industrial relations...
  • Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Ms Gillard. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Prior to the last election, the government committed to examining the operation of Comcare to assist in the formulation of a policy on the future...
  • Native Title Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Rudd Government has a genuine commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians through progressing an agenda that aims to close...
  • Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction The Personal Property Securities (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 represents the next stage in the government’s...
  • Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Budget Measures No. 2) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill amends various taxation laws to implement a range of improvements to Australia’s tax laws. Schedule 1 improves the fairness and...
  • Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (Ess)) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (0 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr McClelland. Bill read a first time.
    • Second Reading (1 speech)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill imposes tax on certain amounts relating to employee share schemes, and for related purposes. Full details of this bill are contained in...
  • Long Service Leave Legislation Amendment (Telstra) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (9 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 16 September, on motion by Ms Gillard: 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.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (22 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 15 September, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be absent from question time today, as he is in Padang in Indonesia and will be inspecting the Australian contribution to earthquake...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the defence minister’s plans for an early exit from the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, which were discussed in a lead item on...
    • Broadband (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the importance of high-speed broadband for Tasmania and the nation?
  • 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 Kingdom of Bhutan led by His Excellency Lyonpo Jigme Tshultim, Speaker of the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer him to his statement six days ago on Adelaide radio that ‘huge political instability in Afghanistan’ was one of the so-called push...
    • Telecommunications (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Will the...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the report in today’s West Australian newspaper that ‘Indonesia will be offered millions of dollars to intercept...
    • Telecommunications (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Why is the government committed to comprehensive regulatory reform in Australia’s telecommunications sector? What impact will...
    • Asylum Seekers (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. I refer the minister to his statement yesterday that the Australian Federal Police report Strategic intelligence forecast—transnational...
    • National Broadband Network (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Social Inclusion. How will the National Broadband Network assist in...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a delegation from Papua New Guinea. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm welcome to the members.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. I refer to the minister’s answer yesterday when he said the reason the AFP report entitled Strategic Intelligence...
    • National Broadband Network (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to his comments about the National Broadband Network on 7 April this year: … there couldn’t be a better time for a more...
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the progress of the Henry tax review and why tax reform is important to the future of the nation?
    • National Broadband Network (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How does the Prime Minister justify urging Australians to buy bonds in the $43 billion National Broadband Network, assuring them that those bonds would be a...
    • Victorian Bushfires (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. What has the Commonwealth government done to help those affected by the devastating Victorian...
    • Indigenous Health (2 speeches)
      My question without notice is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister would be aware that the life expectancy of original Australians is 17 years less than other Australians’. In spite of...
    • Rural and Regional Health Services (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery. Would the minister inform the House of what the government is doing to increase the...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Social Inclusion. Why have stimulus payments being denied to the Royal Far West...
    • North West Shelf Gas Project (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Will the minister inform the House about the economic contribution of the North West Shelf gas project, which is...
    • Traveston Crossing Dam (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, I refer the minister to the Queensland government’s environmental impact assessment for the Traveston Crossing...
    • Higher Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and Social Inclusion. Why are the government’s student income support reforms important? What impact would...
    • Road Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Minister, I am seeking information, and I hope you will be able to help me. What is the...
    • Indonesia (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister update the House on the importance of Australia’s strong relationship with Indonesia and its significance in tackling regional...
  • Queensland Bushfires (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      On indulgence, I would like to take a moment to update the House on recent bushfires in Queensland. On behalf of all Australians our thoughts are with the people of Queensland who are dealing...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (22 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I seek to make a personal explanation.
  • Parliamentary Service Commissioner (0 speeches)
    • Annual Report (1 speech)
      I present the annual report of the Parliamentary Service Commissioner for 2008-09. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.
  • 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)
    • Government Spending (28 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Casey proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The consequences of the...
  • Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Determination 2009 (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      I move: That, in accordance with section 10B of the Health Insurance Act 1973, the House approves the Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Determination 2009 made on 9 October 2009,...
  • Business (0 speeches)
  • Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Referred to Main Committee (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the bill be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration. Question agreed to.
  • Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 7.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      I wish to speak tonight on Telstra and the broadband network. I know we had the telecommunications legislation before the House this afternoon, but this matter arises out of an email I received...
    • Micah Challenge (1 speech)
      On 14 September I met with Fiona Grech, a Micah Challenge supporter from my electorate of La Trobe, who lives in Berwick. Micah Challenge is committed to lobbying the government to achieve the...
    • Deakin Electorate: Recreation Facilities (1 speech)
      For those members of this place who do not know the eastern suburbs of Melbourne—as I am sure you do, Madam Deputy Speaker Burke—the Maroondah City Council takes in the eastern half...
    • Murray Electorate: Rural and Regional Services (1 speech)
      I want to talk about the problems that this government has created for communities like mine in northern Victoria. We are experiencing our seventh year of drought. I cannot blame Labor for that,...
    • Climate Scientists Australia (1 speech)
      Many members and senators would be aware that today eight world-leading scientists from Climate Scientists Australia visited Parliament House. Those scientists are all leaders in their respective...
    • Flinders Electorate: Balnarring (2 speeches)
      I rise this evening to address the way forward for the wonderful town of Balnarring in my electorate of Flinders. Balnarring is a town on the edge of Western Port. It is a beautiful town, it has...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      The following notices were given:
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Cowan Electorate: Lions Club (1 speech)
      There are a number of Lions clubs across Cowan. They do great work, raising funds for not only Lions clubs’ national and international causes, but also locally for individuals in need. As...
    • Petition: Military Justice (2 speeches)
      I intend to table a petition for the consideration of the Standing Committee on Petitions which has been put forward by three petitioners who are all senior retired members of the Air Force. The...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Health (1 speech)
      The Frankston Medicentre has been operating successfully in the Dunkley community since 1986. It has the confidence of all the stakeholders, widespread participation from local GPs, and the...
    • Lowe Electorate: Anti-Asbestos Campaign (1 speech)
      A number of weeks ago I spoke in this place about the need to prevent a repeat of the disgraceful, immoral and unethical conduct displayed by James Hardie in its attempt to mislead workers and...
    • Calare Electorate: Health (1 speech)
      Far be it from me to suggest a political motivation for anything, but I do welcome the fact that the Prime Minister is taking cabinet to Bathurst next month in November. I welcome the fact that...
    • Braddon Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Last Wednesday we made three major announcements in my electorate to a total of $6 million. The first was a fantastic announcement along with the Minister for Families, Housing, Community...
    • Carers Week (1 speech)
      Carers Week raises national awareness of the valuable role carers play in our communities. Carers Week also provides an opportunity for carers to come together, support each other and share ideas...
    • Mr Leslie John Staines (1 speech)
      I wish to pay tribute to my friend and my former constituent Leslie John Staines, who was born on 15 June 1940 and who died, after a long illness, on 18 September 2009. A memorial service was...
    • Ryan Electorate: Telstra (1 speech)
      Our job as members of the federal parliament is to represent our constituents with dedication, enthusiasm and passion, and I take the opportunity to do just that. Recently I attended two...
    • Motorcycling (2 speeches)
      Late last year I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders of the Australian motorcycle community: Shaun Lennard of the Australian Motorcycle Council and motorcycling author Greg Hirst. Shaun and...
  • Asia Pacific Natural Disasters (0 speeches)
    • (10 speeches)
      Consideration resumed from 19 October.
  • Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2009 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (6 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 19 October, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.