House debates

Monday, 25 October 2010

  • Main Committee (0 speeches)
    • Private Members’ Motions (1 speech)
      In accordance with standing order 41(g) and the determinations of the Selection Committee I present copies of the terms of motions for which notice has be given by the members for Lyons,...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • National Broadband Network Financial Transparency Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • First Reading (2 speeches)
      Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Turnbull.
  • Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 18 October.
    • Second Reading (9 speeches, 1 comment)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Whistleblowers have an important role to play. Obviously, they reveal misconduct and often they do that from privileged positions behind closed...
  • Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
    • Pink Ribbon Day (8 speeches)
      I move: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)Pink Ribbon day is 25 October;(b)breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women, accounting for 28 per cent of cancer diagnoses in...
  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
    • Address-in-Reply (2 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 21 October, on the proposed address-in-reply to the speech of Her Excellency the Governor-General— May it please Your Excellency: We, the House of Representatives of the...
  • Australian Civilian Corps Bill 2010; Autonomous Sanctions Bill 2010 (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.
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan (8 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 21 October, on motion by Mr Stephen Smith: That the House take note of the document.
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Electorate of Forrest: Bushfires (1 speech)
      I rise to bring to the attention of the House the issue of extreme bushfire risk in my electorate of Forrest, in the south-west of Western Australia. This is the headline in our local paper:...
    • Electorate of Fremantle: Baha’i Community (1 speech)
      I wish to speak today about an issue that is of immense concern to the Baha’i community in Australia and in my own electorate of Fremantle—that is, the ongoing plight of the seven...
    • Electorate of Cowan: Hawker Park Primary School (1 speech)
      On Saturday night, 23 October, I attended the Hawker Park Primary School quiz night. It was a fun and enjoyable evening and around $3,600 was raised for P&C priorities, such as...
    • Housing Industry Association (1 speech)
      On Saturday night I attended the Housing Industry Association-CSR Housing Awards for the ACT and Southern New South Wales. I would like to thank the association for including me in the event at...
    • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
      I rise today to support the farmers in the debate on Murray-Darling water management. I rise to speak about the farmers who have been the fall guys for bad state government decisions in the past...
    • Greenway Electorate: Wentworthville Pool (1 speech)
      With summer fast approaching I rise to draw to the attention of the House a proposal of Holroyd Council, which covers parts of my electorate, to build a new swimming pool on the outskirts of...
    • Riverina: Floods (1 speech)
      Beef cattle producer Walter Paton, at 85 years of age, has lived all of his life at Tooma, in the Tumbarumba Shire, in the Riverina electorate. In all of those years he has never experienced a...
    • Newcastle Electorate: Korean Language School (1 speech)
      I wish to place on the record my congratulations for the Newcastle Korean Language School, whose tenth anniversary dinner I attended a week ago. The school showcased the cultural and educational...
    • Gillard Labor Government (2 speeches)
      We have seen a new economic principle opened up by the Gillard government, and that is economic comatose. We heard the previous Labor government claim to be economic conservatives, and we found...
  • Pink Ribbon Day (0 speeches)
    • (4 speeches)
      The Minister for Health and Ageing, on indulgence.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that the Canadian government has just introduced five-year temporary protection visas to deal with an influx of some 500 asylum...
    • Health Services (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How and why is the government reforming our health and hospital system to deliver better quality, more accessible health services?
    • Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement by the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Senate estimates that it is the...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I advise the House that we have in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Phil Goff, New Zealand’s Leader of the Opposition, and the Hon. Darren Hughes, New Zealand’s Chief...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Hospitals (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What action is the government taking to implement new financing arrangements for hospitals? How have these proposals been received and what...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Order! I indicate to the House that we have in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Christian Porter, the Attorney-General of Western Australia. On behalf of members I warmly welcome him.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the government’s regional processing centre in East Timor will only receive and process asylum seekers who enter our region, which the Prime...
    • Mental Health (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. What is the government doing to improve the mental health of Australians?
    • Asylum Seekers (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm whether asylum seekers and refugees already in the region, such as, say, the Burmese in Thailand, will be eligible to be...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the outcomes of the G20 finance ministers meeting?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      Before I give the call to the member for Mayo, so overwhelmed was I before by giving charity to the member for Sturt that I overlooked recognising another distinguished visitor in the gallery...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Last Sunday week, the Prime Minister attended a function in the Adelaide Hills in my electorate but gave no indication to the local residents that she would...
    • Climate Change (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Is the minister aware of any recent developments relating to the introduction of a carbon price into the Australian...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minster. I refer the Prime Minister to the decision to locate onshore detention centres at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills and Northam in Western Australia. Will the...
    • Banking (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Why is certainty around banking regulation important and what is the government’s response...
    • Rural and Regional Health Services (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. With many local governments in regional Australia carrying the increasing financial burden of general practice doctor provision, would the...
    • Ms Oprah Winfrey (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Would the minister update the House on the progress of the Oprah Winfrey project?
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. If the government’s aim is to provide Australians with faster broadband, why...
    • Coal Seam Gas (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Will the minister update the House on his decision to approve two coal seam gas projects in...
    • Broadband (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Can the minister confirm that households which opt out of the National Broadband...
    • Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. How is work on nation-building projects such as the Noarlunga to Seaford rail extension progressing? What impact is the...
    • Plague Locusts (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. I refer the minister to the recent rains that have come to rural and regional Australia...
    • Indigenous Affairs (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. What is the government’s response to GenerationOne’s address to the nation on Closing...
  • 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...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Murray-Darling Basin (2 speeches)
      by leave—Some of our most precious environmental assets, the nation’s food bowl, and many strong and proud rural communities are all relying on a deeply unhealthy river system. The...
    • Victorian Bushfires (2 speeches)
      by leave—With summer not far away and the bushfire season imminent, I would like to take this opportunity to present to the House the Commonwealth’s response to the final report of...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Governor-General’S Speech (0 speeches)
  • Airports Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (4 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 20 October, on motion by Mr Albanese: That this bill be now read a second time. upon which Mr Truss moved by way of amendment: That all the words after “That” be...
    • Third Reading (2 speeches)
      by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time.
  • National Health and Hospitals Network Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (8 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Ms Roxon: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Main Committee (0 speeches)
    • Afghanistan; Reference (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the government business order of the day, resumption of debate on the Motion to take note of the Prime Minister’s statement on Australia’s commitment to...
  • National Health and Hospitals Network Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
  • Private Members’ Business; Commission of Inquiry into the Building the Education Revolution Program Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (20 speeches)
      I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The effluxion of time has not washed away the failure of the government with respect to the Building the Education Revolution and, while time...
    • United Nations Day (6 speeches)
      I move: That this House:(1)notes that 24 October is United Nations Day which celebrates the entry into force of the United Nations Charter on 24 October 1945;(2)celebrates Australia’s key...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Flinders Electorate: Seniors (1 speech)
      I want to set out a plan this evening for protecting local seniors on the Mornington Peninsula, around Western Port and in Bass Coast in my electorate of Flinders. Let me begin with the town of...
    • Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve (1 speech)
      Less than a month ago the internationally regarded scientific journal Nature published a report on the state of the world’s rivers. The international scientific consortium who produced the...
    • National Dugong and Turtle Protection Plan (1 speech)
      It is great to see somebody who has been educated by Wilderness Society propaganda! I am glad to see that the member for Wills has a focus on ecological things. Maybe he will be able to support...
    • Hindmarsh Electorate: South Australian Veterans’ Touring Group (1 speech)
      I would like to congratulate the South Australian Veterans Touring Group on their work this year, culminating in their August 2010 visit to Vietnam and their good works in support of some of the...
    • Rural Communities (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to talk about something I am quite passionate about and that is how we can halt the slow decline of many of our rural communities across Australia—those lovely little...
    • Lyons Electorate: Building the Education Revolution (1 speech)
      I want to congratulate the government for Building the Education Revolution and what it has meant for local communities in Tasmania. I was at a school fair at Hagley over the weekend, at one of...
    • Herbert Electorate: Football (1 speech)
      It has come to my attention that Football Federal Australia is considering the abandonment of the Townsville based North Queensland Fury, which plays in the Hyundai A- League national...
    • Chisholm Electorate: Education (1 speech)
      Tonight I rise to speak of something of great importance to my electorate—higher education. My seat of Chisholm is home to three very large higher education institutions—Monash...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      Over the weekend the Treasurer was in South Korea for the G20 finance ministers meeting. As he swanned around the world economic stage taking credit for the past reforms of the coalition...
    • Green Valley and Miller libraries (1 speech)
      Many members in this place would have fond memories of story time as a child or of studying hard for exams in the quiet and peaceful environment of their local library. Many members may in fact...
    • Social Justice (1 speech)
      I take the opportunity tonight to speak about social justice. It is a concept that is increasingly referred to throughout society and it makes people feel good. The words roll off the tongue very...
    • Sustainable Population Strategy (2 speeches)
      The Intergenerational report projects that Australia’s population will reach 35.9 million by 2050. In my view, it is only a projection, a model. It is based on sound modelling, though, and...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (7 speeches)
      The following notices were given:
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Ryan Electorate: Sir Denis James ‘Jim’ Killen (1 speech)
      Sir James ‘Jim’ Killen was a politician beloved of both sides of politics—colourful, witty and erudite. He was a man who crossed political boundaries, a Liberal who included...
    • Chisolm Electorate: Caroline Chisolm Awards (1 speech)
      On 14 August at Sussex Heights Primary School I had the great pleasure of recognising outstanding contributions made by volunteers in my electorate of Chisholm at the ninth annual Caroline...
    • Durack Electorate: Hot Rock Drilling (1 speech)
      I rise this morning to bring to the attention of the House a breakthrough in petroleum exploration and hot rock, or geothermal, exploration. In the regional centre of Merredin in Western...
    • Queensland Wild Rivers Act (1 speech)
      The Leader of the Opposition has vowed to introduce legislation into this place to overturn state laws that were put in place to protect the few remaining pristine waterways of Queensland. In...
    • Health: Genetics (1 speech)
      Several months ago I was having a regular catch-up with the CEO of the local division of GPs when we stumbled upon an interesting topic: unintended marriages between siblings and the potential...
    • Disability Services (1 speech)
      Mr Deputy Speaker Slipper, I congratulate you on your appointment, this being the first time you have been in the chair when I have been speaking. In April this year, Minister Macklin and I met...
    • Endangered Species (1 speech)
      Today in parliament I want to launch the push for a national dugong and turtle protection plan. I want to deal with three elements in this. The first is the threat. We heard on 7 October in Abu...
    • Active After-school Communities Program (1 speech)
      I want to talk in the House today about the Active After-school Communities program. The federal government announced just over a week ago that we will continue with the Active After-school...
    • Endangered Species (2 speeches)
      I rise to support the comments made earlier to this parliament by the Hon. Mr Greg Hunt in his and Warren Entsch’s call for a dugong and turtle protection plan. We are very aware in...
    • Homelessness (1 speech)
      The federal Labor government has made tackling homelessness a national priority, and locally, in the Ipswich and West Moreton area, that has been expressed by the huge investment in social...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That order of the day No. 1, private Members’ business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Broadband Committee; Appointment (13 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Turnbull: That:(1)a Joint Select Committee on Broadband be appointed to inquire into and report on all aspects of the business of the NBN Co. including its...
  • Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
    • Pensions and Benefits (23 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Adams: That this House:(1)notes that pensions must keep pace with the cost of living;(2)recognises the significance and importance of the Labor Government’s...
    • Surf Life Saving Australia (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Lyons: That this House:(1)acknowledges and congratulates the over 153 000 volunteer members and staff of Surf Life Saving Australia;(2)notes that:(a)Surf Life...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Corporations Amendment (No. 1) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (7 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Mr Bradbury: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Defence Legislation Amendment (Security of Defence Premises) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (16 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Mr Stephen Smith: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (3 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Dr Mike Kelly: That this bill be now read a second time.
  • Private Members’ Business (0 speeches)
    • National Carers Week (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Ms Owens: That this House:(1)recognises:(a)that the week of 17 to 23 October was National Carers Week;(b)that there are more than 2.6 million carers in...
    • Mental Health (9 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Dutton: That this House:(1)notes that:(a)mental illness afflicts more Australians than almost all other health disorders, only ranking behind cancer and heart...
    • Cord Blood Donations (10 speeches)
      Debate resumed, on motion by Mrs D’Ath: That this House recognises:(1)that many lives have been saved through the research and the use of organ and blood donations throughout...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Debate resumed from 18 October.
    • Flinders Electorate (1 speech)
      I wish to raise a grievance in relation to the treatment of a beautiful young family on the Mornington Peninsula by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Secondly, I wish to raise a...
    • Wakefield Electorate: Infrastructure (3 speeches)
      I rise this evening to talk about infrastructure in my electorate of Wakefield and in particular to talk about the government’s National Broadband Network, which is an important project...
    • Schools First Program; Victoria State Election (1 speech)
      I would like to speak on a couple of issues this evening. The first is quite definitely not a grievance but a cause for some celebration, and I am going to say something nice about a bank. Just...
    • Vietnam: Human Rights; Vietnam Vision (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about a concerning human rights issue in Vietnam. Since I last spoke about this issue, over the past five months another four Vietnamese human rights activists have been arrested...
    • Building the Education Revolution (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about Building the Education Revolution and the unfortunate results of that program in my electorate of Farrer. As was raised again during Senate estimates last week, the...
    • Health (2 speeches)
      I am aggrieved at the attitude of the LNP in Queensland, particularly in rural and regional areas, with respect to scare campaigns they have undertaken in relation to rural hospitals in...