House debates

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, on indulgence, I pay tribute to Emeritus Professor Frank Fenner, who died yesterday at the age of 95. Professor Fenner was one of Australia’s greatest scientists and a man of...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that electricity prices have risen by 42 per cent since this government took office and I refer the Prime Minister to analysis...
    • Economy: Ireland (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer please update the House on recent developments in the Irish economy and any implications for Australia?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a delegation from Japan led by His Excellency Mr Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs. On behalf of the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Economy (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, in October 2007 you promised the Australian people that you had ‘a set of policies’ to ‘lift the pressure off working...
    • Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to specific warnings received by the government in February 2008 that closing the Nauru processing centre would add to people...
    • Social and Community Workers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister and it seeks clarity as to the government’s submissions to Fair Work Australia in the equal pay case. Does the government agree that equal pay for these...
    • Japanese Foreign Minister: Visit to Australia (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. What is the significance to Australia’s economy of the visit to Australia by Japanese Foreign Minister, Seiji Maehara?
    • Insulation Program (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the 26 unheeded warnings that the government received about the dangers inherent in the Home Insulation Program throughout...
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Leader of the House in his role as the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. How will the National Broadband Network...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the warnings she received about the maladministration of the school hall program from April 2009, warnings she described as...
    • Banking (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why is supporting smaller lenders important for competition in the banking sector?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (2 speeches)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon representatives of the First Peoples Disability Network. On behalf of the House I extend a very warm welcome to our visitors.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Curriculum (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the fact that the government of Western Australia has now joined with the New South Wales government in ruling out adopting the...
    • Energy Sector (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Will the minister update the House on the progress of energy market reform and how this is contributing to...
    • Broadband (8 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Prime Minister. I refer her to the secret review of the NBN business case, the very commissioning of which suggests the government lacks confidence in the economics...
    • Retirement Savings (13 speeches)
      My question is directed to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. How is the government planning to ensure Australians have adequate retirement savings,...
    • Broadband (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Given that the Treasurer is the person who will sign the $43 billion cheque to introduce the National Broadband Network, can he tell the House why he has not even...
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. What is the government doing to maintain the sustainability of the PBS and what has been the response to these reforms?
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. I refer the minister to the fact that we now know that neither the Prime Minister...
    • Trade (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade. What is the government doing to improve our exporters’ access to key markets and why is this important?
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Question Time (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, part of the agreement I signed with the government and the Independents about the management of the House for which you are responsible was that there would be 20 questions or...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • 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...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Budget Office Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
      I have received a message from the Senate informing the House that the Senate agrees with the resolution relating to a Joint Select Committee on the Parliamentary Budget Office and, in accordance...
    • Parliamentary Budget Office Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
      I have received advice from the Chief Government Whip and Chief Opposition Whip nominating members to be members of the Joint Select Committee on the Parliamentary Budget Office.
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010; Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No. 4) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Returned from the Senate (0 speeches)
      Message received from the Senate returning the bills without amendment or request.
  • Ministerial Conduct (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That:(1)the Privileges and Members’ Interests Committee (the Committee):(a)develop a draft code of conduct for Members of Parliament; and(b)report back to the House...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (41 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Cook proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The failure of the Government...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, I present the fourth report for 2010 of the committee relating to referrals made in October 2010. Order that the report be made...
  • National Broadcasting Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 22 November.
    • 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.
  • Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Budget Measures) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (27 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 29 September, on motion by Ms Kate Ellis: 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.
  • National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Assent (0 speeches)
      Message from the Governor-General reported informing the House of assent to the bill.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Budget Office Committee; Membership (1 speech)
      I have received a message from the Senate informing the House that Senators Joyce and Milne have been appointed members of the Joint Select Committee on the Parliamentary Budget Office.
  • Family Law Amendment (Validation of Certain Parenting Orders and Other Measures) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (4 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 17 November, on motion by Mr McClelland: 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.
  • Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2010; Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2010 (0 speeches)
    • Second Reading (6 speeches)
      Debate resumed from 22 November, on motion by Mr McClelland: 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.
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Member for Solomon: First 100 Days (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, I rise tonight to update the people of Solomon on my rapidly approaching first 100 days as their representative in this place. During the course of the election I set out an ambitious...
    • Melbourne Immigration Transit Accomodation (1 speech)
      Tonight I wish to speak about the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre, or MITA, in Broadmeadows in my electorate of Calwell. Recently there has been much debate, both in the...
    • Mornington Railway Preservation Society (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, it is fitting that you are here, and the members for Calwell, La Trobe and Holt. My sweetheart, Kate, and my children Alex, Madeleine, Zoe and Bella enjoyed a great experience on...
    • Holt Electorate: Trade Training Centre (1 speech)
      That is a hard act to follow. I would like to see the member for Dunkley chase after Santa with his foot in its present state. Tonight, I will discuss a great initiative in my electorate of Holt,...
    • Economy (1 speech)
      We have heard many calls for greater regulation of banks, but I am not convinced that it is quite so simple. We should be careful in proposing increased regulation of the banking sector because...
    • Active After-school Communities program (1 speech)
      I rise on this occasion to speak about the success of the Active After-school Communities program and, in particular, I wish to mention Scottsdale Primary School where the program has recently...
    • Murray-Darling Basin (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to talk about the controversial Guide to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which was released by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority last month. The release of this guide is a...
    • Housing (1 speech, 1 comment)
      I recently attended the first Reality Sleepout organised by representatives of the Knox City Council’s Affordable Housing Reference Group and supported by Apex Australia. The aim of the...
    • Local Government (1 speech)
      Tonight I speak on the Prime Minister’s commitment to hold a referendum during this term to recognise local government in the Australian Constitution. This matter has been discussed across...
    • Blair Electorate:Together for Humanity Diversity Workshop (1 speech)
      The famous American author, Mark Twain, in a moment of cynicism, once said: In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and...
    • Aston Electorate: Rowville Rail Link (1 speech)
      In question time on Thursday, 28 October the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport was asked questions about the Moreton Bay rail link in Brisbane and the Epping to Parramatta rail link in...
    • Violence against Women (2 speeches)
      I speak tonight on a matter that I expect many others might touch on this week, and that is the issue of violence against women. It is an issue many of us reflect on as we mark White Ribbon Day,...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      The following notices were given: