House debates

Monday, 23 May 2011

  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Reference to Main Committee (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 Lyne,...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Marriage (0 speeches)
      RETAIN THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN To the honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: We, the undersigned citizens draw to the attention of the House of...
    • Australian Software Industry (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of Australian software industry members draws to the attention of the House the harm to society of patents...
    • Marriage (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of the parishioners of the ………………… .., draws to the attention of...
    • Judicial Misbehaviour (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives PETITION PRESENTED 21 FEBRUARY 2011 IS AMENDED TO: This petition of 'certain citizens and residents of Australia', draws...
    • Australian Republic (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of the undersigned draws to the attention of the House that parliamentary questions concerning an...
    • Judicial Misbehaviour (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of certain citizens and residents of. Australia draws to the attention of the blouse perversions of justice...
    • National School Chaplaincy Program (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives WE the petitioners are a group of concerned citizens of Australia. WE wish to draw the attention of the House to the...
    • Australian Republic (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of the undersigned draws to the attention of the House that since the last politically biased, narrowly...
    • Human Rights: Falun Gong (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of certain citizens and residents of Australia draws to the attention of the House that Falun Gong is a...
    • General Practitioners (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of certain citizens of Australia request that the right to choose and have direct access to their own...
    • Racial Discrimination (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House: the concern expressed in the 2010...
    • Gorgon Gas Project (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition by aggrieved manufacturers/suppliers to the Gorgon gas project. Australian Regulations are prescriptive...
    • Australian Republic (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of the undersigned draws to the attention of the house, because of our high profile on the world stage, our...
    • School and Workplace Bullying (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of the "Principal Petitioner" a "Citizen of Australia" Draws to the attention of the House: The fact that...
    • Judicial Misbehaviour (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives Supplement to the petition to the House 15th March 2010, 24th May 2010, 15th November 2010 and a submission sent on 7th...
    • Constitution (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition is based on the exclusive powers of the Parliament—Section 52 of The Constitution. The Treasurer "...
    • Public Holidays (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House that: We therefore ask the House to:...
    • Baby Bonus (0 speeches)
      To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives This petition of staff, students and volunteers of the River Nile Learning Centre draws to the attention of the House:...
    • Retransmission Facilities; Responses (1 speech)
      Ministerial responses to petitions previously presented to the House have been received as follows:
    • Caboolture: Superclinic (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition seeking funding for a GP Super Clinic in Caboolture. I note the petition was considered by the Committee on 21...
    • Australian Software Industry (0 speeches)
      Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 28 February 2011 on behalf of the Standing Committee of Petitions concerning the two petitions made by members of the Australian Software Industry presented...
    • Bradfield Electorate: Turramurra Post Office (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter dated 16 March 2011, concerning a petition submitted for the Committee's consideration regarding the Turramurra Post Office. Under the Australian Postal...
    • Kangaroo Island: Oil Leases (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition asking the House of Representatives to ' rescind the granting of oil leases off Kangaroo Island, to prevent the risk...
    • Marriage (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions about the introduction of a national system of registration and...
    • Same Sex Partnerships Overseas (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions about the issuing of certificates of no impediment in relation to...
    • Marriage (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition submitted to the Standing Committee on Petitions about access to marriage by same-sex couples. The Australian...
    • Animal Rights: Humane Slaughtering (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 1 March 2011 to Senator the Hon. Kim Can, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, about the petition requesting CCTV cameras in...
    • Bedourie Postcode (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Australia Post — petition request for a unique postcode for Bedourie Thank you for your letter dated 1 March 2011, concerning a petition submitted for the Committee ' s...
    • Roads to Recovery Scheme (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter dated 21 March 2011 about a petition regarding funding for the Sorell Bypass/Arthur Highway in Tasmania. The Arthur Highway is a state road for funding...
    • Intercountry Adoption (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy I refer to your letter of 30 March 2011 regarding a petition from " The Australian Adoption Community " presented by the Member for Forde, Mr Bert Van Manen MP, seeking the...
    • Youth Allowance (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 18 March 2011, concerning a petition regarding the changes to Youth Allowance contained in paragraph 1067A (10E)(a) of the Social Security Act 1991. In...
    • Abortion (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 16 March 2011 regarding a petition on unplanned pregnancy counselling that was recently submitted for the consideration of the Standing Committee on...
    • Marriage (0 speeches)
      Dear Mr Murphy Thank you for your letter of 1 March 2010 regarding a petition submitted to the Standing Committee of Petitions about equal access to marriage. The Australian Government gave its...
    • Islamic Apostasy Laws; Statements (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity today to briefly discuss the volume of petitions that I have just tabled on behalf of the Petitions Committee and to highlight an emerging trend....
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Delegation to Bhutan And Mongolia (1 speech)
      I present the report on the Australian parliamentary delegation to Bhutan and Mongolia, 9-21 July 2010. As the chair of the Australia-Mongolia Parliamentary Friendship Group, I present this...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Electoral Matters Committee; Appointment (1 speech)
      I have received a message from the Senate informing the House of the appointment of senators to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters for the committee's inquiry into funding of...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Climate Change, Environment and the Arts Committee; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and the Arts, I present the committee's report entitled Advisory report on bills referred 24 March 2011, together with the...
    • Procedure Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure, I present the committee's report entitled Interim report: monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Domestic Violence (1 speech)
      Domestic violence, whether it is psychological, emotional or physical, is a scourge on society. In last three or four years the national awareness week for domestic violence has fallen away...
    • Australian Three Peaks Race (1 speech)
      I rise today to bring to the House ' s attention the Three Peaks Race, a major sporting event on Tasmania ' s calendar. The Three Peaks Race combines the sporting disciplines of offshore sailing...
    • Ryan Electorate: Anzac Day Writing Competition (1 speech)
      The Ryan electorate is fortunate to have many RSL sub-branches and is also home to the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera. As happens every year, the 2011 Anzac Day ceremonies and marches saw a huge...
    • Canberra Electorate: Advocacy for Inclusion (2 speeches)
      I call the honourable member for Canberra, who, in getting this call, emerges as the person who has had the most calls for the 90-second statements since the election.
    • Macquarie Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
      Recently, I recognised eight local sporting champions from the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury at an afternoon tea. These truly exceptional young sports men and women have competed in a variety of...
    • Bass Electorate: Agfest (2 speeches)
      ) ( ): I would like to congratulate the efforts of Rural Youth for their organisation and for their running of Agfest, which is held at the beginning of May each year in Tasmania. Agfest is a...
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      Today I seek to be a useful information source to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. The minister will be enlightened to know that some residents in the...
    • Blair Electorate: Building the Education Revolution Program (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I had the honour and privilege of opening the Sustainable Science Centre in Kilcoy State High School. Its principal, Ross Robertson, gave a passionate defence of the Building the...
    • Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
      The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency was on Gippsland ABC radio last week, when he almost tied himself in knots trying to avoid the word 'tax'; it was all about a carbon price....
    • McEwen Electorate: Building the Education Revolution Program (2 speeches)
      Last week I had the pleasure of attending Building the Education Revolution, or BER, ceremonies across my electorate at Lakes P-9, Highlands Primary School and Bolinda Primary School. All of the...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Hon. Ralph James Dunnet Hunt AO; Reference to Main Committee (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the resumption of debate on the Prime Minister's motion of condolence in connection with the death of the Hon. Ralph James Dunnet Hunt AO be referred to the Main...
    • Senator Andrew Murray Thomas (1 speech)
      Order! I inform the House of the death on Saturday, 14 May 2011 of Andrew Murray Thomas, a former senator who represented the state of Western Australia from 1975 to 1983. As a mark of respect to...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for Trade will be absent from question time for the next sitting fortnight to attend meetings of APEC trade ministers in the United States and meetings of the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer her to death threats against guards at the Darwin and Inverbrackie detention centres, a homemade bomb found at the Villawood detention centre and a...
    • Climate Change (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister— Mr Randall interjecting—
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon members of a parliamentary delegation from the People's Republic of Bangladesh. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to a statement in this House that it is completely untrue that Malaysia and not Australia would choose the 800 people Malaysia...
    • Climate Change (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Will the minister outline recent findings on the climate science and what the government is doing to meet these important...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Given that Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations refugee convention, what formal guarantee has the minister received...
    • Dalai Lama (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, as you would be aware, the Dalai Lama will visit Australia next month. Will you be meeting with the Dalai Lama? If not why not? If you are...
    • Climate Change (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why is tackling climate change important for our economy and what action is the government taking? How has this approach been received and what is the...
    • Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer the foreign minister to the now abandoned East Timor regional detention centre proposal, the Manus Island regional detention...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! Before giving the call to the member for Hunter, can I say I am reliably informed by him that we have present in the gallery this afternoon Chris Tremain, the Senior Whip in the New...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Higher Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, how have the government's changes to youth allowance increased the participation of rural and regional students in higher education, and how...
    • Carbon Pricing (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to update paper No. 6 of the Garnaut Climate Change Review which, at page 26, recommends: Will the Prime Minister identify the...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House the importance of a clear plan to return the budget to surplus? How is this approach being received and what are the...
    • Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sport. I refer the minister to the 23 soccer clubs within the North Coast football zone in Cowper, which have a total annual...
    • Mining (4 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. How will the decision by the Western Australian government to increase royalties on iron ore impact...
    • Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to comments by the chief executive of TRUenergy in which he confirmed that a carbon price will add $300 to the household...
    • China (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister inform the house of the future of the Australia-China relationship and how the budget is supporting Australian businesses to...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her comments on 20 May. She said: … we will … be adjusting expenditure for Western Australia to protect the federal...
    • Immigration (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Will the minister please update the House on the progress of the investigation into settlement services in the Hunter region.
  • Privilege (0 speeches)
    • (14 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I raise a matter of privilege under standing order 51. During question time on Thursday 12 May, in answer to a question from the member for Banks, the Minister for Mental Health and...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Reports Nos 40, 41 and 42 (1 speech)
      I present— Mr Dutton interjecting— Mr Albanese interjecting— Order! Honourable members interjecting— Order! I have to resort to this type of tactic to get some order and...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (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)
    • Selection Committee; Membership (4 speeches)
      I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip that he has nominated Ms Marino to be a member of the Selection Committee in place of himself.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Fiscal Strategy (5 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that as the world emerges from the Global Financial Crisis: (a) in Australia unemployment of 5 per cent is low by international standards; and (b) the...
    • Israel (11 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) restates its support for the motion moved by the then Prime Minister and passed by this House on the sixtieth anniversary of the State of Israel, and in particular:...
    • Early Onset Dementia (5 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises the devastating impact of early onset dementia on the lives of sufferers and their families; (2) notes that: (a) individuals who suffer from early onset...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Refugees (1 speech)
      It is with much concern that I rise tonight to speak on an issue that all members in this place will find disturbing. Today a press release was issued by the Minister for Immigration and...
    • Canberra Electorate (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about the investments the Gillard government has made, and is continuing to make, in my electorate of Canberra and in the ACT more generally. Since being elected in August...
    • Canning Electorate: National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      The Canning electorate is stuck in NBN limbo. In fact, this limbo was referred to in an article, by Geoff Thompson of the ABC, entitled 'Thousands to be stuck in NBN limbo'. Stuck in this limbo...
    • Page Electorate (1 speech)
      I want to talk about things that have been going on in my electorate of Page, particularly over the last month and the last week. There has been lots of activities and wonderful community events...
    • Grey Electorate: Remote Area Energy Scheme (1 speech)
      On 18 February the South Australian government removed more than $1 million from the Remote Area Energy Scheme. This is a subsidy paid to towns and communities that generate power off the grid....
    • Rockhampton Council (1 speech)
      Last Tuesday's paper ran a story from 1964 when the mayor, Rex Pilbeam, was quoted as saying, 'Two civic projects were completed during the year — the Civic Theatre and the road to the top...
    • Digital Television (1 speech)
      On Thursday, 5 May the analog television signal was switched off in the electorate of Murray. In the weeks leading up to that event, and in an ever-increasing crescendo, my office and local...
    • Catholic Schools Week (1 speech)
      I have spoken many times in this place about how education is the great enabler. Today I rise to mention some recent developments that have occurred in Greenway in the area of...
    • Hasluck Leadership Awards (2 speeches)
      I rise today to talk about the Hasluck Leadership Awards. This program was started by previous Liberal member for Hasluck, Stuart Henry, and has resulted in seven young leaders from across...
    • Northern New South Wales Fishing Industry (2 speeches)
      Today I would like to take the opportunity to table in this parliament a petition in regard to the Gillard government's proposal to create a new Commonwealth marine reserve on the New South Wales...
    • Chisholm Electorate: Huntingdale Train Station (2 speeches)
      Tragically, I rise tonight to again talk about an ongoing concern in my electorate: the services and amenities around Huntingdale train station. Huntingdale station is located in my electorate...
  • Notices (0 speeches)
    • (0 speeches)
      Mr Neumann to move: That this House:(1) recognises that: (a) there are about three million Australians who still smoke; and (b) tobacco is a lethal product, killing around 15,000 Australians...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Environmental Conservation (1 speech)
      It is with pleasure that I rise today to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers in my electorate of Bonner who are taking direct action to improve our community by protecting and enhancing our...
    • Queensland Government (1 speech)
      I firmly believe it is the role of all elected representatives at all levels of government to stand up for those they claim to represent. In the past week, we have seen the Premier of Western...
    • University of the Third Age, St Brigit's, Gisborne (2 speeches)
      I am delighted to speak this morning about some great events that I have recently attended. Last week, I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker at the Sunbury University of the Third Age. It...
    • Page Electorate: Building the Education Revolution (1 speech)
      I also thank the honourable members for their cooperation. I want to talk about what has been going on in my electorate of Page over the last month but particularly the last week. The last week...
    • Macarthur Electorate: The Lair (2 speeches)
      I would like to publicly commend a new program which I believe will provide great opportunities for young people living in my electorate. Wests Tigers rugby league club has developed a learning...
    • McMahon Electorate: Learning Links (1 speech)
      Not at all; it is my privilege to be able to be here. I wanted today to take a small amount of the parliament's time to talk about a charity in my electorate and to update the House on the work...
    • Gold Coast Suns (1 speech)
      I stand here today as a proud and passionate supporter of the Gold Coast Suns. Next Saturday, 28 May 2011, the Australian Football League's newest team will play its first game at the purpose...
    • Greenway Electorate: Climate Change (1 speech)
      I rise to mention two local examples in my electorate of Greenway that demonstrate the real concern among our young people who want this parliament to take action on climate change. I received a...
    • Hasluck Electorate: Coffee Shop Inreach Program (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about the successful Coffee Shop Inreach Program that Team Hasluck rolled out across the Christmas break and which is continuing throughout my first term. The goal is simple:...
    • Mersey Community Hospital (2 speeches)
      I would like to thank all those committed staff members of the Mersey Community Hospital and members in the state government, particularly in the state health department and the Commonwealth...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • 50th Anniversary of Amnesty International (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on the motion by Mr Oakeshott: That this House: (1) notes that 28 May 2011 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Amnesty International, a global movement of over three million...
    • National Consumer Credit Action Plan (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on the motion by Ms Vamvakinou: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Federal Government's National Consumer Credit Action Plan, particularly phase one of the plan which came into...
    • Tax Summit (15 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Mr Hockey: That this House: (1) notes the Government's decision to delay the Tax Summit from June to October 2011; (2) considers that any genuine Tax Summit will...
    • Cardiovascular Disease (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Ms Hall: That this House: (1) notes that cardiovascular disease: (a) is a heart, stroke and blood vessel disease; (b) kills one Australian nearly every 11 minutes; (c)...
    • International Women's Day (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Ms Brodtmann: That this House acknowledges the: (1) one hundredth anniversary of International Women's Day on 8 March 2011 and celebrates the achievements of women...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Griffin Design for the National Capital (8 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Mr Andrews: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 24 May 2011 marks the centenary of the launch of an international competition to design an Australian national...
    • International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on the motion by Ms Parke: That this House: (1)    notes that: (a) by resolution 57/129 of 11 December 2002, the General Assembly designated 29 May as the...
    • Science Curriculum (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on the motion by Mr Pyne: That this House: (1) acknowledges the effectiveness of programs initiated by the former Coalition Government such as 'Primary Connections' and 'Science By...
    • Uniform Road Laws and Motor Vehicle Registration Compliance Standards (5 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Mr Zappia: That this House: (1)      notes that: (a)   Australian road laws and vehicle compliance standards vary between...
    • Indexation of Military Pensions (9 speeches)
      Debate resumed on motion by Mr Robert: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) military service is unique and comes with inherent risks not applicable to other public service jobs; (b) Australia's...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Economy (1 speech)
      I rise in this grievance debate tonight to speak about the continued dishonesty and deception of this Labor government. In recent times there has been a lot of attention on the Prime Minister's...
    • Climate Change (1 speech)
      I have a very different grievance. I find it quite disturbing how much misinformation is flowing around Australia on fundamental questions such as climate change, delivery of the latest...
    • Foreign Ownership (1 speech)
      Concerns about foreign ownership of agribusiness and rural land in Australia are growing. There are good reasons to be concerned about Australian buyers being potentially priced out of the market...
    • North-east Tasmania (1 speech)
      I rise to speak today on the north-east region of Tasmania, which is in my electorate of Bass. As some may note, I have spoken on this region before, but it is something I feel is important to...
    • General Practice (2 speeches)
      My grievance tonight is about another area of government waste. It is not the pink batts and it is not school halls; it is the GP superclinic program. It all sounded so good back in 2007 when...
    • Vietnamese Community Australia (2 speeches)
      On 30 April I was given the opportunity by the Vietnamese Community Australia to pay my respects to all veterans of the Vietnam conflict and to speak to the hundreds of people who came to...
  • Questions in Writing (0 speeches)