House debates

Thursday, 25 August 2011

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Orders of the Day (1 speech)
      I move: That the following order of the day, private Members’ business, be returned to the House for further consideration: No. 12—Wild Dogs Question agreed to.
    • Rearrangement (101 speeches)
      by leave—I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following item of private Members' business being called on, and considered immediately:...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report of the Publications Committee sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Copies of the report are being circulated to honourable members in the...
    • Infrastructure and Communications Committee; Report (7 speeches)
      On behalf of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications I present the committee’s report entitled Broadening the debate: inquiry into the role and potential of the National...
    • Corporations and Financial Services Committee; Report (3 speeches)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, I present the committee's report entitled Statutory oversight of the Australian Securities and Investments...
    • Public Works Committee; Approval of Work (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Parkinson's Disease (1 speech)
      Today I rise to speak about an amazing individual in my electorate who is passionate about finding a cure for a disease that affects approximately 100,000 Australians and over 6.3 million...
    • Bass Electorate: Liberian Independence Day (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate the Tasmanian Liberian community. I recently attended the Liberian Independence Day festival celebrations in my electorate of Bass. The celebrations were to mark...
    • South Perth Train Station (1 speech)
      I rise to brief the House on the results of my recent South Perth train station survey. After being contacted by constituents about controversial council plans for a train station and...
    • Glasman, Rabbi Yaakov (1 speech)
      I want to praise the elevation of the new young rabbi of the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation, one of only five since it was established, Rabbi Yaakov Glasman. Rabbi Glasman is a first. His elevation...
    • Australian Asian Association of Bennelong (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I was delighted to attend the Australian Asian Association of Bennelong's annual dinner. As I told the House last week, the AAAB performs a terrific job in building bridges across...
    • Canberra Electorate: Karralika Program (1 speech)
      I rise today to acknowledge the great work being done by the Karralika program in Tuggeranong in my electorate. The Karralika program helps people with alcohol and other drug dependencies through...
    • Petition: Apple Imports (1 speech)
      I rise to present another 2,000 signatures on petitions which condemn this government's actions in relation to fire blight. It is a serious problem. These signatures are from older people,...
    • Bass Electorate: Community Potential Foundation Limited (1 speech)
      I rise to congratulate Tasmania's Community Potential Foundation Limited, which is part of the Tasmania-wide organisation the O Group. The Community Potential Foundation has been awarded a...
    • Convoy of No Confidence (4 speeches)
      On Monday we saw a peaceful protest on the lawns of Parliament House. People came from all over Australia to display their anger and disgust at the way they have been treated by this government....
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Norway Massacre (2 speeches)
      Briefly, earlier this week I advised the House that I had been asked by members of parliament as to whether or not we would do anything to offer our condolences to the people of Norway on their...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform that House that the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Minister for Indigenous Health and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Member for Dobell (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement of Kathy Jackson, the secretary of the Health Services Union: … there's been … unauthorised...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon Mathew Makot. Mathew's journey from Southern Sudan to be here in the gallery as a year 12 student at St Patricks College,...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Health (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the government's efforts to boost primary care through Medicare Locals and invest in our hospitals as part of...
    • Member for Dobell (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to comments by the National Secretary of the Health Services Union, Kathy Jackson, that the investigation of allegations against the member for...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline for the House why it is important for the government to deliver economic reforms that are costed, funded and consistent with a serious...
    • Member for Dobell (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the statement of Kathy Jackson, National Secretary of the Health Services Union: Our members are working class people. They...
    • Economy (19 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The mining boom is hurting the rest of the economy, with manufacturing, tourism and agriculture all affected by the high dollar. We have known for some time...
    • Police Investigations (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General advise why it is important for police investigations to proceed in a manner that is, and is seen to be, free from political...
    • Member for Dobell (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Last month the Prime Minister said that News Limited in Australia had some hard questions to answer despite the absence of any allegations of criminal...
    • Health (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, how is the government delivering on health reform to prepare Australia for the challenges for the future? What obstacles are there...
    • Steel Industry (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that the position of steel industry advocate has now been vacant for nine months. I also remind the Prime Minister that her Steel...
    • Carbon Farming Initiative (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Will the minister outline how the government's Clean Energy Future plan and the Carbon Farming Initiative will cut...
    • Steel Industry (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister is so concerned about a lack of Australian steel being used in Australian mines, why does the government want to increase the cost of...
    • Pensions and Benefits (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. How is the government supporting Australian pensioners to balance their household budgets? What...
    • Carbon Pricing (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General. I refer the Attorney to the Australian Crime Commission's report Organised Crime in Australia 2011, which states: In Norway, a group is being investigated...
    • Vocational Education and Training (2 speeches)
      My question is to be Minister for Schools, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister outline to the House how the government is investing in vocational education to help train the apprentices...
    • Carbon Pricing (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that Murray-Goulburn, which produces this locally made butter, will be hit by her carbon tax while the company that makes this...
    • Mental Health (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. Will the minister outline the progress of the government's mental health reform package in delivering services to improve the lives of...
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to reports in the Malaysian press that on Tuesday Malaysian police and RELA had beaten UNHCR card-holding refugees outside...
    • Gillard Government (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government delivering on its economic and legislative agenda? How has this been received? What is the government's response?
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (10 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the Selection Committee’s report No. 30 relating to the consideration of bills. The report will be printed in today’s Hansard. Copies of the report have been placed on the...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 2 of 2011-2012 entitled Confidentiality in government contracts: Senate order for departmental and agency contracts (calendar year...
  • 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)
    • Regional Australia Committee; Membership (2 speeches)
      I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip that he has nominated Mr Haase to be a member of the Standing Committee on Regional Australia in place of Dr Stone.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Families (20 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable the Leader of the Opposition proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The impact of the...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Morcombe, Daniel (1 speech)
      I wish to speak on the latest developments in the case of missing Sunshine Coast teenager Daniel Morcombe and the incredible courage and strength of his parents, Denise and Bruce. Daniel's...
    • Australian Public Service (1 speech)
      When I was seeking election in August last year I made a promise to my community that I would be a strong advocate for Canberra and for Canberrans. Today I keep that promise to defend them...
    • Moncrieff Electorate: Police Resources (1 speech)
      I rise this afternoon to speak about an issue that is very important to my constituents—that is, the level of lawlessness on the Gold Coast. The reality is that the Gold Coast has struggled...
    • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
      It is now three months since the ABC's Four Corners program exposed the brutal treatment of Australian cattle in Indonesian abattoirs, and we continue to see a steady trickle of disturbing...
    • Member for Lyne (1 speech)
      We come to this place to represent our electorates. We come to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people from our communities, and a member of this House occupies their seat at the pleasure...
    • Building the Education Revolution Program (3 speeches)
      This being a Thursday afternoon adjournment, it is of course time for me to relate another story to the House about the Building the Education Revolution program in the electorate of Deakin and...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Boothby Electorate: South Road (1 speech)
      I would like to speak about South Road. From the entrance of the Southern Expressway to Sturt Road is only a short distance. It would only be one kilometre of the 22-kilometre stretch of South...
    • Petition: Live Animal Exports (3 speeches)
      by leave—I want to draw to the attention of the House a petition which has been given to me by Solomi Argiropolos of Springvale in Victoria. She has collected some 815 signatures. I think I...
    • Convoy of No Confidence (1 speech)
      Yesterday in the parliament we witnessed some extraordinary scenes when the Prime Minister and her cabinet walked out of the chamber at the very beginning of question time. It is unfathomable,...
    • Apple Imports (1 speech)
      As many people would know, the apple industry is an historic and integral part of Tasmanian industry, particularly in my electorate of Franklin. Tasmania has historically been known as the Apple...
    • National Seniors Week (1 speech)
      This week, all around Australia, seniors are out and about making a contribution to their communities, creating networks to support others, combating social isolation, fundraising for important...
    • Macedonia (1 speech)
      On Thursday, 18 August 2011 the Australian Macedonia Parliamentary Friendship Group hosted His Excellency Mr Pero Stojanovski, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, to celebrate the 20th...
    • Bradfield Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
      I am pleased to rise to take this opportunity in the national parliament to congratulate the cast, the crew, the orchestras and all involved with two fine school musical productions that I have...
    • Kingston Electorate: Southern Expressway (1 speech)
      I rise today to confirm that I am very pleased that the state government of South Australia has confirmed this week its commitment to duplicating the Southern Expressway in my electorate of...
    • Petition: Occasional Childcare Services Program (1 speech)
      I rise to present a petition which was found to be in order by the House of Representatives Petitions Committee. There are more than 1,000 signatures on this petition, which deals with community...
    • Holt Electorate: Vietnam Veterans (2 speeches)
      I rise today to pay tribute and acknowledge my friend and proud Vietnam veteran, Denny van Maanenberg. One of the Vietnam veterans who had previously been involved in the Cranbourne RSL in my...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • ABC Helicopter Crash (8 speeches)
      All members of this House and all Australians were horrified and deeply saddened to hear of the tragic helicopter accident which took the lives of three of the ABC’s most well-loved and...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Lambert, Private Matthew (10 speeches)
      ( Private Lambert was killed on night patrol on a mentoring mission with the Afghan National Army in the Khas Oruzgan region just north-east of Tarin Kowt. Private Lambert’s career in the...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Evans, Mr Cadel (4 speeches)
      ( In July 2006 I was standing in a queue at Charles de Gaulle with my wife and daughter when I heard a slightly high-pitched Australian voice behind me. Looking around, we recognised that it was...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Gilmore Electorate: Steel Industry (1 speech)
      Much has been said about the tragedy of job losses at BlueScope Steel in the Illawarra. Many of the workers live in the Shellharbour area of the Gilmore electorate and I would like to read a...
    • Greenway Electorate: Maltese Community (1 speech)
      Today I rise to pay tribute to the considerable Maltese community in my electorate of Greenway. I want to specifically mention a few events: firstly, the 50th anniversary of the Maltese Herald...
    • McPherson Electorate: Manufacturing Industry (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about the local manufacturing businesses within my electorate of McPherson. Manufacturing as a whole has been struggling across the nation, and over 100,000 jobs have been lost...
    • Shortland Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
      The Hunter and Central Coast Boards of Regional Development Australia have made a joint submission to the National Broadband Network Company, NBN Co, outlining the case for the two regions to be...
    • Sovereign Wealth Funds (2 speeches)
      It was Mark Twain who said, ‘I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one.’ It is a warning the Gillard government would do well to heed. On the back of China...
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
      Australia boasts having such an advanced and comprehensive safety net for our citizens. Medicare is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest health care systems, with universal access to...