House debates

Thursday, 22 September 2011

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Electoral Matters Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
      I have received a message from the Senate informing the House of the following resolution agreed by the Senate: That the time for the presentation of the report of Joint Standing Committee on...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations; Presentation (1 speech)
      For the information of honourable members I present a copy of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Regulations 2011 draft and seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. Today I am pleased to be...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Big Science Competition (1 speech)
      I recently had the pleasure of attending an award ceremony here at Parliament House to see a small group of science students chosen from 31,000 students from around the country receive their...
    • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1 speech)
      As I have done in previous years, last Monday I met with five Latter Day Saint young adults—Perona Ho, Emily King, Matthew Krull, Naomi Paton and RJ Wright—who were visiting...
    • Henty Field Days (1 speech)
      The Henty Machinery Field Days is a three-day expo promoting all things country. The event, which this year celebrates its 49th anniversary since the first field days, winds up today on the...
    • F1 in Schools Program (1 speech)
      I rise to express my congratulations to the Brooks High School Pentagliders from Launceston, who won the world championship title in the Fl for schools program in Malaysia last night. This week...
    • Treasurer (1 speech)
      The Australian people have been subject to a great political swindle. Wayne Swan, we are told by Euromoney magazine, is the world's greatest Treasurer. We knew things were bad in Europe but not...
    • Drugs for Neglected Diseases (1 speech)
      Today I had the pleasure of hosting with the member for Moore, Dr Mal Washer, a seminar on the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, DNDI, relating to non-profit drug research and development....
    • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
      To put it in baseball terms, the ultimate umpire of the government's policies is the people, and the people in the electorate of Dawson have delivered their decision to me on the government's...
    • Freedman, Mr Bernie (1 speech)
      I rise today to draw the House's attention to the life and work of Bernie Freedman, one of the legends of the press gallery, and the only cockney, who recently passed away. Bernie Freedman was...
    • O'Rielly, Mr Shane (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about a young man, Mr Shane O'Rielly, who died recently. Shane was not famous. He was not an Olympic athlete and he never found great fortune. Shane died suddenly at the age of...
    • Queensland Cup Rugby League (2 speeches)
      Early yesterday morning, despite the parliament sitting past midnight, I went on Brisbane radio with Spencer Howson to talk about my campaign to make sure that the ABC does not consider cutting...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (3 speeches)
      I advise that the world's greatest Treasurer will be absent from question time today. The Assistant Treasurer will be answering questions on his behalf.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind the Prime Minister that a year ago she said that Labor had lost its way on border protection. Since then the government has had an East Timor...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Order! I inform the House that we have in the gallery today students and teachers from the Willowra School in the remote Northern Territory. The students, aged between 10 and 14, have been...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (20 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. What steps is the government taking in the parliament to protect offshore processing of asylum seekers? Why is it important for this issue to be resolved in...
    • Poker Machines (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Minister, the government's poker machine reforms will help tens of thousands of problem gamblers....
    • Parliament (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Leader of the House. Will he outline for all members why it is so important that all members of parliament work together in a consistent way to ensure that legislation is...
    • Asylum Seekers (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Nauru provides the government with an immediate offshore-processing option. In the debate they might dispute that—
    • Border Protection (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice. Why are the government's amendments to the Migration Act a vital part of an effective border protection policy to deter...
    • Palestine (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the impending vote at the United Nations about Palestinian statehood. Can the Prime Minister confirm that the Minister for...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and the Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. What reform is the government undertaking to strengthen Australia's economy for the long term...
    • Travel Approval Process (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the foreign minister sought and been granted permission, in writing, each and every time he has travelled overseas since September last year? In each...
    • Fair Work Australia (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Minister for the Arts, and Minister Representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills,...
    • Ministerial Conduct (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the excessive travel costs incurred by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the Prime Minister commit to examining the...
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Will the minister update the House on the impact of a carbon price on business, households and the economy? Minister, why...
    • Member for Dobell (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to her statement regarding the member for Dobell in this House on August 16: I look forward to him continuing to do that job for a...
    • Education (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. How is the government investing in education to equip Australians with the skills they need for the jobs of the future?
    • Carbon Pricing (119 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to facts provided by the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency yesterday which will reveal that, on...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Questions in Writing (2 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, I wish to draw to your attention that I have a number of questions in writing which have not been answered in the prescribed time. They are questions in writing Nos 398, 399 and 400...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 33 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of bills. The report will be printed in today's Hansard. Copies of the report have been placed on the table. The...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 7 of 2011-2012 entitled Establishment, implementation and administration of the infrastructure employment projects stream of the Jobs...
  • 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)
    • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present the report from the Publications Committee sitting in conference with the Publications Committee of the Senate. Copies of the report are being placed on the table. I move: That the...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Mackellar proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The impact of the carbon...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Repatriation of Pemulwuy's Skull (2 speeches)
      Order! It being 4.30 pm I propose the question: That the House do now adjourn.
    • Liberal-National Party Coalition (90 speeches)
      I thank the House. Tonight I want to speak about the performance of the opposition throughout this current sitting week. I would like to talk about the performance of the opposition over the last...
    • Parliamentary Budget Office (5 speeches)
      I am prompted to speak this afternoon as a result of the earlier contribution by the Chief Government Whip, reflecting on what has occurred this week and more specifically on what has not...
    • Small Businesses (1 speech)
      I rise today out of concern for the economic commercial health and wealth of small business in the electorate of Flynn and also the rest of Australia. It is true that the two-speed economy in...
    • Parliamentary Budget Office (82 speeches)
      Earlier in this debate, my friend and colleague the member for Chifley made reference to the behaviour of those opposite during the debate on the Parliamentary Budget Office. I would like to...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Seniors Advocacy Group (1 speech)
      I rise to inform the House of a new parliamentary seniors advocacy group that I have established with the member for Shortland, the Parliamentary Friends of Seniors and Ageing. The member for...
    • Active After-school Communities Program: Illawarra Primary School (1 speech)
      I want to talk about a recent visit of mine to an active after school program. The Illawarra Primary School has an active after school program at the Kingborough Sports Centre in my electorate....
    • Tangney Electorate: Independent Living Centre (3 speeches)
      Canning Vale Primary School's Education Support Centre's new Independent Living Centre made a great impression on me. Led by principal Dianne Harper, the centre is embracing gen Y technologies...
    • Chifley Electorate: Australian Bureau of Statistics (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on behalf of a constituent who has been treated unfairly and unreasonably by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chifley constituent Peter Horwood was engaged by the ABS in April...
    • Middle East (1 speech)
      From my earliest days in this House I have been a passionate supporter of the state of Israel and an advocate for a real and lasting peace in the Middle East. That peace, of course, must be built...
    • Harcourt, Ms Christine (1 speech)
      I rise today to pay tribute to Christine Harcourt, a constituent of mine who recently passed away, and to acknowledge her long-term contribution to the Sydney community. Christine was a member of...
    • Victorian Floods (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak on a very important matter, a matter that will affect people's lives into the future. If we do not address it properly that will show that we have not learnt the lessons...
    • Electorate of Isaacs: Mordialloc College Discovery Centre, Electorate of Isaacs: Mobile Electoral Offices (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about the recent opening of the discovery centre at Mordialloc College and the recent mobile offices that I have conducted in my electorate. Last Friday, I joined the Mordialloc...
    • Local Government (1 speech)
      Currently in the parliament we have a unique group of leaders from Queensland. I say 'unique' because I am not aware of any other group of local representatives from anywhere else in Australia...
    • Sport (2 speeches)
      Last Friday night I attended the Northern New South Wales Football presentations, which recognise the achievements of those who have been involved in the competition in that area. Northern New...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Stosur, Ms Samantha (12 speeches)
      I would like to add my congratulations to Sam Stosur on her win in the US Open. The grand slam title is well deserved and comes as no surprise as Aussie tennis fans have followed Sam's career...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Swan Electorate: Hospitals (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about hospitals and health care in my electorate of Swan. The South Perth Hospital has once again been ranked highly in the national survey of hospital satisfaction run by...
    • Superannuation (1 speech)
      I rise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of one of the most transformational economic and social reforms in Australia's history—namely, the superannuation guarantee—and to highlight...
    • Farrer Electorate: Henty Field Days (1 speech)
      Today as well as on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week saw the Henty field days in my electorate of Farrer at the town of Henty. It is the first Henty field days I have not been able to attend,...
    • Canberra Electorate: Trades Training (1 speech)
      It was my honour recently to attend the National Association of Women in Construction ACT chapter's awards for excellence. The women who won these awards are tenacious, highly skilled and...
    • Climate Change (1 speech)
      I am a practical conservationist. The sorts of things I do include getting salvinia and water hyacinth removed from creeks that have clogged up. I have birds that fly between Australia and Russia...
    • Mercedes-Benz Central Coast Business Excellence Awards (1 speech)
      My electorate of Robertson, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, is one that relies heavily on the small business sector to provide local employment for people on the Central Coast. A recent...
  • Questions in Writing (0 speeches)