House debates

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That notice No. 2, government business, be postponed until a later hour of this day. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Human Rights Committee; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights I present the committee's first report of 2013, titled Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before calling the member for Wannon, I welcome to the gallery many members of Reconciliation Australia and representatives from Australia's Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal populations....
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Closing the Gap; Reference to Federation Chamber (1 speech)
      by leave—I move: That the resumption of debate on the motion to take note of Closing the Gap, Prime Minister's report 2013, be referred to the Federation Chamber. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      Twice a year, we as a nation get to officially honour those that have made a significant contribution to our community, a contribution that simply cannot go unnoticed. Every Australia Day we...
    • Richmond Electorate: Coal Seam Gas Mining (1 speech)
      I rise today to note my community's opposition to coal seam gas mining on the North Coast of New South Wales. I would like to state in this House that our community's view is extremely clear. We...
    • Western Sydney: Air Quality Monitoring (1 speech)
      Late last year a local constituent, Mr Paul Van Den Bos, drew to my attention a serious concern relating to air quality monitoring in south-west Sydney. The New South Wales annual compliance...
    • Chaldean Australian Academic Society (1 speech)
      On the weekend I had the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremony organised by the Chaldean Australian Academic Society. The event celebrated great achievement by the members of the local...
    • Victoria: Health System (1 speech)
      I rise to condemn in the strongest possible terms the federal government's cut of $107 million to the Victorian health system. In my own electorate of Aston, local residents will suffer because,...
    • Hamilton, Mr David (1 speech)
      I am very pleased that Labor legend and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke is here in the chamber today, as I rise to pay tribute to Mr David Hamilton, a Labor legend from my electorate of Throsby,...
    • Denison Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Denison is long and narrow. Its spine is the railway line which has been there many decades but which is soon to fall derelict when the Hobart Rail Yards close and the few freight trains still...
    • Ovarian Cancer Month (1 speech)
      Today we are wearing two ribbons to mark the start of ovarian cancer month. Throughout February Ovarian Cancer Australia is inviting the community to host an Afternoon Teal to improve the...
    • Geale, Mr Daniel (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate a superstar from my electorate who is a true gentleman both in and out of the sporting arena. Daniel Geale, a proud resident of Macarthur, is...
    • Petition: Palestine (2 speeches)
      I rise to present a petition that went through the Petitions Committee on 28 November. The petition read as follows— To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Economy (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the fact that the government's total call on taxpayers, including tax borrowings and dividends, for the 2011-12 year, was 25.7...
    • Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the government closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage and working in partnership with Indigenous communities to tackle the scourge of alcohol?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Just before I call the member for North Sydney I would like to recognise in the chamber today the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Robert Hawke. That does sound very odd! Bob Hawke is with us this...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Budget (9 speeches)
      I join with you, Madam Speaker, in welcoming my constituent and the last Labor Prime Minister to deliver a surplus. Well done!
    • Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister outline to the House the progress made in efforts to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage?
    • Budget (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to this taxpayer-funded newsletter distributed in his electorate, which states, 'We have delivered a surplus, on time, as promised.' Given...
    • Fishing Industry (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Minister, as you know, AFMA is now considering an application from Seafish Tasmania to operate...
    • Indigenous Health (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and Minister for Indigenous Health. I would like to ask the minister how the government is working...
    • Budget (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to these taxpayer funded newsletters from nine of her Labor colleagues, including the Assistant Treasurer, the Minister for...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on our nation's resilient economic fundamentals? How does our economy's strength help deliver the reforms we need to secure...
    • Budget (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer the Treasurer to the fact that Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Korea and Chile are all reporting budget surpluses. Why have they been able to achieve budget...
    • National Broadband Network (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts. Will the minister please update the House on how the government is...
    • Budget (10 speeches)
      I refer my question to the Treasurer. Treasurer, I refer you to the Australian Labor Party tweet of 8 May 2012 that displays a poster and states: 'Good morning, Australia.—
    • Superannuation (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Will the minister outline for the House the importance of the...
    • National Broadband Network (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I remind her that on 18 January Telstra warned the ACCC that NBN's pricing plans will 'translate into higher retail price increases for end users'. On the...
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Industry and Innovation. Will the minister update the House on the first six months of the carbon price...
    • Superannuation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to the 2007 commitment by the former Prime Minister, the member for Griffith, 'There will be no change to the superannuation laws,...
    • Anti-Dumping Commission (2 speeches)
      My question is to the . Will the minister update the House on the progress in implementing the government's plan to strengthen Australia's antidumping regime and support our workers and manufacturers?
    • Economy (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to his statement earlier in question time: I think is very important that we have a debate about economic policy based on the facts, and the facts are...
    • Asylum Seekers (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Will the minister update the House on progress in implementing the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers?
  • 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; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 74 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday, 11 February 2013. The report will...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Small Business (16 speeches)
      I have received letters from the honourable Leader of The Nationals and the honourable member for Page proposing that definite matters of public importance be submitted to the House for...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Queensland Floods (1 speech)
      Beautiful one day but rather battered the next. The brutal forces of nature have again been felt in Queensland this summer with devastating floods now testing communities throughout our state....
    • Griffith Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      Communities are important. They are the backbone of what we call the Australian nation. Almost 14 years ago, on a hot Brisbane summer's afternoon, a small group of community leaders and...
    • Superannuation (1 speech)
      In making representations on behalf of a constituent, Phil Maeder, I have become aware of an issue with family assistance that exists in the special case of a claimant receiving income protection...
    • Holt Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      It is often said that a great element lies at the heart of the Australian nation and runs through its veins. That element, that great truth, can be seen as we look skyward on a clear night. In...
    • Telecommunications and Personal Safety, Peninsula Link (1 speech)
      Mobile phone use on our public transport can be quite annoying for passengers sitting close enough to hear much of another's conversation or the music playing. But these communication devices are...
    • Save the Archives (1 speech)
      Today I rise to draw attention to an urgent fundraising initiative called Save the Archives, which was launched last year. Save the Archives is a campaign by the Greek diaspora to preserve the...
    • Queensland: Health (1 speech)
      The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud believed denial and blaming others was a defence mechanism that helped people sleep at night. It is exactly that kind of behaviour we see across the Labor...
    • Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about the very strong campaign on the North Coast of New South Wales to stop coal seam gas mining. I want to outline some of the remarkable community groups and...
    • Federal Election (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to remind the House that it was only last week that we were suddenly alerted of the election date by a Prime Minister who I understand is considering that the future of...
    • Millennium Development Goals (1 speech)
      On 18 September 2012 I met with representatives from Micah Challenge, two of whom were from my electorate of Banks. This is a regular visit, made on an annual basis, to keep parliamentarians up...
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House tonight, because earlier today the government via the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen...
    • Tasmanian Economy (1 speech)
      The fact that Tasmania receives more GST per capita than other states is much remarked upon. Regrettably the commentary from the mainland is sometimes shrill and unhelpful, for instance from the...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Victoria: Health Services (1 speech)
      I rise today to ask the Minister for Health what the problem is that she has with the Victorian health system. Why is she treating it with such contempt? Why did she make a decision halfway...
    • Blair Electorate: Ipswich Motorway and Blacksoil Interchange (1 speech)
      Last Wednesday I was heading out to the flood affected Somerset region along the Warrego Highway and I was held up at the Blacksoil Interchange as I tried to access the Brisbane Valley...
    • Volunteers (1 speech)
      Every year, over six million Australians contribute their time, energy and expertise to our communities through volunteering. In all, our country benefits from more than 730 million hours of...
    • Menslink (1 speech)
      Last week I was part of a local team that helped to raise funds and awareness for Menslink at the Prime Minister's XI cricket match at Manuka Oval. Menslink is a Canberra charity that provides...
    • Bomford, Mr Stephen (1 speech)
      Today I would like to pay tribute to a much-loved member of my community who passed away suddenly in January from complications following surgery. Stephen Bomford was only 58 years old and the...
    • Melbourne Electorate: Lunar New Year Festival (1 speech)
      On Sunday, 27 January, I was honoured to be invited as a guest to attend one of the highlights of Melbourne's cultural calendar. The Lunar New Year Festival in Richmond, which is now in its 14th...
    • McMillan Electorate: Avenues of Honour (2 speeches)
      On listening to these three-minute constituency statements, I have to say it has been a pleasure to stand here and listen to the member for Wannon, Hasluck, Macarthur—and Wright of course;...
    • Porter, Mr Graham (1 speech)
      I rise today to advise the members of the House of an outstanding Australian, an outstanding Queenslander and an outstanding constituent of mine in Wright: Graham Porter. Graham Porter has...
    • Australian Floods (2 speeches)
      I am going to continue talking about the floods that have hit my area and put on record in this place in essence what I have said in my local newspaper. There is often confusion about the way the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Australian Natural Disasters (14 speeches)
      In rising to speak on this very important matter, in which my communities were sorely affected, I recognise that your city of Rockhampton, Madam Deputy Speaker Livermore, also received quite a...