House debates

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Prime Minister, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research and Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, and the Minister for Mental Health and...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Carbon Pricing (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I remind him that the respected research firm Roubini Global Economics has warned, 'Consumer sentiment has taken a hit due to the government's big miss on the...
    • Broadband (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How is the National Broadband Network building a modern economy and a smarter, fairer and stronger society, and how is the NBN part of the...
    • Budget (20 speeches)
      I will give him another chance. My question is to the Treasurer. I remind the Treasurer that in last year's budget speech he said: 'The four years of surpluses I announce tonight are a powerful...
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Will the minister update the House on the...
    • Carbon Pricing (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I remind the Treasurer that the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry small business pre-election survey—this one—states that the abolition of...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I welcome to the chamber this afternoon Kay Elson, the former member for Forde. We welcome her. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Health and Hospitals (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, on 3 June you wrote to the Tasmanian Minister for Health and offered to reallocate funding to continue for three years the Psychiatric...
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth. Will the minister outline to the House the benefits that the National Broadband Network and digitally connected...
    • Asylum Seekers (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister. I refer the Treasurer to this training t-shirt, made and used by the crew of one of our Navy patrol vessels, which refers to them as the...
    • Broadband (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Regional Services and Local Communities and Territories. What economic benefits is the government's National Broadband Network delivering to Australians living...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the Hon. Shelley Hancock, Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. On behalf of the House I extend to her a very...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (17 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Is the minister aware that, in the past 12 months, the US Coast Guard has intercepted and returned 1,900 people who attempted to...
    • Health (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. How is the government using the National Broadband Network and digital technology to give patients greater access to health care where they want it and...
    • Asylum Seekers (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Is the minister aware that Australian Navy intercepts vessels in the Gulf of Aden as part of Operation Slipper, combating pirates,...
    • Broadband (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation. Minister, how will the NBN assist innovation in the Australian economy?
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Can the minister confirm that the total increase in the refugee and humanitarian program over the next four years will be entirely...
    • Whaling (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General. Would the Attorney-General update the House on what the government is doing to protect whales in the Southern Ocean?
    • Asylum Seekers (7 speeches)
      My question is for the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and I remind the minister of the government's decision to remove families from the Manus Island processing centre. Given that there...
    • Superannuation (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation. Will the minister inform the House how the government is supporting...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Given that over 25,000 people have arrived on illegal boats this financial year—triple last year's figure—will the minister explain to...
    • Taxation (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and Minister Assisting for Deregulation. How has real tax reform given Australian families a fair go under this government? How would families fare under...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (14 speeches)
      Speaker, I have been misrepresented most grievously and repeatedly by ministers opposite—many of them. Ministers opposite repeat this claim that the coalition has voted against the...
  • Questions to the Speaker (0 speeches)
    • Portfolio Allocations (2 speeches)
      Speaker, you mentioned during question time that I may end up on the frontbench at some time. I would like to ask you to clarify a portfolio and a timeline indicating when this may happen. I...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (15 speeches)
      I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Reports Nos 52 and 53 of 2012-13 (1 speech)
      I present the following Auditor-General's Audit reports for 2012-2013 entitled Audit reports No. 52, Performance audit: Management of debt relief arrangements: Australian Taxation Office, and No....
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Consideration of Legislation (15 speeches)
      I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent private Members’ business notice No. 1 given for Tuesday, 25 June 2013, Telecommunications Amendment...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Cost of Living (21 speeches, 1 comment)
      I thank all those who stood to support me on this occasion. Perhaps they may even like to stay and listen to what I have to say. As the government lurches towards the end of its term Australians...
  • Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
    • Valedictory (2 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, on indulgence: I have approached this moment with great trepidation, as I did for my maiden speech and it is one of the hardest I have yet had to make. Fundamentally, these words...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Parliamentary Representation (0 speeches)
    • Valedictory (6 speeches)
      Speaker, on indulgence: I rise today in what may be my last speech in parliament but not, I hope, my last contribution to parliament. I intend to fulfil my duties as Opposition Whip to the last...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Treaties Committee; Report (1 speech)
      () (): Can I start by endorsing the comments you have made, Speaker. On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties I present the committee's report entitled Report 134: treaties tabled on...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
      by leave—I wish to add to an answer I gave to a question without notice. In question time today I referred to 12 new Cape class patrol vessels. That number should have been eight.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to talk about an issue that not only affects me but also affects a lot of people of Australia, and probably a lot of members in this place as well. Hearing the member for Hume...
    • Air Safety (1 speech)
      Today I rise to speak about a very important issue that was brought to my attention, and I rise to show my support for Taiwan becoming a meaningful participant in the International Civil Aviation...
    • Petition: Fruit Imports (1 speech)
      I rise to present a petition which has been through the Standing Committee on Petitions. There are 1,129 signatures which are a real cry from the heart from the mothers, fathers and children of...
    • Fowler Electorate: Multiculturalism (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to speak about Australia's great achievement in developing a truly diverse and multicultural community, one that allows opportunity for all. Today multiculturalism in...
    • Herbert Electorate: Cyclones (1 speech)
      When Cyclone Yasi bore down on the North Queensland coast it was the biggest storm ever seen in Australia. The cyclone front stretched the full 400 kilometres between Townsville and Cairns. It is...
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      On 23 May the Mayor of Tea Tree Gully, Miriam Smith, and I launched the Modbury Digital Hub at the City of Tea Tree Gully Library. The hub was funded by a $375,870 federal government grant to Tea...
    • Repatriation of Pemulwuy's Skull (1 speech)
      I have spoken in the House before about my efforts to have the skull of Pemulwuy repatriated to Australia from the United Kingdom. For those members who are not aware of Pemulwuy's story,...
    • Religious Freedom (1 speech)
      I have risen in this place three times now to raise the issue of religious freedom. The first time it was in response to some rather absurd calls from opposition members to ban the hijab, the...
    • Aston Electorate (1 speech)
      This is the last week of the 43rd Parliament and possibly the last time that I will have the opportunity to speak in this House before the election. I would like to take this opportunity to thank...
    • Chifley Electorate: Pensioners (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to voice the deep concerns of people on low incomes in my electorate who have been affected by harsh decisions made by both Liberal state and Liberal local governments. I am...
    • Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about the Gillard government's ill-conceived closure of the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme. This is a matter that concerns me greatly and an issue that affects many of my...
    • CyclePower Fiji (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak briefly about a recent event that I was involved in, being CyclePower Fiji. CyclePower Fiji was a test of cycling skill or, in my case, a lack thereof, which was sponsored...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Casey Electorate: Disability Services (1 speech)
      On Tuesday morning, 11 June, I was pleased to visit Monkami in Croydon in the electorate of Casey. Monkami is an adult disability service provider that was established back in 1958, originally as...
    • Throsby Electorate: Regional Investment (1 speech)
      The Labor government is working hard to assist people in businesses in the Illawarra to modernise, to protect current jobs and to prepare the region for the jobs of the future. Initiatives such...
    • Capricornia Electorate (1 speech)
      I thought my valedictory yesterday might be my last speech to the House but, in fact, the good news keeps coming from my electorate and so I could not resist getting up today and telling members...
    • Ryan Electorate (1 speech)
      Sport plays such an important role in the lives of our young people. Whether it is swimming at the local pool or participating in a community netball or football team, sport helps our young...
    • Health (1 speech)
      Anyone in this chamber who thought that the Commonwealth funding crisis in our public hospitals had been averted needs to think again. Once again, we stand on the precipice of another funding...
    • Lyster, Mr Bill (1 speech)
      I rise today in the House to acknowledge the passing of a good friend and Labor stalwart. Bill Lyster was a man whom I have known since my early 20s and whom I am pleased to have been able to...
    • Road Safety (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about something which is close to all of our hearts, and that is road safety. In 1982, on 17 December, the first random breath test was conducted in New South Wales. About 4.5...
    • Filipino Community (1 speech)
      On Saturday, 22 June I attended the unveiling of the wall of appreciation at the Filipino Community Centre in Brahma Lodge, just outside the Makin electorate. Also in attendance were the Honorary...
    • Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired (1 speech)
      I want to pay tribute to the work of the Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired in Melbourne. In 2010 one of the tasks that I set for myself at the beginning of this term of...
    • Family Counselling (2 speeches)
      On 15 March this year I attended a unique event. It was a book launch and an art show. The book that was launched was Who Runs Your House: The Kids Or You? It was written by Karen Phillip. The...
  • Bills (0 speeches)