House debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • 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 seventh report of the 44th Parliament entitled Examination of legislation in accordance with the Human...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Netball Australia Grand Final (2 speeches)
      I stand here today proudly wearing my Victorian navy blue and my Vixens' scarf. There is much excitement about a rugby league match happening tonight, but the real state-on-state action will...
    • Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (1 speech)
      I rise to inform the house about Bowel Cancer Awareness Month: when 'small actions create a big movement'. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Australia—and our second biggest...
    • Levy on Fruit Growers (1 speech)
      I thank the Deputy Speaker on this red apple day. It is very appropriate, because last weekend I spoke to my father, who is a fruit grower in Donnybrook in south-west Western Australia, and I...
    • Flynn Electorate: Mt Larcom Show (1 speech)
      Mount Larcom is situated halfway between Rockhampton and Gladstone, and the Mount Larcom Show is on this Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 June. This is a great regional show, and there are some 129...
    • Rankin Electorate: Teaching Symposium (1 speech)
      I congratulate and commend Racquel O'Connor, the principal of Mabel Park State School, in my electorate for convening a symposium last week on attracting, retaining and developing teachers in...
    • Eden-Monaro Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      My electorate of Eden-Monaro is receiving and early down payment on the government's increased roads expenditure. On 13 June, last Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister visited Queanbeyan. Together...
    • Refugee Council of Australia (1 speech)
      I note that earlier today the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection hosted a refugee week function in Parliament House. I also note, that after having allocated ongoing core funding of...
    • Barker Electorate: Local Government (1 speech)
      As a former member of local government, I was humbled this week to welcome mayors from across the electorate of Barker to Canberra. These local government leaders are in Canberra this week for...
    • Iraq (1 speech)
      When they invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein, the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and John Howard said they were prepared to accept responsibility for...
    • Robertson Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours List (1 speech)
      I rise to acknowledge the achievements of three Central Coast residents who have been awarded an Order of Australia Medal in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours List. Philip Donnelly of Killcare...
    • Sport: Hockey (1 speech)
      I want to pay tribute to an Australian team who defeated the Netherlands in the Hockey World Cup. That is right, the Kookaburras took down the Netherlands. They demolished the Netherlands 6:1 in...
    • Dobell Electorate: Valley View Public School (1 speech)
      I wish to share with the House my recent visit to an outstanding school in my electorate, Valley View Public School in Wyoming. I would like to thank the relief principal, Mr Dave Stitt, for his...
    • Newcastle Electorate: Newcastle East Public School (1 speech)
      I rise to pay tribute to a school in my electorate which is visiting us here in Parliament House today: Newcastle East Public School. This school is Australia's oldest school, celebrating 198...
    • Vinnies CEO Sleepout (1 speech)
      According to Homelessness Australia, over 100,000 people are currently homeless in Australia. Most concerning to me is that thousands of those people are children. Homelessness is a scourge that...
    • Regional Capitals Australia (1 speech)
      It gives me great pleasure today to acknowledge the work of Regional Capitals Australia, and particularly the work of the Wodonga City Council in the formation of this wonderful national...
    • School Chaplaincy (1 speech, 2 comments)
      I would like to speak about the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program. Leading up to the budget I received many emails about this from parents, particularly from Woodvale Primary...
    • Jenkins, Mr Henry Alfred 'Harry', AO (1 speech)
      I rise today to draw the attention of members of the House to the awarding of the Order of Australia to the former member for Scullin, my predecessor, Harry Jenkins. Honourable members: Hear,...
    • State of Origin (1 speech)
      I want to report to the House that this morning on a minus one degree, frosty Senate field, the New South Wales Parliamentary Blues defeated Queensland two tries to nothing for the second year in...
    • Byrne, Mr Patrick (1 speech)
      I pay tribute to Patrick Byrne, former president of the Coogee Dolphins Rugby League Club, who passed away tragically on 23 May. Patrick Byrne was a remarkable Australian—community minded,...
    • Australia Post (1 speech)
      Teesdale residents in the Corangamite electorate currently must collect their mail from the licensed post office at the general store. Many in the community are crying out for street and roadside...
    • Giles, Mr Daniel (2 speeches)
      Today I rise to shine a light on Daniel Giles, a member of my community who is on the autism spectrum. Just recently, Daniel conducted a 24-hour walk with three other people in an effort to raise...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Budget (33 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Today, Prime Minister, is National TAFE Day, when we mark the opportunities and training that these important institutions provide for so many young...
    • World Heritage Areas (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The UN will shortly decide Australia's request to delist 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian World Heritage forests. Regardless of the government's position, will...
    • Carbon Pricing (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer inform the House of the consequences of a failure to repeal the carbon tax? How will the carbon tax continue to damage the economy if it is not...
    • Budget (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his continued denials that he is cutting health and education funding. I also refer to Standard and Poor's statement on...
    • Asylum Seekers (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister inform that House of the measures taken in the budget to provide education services to the children of...
    • Budget (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to this fact sheet circulated by the member for Perth to her constituents.
    • International Aid Program (2 speeches)
      To help members opposite, my question is to the member for Curtin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister advise the House of the steps the government is taking to ensure Australia's...
    • Budget (21 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. According to The Courier Mail, the Prime Minister is sending personalised letters to 2½ million age pensioners angry over budget cuts. Why is the Prime...
    • Higher Education (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education. Will the minister inform the House how the government's higher-education reforms, announced in the budget, will help more students gain a...
    • Budget (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, on Sunday, the member for Hume emailed his constituents, telling them: 'The GP co-payments will not apply to those who cannot afford to pay.'...
    • Infrastructure (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister outline the government's plan for infrastructure development in New South...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to advise the chamber that we have with us today a delegation from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, led by Mr Ikram Sayed, a member of parliament. We are delighted to welcome you...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Drought (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister.
    • Vocational Education and Training (6 speeches)
      There are currently 1,725 apprentices in my electorate of Hinkler. As a former TAFE student, apprentice and tradesperson, and on this National TAFE Day, I ask the Minister for Industry how the...
    • Pensions and Benefits (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the election, the Prime Minister promised Australians: no change to pensions. But the Prime Minister has since cut the indexation of pensions and will...
    • Medicare (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. What is the government doing to ensure the sustainability and universality of Medicare? Is the minister aware of any alternative policy being proposed?
    • Budget (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that at Senate estimates the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirmed a saving of $65.1 million in the forward...
    • Australia Post (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications. I remind the minister that post offices provide key services to communities in my electorate and in other rural and regional areas. How is the...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • Budget (3 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (5 speeches)
      I seek leave to give a personal explanation.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      ( ): I present report No. 10 of the select Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private member's business on Monday, 23 June 2014. The report will be...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General's performance audit reports 2013-14 No. 42: Screening of international mail—the Department of Agriculture, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service;...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Madam Speaker, 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.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Employment (14 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Gorton proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government’s...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Tertiary Education (1 speech)
      I rise to emphasise the importance of investing properly in universities and tertiary education and ensuring that access to higher education is determined by ability and not family income. I do...
    • Durack Electorate: Wiluna (1 speech)
      I spent a very cold night on the edge of the desert last week when I met with various stakeholders and residents in one of Western Australia's most remote towns, Wiluna—and may I say I had...
    • Budget (1 speech)
      It is not just the unfairness of the budget that hangs around the neck of the government, nor the canyon between what they promised prior to the election and what they delivered. It is also that...
    • Edith Cowan University (1 speech)
      With 24,000 students, Edith Cowan University is the cornerstone of the Joondalup Learning Precinct—a leader in the fields of research, innovation and enterprise initiatives. I acknowledge...
    • Autism (1 speech)
      Tonight I share with the House a desperate plea for change from my community. Parents at Bendigo schools are calling for increased funding to help deal with the growing number of students with...
    • Foreign Policy (2 speeches)
      I am rising today to make brief comments on some foreign policy issues. This week the Prime Minister returned from what I regard as a highly successful overseas trip, involving visits to...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Isaacs Electorate: City of Greater Dandenong (1 speech)
      I would like to congratulate the City of Greater Dandenong, which last night in Parliament House was presented with the National Award for Local Government in the category of Multicultural...
    • Dawson Electorate: Medical Workforce (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about the issue of doctor shortages in the Whitsundays. It seems strange that such a beautiful area and one of the greatest tourism destinations in the world cannot seem to...
    • Domestic Violence (1 speech)
      I rise to speak again in this place about the stain of men's violence against women, and family violence more generally in our community. It has been just over one month since I last spoke about...
    • Battle of Cocos (1 speech)
      I welcome the opportunity to speak today on an issue that I am sure you are very keen on as well, Mr Deputy Speaker Scott. We are rapidly approaching the 100th anniversary of the declaration of...
    • Bendigo Electorate: Kalydeco (1 speech)
      I rise today to raise the case of two constituents living in my electorate—27-year-old Brett Bell and six-year-old Amelia McCrohan—and their families. Both Brett and Amelia have a...
    • Bradfield Electorate: 40K Foundation (1 speech)
      I am pleased to rise to pay tribute to the impressive work of the 40K Foundation, an organisation which was established by a man named Clary Castrission, who grew up in my electorate of...
    • Kennedy Electorate: Ethanol (1 speech)
      I rise to give notice that the little tiny party that I represent will be moving in the state parliament in Queensland for the introduction of ethanol. We will be moving exactly the same...
    • Aston Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Traffic congestion in Melbourne, and in my electorate particularly, is getting worse every year. We all know the situation of being stuck in traffic, looking at the cars in front of us and...
    • South Australia (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about an issue that is of great concern to me. I am pleased that I have been joined by my South Australian colleagues here in the chamber, because I know it is of deep...
    • Surf Life Saving Central Coast (2 speeches)
      Today, I rise to acknowledge the incredible work done by thousands of lifesavers right across the Central Coast community. There are 15 clubs on the coast, including eight in my electorate of...
  • Bills (0 speeches)