House debates

Thursday, 4 June 2015

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: That order of the day No. 4, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (1 speech)
      Today I would like to welcome to Parliament House the board and staff of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Established by the government in 2000, FRRR, as it is fondly known, has 15...
    • Berowra Electorate: Margaret-Anne Hayes (1 speech)
      It is always a unique opportunity for us, as members of the House of Representatives, to acknowledge remarkable Australians. I have one such lady, Margaret-Anne Hayes, known to me. She is the...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      I am particularly concerned to draw to the attention of the House today the impact of the $30 billion in cuts over 10 years that this government has made to school education funding, including...
    • Jarvis, Councillor Barry (1 speech)
      I want to pay tribute today to a leader of the Tasmanian community from my electorate of Bass, who very tragically lost his life yesterday. Councillor Barry Jarvis was the Mayor of Dorset, in...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      Last week I had the pleasure of joining the terrific kids of class 2S at Woodridge North State School during their annual book fair. I read with Miss Sonboli's class The Last King of Angkor Wat,...
    • Bonner Electorate: Centenary of Anzac (1 speech)
      I rise today to acknowledge and thank the Wynnum RSL Sub-Branch, Manly-Lota RSL Sub-Branch, Holland Park-Mt Gravatt RSL Sub-Branch and the Brisbane East and Bayside branches of the National...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker: … we will honour the agreements that Labor has entered into. We will match the offers that Labor has made. We will make sure that no school is worse off. Those were Tony...
    • Braddon Electorate: Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker: Ice is an insidious drug that paths its destruction through individual users, their families and our communities. Urgent but considered action is needed by all levels of...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      Before the last election I visited Dapto high school and I asked them: what would the Gonski reforms, if fully implemented, mean to a school like this in my electorate? They were well prepared...
    • Robertson Electorate: Central Coast Mariners (1 speech)
      The Central Coast community is passionate about sport, and in Gosford we have the home ground of a club that has so much to be proud of in its short history. The Central Coast Mariners are...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      Before the election, the Prime Minister promised no cuts to education and that his government would be 'on an absolute unity ticket' when it came to school funding. The Minister for Education...
    • Hindmarsh Electorate: Tamil Community (1 speech)
      The international Tamil conference and seminar, held last weekend, was the first of its kind to be hosted in Australia for the Tamil people. There are many thousands from the Tamil Nadu state in...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      Amongst the most shameful broken promises of the Abbott government was the $30 billion cut to education funding. Before the election, the government's narrative was that there would be no cuts to...
    • O'Connor Electorate: Combined Schools Anzac Event (1 speech)
      I rise today to commend the schoolchildren of the Great Southern for hosting their very own combined schools Anzac event on the eve of Anzac Day. I could not have been more proud to witness the...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      I rise today, sadly, to talk about one of the greatest betrayals the Prime Minister and Liberal Party labelled against the Australian public before the last election—that is, their...
    • Western Australian of the Year Awards (1 speech)
      The strength of our community is due to selfless individuals providing countless hours helping others. In Western Australia, we recently celebrated the efforts and achievements of these...
    • Education Funding (3 speeches)
      Before the election, Tony Abbott, now the Prime Minister, said that the Liberal Party were on an absolute 'unity ticket' when it came to school funding; and the member for Sturt—now,...
    • Petrie Electorate: Redcliffe Leagues Club (1 speech)
      I rise to talk about a local sports club in my electorate, Redcliffe's Dolphins. They have a proud history on the Redcliffe peninsula and employ more than 200 people locally. The Redcliffe...
    • Education Funding (1 speech)
      When the former, Labor government commissioned a report to see how our schools across this nation could be improved and asked the question, 'How can we have a smarter and more prosperous nation?'...
    • Small Business (2 speeches)
      I want to talk to the Australian parliament about just how much confidence there is among small businesses across Australia at the moment. The small businesses in my electorate suffered from the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Security (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. There is no more important task for the government of Australia than keeping Australians safe, and there is no task that Labor takes more seriously than...
    • Small Business (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister inform the House how action to increase exports and support small business will create jobs and opportunity in my electorate of...
    • Cabinet (18 speeches)
      The safety of citizens is the first responsibility of government. Cabinet is the highest level of government. Given that leaks from cabinet are a criminal offence punishable by two years in...
    • Budget (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline how the government is promoting economic growth and how the budget is strengthening the Australian economy?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I advise honourable members that we have present on the floor of the House from Cuba Minister Kenya Serrano, who is also the President of the Cuban Friendship Institute, together with the Cuban...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • National Security (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister knows that we have already agreed in principle, and said so publicly, that dual citizens who fight against Australia with a terrorist...
    • Small Business (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. With 556 companies being wound up in May by the Australian government—77 per cent of all wind-ups in Australia and twice as many as in July 2014—why...
    • National Security (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister referred the serious leaks from his cabinet on national security issues to the Australian Federal Police?
    • Aviation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the . Will the minister update the House on the Western Sydney airport project? What broader benefits will this project bring to my constituents in Western Sydney?
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, why is annual GDP growth well below trend at 2.3 per cent and well below the level of growth needed to address unemployment?
    • Budget (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister update the House on the steps the government has taken to strengthen health care and make it easier for patients to access affordable...
    • Employment (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why is the government forecasting the highest unemployment rate for 14 years?
    • Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Acting Minister for Employment. Will the minister update the House on how the government is acting to ensure fair and equitable conditions for workers in our workplaces?...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why has Australia experienced, for the first time since the global financial crisis, its fourth consecutive quarterly decline in living standards?
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the outcomes of the anti-Daesh coalition meeting in Paris this week and on the government's contribution...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why was there zero growth in domestic demand in the March quarter, and why was there zero growth in retail trade in April?
    • Border Protection (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Would the minister advise the House of the importance of a strong and consistent plan on border protection, and how important...
    • Economy (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Why did household consumption, which accounts for more than half of the Australian economy, contribute less to GDP growth this quarter than the previous quarter?
    • National Security (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Counter-Terrorism. I remind the minister of the multiple terrorism related incidents in recent times in...
    • Economy (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. According to his own budget papers, the Prime Minster has: 1) doubled the deficit in the last 12 months, 2) forecast the highest unemployment rate for 14...
    • Road Infrastructure (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on the progress of the WestConnex project? How will this key...
    • Minister for Agriculture (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, now that you have had a few more days, what steps have you taken to satisfy yourself that the Minister for Agriculture has, since his...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
    • National Security (3 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, I wish to correct an answer I gave in the House during question time on Thursday 28 May 2015 in response to a question from the member for Isaacs. In my answer I said that a letter...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report Nos 41 and 42 of 2014-15 (1 speech)
      I present the following Auditor-General's performance audit reports for 2014-15: No. 41, The award of funding under the Safer Streets programme: Attorney-General’s Department and No. 42,...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (8 speeches)
      Madam Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
  • 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.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Employment (46 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 government's...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • South Australia: Economy (1 speech)
      Once again, in the 2015 federal budget South Australia was treated disgracefully by the Abbott government. That South Australia was unfairly treated in the 2014 federal budget came as no...
    • Tasmania: Economy (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to compliment the Tasmanian state government on the budget they have just recently brought down. The 2015-16 budget brought down by Treasurer Peter Gutwin in the last couple of...
    • Illicit Drugs (1 speech)
      In the weeks before the budget, the government announced that it was launching a national strategy on methamphetamine and, in particular, ice. On the Sunday night before the budget, the first ads...
    • Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
      I rise to update the House on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, but I would also like to mention to the member for Throsby that I am running an ice forum...
    • Bjorn Lomborg Australia Consensus Centre (1 speech)
      Last night in Senate estimates, Senator Kim Carr managed, against the odds, to extract some information on the funding of the Bjorn Lomborg Australia Consensus Centre. The key of the snippets,...
    • Liquefied Natural Gas (2 speeches)
      Australia pioneered the industry of freezing pure methane to make liquefied natural gas, or LNG. Gas, of course, is abundant in Australia. Western Australian business is making the switch....
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Ballarat Electorate: Indigenous Round (1 speech)
      I want to start my contribution by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which this parliament gathers and paying my respects to their elders. I also wish on this occasion to...
    • Indigenous Police Recruiting Our Way Delivery Program (1 speech)
      Today I rise to speak about the Indigenous Police Recruiting Our Way Delivery program, otherwise known as IPROWD. On Tuesday last week I had the pleasure of meeting the students from the current...
    • 457 Visas (1 speech)
      This week in Senate estimates it was revealed by the Fair Work Ombudsman that roughly 20 per cent of 457 visas involved in a particular investigation involved exploitation of those workers....
    • Bougainville (1 speech)
      One of our obligations as a developed nation is to support developing countries, particularly in our region. The autonomous region of Bougainville is one of our closest neighbours. With the...
    • Kingsford Smith Electorate: Fundraising (1 speech)
      I wish to congratulate and thank the Bangladeshi and Greek communities in my area for two recent fundraising efforts in support of medical research. On 10 May the Bangladeshi community came...
    • Renewable Energy (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about our government's very strong commitment to renewable energy. I did not have an opportunity to speak on the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015, but I just...
    • Greenway Electorate: Wentworthville Swimming Centre (1 speech)
      I am delighted to rise today and update the House about my local community's campaign to save the Wentworthville Swimming Centre from closure. I am pleased to say that, after a strong and...
    • Trade (1 speech)
      There are some very busy people in this place, and the small business minister is one of them. We certainly hope those opposite will keep him busy with many more questions in the parliament....
    • Hume, Mr Patrick (1 speech)
      It was with great sadness that I learned Nyungar elder Patrick Hume passed away on 20 May, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and to the many people who benefited from his...
    • Macquarie Electorate: Health (2 speeches)
      I rise to speak on a matter of great importance not only for the people in the electorate of Macquarie but also for those across our great nation. I wish to speak on the importance of automated...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Johnson, Hon. Leslie Royston, AM (4 speeches)
      I was 14 when Les Johnson resigned as the member for Hughes to take up the post of Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand. Until that time in late 1983, Les had been my local member. Of...
    • Kirner, Ms Joan Elizabeth, AC (11 speeches)
      I rise to reflect upon the passing of Joan Kirner, who passed away at the age of 76 on Monday. Joan Kirner, of course—former Premier of Victoria, the first woman Premier of my...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Chisholm Electorate: Alexis Smith (1 speech)
      Today, I want to say 'happy birthday' to a very special constituent friend and volunteer in my office, Alexis Smith. Alexis just celebrated her 50th birthday, and while this is an important...
    • Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Over the past 4½ years I have made many speeches in this place on the infrastructure deficit in Bennelong and the damaging flow-on implications this has on economic productivity and quality...
    • Forestry Tasmania (1 speech)
      I am often approached by constituents with concerns about forestry practice in Tasmania. Their concerns are widespread, but most often centre on the environment, as well as on politicians and the...
    • Foreign Workers (1 speech)
      Last month the coalition government committed to establish a multi-agency task force to target visa fraud and employers that exploit foreign workers. It is something I have been calling for since...
    • Australia Consensus Centre (1 speech)
      I want to talk a little bit about the process surrounding the approval of Bjorn Lomborg's ironically named 'Consensus Centre' in the University of Western Australia. I want to reflect a little on...