House debates

Wednesday, 10 February 2016

  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Minister for Human Services (8 speeches)
      I seek leave to move: That the House: (1) notes that during a trip to China in August 2014 the Minister for Human Services provided assistance to Nimrod Resources by: (a) participating in a...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 39 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday, 22 February 2016. The report will be...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Report (1 speech)
      As Deputy Chair of the committee I present the following report: Public Works—Parliamentary Standing Committee—Referrals made September, October and November 2015 (1st report of...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Commercial Fishing (1 speech)
      In the final days of January, the industrial fishing factory ship Geelong Star added seven protected albatrosses to the list of marine animals—seals, dolphins and sharks—that have now...
    • Solomon Electorate: Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program (1 speech)
      I rise today to mention a project that was funded under the Solomon Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. The Darwin Military Museum, in conjunction with Norm Cramp, received funding to publish a...
    • Ballarat Electorate: Sovereign Hill (1 speech)
      I rise to congratulate Sovereign Hill, a fantastic tourism facility in my electorate, which was the national gold winner of the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards on Friday night. Mr Chester...
    • Lyne Electorate: Summerfest Music Festival (1 speech)
      I rise to bring to the attention of the House a wonderful event in the Manning Valley. On Saturday, 30 January, we had the talented musicians and artists from the Manning community on show at the...
    • HeartKids (1 speech)
      This Sunday, 14 February marks not only Valentine's Day but also Sweetheart Day, an annual fundraising event on the HeartKids organisation's calendar. HeartKids is a great community organisation...
    • Singapore Chamber of Commerce (1 speech)
      I formally recognise the significant contribution made by the Singapore Chamber of Commerce (Western Australia) in fostering trade and investment between our nations. I acknowledge the dedicated...
    • Csiro (1 speech)
      Hobart is at the moment hosting a conference for climate scientists from all over the world. Ironically, as they are doing this today, our local newspaper in Hobart is full of headlines about the...
    • Canning Electorate: Bushfires (1 speech)
      I rise on behalf of the people of Canning who have suffered greatly through the historic bushfires that swept through the Peel-Harvey region last month. Many people have lost their businesses,...
    • Overseas Workers (1 speech)
      Member for Canning, you have sympathies from us in Victoria as well. Please know that we are thinking of you and your families. Today I rise to give my support to the Victorian Farmers Federation...
    • Victoria: Public Transport (1 speech)
      I rise today on behalf of the people of Corangamite to express grave concerns about the Victorian Labor government's management of public transport across our region. V/Line train services are in...
    • Higher Education (1 speech)
      This week is Orientation Week at Canberra's universities and this morning I joined the deputy opposition leader, the member for Kingston and Senator Carr in paying a visit to the ANU. It is...
    • Page Electorate: Awards (1 speech)
      I would like to congratulate all the recent winners of the Kyogle Australia Day Awards. The Citizen of the Year Award went to Larry Condon, the Senior Citizen of the Year Award went to John...
    • Renewable Energy (1 speech)
      In 2015, one of the warmest years on record, we reached halfway to the two degrees that is widely agreed to be the absolute degree limit of global warming. Every major economy in the world is...
    • Closing the Gap (1 speech)
      This morning the Prime Minister released the 2016 Closing the Gap report. In 2008, COAG agreed to several ambitious targets to address the disadvantage that Indigenous Australians face in life...
    • Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience Program (1 speech)
      Thousands upon thousands of Indigenous students have completed high school and gone on to study and work because of the activities of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. On an...
    • Qantas Australian Tourism Awards (1 speech)
      On Friday a week ago, there was a stunning advertisement for the tourism offering that Tasmania has to offer the world. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the businesses in my...
    • Shipbuilding (1 speech)
      Today there are reports that the Turnbull government is not committed to a two per cent growth in defence spending. The reports raise questions about how many submarines will be built if and when...
    • Swan Electorate: Brooke, Ms Cecilia (1 speech)
      I congratulate my constituent Cecilia Brooke on winning the City of South Perth Citizen of the Year and Premier's Australia Day Active Citizenship Award this year. Cecilia became well-known...
    • Safe Schools Coalition Australia (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about an article in today's Australian about the Safe Schools Coalition. It is a voluntary program which is all about promoting tolerance. To best to sum up what this program is...
    • Federal Grants Programs (2 speeches)
      I wish to take this opportunity to highlight the commitment the coalition government has to creating strong, sustainable and vibrant communities across Australia through competitive federal...
    • Commonwealth Grants (2 speeches)
      I wish to take this opportunity to highlight the commitment this coalition government has to creating strong, sustainable and vibrant communities across Australia through competitive federal...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that the Minister for International Development and the Pacific will be away from parliament for the rest of this week as he is representing Australia at the Bali Clean Energy...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • Jones, Mr Andrew Thomas (1 speech)
      I inform the House of the death on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, of Andrew Thomas Jones, a member of this House for the division of Adelaide from 1966 until 1969. As a mark of respect for the...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Medicare (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the Prime Minister said he was totally committed to Medicare, but this morning it was revealed in a Senate estimates committee that the Prime...
    • Indigenous Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how innovative businesses led by Indigenous Australians will help close the gap by creating economic...
    • Taxation (10 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. The government promised before the last election not to make any adverse changes to superannuation, but, according to reports today, the government wants to do a...
    • Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. Will the minister update the House on how the government's investment in infrastructure and...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Before I call the member for McMahon, I want to welcome two former members before we lose them: former Deputy Prime Minister, a member of the Nationals, and the former member for Farrer, the Hon....
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Taxation (4 speeches, 1 comment)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Last year when asked about changing negative gearing, the Treasurer replied: 'No. I don't think we should change it.' Is that still the Treasurer's position?
    • Women in Parliament (12 speeches)
      Prime Minister, it is 114 years since women received the vote—a long time ago. It took them 41 years to get a member in parliament, yet in your ministry you have got a significantly lower...
    • Taxation (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on how the government is ensuring that Australia has a modern taxation system that is fit for purpose for our new economy?...
    • Minister for Human Services (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services. I refer to the minister's trip to China and his answer yesterday that he would fully assist the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister...
    • Small Business (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to boost Australian businesses through new ways to...
    • Minister for Human Services (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services. I refer to the minister's trip to China and his answer yesterday that he would fully assist with the Parkinson inquiry. Has the minister...
    • Tourism (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on what the government is doing to promote Australia as a destination for tourism, to provide economic...
    • Minister for Human Services (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services. I refer to the minister's previous answer. The minister has referred the parliament to his statement yesterday. Given that his statement was...
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the minister explain to the House how the coalition government's support for agriculture is boosting jobs and growth in my...
    • Minister for Human Services (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Human Services. I refer to the minister's trip to China and his answer yesterday that he would fully assist with the Parkinson inquiry. Given that it is not...
    • Private Health Insurance (6 speeches, 1 comment)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister inform the House what this government is doing to improve private health insurance for rural and regional consumers? Can the minister...
    • Minister for Human Services (13 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Clause 2.20 of the Prime Minister's own Statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a 'personal...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Martin, from my electorate in Dobell, recently contacted me regarding his concerns towards our nation's security. Will the...
    • Minister for Human Services (3 speeches)
      The question is to the Prime Minister. When will the Prime Minister's sack the Minister for Human Services? Just as with the former Special Minister of State and the former minister for cities,...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Prime Minister; Attempted Censure (23 speeches)
      I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1)notes the Minister for Human Services assisted Nimrod Resources during a trip to China in August 2014 by: (a)participating in a...
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 21 of 2015-16 entitled Administration of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's gift to the Science and...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Presentation (1 speech)
      Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings.
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Coleman, Mr Adam, Lucas, Mr Dean (3 speeches)
      By indulgence—and I thank the House, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister and the opposition leader for their support in making this statement. I acknowledge, of course, the presence in the...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Broadband (19 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Blaxland proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Prime Minister failing...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • Member for Calare (1 speech)
      on indulgence—I would like to wish the member for Calare a happy birthday for tomorrow.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
      Today I rise to call on the Prime Minister to rule out once and for all increasing the GST to 15 per cent. A fair tax system is what matters to the people of Australia. This is why Labor will...
    • Deakin Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
      On a slightly more up-beat note, tonight I want to discuss a couple of wonderful local success stories from the electorate of Deakin, which are examples of how we can approach the economic...
    • Nick Xenophon Team (1 speech)
      There is always an element of theatre in politics, and it would be churlish and perhaps envious of me to question the media coverage that Senator Nick Xenophon gets. But no matter how good the...
    • Robertson Electorate: Peninsula Growth Statement (1 speech)
      The Peninsula region in my electorate of Robertson is a diverse area which over the last 100 years has grown from a service centre and holiday hotspot into a thriving hub of more than 30,000...
    • Holt Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I rise this evening to talk about a group of exceptional people in my constituency who we collectively honoured at the 12th annual Holt Australia Day Awards at the Day of Nations celebrations in...
    • Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      Since coming to government the coalition has announced and implemented a number of job-creating policies that will help the nation. Today I want to speak on infrastructure. The coalition...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Lucas, Mr Dean (1 speech)
      I will read a statement prepared by the Lucas family: The Lucas family have long been travellers. As parents we set an example of travel and exploration which we knew would educate our children...
    • Hinkler Electorate: Bruce Highway (1 speech)
      One of the top five issues raised by constituents in my electorate of Hinkler is upgrades to the Bruce Highway and of course road safety. The Bruce Highway stretches some 1700 kilometres along...
    • Fowler Electorate: Lunar New Year (1 speech)
      My electorate recently celebrated the lunar new year with the Vietnamese Tet festival and many Chinese New Year celebrations. My Chinese and Vietnamese communities came together with many...
    • Northern Territory: Infrastructure, Solomon Electorate: Capital Grants Program, Bombing of Darwin (1 speech)
      It was great to have members of our local business community here in Canberra to showcase some of the Territory's capabilities in terms of delivering major projects. I would like to place on...
    • Carr, Aunty Faye, Robinson, Mr John (1 speech)
      Today I want to acknowledge two residents of the Blair electorate, both of whom have made enormous contributions and were recognised by Ipswich and Somerset regional councils on Australia Day....
    • BP Australia (1 speech)
      I rise today on behalf the people of Lorne, Wye River, Separation Creek and surrounding Otways communities in the Corangamite electorate, and the thousands of tourists who travel the Great Ocean...
    • Cambodia: Australian Aid (1 speech)
      The schoolchildren clapped as we arrived as part of the Save the Children delegation of parliamentarians on a visit to Cambodia to learn the importance of Australian aid. It was the warmest of...
    • Page Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I would like to congratulate some of the Australia Day award winners in my electorate. I would like to start with the Clarence Valley Australia Day award nominees and winners. The winners were:...
    • Melbourne Ports Electorate: Transport Infrastructure (1 speech)
      In Melbourne we have seen pictures of our Sydney Prime Minister crouching down outside the Melbourne Club prior to taking selfies of himself on trains and trams. But these selfies aside, we want...
    • South Australia: Recreational Fishing (1 speech)
      Fishing is an important part of the South Australian and also the Australian way of life, and recreational fishing is a strong economic driver, with more than 277,000 men, women and children...
    • Richmond Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
      I rise to talk about Australia Day events in my electorate. Australia Day is a day of citizenship ceremonies and awards, and it is always great to welcome new families to the North Coast of New...
    • Durack Electorate: Geraldton City Speedway (3 speeches)
      I am delighted to speak today about the Geraldton City Speedway. The Geraldton City Speedway was established in 1964 by a group of Geraldton revheads, originally racing on a block of land they...
    • Scullin Electorate: Volunteers (1 speech)
      Perhaps the greatest privilege that I have experienced in my short time in public life has been the ability to appreciate how communities are built and how they are sustained—that is,...
    • Forde Electorate: Logan City (1 speech)
      With Queensland's local government elections coming up on 19 March, I would like to take this opportunity to farewell Logan mayor Pam Parker, who has decided to hang up her mayoral robes. While...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about the Turnbull government's cuts to aged care as set out in the MYEFO released in December, only a couple of months ago. Today, Alzheimer's Australia Vic released its latest...
    • Longman Electorate: Dale Street Flood Levee (1 speech, 2 comments)
      The completion of the Dale Street flood levee is a very exciting and significant milestone for our community. As locals know, Dale Street has often been a street of tragedy. Almost every time it...
    • Intelligence Committees (1 speech)
      I was not going to speak but I am now apparently. Whilst I have the opportunity to be on my feet, I want to talk about the trip that I have recently returned from in the United States,...
    • Northern Suburbs Railway (2 speeches)
      I make the strong case in the parliament for the extension of the Northern Suburbs metropolitan railway 14 kilometres northwards from Butler to Yanchep. I fully support the efforts of my...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)