House debates

Thursday, 2 March 2017

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Public Works Committee; Reference (1 speech)
      I move: That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for...
    • Publications Committee; Report (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, I present the report from the Publications Committee. Copies of the report have been placed on the table. Report—by leave—agreed to.
  • Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
    • The Nationals (2 speeches)
      on indulgence—Today is my last day as the Chief Nationals Whip. I want to put on the record my thanks to my Nationals colleagues for the honour of serving as Chief Nationals Whip over the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      Twelve months ago, Labor announced our housing affordability policy, with reform of negative gearing and capital gains tax. That was 12 months ago. What has happened since? House prices continue...
    • Queensland: Sugar Industry (1 speech)
      Last night the Queensland Labor government, along with Labor lackey Independents in the Queensland parliament, used their numbers to vote against Queensland cane farmers. They voted in favour of...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      Not long ago, the Herald Sun published an article which called Brunswick East, a suburb in my electorate of Wills, the most difficult suburb in Melbourne in which to buy a house. According to a...
    • Banks Electorate: WestConnex (1 speech)
      A big issue for many people in my electorate is congestion on the M5. Importantly, this is being addressed through the WestConnex project. In February this year, the King Georges Road Interchange...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      All Australians need the security and stability of a home, yet this dream is increasingly out of reach. We have a housing crisis in Australia: home ownership rates are falling, first home buyers...
    • Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria: Urban Junior State Championships (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the 44th Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria Urban Junior State Championships in Tatura. There were about 2,000 members and their families there at the...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      As I move around Macquarie, I find that one subject people feel helpless about is housing, whether they are renters who can never see themselves owning their own home, older women who are fearful...
    • Leichhardt Electorate: Mental Health (1 speech)
      Mental illness is an invisible barrier that prevents so many in our community from reaching their full potential. But the Junction Clubhouse in Cairns is playing a key role in providing a range...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      There is a real issue in electorates like Werriwa in Australia at the moment with affordable housing. Young people trying to enter the housing market are being locked out because they just cannot...
    • Schools (1 speech)
      It is the time of year when new school leaders get to put on their badges, and last week I attended the New Farm State School leadership ceremony. The year 6 students there took up their...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      As we all well know, home ownership is a very important part of our culture. But the great Australian dream is quickly becoming a nightmare for young Australians. That home among the gum trees...
    • Rural and Regional Australia (1 speech)
      To the young people of Petrie and elsewhere: have I got an opportunity for you! One of the best things I have done, back in 2011, right before I put my hand up to represent the people of Petrie,...
    • Centrelink (1 speech)
      We have seen extraordinary scenes during Senate estimates today. We now know that the Minister for Human Services will do anything to distract from his error-prone robo-debt system. The Minister...
    • Boothby Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      Today I would like to recognise Australia Day award recipients from two of my local councils. From the City of Holdfast Bay, I applaud Citizen of the Year Sarah Tinney for the outstanding service...
    • Building Better Regions Fund (1 speech)
      There is a dispute between the Liberal and National parties which is threatening funding of critical projects in Western Australia and other regions. The dispute concerns the boundaries for the...
    • Calare Electorate: Lithgow Aged Care (1 speech)
      Today I would like to draw the attention of this House to the important work that Lithgow Aged Care carries out for the people of the Lithgow area. Lithgow Aged Care Ltd is a community based...
    • Attorney-General (2 speeches)
      Over the past two weeks, we have seen a series of revelations that show that this blundering Attorney-General, inexplicably kept on the front bench by this Prime Minister, has once again misled...
    • Moore Electorate: Joondalup Health Campus (1 speech)
      I am pleased to inform the House that the WA state Liberal government has recently committed $140 million in funding towards the first stage of the master planned expansion of the Joondalup...
    • Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2 speeches, 1 comment)
      This is a government that is utterly consumed with the leadership of its party. That is why the ministers are out the door and the Prime Minister is in the House—they are all discussing the...
    • Canning Electorate: Employment (3 speeches)
      In Canning, 16 per cent of families are currently jobless. That translates to over 3,000 children under the age of 15 growing up with no working role model for the skills and experience that...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Prime Minister said, 'It is an element in a part of every modern award that it is the intention that any changes to awards will not reduce the...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the importance of economic growth for jobs and investment? What threats are there to the Australian economy,...
    • Workplace Relations (12 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. We all know what the Prime Minister meant when he said he supports the decision. What government policy was the Prime Minister referring to this morning when...
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on yesterday's strong national accounts? Will the Treasurer outline how a strong economy supports a balanced budget and gives...
    • Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Terry works in a newsagent in my electorate. Terry says he works on Sundays and sacrifices time with his family and friends at important events like...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to inform the House that we have present in the gallery this afternoon the honourable Rob Borbidge, the former Premier of Queensland. On behalf of the House, we extend a very warm...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Defence Equipment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. It was revealed in Senate estimates yesterday that 75 per cent of the contents of ration packs for Aussie diggers are foreign produced, including items such...
    • Economy (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how increased investment will lead to increased earnings and opportunities for businesses and hardworking Australians in...
    • Workplace Relations (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Margarita is a single mother with two children who regularly works Sundays at a hotel. The Sunday penalty rates help Margarita put food on the table and buy...
    • Exports (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister advise the House on actions taken by the government to help hardworking Australian businesses capitalise on new export...
    • Workplace Relations (3 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, my question is to the Prime Minister. Linda lives in Katoomba in my electorate. Linda says she works on Sundays as a hotel chef because her rent is more than half her wages and she...
    • Horticulture Industry (15 speeches)
      Mr Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.
    • Workplace Relations (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Ruby lives in my electorate and works two casual jobs while studying part time at university. She says she works in retail on Sundays because it makes a huge...
    • Trade (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House how Australia's strong export growth is supporting our economy and creating jobs for...
    • Workplace Relations (16 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Prime Minister has heard from just some of the nearly 700,000 Australians who will have their pay cut because of the Prime Minister's support for...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (21 speeches)
      I seek leave to move the following motion: That the House: (1)      notes: (a)   unless this Parliament acts, the decision to cut the Sunday penalty...
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • 1996 Federal Election: 21st Anniversary (2 speeches)
      I note that it is the 21st anniversary today of the class of '96. Together with the member for Jagajaga and the member for Hunter, we make up a very select group. I do note that Labor are now a...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Infrastructure (30 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Grayndler proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government’s...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
      The Fair Work Commission decision to cut penalty rates in the fast food, retail, hospitality, pharmacy, restaurant and clubs industries will be a kick in the guts for around 700,000 of...
    • Human Rights (1 speech)
      In adjourning the House tonight, I want to take the opportunity to speak about and draw attention to the problems of cultural genocide. In my former capacity as Australia's Human Rights...
    • Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      Not a week goes by where the issue of housing affordability is not discussed with me in our community. The question that is often asked is: 'How are our kids going to be able to afford to live in...
    • Crime (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I was at the Berwick Show down at Akoonah Park, and it was a great day. At the show we launched a petition to get tough on crime. One of the couples who signed the petition, a young...
    • Turnbull Government: Youth Policies (1 speech)
      The young people of today have every right to be angry. They should be angry that they have a federal government and a Prime Minister who are completely out of touch with their lives and...
    • Banks Electorate: Community Organisations (1 speech)
      I want to take the opportunity this afternoon to highlight a number of community groups in my electorate who are doing good things in the Banks community and thank them for their contribution....
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Calwell Electorate: Workplace Relations (1 speech)
      I want to support Labor's Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017, which was tabled by the Leader of the Opposition on Monday. It is a bill that seeks to amend the Fair Work Act,...
    • Moncrieff Electorate: Infrastructure (3 speeches)
      It is a pleasure to rise to speak about an issue that is very important to all Gold Coasters, and that is the funding of the M1. The reason that this is an important issue is because the M1 has...
    • Queensland: Sugar Industry, Hunter Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
      I am delighted the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment is with us because I am going to issue him with a challenge. He knows and members generally know that Queensland sugar cane growers...
    • Moore Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Employment self-sufficiency remains one of the major priorities in my electorate. It is being addressed through economic development initiatives designed to create more local jobs for a growing...
    • Richmond Electorate: Vocational Education and Training (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak on the importance of properly funding our education system. In particular, today I want to focus on the important roles of trades training centres and what a difference they...
    • Corangamite Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      I rise to thank everyone who attended last week's Great Ocean Road Summit in Lorne. Almost 100 people attended the Lorne Bowls Club to hear from key stakeholders such as the Great Ocean Road...
    • New South Wales: Bushfires (1 speech)
      I rise to again talk about the disasters that often affect our region—in particular, most recently, the terrible Carwoola bushfires and what they revealed once again about the strength of...
    • Canning Electorate: Mandurah Baptist College (1 speech)
      There is a lot of commentary at the moment about the health of Western democracy. Unsurprisingly, many people are sceptical that our system of government is not working. This is especially the...
    • Centrelink (1 speech, 1 comment)
      I live in and represent an amazing community in the electorate of Longman. It is an electorate that really is a community of communities. As I mentioned in a speech yesterday, the average median...
    • The McClymonts, Cassar-Daley, Mr Troy (2 speeches)
      The Clarence Valley has produced Olympic athletes and some of the country's leading businesspeople, but we also entertain and sing to the world. I would like to acknowledge two international acts...
  • Governor General's Speech (0 speeches)
    • (11 speeches)
      I refer to His Excellency's speech on opening day in which he said: You come to this place with the honour of being elected by the people to serve as their voice, to represent their interests, in...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (1 speech)
      Last week I had my first mobile office for the year, which was held down at Manuka Terrace, and I met a couple who I had met before and their family. This couple have a three-year-old son called...
    • Small Business (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about issues facing small businesses. Small businesses are incredibly important to Australia. There are 2.1 million small businesses across the country, and about 15,000 of...
    • Katoomba RSL Club, Macquarie Electorate: Ex-service Organisations (1 speech)
      On Friday 21 February the Katoomba RSL Club was destroyed by fire. It took three minutes for the fire to turn the entire building into an inferno. The 30 patrons who were in the club at the time...
    • Road Safety (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about the national road toll and the recent disturbing increase in the number of fatalities, particularly in the calendar year 2016. The effectiveness and safety of our...
    • Telecommunications (1 speech)
      Recent storms have exposed yet again the risk to our community from gaps in communications networks. On 17 February, Wyong and Gosford State Emergency Service crews responded to hundreds of storm...
    • Energy Security (1 speech)
      Mr Deputy Speaker Coulton, I hope the people in your electorate around Dunedoo are recovering from the nasty fires that they have experienced in the last couple of weeks. We are all thinking...