House debates

Wednesday, 22 March 2017

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 9 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members’ business on Monday 27 March 2017. The report will...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • Last Veterans' Mission to Korea (3 speeches)
      I ask leave of the House to inform Members about Australia's part in the Korean War and about the last veterans' mission to South Korea that I had the privilege of accompanying in October 2016....
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
      Since yesterday, when we mentioned how Aerocare, the great Liberal donors, have been treating their workers like slaves and them like third-class people, my office has been inundated by people in...
    • Forde Electorate: Look, Mr David (1 speech)
      I would like to take this opportunity to recognise one of Forde's most generous and active community members, David Look, who, sadly, passed away recently aged 66. David was an active, caring and...
    • Indi Electorate: Agriculture (1 speech)
      I regularly rise in this place to talk about the importance of agriculture, and I am particularly proud today to welcome into the House some of my colleagues from Indi. A warm welcome to Stuart,...
    • Bonner Electorate: Sailability Bayside (1 speech)
      This month I am holding the first Bonner Volunteer Awards, which I have spoken about before here. In the spirit of these awards, today I would like to speak on Sailability Bayside, an outstanding...
    • Dobell Electorate: International Women's Day (1 speech)
      The Central Coast is home to truly inspirational women. I congratulate Julie Vaughan, Group Leader of Connected Communities at Central Coast Council, a worthy recipient of an International...
    • Leukaemia Foundation (3 speeches)
      Some of you may be wondering why I am sporting this new hair style this afternoon.
    • Tasmania: Labor Party (1 speech)
      I rise to offer my thanks to Bryan Green, the former leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party. He retired on Friday, following a 19-year career in the Tasmanian parliament and he goes with our good...
    • Robertson Electorate: Road Safety (1 speech)
      There are many passionate and connected communities in my electorate of Robertson, including the families who live in beautiful Avoca Beach. Earlier this year, members of the Avoca Beach...
    • Lindsay Electorate: Jasmyn Tan and Bryson Miles (1 speech)
      I spoke in my first speech about the great people I have to represent in Lindsay—our people are actually our strength. This is no different. Last week I was at the Glenmore Park Learning...
    • O'Connor Electorate: Marine Research (1 speech)
      For a few short months every year, enormous aggregations of Killer Whales or Orca and other marine life occur 70 kilometres offshore of Bremer Bay in the Great Southern region of my electorate of...
    • Macquarie Electorate: Jazz in the Park (1 speech)
      When Maddie Bishop, a high school student from Kurrajong, had an idea for a wonderful community event, she pitched it to the Kurrajong Community Forum, and they saw a great idea too. That led to...
    • Political Parties (1 speech)
      Political parties are very similar to consumer brands when you think about it. They might seem interchangeable, but each brings a very different product to our democracy. Let us take the example...
    • Batman Electorate: Darebin Community Legal Centre (1 speech)
      That is 90 seconds none of us will ever get back! I was proud to last week stand with Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula, member for Northcote Fiona Richardson and staff from the Darebin...
    • La Trobe Electorate: Sporting Clubs (1 speech)
      Last Saturday night I had a fantastic night at the opening of the Emerald Sporting Club's new pavilion. This was an election commitment back in 2013 for $500,000, but club members and donors...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (1 speech)
      In August 2014, a group of primary school students from Mount Sinai College in Maroubra were racially abused on a bus on their way home. There were targeted for one sad reason: their religion,...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      Hillview Bunyip hostel, located 150 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD and West Gippsland, are a not-for-profit community based aged-care facility of the highest standard. So far they have done...
    • Power of Speech (1 speech)
      Yesterday I had the great pleasure of once again dropping into the Power of Speech competition here at Parliament House to listen to two young Canberrans who took part in the public speaking...
    • Medtronic Bennelong Schools STEM Challenge (1 speech)
      The final exhibition for the Medtronic Bennelong Schools STEM Challenge was held last Wednesday night, with over 100 people attending. It was just like a sports event, but these young athletes...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (3 speeches)
      I refer to the human rights inquiry into freedom of speech in Australia and a comment made by Jeremy Jones from the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. He said in response to a question:...
    • Dementia (1 speech)
      I am sure all members will agree that dementia is an issue that is facing many, many more Australian families. Whether it is when a spouse is caring for another spouse or whether it is when...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Pensions and Benefits (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's new social services bill, introduced into the Senate today. Can the Prime Minister confirm that every cut to families and...
    • Cost of Living (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government's childcare and energy policies are helping to reduce cost-of-living pressures and support...
    • Child Care (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. One and a half million families will have their payments cut, and millions of children will be worse off because of the Prime Minister's decision today. Why...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to inform the House we have present in the gallery this afternoon the honourable Bruce Billson, former member for Dunkley and former minister. Sitting next to him is the former...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Cost of Living (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer please update the House on what the government is doing to support the incomes of hardworking Australians and relieve the cost pressures on the...
    • Turnbull Government (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the Treasurer has overseen the linking of the childcare package to cuts to family payments, the delay of the childcare changes, the linking of the...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I inform the House that we have just had former senator Mary Jo Fisher join us in the gallery. Welcome. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Endangered Species (5 speeches, 1 comment)
      My question is to the minister for the environment. Minister, regrettably the Tasmanian government is pursuing legislation to allow logging in 356,000 hectares of protected forests. These forests...
    • Child Care (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Social Services. Will the minister update the House on how the government will reduce cost-of-living pressures for Australian families through improved...
    • Taxation (15 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. I refer to the government's centrepiece— Mr Taylor interjecting— Mr Laundy interjecting— Mr Ciobo interjecting—
    • Workplace Relations (21 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on why an affordable and reliable energy supply is...
    • Taxation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the government's full $50 billion worth of corporate tax cuts that were in the 2016 budget be in the 2017 budget?
    • Energy (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, representing the Minister for Regional Development. I refer the minister to the situation of Dobinsons Spring & Suspension...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that while speaking about the government's watering down of protections against racist hate speech, One Nation senator Malcolm...
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on how the government is reducing the pressures on energy costs for businesses such as the Nowra...
    • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. On Sky News last night Andrew Bolt was asked how many insults would constitute harassment under the Prime Minister's new laws which give licence to racist...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to inform the House that we have present on the floor of the chamber this afternoon a delegation from Argentina, led by the Vice President and the President of the Senate, Ms...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Trade Unions (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry representing the Minister for Employment. Will the minister outline to the House any examples of union activities which would be eradicated...
    • Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Approximately 323,000 people are employed in the club, restaurant, cafe, hair and beauty industries. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that these workers will...
    • National Security (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister inform the House of the importance of strong and consistent border protection policies? What are the...
    • Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why is it that when the Commonwealth Bank reports a record half-year profit—
    • Mental Health (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health and Minister for Sport. I refer the minister to youth mental health issues present in the Clarence Valley and other communities. I thank the minister for...
    • Education (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The former Prime Minister, the member for Warringah, cut $30 billion from schools in the unfair 2014 budget. Why is this Prime Minister continuing with the...
    • Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the minister update the House on the government's Remote Airstrip Upgrade program? How will these upgrades benefit my...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      While everyone is here, I have just been advised that we have been joined in the gallery in the last few minutes by Yorta Yorta elder Uncle Boydie Turner, who is known to many of you. Welcome....
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 43 of 2016-17 (1 speech)
      I present Auditor-General's Performance Audit report No. 43 of 2016-17, entitled Proceeds of crime: Australian Federal Police; Australian Financial Security Authority; Attorney-General's...
  • 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.
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Education Funding (25 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Sydney proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The need to properly fund...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Council of Mayors: Southeast Queensland (3 speeches)
      We are in now the adjournment debate. It is always a pleasure to follow the honourable member for Blair. The House, along with the member for Blair, would be happy to know that today in this...
    • Blair Electorate: Royal Australian Air Force (1 speech)
      To the surprise of the member for Wright, I will commend him for his speech and agree with him and commend South-East Queensland Council of Mayors for their advocacy for South-East Queensland! In...
    • Dawson Electorate: Mackay Ring Road (1 speech)
      The $500 million Mackay Ring Road, Stage 1, will create a wealth of jobs—600, in fact. These jobs will include concreters, plant operators, drivers and labourers. We have people with these...
    • Income Inequality (1 speech)
      Increasing inequality is driving so many of the challenges that Australians face and Australia faces as an economy, but the Turnbull government cannot even say the word, much less take meaningful...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Public Transport (1 speech)
      In the past two weeks Dunkley residents have again seen the impact of a Victorian Labor government which continues to make decisions without proper consultation with the local council, local...
    • Harmony Day (1 speech)
      With so much going on in the chamber yesterday I think it is timely to actually take a minute to reflect on the true meaning of Harmony Day, because while we were in here having a fairly robust...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Shortland Electorate: Meals on Wheels (1 speech)
      One of the great privileges of being a member of parliament is meeting extraordinary people who volunteer in our communities. A few weeks ago I was pleased to visit Meals on Wheels at Swansea and...
    • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
      There are some things our society simply should not tolerate and domestic violence is top of the list. It must stop. In my former career as a police officer, I saw the devastating toll family...
    • Men's Health (1 speech)
      If by Rudyard Kipling: If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their...
    • Hinkler Electorate (1 speech)
      I had the great pleasure, earlier this month, of attending the 100th anniversary of the iconic Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay. The pier is one of the longest in Australia and has a strong and vibrant...
    • Indi Electorate: Community Leadership (1 speech)
      Policy is one of the main things that this government does. I have to say that I am so sad that in this government we do not have regional policy. I am told that we have not had a regional policy...
    • Goldstein Electorate: Community Leadership (1 speech)
      I would like to follow on from the previous speaker in talking about the importance of community leadership. If you want to see community leadership, the member for Indie only need come down to...
    • Schools (2 speeches)
      It was exciting to welcome the Gonski bus to Parliament House today after it had travelled through the Central Coast and across much of Australia. Special thanks to Correna Haythorpe, Federal...
    • Vaccination (1 speech)
      My grandmother lost her husband and her two young daughters to diphtheria in the same week. One day she was living with her husband, two daughters and two sons, and then she was not. Diphtheria...
    • Durack Electorate: Women in Business (2 speeches)
      As I am sure you would agree, Madam Deputy Speaker, any day is a good day to be talking about the importance of women and the contribution they make to the economy right across Australia. More...
  • Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      It is always a pleasure to stand in this chamber or the House and speak about the great work that this government is doing with free trade agreements, and I rise today to speak in support of the...
  • Governor General's Speech (0 speeches)
    • (23 speeches)
      I am very pleased to rise in this chamber today to speak about the coalition government's record and our achievements since winning the election in 2016. The Australian people returned a...
  • Bills (0 speeches)