House debates

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Access to Committee Reports; Presentation (1 speech)
      Pursuant to the resolution of the Senate on 6 September 1984 and the House of Representatives on 11 October 1984, I present a report on access to committee documents.
  • Parliamentary Office Holders (0 speeches)
    • Speaker's Panel (1 speech)
      Pursuant to standing order 17, I lay on the table my warrant revoking the nomination of the honourable member for Page to be a member of the Speaker's panel.
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Membership (2 speeches)
      I have received messages from the Senate informing the House of the appointment of senators to certain joint committees. As the list of appointments is a lengthy one, I do not propose to read the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Crean, Mrs Mary (1 speech)
      Vale, Mary Crean, a Labor legend who passed away on 28 January aged 103 years. Mary had a rich, full life—much of it devoted to our party and to our movement. Mary was the matriarch of a...
    • Wright Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
      It was my pleasure more recently to attend the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley regional councils' Australian citizenship ceremonies and welcome Wright's newest Australian citizens. It was also a...
    • Tasmania: Biosecurity (1 speech)
      Yesterday in this place my Tasmanian colleagues spoke about the biosecurity threat in Tasmania and the fruit fly that has been found on Flinders Island and in north-west Tasmania. There have been...
    • Safer Internet Day (1 speech)
      Today is Safer Internet Today. I just attended a function here in Parliament House which was addressed by the Prime Minister and by the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. Both spoke about...
    • Goods and Services Tax (1 speech)
      South Australians should be very concerned that the Turnbull government is delaying the release of the Productivity Commission review of GST distribution to the states, because the hidden message...
    • Mining (1 speech)
      For more than 200 days now, 180 workers have been locked out of the Oaky North mine in Central Queensland. While there has been some disgraceful behaviour from unionists on the picket line, the...
    • Armadale Youth Intervention Partnership (1 speech)
      In 2016 the Armadale Youth Intervention Partnership was established by the Youth Partnership Project to demonstrate how a targeted, collaborative, place based approach with purposely resourced...
    • Famechon, Mr Jean-Pierre 'Johnny' (1 speech)
      Australia is a great sporting nation. Boxing enthusiasts, and no doubt many others, will surely recognise the name Johnny Famechon, or 'Fammo' as he was known to the many Australians who cheered...
    • Safer Internet Day (1 speech)
      Today is Safer Internet Day, which encourages us all to promote safe and respectful practices online. With cyberbullying an ever-pressing issue, we need to combat online harassment and stop...
    • Morris, Mr John (1 speech)
      I take this opportunity to recognise a great community leader, developer and dear friend of mine, John Morris. I also wish John a very happy 90th birthday for this Thursday. John is known as...
    • Discrimination (1 speech)
      Everybody has the right to feel safe in our community, but right now cynical politicians are putting the safety of Melbourne's African-Australian community at risk. This summer, Melbourne's media...
    • Meningococcal Disease (1 speech)
      Last year on 3 September, Zoe McGinty, a 20-year-old from Brisbane, tragically passed away from what was, at the time of her passing, an unknown illness. Her mother, Kirsten, watched as her...
    • Lalor Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I rise today to congratulate two local women who were named in the Australia Day 2018 Honours List, and I celebrate that, in a year when 32 per cent of the Australia Day honours went to women,...
    • Mackellar Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
      In December last year I was honoured to join Narrabeen Sports High School in their recognition of their students' hard work and impressive achievements throughout 2017. I was especially pleased...
    • Safer Internet Day (1 speech)
      Today marks Safer Internet Day, and this year's theme is 'Create, connect, and share respect: a better internet starts with you'. I welcome the call for more respectful communication as part of...
    • Boothby Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Last month I was delighted to announce a significant milestone for the $170 million Oaklands Crossing grade separation, with design work beginning on the project. The federal Liberal government...
    • Workplace Safety (1 speech)
      The construction industry is a dangerous industry. Tragically, 40 construction workers lost their lives at work last year. They did not return home. The construction industry is rife with rogue...
    • New South Wales: Roads (1 speech)
      One of the Holy Grails of unfinished road projects in the Central West is the crossing at Dixons Long Point between Orange and Mudgee. It is a project that local community members have been...
    • South Australia: Education (1 speech)
      Parents and families in South Australia should be very worried by the Minister for Education and Training's politicking today in South Australia. In a clumsy attempt to insert himself in the...
    • Immigrant Business Networking Association (2 speeches)
      I would like to congratulate in parliament the entrepreneurial efforts of Cema Santos and Mariane Bornelli, two immigrants who founded the Immigrant Business Networking Association Inc to assist...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Economy (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Last year, average wages for Australian workers rose by only two per cent but corporate profits rose by 20 per cent. When ordinary workers are already doing...
    • Taxation (7 speeches)
      My question is also to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the government's plan for lower taxes will grow the economy, create jobs and increase wages, including...
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on why it is important to lower the tax burden to support more and better-paid jobs for hardworking Australians, including...
    • Taxation (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Wages growth for workers is stuck at record lows. Why is the Prime Minister asking Australians to believe that his Trump style $65 billion big business tax...
    • Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Indigenous Affairs. Approximately half of Indigenous Australians in remote areas live in overcrowded housing, with some three bedroom...
    • Employment (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister advise the House how company tax cuts will assist the defence industry and encourage the creation of more and better-paid...
    • Taxation (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Last night on Q&A, the former head of the Australian Industry Group and former RBA board member, Heather Ridout, described the government as cowards on...
    • Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Would the Deputy Prime Minister outline how the coalition government's record $75 billion investment in...
    • Health Care (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Medibank Private has a return on equity of 26 per cent. That's about double the return of even the big banks. At the same time, private health premiums are...
    • Taxation (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services: Will the minister update the House on the importance of creating a tax setting that helps grow the economy and reduces the tax...
    • Trade (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment: Will the minister please outline to the House how the coalition government's trade agenda is creating more and better paid jobs...
    • Taxation (5 speeches)
      My question is again to the Minister for Social Services. I refer to his previous non-answer, as it's around 1½ million Australian families that are worse off. Isn't it the case that a...
    • National Security (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on why strong borders are a necessary part of our national security framework? Is the minister aware of any...
    • Discrimination (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that he said today, about multicultural Australia, 'The key foundation of our success is mutual respect'? Does the sharing of...
    • Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government. Will the minister outline to the House how the government's Regional Jobs and Investment Packages are...
    • Molan, Senator Jim (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister has just said that every member of the government has absolutely zero tolerance for racism, will the Prime Minister direct...
    • Cyber Safety (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity. Will the minister update the House on the importance of keeping our kids safe online? This is important. What action is the...
    • Environment (5 speeches)
      Given the nature of the previous answer, on indulgence I associate the opposition with the first part of that answer. My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Yesterday the...
    • Agriculture Industry (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources—and I congratulate him on his elevation to the front bench. Will the minister update the House on the state of the...
  • 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.
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Cost of Living (25 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for McMahon proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: “The Government...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, I present the committee's report entitled Human rights scrutiny report: report 1 of 2018. I seek leave of the House to make a short...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • McMahon Electorate: Energy (1 speech)
      I've been in politics in this House for 14 years and in that time I've seen some very stupid ideas, but perhaps the most stupid idea I have ever seen is the proposal to build an energy-from-waste...
    • Calare Electorate: Australia Day Honours (1 speech)
      The Calare electorate is home to many outstanding Australians, a number of whom were honoured on Australia Day for their contribution to our communities and also to our nation. I would like to...
    • Gambling (1 speech)
      In Tasmania, at the state election early next month, we will finally have the opportunity to get poker machines out of hotels and clubs. It has been wonderful to see politicians, experts and...
    • Western Australia: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      With the 2018 federal budget preparations in progress I wish to strongly advocate for a number of landmark regional projects which will benefit the residents of my electorate. Continued federal...
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
      Canberra was one of the first places in Australia to roll out the National Disability Insurance Scheme trial, a trial that was designed by a Labor government and was warmly welcomed by so many in...
    • Foreign Investment (1 speech)
      Some of the most important and fundamental reforms to the Australian economy over the past four decades were aimed at getting the Australian government out of the private sector. Liberal and...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (1 speech)
      Ballarat has a wonderfully rich history built on the gold rush of the 19th century and all of the events associated with that period. Arguably, the most significant of those events is the Eureka...
    • Forde Electorate: State Emergency Service, Alzheimer's Australia (1 speech)
      It's my great pleasure to rise today to share some of the great success of the 2017 SES Orange and Purple Ball held last year in my electorate of Forde. The beneficiary of last year's ball was...
    • PFAS Contamination (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on behalf of my constituents in the Williamtown, Salt Ash and Fullerton Cove areas whose lives have been devastated by ongoing PFAS contamination through absolutely no fault of...
    • Calare Electorate: Australia Day (1 speech)
      On Australia Day in Calare we honoured many of the wonderful local residents who work so hard in our country communities. Ceremonies were held to recognise individuals who make great...
    • Broadband (1 speech)
      Since coming to government in 2013, Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals have done just about everything they possibly can to destroy the NBN. They have taken a world-class fibre-to-the-home network...
    • Corangamite Electorate: Regional Development (1 speech)
      It's my great pleasure to rise and celebrate our Regional Jobs and Investment Packages. The Prime Minister was in Geelong a couple of weeks ago to announce that 21 different projects will receive...
    • Broadband, Infrastructure, Knowles, Mr Stanley Alfred James 'Stan' (1 speech)
      In December last year I sent out a community survey to my constituents to give them an opportunity to raise the issues that matter to them. The results highlight the stark reality of what we...
    • Moore Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I am pleased to inform the House that three constituents of my electorate of Moore have been recognised for their contribution to our community as part of this year's Australia Day Honours List...
    • Lingiari Electorate: Telecommunications (1 speech)
      In the last couple of weeks, we've had excessive amounts of rain in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and at least 4,000 residents spent three days without access to Telstra services. This...
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      Employment is an enduring challenge in Canning, especially for young people. People need work for self-worth, dignity and purpose. Recently, though, we've had good news. Just before Christmas,...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
    • COHEN, The Hon. Barry, AM (9 speeches)
      Yesterday, there was a very moving state memorial at Old Parliament House for its former deputy chairman the Hon. Barry Cohen AM, 1935 to 2017. I've attended many state memorials, but the...
    • Bjelke-Petersen, Lady Florence Isabel 'Flo' (2 speeches)
      It is with great honour that I rise to speak on this condolence motion on the death of Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen. It is very hard to think of another woman from Queensland who has made a...
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Macquarie Electorate: Thompson Square (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker Goodenough, I'm going to pose a question: within what time frame should you expect a response from someone after sending them a letter? How long is too long: 24 hours? A week? A...
    • Federal Independent Commission Against Corruption (7 speeches)
      I want to appeal to the Australian public tonight about decisions made by governments that are purely populist. They have no substance whatsoever. There are headlines like this from Jessica...
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Safer Internet Day, City Deals (1 speech)
      I want to raise some issues of concern for and of interest to my constituents in the electorate of Solomon—the communities of Darwin and Palmerston, the capital of northern Australia....
    • Economy (1 speech)
      I offer my affirmation and support for the member for Solomon's contribution on cyberbullying. It's a space in which we all have to take responsibility, including parents. I wish the parliament...
    • Lalor Electorate (1 speech)
      The electorate of Lalor is a diverse and growing community in the outer-west of Melbourne, I was born and raised in Werribee. The privilege I have of standing here and representing my community...
    • Gippsland Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Deputy Speaker Coulton, can I begin by recognising your 10-year service in this place as the member for Parkes, because this year marks my 10 years in the place as the member for Gippsland. As I...