House debates
Monday, 12 February 2018
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
Today I present the 20th report of the Petitions Committee for the 45th Parliament, together with 20 petitions and 44 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented. The right to...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (1 speech)
Pursuant to standing order 113, I fix the next sitting Monday as the day for presenting the Fair Work Amendment (Making Australia More Equal) Bill 2018.
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Morant, Lieutenant Harry ‘Breaker’, Handcock, Lieutenant Peter, Witton, Lieutenant George (4 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) approximately 16,000 Australians fought in the Boer War in contingents raised by the Australian colonies or the Commonwealth Government (after 1901),...
- South Australia: Schools (34 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that the $210 million funding cut to South Australian schools in 2018 and 2019 means that schools will face significant cuts, which the South Australian...
- Human Rights (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that modem slavery continues to devastate the lives of millions of people, with latest estimates of over 40 million people impacted across the world, including...
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Ministerial Statements (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Broadband (1 speech)
Canberrans are tearing their hair out at the delay in the NBN rollout. They're dealing with download and upload speeds of less than one megabit per second. Those who do actually have access to...
- Rowan, Mrs Linda (1 speech)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate one of my constituents, Mrs Linda Rowan, who received an Order of Australia for services to aged welfare. With 41 years of dedicated work in...
- Indigenous Affairs (1 speech)
Tomorrow, Tuesday, 13 February, is the 10th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation. I remember, 10 years ago, being in front of the Royal Darwin Hospital when then Prime Minister...
- Bonner Electorate: Bonner Seniors Expo (1 speech)
I'm happy to report that the first Bonner Seniors Expo I hosted last year was a huge success. So many people have told me how much they enjoyed the expo and how much useful information they got...
- Bendigo Electorate: Chinese Dragon (1 speech)
Yesterday, 11 February, was a special day for many in the Bendigo community, particularly the Bendigo Chinese Association and the Golden Dragon Museum. Our much loved dragon, Sun Loong, performed...
- Fisher Electorate: Sunshine Coast Casino (1 speech)
The Sunshine Coast Council has expressed an interest in establishing a casino in its Maroochydore CBD development. Media reports suggest that meetings with overseas gambling corporations have...
- North Queensland: Dams (1 speech)
There are two competing—people don't realise they are competing—proposals for delivering water to Townsville and developing North Queensland. One is to raise the Burdekin Falls Dam....
- Agriculture (1 speech)
Agriculture touches the lives of all Australians through the food we eat, the natural fibres that we wear and the economic prosperity that we all enjoy. If agriculture exporting were an Olympic...
- Herbert Electorate: Land 400 (1 speech)
I stand here today to fight for Queensland jobs and to make it loud and clear in Canberra. Queensland wants the Land 400 contract and we are ready for it. Land 400 would not only mean jobs in...
- O'Connor Electorate: Cashless Debit Card (1 speech)
I rise today to give a warm welcome to parliament to two incredibly strong and capable Indigenous women from my electorate of O'Connor. Shire Councillor Betty Logan and Amanda Bennell, up in the...
- Paterson Electorate (1 speech)
As we head into question time, for most people around the country the most important query on a Monday is, 'How was your weekend?' I hope everyone had a good one. I had a fantastic weekend in my...
- Taxation (1 speech)
Today it's time to be honest: the tax system is screwing over young Australians. Instead, it favours well-off, established interests against those trying to get ahead. The federal budget is more...
- Broadband (1 speech)
In November, my electorate, like the rest of the country, got the surprising news that there would be a pause in the HFC rollout in the National Broadband Network. It was a surprise for everyone,...
- Country Fire Authority: Volunteers (1 speech)
February 16 this year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires which devastated parts of Victoria, especially in my electorate of La Trobe, and of South Australia. So I just...
- Penrith Community Kitchen Christmas (1 speech)
I've come in here today to talk about Gai Hawthorn, an absolute living legend in my electorate of Lindsay, and to say thank you to her for organising the 10th Penrith Community Kitchen Christmas...
- Chinese new year (1 speech)
This weekend, hundreds of thousands of Australians will join over a billion people around the world in celebrating Chinese new year. The Lunar new year has truly become a global celebration, and...
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
Today we saw the commencement of the banking royal commission, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Australian Labor Party, who wouldn't relent on this issue until the government succumbed and...
- Bennelong By-Election (1 speech)
I would like to give part 2 of my serialised speech of thanks to everyone who helped out in the Bennelong by-election. As with all campaigns, we would never have been successful without our...
- Macquarie Electorate: Tennyson Rural Fire Brigade (1 speech)
There is a serious case of shed envy happening in the Hawkesbury that I think most of the blokes in this place would identify with. This shed envy is all because of the Tennyson Rural Fire...
- Indian Republic Day, Australia Day (2 speeches)
Last Saturday night I was delighted to join Dr Gurdip Aurora and members of the Australia India Society to celebrate Indian Republic Day and Australia Day—both of which fall on the same...
- Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
- (1 speech)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs will be absent from question time this week as she's in Kuwait representing Australia at the foreign ministers' meeting of the global coalition to defeat ISIL and...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Stolen Generations (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. It's 10 years since Kevin Rudd's historic national apology to the stolen generations. It's more than 20 years after the Bringing them home report. Will the...
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House how lower business taxes will help create jobs and grow wages for Australians, including in my electorate of...
- Indigenous Affairs (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. An estimated 17,664 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were living in out-of-home care last year, compared with 9,070 when Kevin Rudd issued the...
- Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
- Taxation (2 speeches)
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on the government's actions to ease the tax burden on Australian business and how it is helping to drive jobs and growth in...
- Ministerial Staff (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Under section 12 of the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act, the Prime Minister alone can approve the allocation of staff to a member or senator. Was the Prime...
- Public Service (6 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, Department of Human Services ICT jobs are being shed in Hobart despite an assurance from the government that this would not occur. Indeed,...
- Water Infrastructure (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on the government's commitment to building water...
- Ministerial Staff (2 speeches)
My question is to the minister representing the Special Minister of State. I refer to the Prime Minister's answer just now. Which minister or office in the government approved the creation of a...
- Defence Export Strategy (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the Minister update the House on the government's Defence Export Strategy and the opportunities which are available in the United...
- Ministerial Staff (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Special Minister of State. I refer to the Treasurer's answer just now in which he stated that the National Party approved the creation of a new...
- National Security (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to keep Australians safe? Why is it important that we have a consistent...
- Deputy Prime Minister (2 speeches)
My question is to the Prime Minister. Next week, the Prime Minister will be overseas. Will the Deputy Prime Minister be Acting Prime Minister in his absence? Does the Prime Minister still retain...
- Trade (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister outline to the House the benefits of the coalition government's trade agenda and what our agreements mean for...
- Victoria: Infrastructure (4 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Victoria is the fastest-growing state in the nation. It is home to one in four Australians. Why is Victoria only receiving 9.7 per cent of the federal...
- South Australia: Energy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on the action the government is taking to improve energy affordability and reliability so that...
- Tasmania: Infrastructure (5 speeches)
My question is addressed to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure. I refer to the government's own budget papers which show that federal infrastructure investment in Tasmania...
- South Australia: Health Care (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Health. Would the minister outline to the House how the coalition government is supporting the health of South Australians, including those in my electorate of...
- Infrastructure (7 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Why is federal infrastructure funding for South Australia just $95 million in 2020-21, or just two per cent of the federal infrastructure budget? Mr...
- Economy (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. Will the minister update the House on the importance of creating economic conditions that help grow the economy and reduce the...
- Northern Australia Roads Program (2 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Why do the budget papers show that, of the $100 million allocated last financial year to the Northern Australia Roads Program, only $12 million was...
- Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Human Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation. Will the minister outline to the House how the government has worked to...
- Deputy Prime Minister (6 speeches)
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure. I refer to his answers today in which he has defended Victoria receiving under 10 per cent of federal infrastructure...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Skilled Migration Program (2 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Will the Minister update the House on the government's reforms of the 457 visa class and how these changes are helping to...
- Payday Lending (4 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. I refer to reports that a group of government backbenchers, known as the parliamentary friends of payday lending, have enlisted...
- Broadband (2 speeches)
) ( ): My question is to the Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, representing the Minister for Communications. Will the Minister update the House as to how the government is working to...
- Small Amount Credit Contracts (5 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services. Two years ago, the government received a report which confirmed that vulnerable Australians already struggling to get by are...
- Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
- (5 speeches)
I rise to make a personal explanation.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
I move: That leave of absence from today for the remainder of this week be given to Ms McBride, the member for Dobell, for personal reasons. Question agreed to.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Adjournment (0 speeches)
- Mining Industry (1 speech)
We hear constantly that mining is a big employer of Australians. It is. It is one of our largest industries in terms of directly employing people. It's not the largest. Many may not realise that...
- Capricornia Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
This month has been one of great pride for me. Representing the fine people of Capricornia is always a great privilege, and this month has shown me how important this role is. Over the past month...
- Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
Each year, I rise in this parliament to honour the lives of women who have died in the past year through acts of violence by someone known to them. Tonight, I stand to remember and pay my...
- Berowra Electorate: Stronger Communities Program (1 speech)
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job as member for Berowra is creating community change with real results. That's why I've been so proud of this government's Stronger Communities Program,...
- Blaxland Electorate: National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
Tonight I want to talk about a beautiful little girl named Georgia who lives in my electorate. Georgia is nine and she has multiple disabilities. She has autism, epilepsy and profound global...
- Farrer Electorate: Cross-Border Issues (1 speech)
I rise tonight to highlight what remains one of the most important issues facing many communities I represent along the New South Wales border with Victoria. Places like Wentworth-Mildura,...
- Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
- Blair Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
My electorate of Blair in South-East Queensland is over 6,400 square kilometres and takes in most of Ipswich and all of the Somerset region to the north and west—country towns such as...
- Forrest Electorate: Surf Life Saving Australia (1 speech)
I want to thank every volunteer surf lifesaver who is active over the summer and during the year for us in Australia. Surf Life Saving Australia is Australia's peak coastal water safety, drowning...
- Tasmania: Health Care (1 speech)
On the weekend, the Tasmanian Liberals finally released their public health policy for the March 3 election. The big headline number, $757 million, captured the attention of journalists, who went...
- Tangney Electorate: Fuel (1 speech)
In my electorate of Tangney a number of concerned constituents have come forward regarding the fuel price in Perth. Australian consumers have always been sensitive to movement in petrol prices,...
- Holt Electorate: Community Spirit and Leadership Awards (1 speech)
Last year, in December 2017, I was proud to present 43 students from 39 local schools with the 2017 Holt Community Spirit and Leadership Awards, held at the Cranbourne Community Theatre. These...
- Mental Health (1 speech)
In September 2017 I was asked to take part in a parliamentary field trip to the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Canada to explore best practice in improving mental health. I focused in particular...
- Perth Electorate: Optus Stadium Infrastructure (1 speech)
It has been my privilege to attend a number of events at Perth's new stadium—or the 'craypot' as it is becoming affectionately known—since it opened this summer. Notwithstanding a...
- Fairfax Electorate: Youth in Philanthropy (1 speech)
Last Friday, I was privileged to attend a Youth in Philanthropy conference at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I commend the young leaders who participated in the event. Thirty-four students...
- Molan, Senator Jim (2 speeches)
Last week, Senator Molan was condemned for displaying extremely horrible judgement by showing material from the abhorrent Neo-Nazi group Britain First. It was right that he was criticised and...
- Tennis (2 speeches)
I start by congratulating Australia's fabulous Fed Cup team, which triumphed in the rubber against Ukraine on the weekend in Canberra, particularly Queenslander Ash Barty, birthday girl Casey...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the importance of open trade and investment policies in growing the Australian economy and creating local jobs; (2) commends the Government for leading...
- Leadership and Gender Diversity (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) among 15 rural research and development corporations which receive statutory levies partly matched by the Commonwealth, the representation of women is...
- Relocation of Commonwealth Agencies (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 8 million Australians live outside our capital cities; and (b) while some regions like the Sunshine Coast...
- Universities Funding (9 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the government’s short-sighted $2.2 billion in cuts to universities are equivalent to more than 9,500 Australians missing out on a...
- South Australia and Commonwealth Funding (14 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the Government has delayed release of the Productivity Commission's review of the GST distribution until after the South Australian state...
- Statements by Members (0 speeches)
- Calwell Electorate: Assyrian Community (1 speech)
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit St Abdisho's church in Coolaroo in my electorate and to finally meet with His Grace Mar Benyamin Elya, the bishop of the diocese of Victoria and New...
- Swan Electorate: Lifesaving (1 speech)
Last month, I teamed up with the Royal Life Saving Society of Western Australia for the launch of their multicultural Swim and Survive course being conducted at the Ascot Kayak Club in my...
- Lindsay Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate and pay tribute to the exceptional Lindsay residents who were recognised on the Australia Day honour roll this year. The Order of Australia is the highest national honour...
- Corangamite Electorate: Stronger Communities Program (1 speech)
The Stronger Communities Program is such an important local program, initiated by the Turnbull government for local communities. Last month it was my pleasure to visit the Apollo Bay Aquatic...
- Herbert Electorate: Higher Education (1 speech)
This week, thousands of students are attending O-week events as they prepare for their university studies next week. These students are commencing when there is a huge, dark cloud hanging over...
- Canning Electorate: Murray River Delta Islands (1 speech)
I rise today to share the concerns of the delta islands residents in my electorate of Canning. Located in the Shire of Murray, the Murry River delta islands area is a network of low-lying islands...
- Werriwa Electorate: Planning (1 speech)
The New South Wales Liberal government's treatment of local councils is well documented, and recently councillors in Sydney and Wollongong have had their planning powers removed. In light of...
- Ramsey, Mr Fraser, Van Den Bogert, Ms Kayla, Green, Mr Josh, Garlick, Ms Caitlin (1 speech)
Today I'd like to pay tribute to Fraser Ramsey, who, very sadly, passed away recently. Fraser was an icon. He loved our community, had a great sense of humour, was integrally involved in the...
- Bounding Plains to Share, Refugees (1 speech)
For the last 10 weeks, Canberrans Jackson Bursill and Cassie Cohen have been pounding the pavements down our vast and varied east coast. Jackson and Cassie's Bounding Plains to Share project will...
- Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (1 speech)
I am here today to pay tribute to the thousands of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse who courageously spoke out with a determination to seek justice and protect other vulnerable...
- Workplace Relations (1 speech)
On Saturday I was very pleased to be invited to an important meeting organised by the Community and Public Sector Union. This meeting kicked off a campaign in Melbourne to fight Centrelink...
- Coal Exports (1 speech)
I would like to share with the House some good news not only for my constituents but for the constituents of every electorate of Australia. Last week we heard the numbers from the Australian...
- Syria (1 speech)
Since 20 January this year, the people of Afrin in northern Syria have been under heavy bombardment from Turkish armed forces as part of an incursion into Syria. On 6 February, the UN resident...
- South-East Queensland: Thunderstorms (1 speech)
Severe thunderstorms are just a way of life in South-East Queensland, but yesterday's was a monster, coming through both the Logan and the Redland city council areas with very little warning,...
- Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
In Longman, 27,391 people are of retirement age. These are people who have worked hard their whole lives at workplaces in the community or serving their country, and 20,688 are either pensioners...
- Capricornia Electorate: Feedback (1 speech)
As representatives of our community, it is vital that we act not only as a conduit for information from Canberra to the electorate but as a similar conduit for the messages from the electorate to...
- Chifley Electorate: Australian Islamic College of Sydney (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate a fantastic school in my electorate on reaching 20 years of operation. Last November, the Australian Islamic College of Sydney celebrated this milestone with a terrific...
- Berowra Electorate: Galston VIEW Club (2 speeches)
I was delighted to recently join the Galston VIEW Club in Berowra to help them celebrate 25 years of service to our community. VIEW stands for Voice, Interest and Education of Women, and there...
- Grayndler Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
I rise today to report on the results of the NBN survey that I undertook over the summer in my electorate of Grayndler. I did that because there is such frustration about the move from...
- Whitford, Ms Holly (1 speech)
I rise to offer my huge congratulations to Sale teenager Holly Whitford, who, at just 19 years of age, has made her debut for the Australian Football League women's team Collingwood. Getting me...
- Infrastructure (1 speech)
I rise to speak out against the discrimination by the Liberal government against Victoria, which is still being massively short-changed on infrastructure dollars. Melbourne is the fastest-growing...
- Hinkler Electorate: Bundaberg Netball Association (1 speech)
I rise to congratulate the Bundaberg Netball Association, who have successfully lobbied to hold the 2018 Primary Schools Cup in September this year. They didn't do it alone. We made a commitment...
- Global Partnership for Education (1 speech)
A couple of weeks ago world leaders gathered to renew financial pledges for the Global Partnership for Education, aiming to ensure that every child has access to quality education as a...
- Tangney Electorate: Sport (1 speech)
We're so close to securing the final part of funding that we need to build the Wilton basketball stadium expansion. We're close to putting the 150 kids who are on the waiting list into teams so...
- Perth Electorate: Stronger Communities Program (1 speech)
I would like to give a big shout-out to the wonderful group Inglewood on Beaufort, who were responsible for putting together the Great Monster Hunt on the weekend. The Great Monster Hunt is a...
- Wide Bay Electorate: Aged Care (1 speech)
Last Friday, I was very pleased to welcome the Minister for Aged Care to Wide Bay to meet with aged-care providers and listen to their concerns. Minister Wyatt and I met with representatives from...
- Moreton Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
In recent months, my office has received phone calls and emails from Moreton locals wanting to know what is going on with this Turnbull-Joyce government NBN. Under the last Labor government,...
- Molan, Senator Jim (1 speech)
I had intended to update the chamber on my electorate of Fairfax; however, the actions of the Greens have gotten in the way. Any sober assessment of the Australian Greens would lead most...
- Banking and Financial Services (1 speech)
'Once more with feeling', as they say in the classics. I tell you what, it is the blind leading the blind over that side when it comes to reforms to the small amount credit contracts. These are...
- Flynn Electorate: Emergency Services Day (2 speeches)
Yesterday the Gladstone PCYC held Gladstone's first Emergency Services Day. The event was an enormous success, with an estimated 4,000 members of the public attending. The event had extra...
- Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
- Order of Australia (15 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour award and the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow...
- International Mother Language Day (10 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) in 1999, the 30th General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed annual observance of International Mother Language Day (IMLD) on 21 February; and...
- Consular Services (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) notes the release on 5 October 2017 of the Consular State of Play 2016-17 (State of Play), which provides an overview of the Government's provision of consular...
- United Nations World Radio Day (8 speeches)
I move: That this House: (1) observes: (a) United Nations World Radio Day (WRD) on 13 February 2018; (b) this year's WRD theme of 'Radio and Sports' which calls on us to: (i)...
- Border Security (Question No. 844) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 26 October 2017: (1) Since 2 March 2015, how many people have been (a) suspected of travelling, or (b) attempting to travel, to conflict zone...
- Border Security (Question No. 846) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 26 October 2017: (1) Since 1 July 2013, (a) how many (i) drug, or (ii) contraband, seizures have occurred at Adelaide Airport, and (b) what was...
- Asylum Seekers (Question No. 852) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 04 December 2017: What is the Australian Government's response to the statement from the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Minister for Immigration and...
- Asylum Seekers (Question No. 853) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 04 December 2017: What is the Government's position on the statement by the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human...
- Asylum Seekers (Question No. 855) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, on 04 December 2017: (1) What is the Australian Government's rationale for not accepting New Zealand's offer to resettle some of the refugees from...
- Mobile Black Spot Program (Question No. 857) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Communications, in writing, on 04 December 2017 (1) How many of the 499 round 1 base stations announced in 2013 under the Mobile Black...
- Mobile Black Spot Program (Question No. 858) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Communications, in writing, on 04 December 2017: Are there any milestones for the commencement of construction and commencement of...
- Mobile Black Spot Program (Question No. 859) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Communications, in writing, on 04 December 2017 (1) How many base stations in (a) the ACT, (b) the Northern Territory, (c) NSW, (d)...
- Mobile Black Spot Program (Question No. 861) (2 speeches)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Communications, in writing, on 04 December 2017 How many base stations under the Mobile Black Spots Program are expected to be...
