House debates

Tuesday, 14 August 2018

  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Higher Education (1 speech)
      Yesterday, the government moved forward with its ridiculous plan to make life harder for prospective university students and graduates. At a time when our economic future depends on a smarter,...
    • Roberts-Smith, Mr Benjamin, VC, MG (1 speech)
      One of the most important principles that underpin our criminal justice system is that, no matter the allegation brought against one of us, we are all considered innocent until proven guilty. It...
    • Health Care (1 speech)
      Once again the Turnbull government has shown that it can't manage to roll out a straightforward program, with its bungling of the My Health Record opt-out proposal. Through its incompetence, the...
    • Robertson Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      One thing I hear so often from locals across the Central Coast is the need for upgrades to our local roads. This is why earlier this year we launched our local roads petition and began working...
    • Fin, Mr Giuseppe 'Joe', OAM (1 speech)
      Last Friday it was my honour to be at the farewell for Giuseppe Fin, or Joe Fin, as he was known, one of the founders of CO.AS.IT, the Italian welfare organisation in Australia. The farewell at...
    • Western Australia: Shark Culling (1 speech)
      I know that the member for Durack, here today, will also welcome two significant backflips by the Western Australian government: firstly, the reinstatement of the funding for the Community...
    • Turnbull Government (3 speeches)
      I take this opportunity once again to speak on behalf of my wonderful electorate of Macarthur, whose residents have been let down time and time again by the coalition government and their warped...
    • Goldstein Electorate: Firbank Grammar School (1 speech)
      The inclusive spirit of Goldstein, our wonderful community, was in full swing last week as Firbank Grammar launched the All Stars sports and activity program for children with a disability....
    • Indi Electorate: Mansfield District Hospital (1 speech)
      Today I'm talking about one of the fastest growing rural shires in Victoria, Mansfield. A special call-out goes to Mansfield District Hospital, which was built in 1840 and continues to provide...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Rail (1 speech)
      Over the parliamentary winter recess, I received the best news I've heard since the budget in May. The $225 million I secured via the federal government through my advocacy to fund the...
    • Early Childhood Learning (1 speech)
      Last week was Early Learning Matters Week, and I was horrified that the Turnbull government chose that week to confirm it is refusing to commit to funding the national kindergarten program. It's...
    • Rotary Club of North Sydney (1 speech)
      This week the Rotary Club of North Sydney celebrates an incredible milestone, its 90th anniversary. The club was chartered on 16 August 1928, and on Thursday night it will mark its nine decades...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
      For almost 90 years the ABC has provided reliable, accurate and relevant news and entertainment for millions of Australians. The ABC consistently is rated as the most trustworthy news source for...
    • Medtronic Bennelong Schools STEM Challenge (1 speech)
      I rise to address the House about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, in our education system. In Australia we enjoy a very high standard of living that...
    • Darwin Cup, Football Federation Australia Cup (1 speech)
      Last week the Darwin Cup Carnival culminated in its signature event, the 2018 Darwin Cup. It was a great day with over 20,000 people making their way down to the Darwin Turf Club at Fannie Bay....
    • Parkinson's Disease (1 speech)
      I commend the Manningham Parkinson's Peer Support Group, which I had the pleasure of visiting just recently. I thank Keith and Margaret Anderson, who are involved in the peer support group....
    • Werribee Mercy Hospital (1 speech)
      On 31 July I was joined by the shadow minister for health, Catherine King, at the newly opened, redeveloped Werribee Mercy Hospital in the electorate of Lalor. Ms King was there to announce that,...
    • National Science Week: Mount Waverley Primary School (1 speech)
      As always, it was an absolute delight to visit Mount Waverley Primary School. Under the superb leadership of Principal Greg Paine and the assistant principals, Vicki Martin and Tania Hunter, the...
    • Australian Head of State (1 speech)
      As you know, Mr Speaker, there was today in Parliament House a very important—portentous, in fact—meeting. It was a meeting that might have set out Australia's future, the sort of...
    • Law Enforcement (2 speeches)
      One of the first roles of the Australian parliament is the security of its people. In a recent incident, on 16 July, a young family, 15 kilometres from Swan Hill, who were on the New South Wales...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The Chief Operating Officer of Snowy Hydro has said that new coal-fired power stations would mean that Snowy 2.0 is not viable. Which does the Prime Minister...
    • Cost of Living (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House how the government is reducing cost-of-living pressures on families and households, including in my electorate...
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Less than a year ago, the Prime Minister said, 'We have no plans to build a coal-fired power station.' Having no plans is one thing, but will the Prime...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on how the government has acted to ensure Australians and Australian businesses keep more of the money that they earn so that...
    • Energy (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. A year ago, the Treasurer said, 'There's no such thing as new, cheap energy with a coal-fired power station.' Does the Treasurer stand by that remark?
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to inform the House that joining us in the gallery is a parliamentary delegation from Ghana. On behalf of the House, I extend a very warm welcome to you. Honourable members: Hear, hear!
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Meningococcal Disease (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, there has been a meningococcal outbreak in Tasmania, with six cases, one fatal. These infections are preventable. But currently the...
    • Business (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the Deputy Prime Minister update the House on how the government is delivering certainty to small...
    • Energy (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Finance. A few moments ago in the Senate, when the finance minister was asked whether the Treasurer was correct when he said, 'There...
    • National Energy Guarantee (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Energy. Will the minister update the House on how the government is putting in place a national energy policy which will bring down prices...
    • Energy (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Before the 2013 election this Liberal government promised to reduce power bills by $550 a year, but since then power bills have gone up and up. Today the...
    • Great Barrier Reef (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences and James Cook University are all based in my electorate. Why is...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      Just before I call the member for Robertson, I inform the House that we've just had join us in the gallery this afternoon the Australian Political Exchange Council's 17th delegation from Japan....
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister update the House on why the government's commitment to providing reliable and affordable energy is creating certainty for...
    • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that, after he offered the Great Barrier Reef Foundation almost half a billion dollars of taxpayers' money, it held a chairman's...
    • Tourism (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister update the House on how the government's policies are driving growth in our vital tourism industry, including...
    • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (18 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answers and also to the minister's previous answer. Is the Prime Minister aware that guests at the chairman's panel...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the government's plan for a competitive and resilient economy is an important part of our foreign...
    • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the environment minister confirmed that the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's formal proposal for the grant was not received by the government until...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is for the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on the benefits of a strong and consistent border protection agenda? Is the minister aware of any ideas that...
    • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware that the Chief Operating Officer of the CSIRO sent an email a day after the government announced half a billion of taxpayers'...
    • Cybersecurity (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security. Will the minister update the House on actions the government is taking to give our law enforcement and national security...
    • Great Barrier Reef Foundation (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer concerning the half a billion dollars in taxpayers' money donation to a small foundation. Prime Minister,...
    • Construction Industry (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation. Will the minister update the House on how the government is supporting small business in the...
  • Documents (0 speeches)
    • Australian National Audit Office; Presentation (1 speech)
      I present the annual report of the Australian National Audit Office for 2017-18. Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper
    • 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)
    • Energy (13 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Port Adelaide proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The division in the...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Discrimination (1 speech)
      'Do I give them what they want?' That's the question you always ask yourself when you hear an appalling speech. They want to incite a debate, and when you hit back, the debate is exactly what...
    • Forrest Electorate: Turnbull Government (1 speech)
      I'm very pleased to talk about my south-west and the projects that I've been working to deliver. As you know only too well, Mr Speaker, the Turnbull government is creating a stronger economy,...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
      Thirty years ago the ABC cost us eight cents a day. Now it costs just half that, at about four cents a day. With that four cents it delivers news we can trust 24 hours a day, every day, across...
    • Energy (1 speech)
      About a fortnight ago I was very honoured to make a trip to Japan, where I and the members for Dawson and Mackellar and two colleagues from the Labor side of parliament made visits to several...
    • Burt Electorate: Community Programs (1 speech)
      Before I get to my remarks, I just want to endorse the remarks made by the member for Watson earlier in the adjournment debate this evening. This evening, I wish to bring to our nation's...
    • Farrer Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to speak about the drought in my electorate of Farrer and, indeed, in the whole of New South Wales and much of Queensland and to suggest a strategy that my irrigators in the New...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Blair Electorate: Disability Services (1 speech)
      Carers form the backbone of our disability community in . They deserve recognition. The census data from 2016 reveals that the number of people who care for someone with a disability is 20 per...
    • Bowman Electorate: Hospitals (1 speech)
      Few policy areas are more important to Australians than health and hospital policies. Obviously Australia has a first-class health system, funded by two levels of government. Often those complex...
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      I can assure the member, Mr Laming, that the Labor candidate will ensure that the hospitals are funded—unlike this government. While this government used its winter break to continue its...
    • Petrie Electorate: North Lakes Golf Course (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about a suburb in my electorate—the suburb of North Lakes in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area. North Lakes was originally part of Mango Hill and was gazetted as a...
    • Anglican Diocese of Tasmania (1 speech)
      I rise today to state my concerns about the Anglican Church's plans to sell 108 properties in Tasmania, including 76 churches, many of them in my electorate of Lyons. The Anglican Church says it...
    • Banks Electorate: Community Organisations (1 speech)
      On 1 August I went down to the Shopfront Arts Co-Op in Carlton, which is a phenomenal organisation in the St George area and a tremendous arts community hub. There are theatrical performances...
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      Independent Pods is a Geelong business that employs 18 people. They make polystyrene blocks for house insulation. They have written to my office asking a very simple question: how can small...
    • National Insurance Disability Agency (1 speech)
      There is a widening gap in our society and the government doesn't seem to see it. The government seems to disregard vulnerable people and the hardworking staff who are trying to do their jobs to...
    • Swan Electorate (2 speeches)
      Last week, the Prime Minister visited my electorate of Swan, in the great state of Western Australia. It was a fantastic morning. The first stop was a visit to Kent Street Senior High School to...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Grievance Debate (0 speeches)
    • Health Care (1 speech)
      I've made it pretty clear where I stand when it comes to healthcare services and funding. I've made it pretty clear that I want the very best for our community. I've made it pretty clear that I...
    • Goldstein Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (3 speeches)
      As always, it is a great pleasure to be able to get up in this debate and talk about the issues that affect the Goldstein community. But it's also an opportunity to pay honour to those who serve...
    • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
      Colleagues, tonight I rise in this grievance debate to highlight the failing of our social services agencies in meeting their explicit intent to deliver social security payments and services to...
    • Energy (1 speech)
      Tonight I'd like to speak on the ACCC's recent electricity pricing inquiry. Specifically, I'd like to offer my support for the ACCC's recommendation No. 24, which is that the Small-scale...
    • Health Care (1 speech)
      This is a government that is always there for the shiny, exciting headline-grabbing announcements when it comes to digital projects but that goes missing when it comes to the implementation....
    • New England Electorate (4 speeches)
      This is my first grievance debate. When I heard about a grievance debate, I thought: I don't need 10 minutes; I probably need half a day. Anyway, let's give it a run in the park! Mr Deputy...