House debates

Monday, 15 June 2020

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Petitions Committee; Report (1 speech)
      As Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions, I present the 13th report of the Petitions Committee of the 46th Parliament. The report read as follows— Report...
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Responses (1 speech)
      I present the following ministerial responses to 70 petitions previously presented to the House:
    • Statements (1 speech)
      Due to the unique circumstances that we've found ourselves in because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is my first presentation of petitions since I was appointed chair of the committee in March...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Procedure Committee (1 speech)
      As the Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure, today I want to give a brief update on our inquiry into practices and procedures relating to question time. Questions without notice have...
    • Joint Standing Committee on Migration (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, I wish to make a statement concerning the committee's inquiry into migration in regional Australia. In August 2019 the committee commenced...
  • Delegation Reports (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; Report (2 speeches)
      On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit I present the committee's report entitled Report 481: efficiency and effectiveness: inquiry into Auditor-General's reports 25, 29,...
  • Statements (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Sheean, Ordinary Seaman Edward (Teddy) (7 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) in 2019 the independent 11-member Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal did unanimously recommend that the extraordinary bravery of Ordinary...
    • United States of America (6 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the United States...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Regional Australia Select Committee; Reporting Date (1 speech)
      On behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, I move: That the resolution of appointment of the House Select Committee on Regional Australia be amended to replace 'final report no later than 31 July...
    • Northern Australia Committee; Membership (1 speech)
      The Speaker has received messages from the Senate informing the House that Senator Waters has been discharged from the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia and Senator Siewert has been...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Liverpool City Council CEO (1 speech)
      I rise to inform the House that Liverpool council's chief executive officer Kiersten Fishburn has resigned as CEO of council. Whilst I've spoken before in this place about the circumstances she...
    • Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance (1 speech)
      COVID-19 has been a reminder, if any were needed, that the health of every one of us is dependent on the overall health of the world's people. We often have heard that we are all in this...
    • International Cleaners Day (1 speech)
      Too often cleaners are the forgotten people, but not today as it's International Cleaners Day. Cleaners perform a critical function in our communities, our homes, our workplaces and our schools....
    • COVID-19: Defence Personnel (1 speech)
      I rise to wholeheartedly thank the men and women of the ADF for their role in assisting the community during the COVID pandemic, in particular the local personnel based at the Gallipoli Barracks...
    • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
      Hundreds of voters from across Corangamite have contacted me deploring live sheep exports. Labor supports the phasing out of this trade. It is cruel and we would be far better processing and...
    • Sturt Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge my constituents who were recognised in the recent Queen's Birthday honours announcement of the Order of Australia, in particular: two Officers...
    • Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
      I rise to discuss an issue that is causing great distress to many in my community. In the past week I've received more than 100 contacts from constituents who are gravely worried that the Al...
    • Queensland: Police Training (1 speech)
      We have fantastic police officers in Townsville, but we also have an extremely high rate of crime. Earlier this month, the Queensland Labor state government decided to fast-track the police...
    • Oakfield Lodge (1 speech)
      I rise to fulfil a promise to the residents' book club at the Southern Cross Care aged facility called Oakfield Lodge in Mount Barker. I've visited the facility many times, and a year ago I was...
    • Nightlight Outreach (1 speech)
      Nightlight Outreach is a wonderful volunteer organisation in my electorate of Forde which helps the homeless and the vulnerable in the Eagleby and Beenleigh areas. Importantly, they do this work...
    • Australia Post (1 speech)
      Just like childcare workers, aviation workers, retail workers and healthcare workers in Brisbane's northside, Australia Post workers like Chris from Stafford Heights have been on the front line...
    • Australian Bushfires, Queensland Koala Society (1 speech)
      Koalas are one of Australia's most iconic native animals, but, sadly, we have seen a dramatic decline in numbers. The devastating bushfires earlier this year have had a big impact on their...
    • Western Australia: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      The Prime Minister and his Attorney-General need to keep their noses out of WA state matters. Premier Mark McGowan in Western Australia has been doing a fantastic job managing the coronavirus...
    • Censorship (1 speech)
      A chill wind of censorship is blowing across this country. Statues of our nation's founders and leaders are vandalised, and much-loved products of our culture are banned. Even Greens Senator...
    • Gambling (1 speech)
      The challenge that this recession presents us is not how to snap back to 2019 but how to take this opportunity to build back better, to build an Australia where no-one is left behind, where...
    • Moncrieff Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      It gives me great pride to speak about eight outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in the Moncrieff community and been named in this year's Queen's Birthday honours....
    • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
      I have to read out these names to get them onto Hansard: Erlinda Songcuan, 69, of Woodcroft, who died on 2 May; Kamaljeet Sidhu, 27, of Quakers Hill, who died on 20 May; Ruth Mataafa, 22, of...
    • Falloon, Ms Lesley, OAM (1 speech)
      A century ago the First World War was a recent memory, radio began broadcasting and Goldstein resident Lesley Falloon OAM was born. She hasn't wasted a minute of her nearly 100 years. She was one...
    • COVID-19: University Sector (1 speech)
      The COVID economic crisis has hit many sectors hard, including our university sector. JobKeeper was set up to help save jobs, so why won't this government extend JobKeeper to the university...
    • O'Connor Electorate: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      Last week, round 4 of the successful Building Better Regions Fund was announced, delivering $200 million of investment in infrastructure for projects across drought affected communities around...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Gillespie, Mr Karm (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on the diplomatic efforts being made to support Australian Karm Gillespie in light of the death sentence imposed on...
    • COVID-19: Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister update the House on how the Morrison government's JobMaker plan will drive our economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic to...
    • Infrastructure (9 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The Reserve Bank governor has called for infrastructure spending to be fast-tracked to support Australian jobs at least 11 times since the 2019 election. Why...
    • COVID-19: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how the Morrison-McCormack...
    • Road Infrastructure (14 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why has the Prime Minister left the people of Murrumbateman and Yass behind by failing to announce an investment in the full duplication of the Barton...
    • Migration (6 speeches)
      KAP—not Independent! The morning has been a turkish delight, I've got to say! Prime Minister, COVID is here to stay, warranting surely a return to 2006 visa entrant levels of...
    • COVID-19: Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the Morrison government's strong economic management and fiscal discipline is helping to make the Australian economy...
    • Dams (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The government came to office promising 100 dams, and for seven years now the last dams built were Labor projects. What support is the government giving the...
    • COVID-19: Environment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister please outline to the House what the Morrison government is doing to make environmental assessments more efficient, and how...
    • COVID-19: Benefits and Payments (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that fewer Australians than expected are receiving the wage subsidy while more Australians than expected have signed up for...
    • COVID-19: JobMaker (2 speeches, 1 comment)
      My question is to the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government's JobMaker plan to cut regulation and reduce...
    • Jobseeker Payment (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his last answer and his repeated statements that he would not accept jobseeker being portrayed as some sort of second prize to JobKeeper. Isn't it...
    • Resources Industry (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia. Will the minister please outline to the House how the resources sector is leading Australia's economic recovery as we...
    • JobKeeper Payment (6 speeches)
      My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer to his previous answer, when he said, 'The challenges of JobKeeper, as time goes on, are that businesses will form views about those...
    • COVID-19: Health Care (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister please outline to the House how the Morrison government has maintained and improved the capacity of our health system throughout the...
    • COVID-19: Aged Care (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Today is International Cleaners Day. Prime Minister, why has the government deliberately excluded cleaning staff at aged-care facilities from the retention...
    • Employment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations. Will the Attorney please update the House on how the Morrison government is working to make the progress for parties...
    • Sheean, Ordinary Seaman Edward (Teddy) (4 speeches)
      Will the Prime Minister reverse his decision to deny Teddy Sheean a Victoria Cross? Surely the Prime Minister regrets denying this honour to a man who strapped himself to the gun of a sinking...
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is investing in the energy infrastructure we need to...
    • Dairy Industry (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The member for New England has called for a royal commission into the dairy sector because, he says, 'Those with market power have utilised it at the expense...
    • COVID-19: Trade (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister outline to the House how the Morrison government's commitment to strong and efficient borders is working to protect Australian...
    • Australia Post (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister reverse his decision to slash postal deliveries to Australians?
    • Regional Australia (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management. Will the minister outline to the House how the Morrison government is giving regions stricken by drought and...
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (17 speeches)
      I move: That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion immediately—That the House— (1) notes the Prime...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Covid-19 (1 speech)
      The last few months have been some of the toughest we as a nation have ever faced. I want to take a moment to thank each and every Australian but particularly those in my community who have gone...
    • Herbert Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      Just under a year ago, I had the privilege of standing in this place and delivering my first speech. That was just after a once-in-500-years flood event in Townsville. We had been tested, we had...
    • National Reconciliation Week (1 speech)
      I'd like to reflect on reconciliation tonight. It's a topic of immense significance to all Australians. Earlier this month, we celebrated Reconciliation Week. This week is always a time to...
    • Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (1 speech)
      It's great to have this opportunity, particularly with my good friend the Minister for Defence Industry here in the chamber, to again address and thank her and the Defence department for the...
    • Indigenous Australians (1 speech)
      These are the words of Luke Carroll, Australian actor and First Nations leader in the community that I represent: 'We are not asking people to feel sorry for us. We are asking people to...
    • Grey Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      We had 10 wonderful recipients of Queen's Birthday Honours recently. Firstly, Alan Ferguson, a great friend and mentor, was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the parliament....
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Watson Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work that has been done by a series of community organisations in my electorate during the period of lockdown. There have been a big range of people...
    • Petrie Electorate: Environmental Groups (1 speech)
      Growing up in the northern suburbs of Brisbane was a great experience for me, and I love our local environment. One of the things I used to do was knock around with my mates down in Cabbage Tree...
    • COVID-19: Mental Health (1 speech)
      One of the great challenges that we've all faced during the pandemic has been providing mental health and wellbeing services for people in our communities. Many of us are conscious of the direct...
    • Wide Bay Electorate: Government Funding (1 speech)
      As Wide Bay weathers the downturn caused by COVID-19, our communities have shown amazing spirit and strength through the tough times. People have helped those who have needed it and followed the...
    • Leggatt, Mrs Del OAM, West Gate Tunnel (1 speech)
      On 4 May the Labor Party lost one of its true believers with the passing of Del Leggatt OAM. Del was a member of the Bacchus Marsh branch and was always an energetic contributor to debates during...
    • Reid Electorate: Volunteer Grants (1 speech)
      Volunteers around Australia make up an enormous contribution to communities, and I'd like to acknowledge some of the volunteers in Reid who have received support from the Morrison government so...
    • Barton Electorate: Ltyentye Apurte Community (1 speech)
      In 2019 students and teachers at St Ursula's College, Kingsgrove, in the electorate of Barton that I represent, attended a school emersion trip to the Northern Territory and to the Ltyentye...
    • Groom Electorate: Exports (1 speech)
      Yesterday was another magnificent milestone for Toowoomba's own Wellcamp airport. We saw the departure of a second Cathay Pacific international flight from Wellcamp to Hong Kong—that is,...
    • Franklin Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      Obviously, we've all seen the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and then the restrictions on our local communities. Just a few weeks ago I decided I would survey my constituents in...
    • Lindsay Electorate: Infrastructure (2 speeches)
      Western Sydney is about creating jobs, particularly infrastructure jobs. Recently, I joined the Prime Minister and the Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure to announce $11...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Chinese Australians (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises: (a) the significant contribution made by Chinese-Australians to Australia; (b) that all people in Australia, regardless of their ethnicity, cultural or...
    • Diabetes (11 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that there are: (a) 1.3 million Australians with diabetes registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme, with over 280 new people diagnosed and registered...
    • Water (9 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) water is a scarce and highly valuable resource in Australia; and (b) Australia is prone to droughts and many parts of our country have recently...
    • Pacific: COVID-19 (8 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) commends the Government's Pacific Step-up and its focus on building prosperity across the regions, including by encouraging close links between Australian business...
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch (1 speech)
      Today I planned to deliver a speech about an important renewable energy initiative in my electorate where everyday people are getting involved with designing public policy—great...
    • Moore Electorate: Road Safety (1 speech)
      A traffic and construction management plan is required to facilitate the safe transportation of approximately 800,000 tonnes of limestone boulders required as construction material for the new...
    • Wills Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (2 speeches)
      I acknowledge and congratulate members of our community in Wills recognised on the Queen's Birthday Honours List this year. Dr Peter Tregear OAM was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia...
    • Chromy, Mr Josef (1 speech)
      There wouldn't be many in Northern Tasmania or across my state who wouldn't know the name Josef Chromy. Joseph has been instrumental in the development of the Tasmanian food and wine industry...
    • Western Sydney Airport (1 speech)
      We've had lots of announcements about Western Sydney airport. We've seen the announcements about the terminal and rail line. We've seen politicians with hard hats and high-vis, and bulldozers at...
    • Moncrieff Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      I rise to speak about a survey which has been released by Regional Development Australia on the Gold Coast, which reveals how deeply affected local businesses are by the COVID-19 pandemic. It...
    • Korean Society of Queensland (1 speech)
      It is no secret that COVID-19 has devastated people and businesses in Moreton. My electorate has a large population of international students and people on working holiday visas. Once COVID-19...
    • Covid-19 (1 speech)
      This nation has faced unprecedented trauma. It's touched every family, every person, everybody, every business across this great amazing nation. We have three levels of government. We have...
    • Calwell Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      Today I want to highlight a story of resilience in response to the disruption brought about by the COVID pandemic. As we know, the JobKeeper program was not available to local government...
    • Dawson Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      The people of Mackay, Proserpine, the Whitsundays, Bowen, the Burdekin and Townsville have been through a torrid few months, but now we're totally focused on the road to recovery. One of the keys...
    • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
      Today I'd like to acknowledge the ABC for its leadership in the Australian media and for being a much-trusted, balanced and independent news source. I'd also like to thank the network for the...
    • Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak about the JobKeeper and jobseeker programs. I would like to congratulate the coalition government on their implementation, but I would also like to urge the coalition...
    • Paterson Electorate: Small Business (1 speech)
      Many small mum-and-dad businesses in my electorate are really suffering and need support at the moment. The issues that they're facing are not difficult issues, but they're ones that they wish...
    • Stirling Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      2020 has been a year of facing challenges together and coming out strongly on the other side. We've seen fire, flood and virus, but we've also seen innovative ways of delivering health services...
    • Morrison Government (1 speech)
      Another day and another promise that the Prime Minister will likely fail to deliver on. The coalition promised a draft bill to establish a national integrity commission by last Christmas, but for...
    • Victoria: Rail (1 speech)
      I call on the Victorian government to build a designated tunnel from the Southern Cross railway station to West Footscray as an integral part of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link project. To...
    • Jones, Mr Myles (1 speech)
      This Saturday it will be my privilege to present the Australian National Medal to Myles Jones for service to Marine Rescue. Myles belongs to Marine Rescue Norah Head, a volunteer service made up...
    • Leichhardt Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      It's a great pleasure to acknowledge six outstanding members of the Cairns and Far North Queensland community recently awarded Order of Australia medals in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. All...
    • Shortland Electorate: R&R Murphy (1 speech)
      I rise to pay tribute to two giants of manufacturing in my home Hunter region, Rose and Rod Murphy. Sadly, Rod passed away earlier this year, but the magnificent business he developed with his...
    • Hampton Community Centre (1 speech)
      Social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have protected our health system and saved thousands of lives. The JobKeeper wage subsidy has protected vulnerable businesses and saved thousands...
    • Australia Post (1 speech)
      For some time we've heard governments and people talking about the idea of cutting the number of postal deliveries in the community. It's disappointing that the Morrison government have now used...
    • Lyne Electorate: Water (1 speech)
      Recently in my electorate of Lyne I was delighted to announce $1.47 million of federal funding for the $6 million upgrade of the Nabiac aquifer water supply system, under the latest round of the...
    • International Cleaners Day (1 speech)
      Today is International Cleaners Day, and I want to take the opportunity to say thank you to all the cleaners across the New South Wales South Coast. This year, more than ever, it has become clear...
    • Menzies Electorate: Roads (1 speech)
      Residents of the north-east suburbs of Melbourne will know that for the 40 kilometres between Heidelberg and Yarra Glen there are just two crossings of the Yarra River, and that creates major...
    • Philippines: Human Rights (1 speech)
      A fortnight ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued an alarming report regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines, stating that it was 'marked...
    • Curtin Electorate: Ocean Heroes (1 speech)
      I recently met with Luke Hallam, one of the founders of the Ocean Heroes, a fantastic volunteer based organisation that provides children with autism the opportunity to take part in that great...
    • Dunkley Electorate: All Abilities Football (1 speech)
      COVID-19 has reminded all of us of the importance of social connectedness and that it often comes from our involvement in sport, so the announcement that Frankston Pines Football Club will...
    • Canning Electorate: Queen's Birthday Honours (1 speech)
      Earlier this month, the Governor-General announced the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2020, where 933 Australians were recognised for their contribution to their communities. I'm pleased to...
    • Gellibrand Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen people from all backgrounds in our community chipping in to help our community get through this challenge together. Over the past two months, the pub...
    • Inland Rail (2 speeches)
      I rise today to talk about the Inland Rail and how excited I am that it's now going to take its next iteration in a more speedy form. There are things that punctuate your political career, and I...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Aged Care (12 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on older Australians, their families, their carers and the aged care workforce; (b) the valuable...
    • Veterans: Suicide (11 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes: (a) the work the Government is doing to address the issue of veteran suicide with the announcement of an independent National Commissioner for Defence and...
    • Public Service Contractors (16 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) an effective public service relies on skilled public servants who have fair and equitable conditions of employment and job security; (b) the...
    • Australia and the United States of America (5 speeches)
      I rise to speak in favour of this motion, which commemorates 80 years since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Australia. This relationship was...
    • Heart Failure (4 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that between 1 and 2 per cent of the Australian population suffers from heart failure, with this proportion higher in Indigenous communities; (2) acknowledges...