House debates

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Selection Committee; Report (1 speech)
      I present report No. 26 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 22 February 2021. The report will be...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Resolutions of the Senate (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • People with Disability (1 speech)
      [by video link] There are many things this government has done that they have handled appallingly, but none worse than what they have done to people with disability. We see this at the moment,...
    • Ovarian Cancer (1 speech)
      Ovarian cancer is a traumatic disease. Only 46 per cent of women survive longer than five years after diagnosis. The treatment is often major abdominal surgery, which can be devastating to...
    • Murray, Mr Paul (1 speech)
      I wish to pay tribute to a local elector of mine, Mr Paul Murray, who unfortunately passed away recently. He was a long-serving coach with the Hub Gymnastics Club in my electorate. For 23 years,...
    • Queensland: Roads (1 speech)
      We're familiar with the great movie and movie series The Fast and the Furious, but in Queensland, when we talk about roads and the Palaszczuk Labor government, we move from 'fast and furious' to...
    • Coffey, Mr Michael Frances, OAM (1 speech)
      I rise to acknowledge the passing of Michael Coffey OAM on 11 January 2021. Mr Coffey was President of Liverpool Catholic Club for more than four years and had been on the board for over 17...
    • Youth Suicide (1 speech)
      Almost all of us have been touched by the terrible tragedy of suicide. In my family, my sister Michelle lost her husband, all-round great bloke and legend Paul, to suicide. Suicide leaves so many...
    • Tasmania: Australia Post (1 speech)
      How many times are Tasmanians going to have to come into this place and remind the government that our state is part of this country? The decision by Australia Post to end the freight of...
    • Veteran Sport Australia (1 speech)
      Earlier this month, my family and I spent a few hours playing lawn bowls with veterans and their families at the Port City Bowling Club. The day was organised by Rachel Kerrigan, the veteran...
    • South Australia: Agricultural Town of the Year (1 speech)
      The Agricultural Town of the Year Award is a South Australian government initiative that highlights the pivotal role of agriculture in regional communities. The award received 70 nominations and,...
    • Youth Insearch (1 speech)
      Today is Blue Heart day. It's the launch of Youth Insearch's annual End Youth Suicide campaign. Youth Insearch is an amazing organisation, having helped 32,000 young people across the country...
    • Veterans (1 speech)
      We've have seen more reports this week about veteran suicides but, instead of a royal commission, the Morrison government has come up with a political fix, a national commissioner, which is just...
    • Leichhardt Electorate: Douglas Shire Council Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I rise this afternoon to acknowledge those in my community who were recently recognised at the Douglas Shire Council Australia Day awards. It's always a special day where we acknowledge the work...
    • Blair Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Ipswich is the fastest-growing city in Queensland. It's got a population of 230,000 and it'll double in the next 20 years. It doesn't have the infrastructure to match this growth, with 70 per...
    • Nurses (1 speech)
      For the past year, nurses have been on the frontline of the coronavirus, tirelessly working as society fights an invisible foe. They ask for no thanks and no favours, all the while doing so with...
    • Employment (1 speech)
      Brenda rang my Bega office recently with a story the Morrison government has, so far, failed to hear. Brenda has always been a hard worker but, due to COVID-19 and a recent injury, she has been...
    • Extinction Rebellion (1 speech)
      I am so tired of having to report to this place the ongoing intimidation and harassment that my staff, electorate office and I continue to be subjected to by the Left. Last election, it was...
    • JobKeeper Payment (1 speech)
      This week I was contacted by local business owner Peter Rubin. I've known Peter for many years, going back to our time on the Wyong Regional Chamber of Commerce over a decade ago, and he doesn't...
    • McWilliams, Councillor Jan (1 speech)
      I rise to inform the House that former Great Lakes Council mayor Councillor Jan McWilliams has today announced her resignation from MidCoast Council, ending an impressive 26 years of service to...
    • Independent Cinemas (1 speech)
      Independent cinemas are a vital part of our nation. They employ locals and tell Australian stories. In Randwick, the Ritz Cinema has been an artistic and cultural hub of our community since 1937,...
    • Queensland: Mining (3 speeches)
      I call the honourable member for Groom for his first 90-second statement.
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, right to say it is, to quote him, 'inconceivable' that a Prime Minister's office would not be told about a...
    • Economy, COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister explain to the House how the Morrison government's economic recovery plan and the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines will work to assist...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Brittany Higgins said that the Prime Minister's principal private secretary checked in on her, including after the Four Corners episode at the end of last...
    • COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister please outline to the House how the Morrison government will help ensure access to COVID-19 vaccine for all Australians across urban,...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (8 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. The defence minister's former acting chief of staff was the primary point of contact regarding the reported rape of Brittany Higgins. That staff member...
    • Road Safety Program (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Will the Deputy Prime Minister please inform the House how the Morrison-McCormack...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, the maximum sentence in the Australian Capital Territory for rape is more than 10 years. What are the existing protocols and procedures in...
  • Distinguished Visitors (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I would like to inform the House we have present in the gallery this afternoon His Excellency Mr Wolfgang Lukas Strohmayer, Ambassador of Austria. On behalf of the House, a very warm welcome to...
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • COVID-19: Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer please inform the House how the Morrison government's strong stewardship of our economy is making Australia one of the best positioned...
    • JobKeeper Payment (7 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. How many of the 1.3 million Australians still on JobKeeper will lose their jobs when the payment is cut?
    • COVID-19: Small Business (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government's support for small...
    • JobKeeper Payment (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer, and I refer to his earlier answer. How will the government's cuts to JobKeeper, cuts to wages, cuts to super and a budget riddled with rorts help the 100,000...
    • Energy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. Will the minister outline to the House how the Morrison government is ensuring that families and businesses, including in my...
    • Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister guarantee that his industrial relations legislation will leave no worker worse off?
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government is providing Australia's policing and security agencies the resources they need...
    • Workplace Relations (9 speeches)
      My question is again addressed to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister take the second chance that he's been given during this question time to guarantee that his industrial relations...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the Attorney-General inform the House how the Morrison government's foreign interference laws are working to keep Australians safe?
    • Workplace Relations (11 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister, and I refer to the conflicting answers given to my last question. Now that the Minister for Industrial Relations has been prepared to guarantee that the...
    • National Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government is safeguarding Australians from foreign interference in our universities...
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that schedule 1, part 1, section 66M of his industrial relations bill means that, when casuals are refused the right to...
    • Internet Content (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is working to keep...
    • Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister seriously expect casual workers to lawyer up and head off to the Federal Court to fight their employer for the right to permanent...
    • HomeBuilder (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Assistant Treasurer and the Minister for Housing. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government's HomeBuilder program is supporting employment in...
    • Workplace Relations (4 speeches)
      My question is for the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, under his news media code legislation, media companies have the right to compulsory arbitration but casual employees...
    • Environment (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is focusing on caring for our country through measures such as...
  • Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
    • Manufacturing (28 speeches)
      I have received a letter from the honourable member for Chifley proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: The Government's failure to...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • Calwell Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      [by video link] Our local Australia Day citizenship ceremonies have always been massive events in my electorate of Calwell. In fact we've had years where up to 200 people have taken up...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about mental health, noting that today is the launch of the third annual End Youth Suicide campaign of Youth Insearch. The goal of this charity is to raise awareness of youth...
    • Cybersecurity (1 speech)
      In its ACSC annual cyber threat report July 2019 to June 2020, the Australian Cyber Security Centre warned that ransomware is now the highest cyberthreat facing Australian businesses and...
    • Groom Electorate: COVID-19 (1 speech)
      I rise tonight to place on the record my deep concern and even regret at the Queensland Labor government's idea of placing a regional quarantine camp in Toowoomba, in my electorate of Groom. The...
    • Democracy, Parliamentary Committees (1 speech)
      Everyone wants our democracy to work better, and we all have an interest in that outcome. It's a simple idea, but it's a complex task, involving culture as much as structure. And democratic...
    • Youth Suicide (1 speech)
      If you break your arm, you can see it. You can explain how it happened. If you've got a heart condition, you can feel it. You can get it treated. Get a stent, get a bypass. But, if you have a...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Fowler Electorate: Lunar New Year (3 speeches)
      Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending, with the Vietnamese members in my community, the VCA cultural centre to welcome in the Lunar New Year. While these festivals are certainly a...
    • Child Abuse (1 speech)
      There is no more important moral duty that we have as parents, as a community and as a nation than the need to keep our children safe. Protecting them from online abuse is critical, especially...
    • Kingston Electorate: Health Services (1 speech)
      Affordable and accessible health care has always been one of my most important missions here as a member of parliament. But it's also one of the most important issues to people in my electorate....
    • Swan Electorate: Belmont Business Park (3 speeches)
      This morning, Mr Deputy Speaker Freelander, I rise to talk about the Belmont Business Park Transport Infrastructure Upgrade, but I'll also take this opportunity to thank you for your medical...
    • JobSeeker Payment (1 speech)
      I rise to speak on the petition by the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children that was recently tabled by the Petitions Committee. This petition calls on the Australian government...
    • Bowman Electorate: Youth Justice (1 speech)
      On Australia Day this year when many of us were reflecting on the year ahead, I turned left at 5.00 pm on my way home from the city and about two minutes later at the subsequent red light, an...
    • New South Wales South Coast: Housing Affordability (1 speech)
      The New South Wales South Coast has long been experiencing difficulty with social and affordable housing access. It is no secret and should be no surprise. But what is happening now, thanks to...
    • Moreton Electorate: Inland Rail (1 speech)
      The Inland Rail project was a proposal to connect the port of Melbourne to the port of Brisbane through a 1,700-kilometre rail project. Under the coalition, look what's happened. The website...
    • Banks Electorate: Vietnamese Community in Australia, East Hills VIEW Club, Saint Charbel's Monastery (1 speech)
      Last Saturday, 13 February, I attended the Lunar New Year celebrations at the headquarters of VCA, the Vietnamese Community in Australia, New South Wales, in Bonnyrigg, not far from your own...
    • National Integrity Commission (1 speech)
      Integrity in government and post-government life matters for the people of Bean and people across the country. It has been a guiding principle for many of my constituents in the conduct of their...
    • Page Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I would like to acknowledge and congratulate members of my community who received OAMs and Australia Day awards in the Coffs Harbour City Council area. The late Dr More received an OAM for...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Travel Industry (1 speech)
      I find it hard to believe that yet again I am having to stand up in this chamber and urge the government to come to the rescue of travel agents in my electorate and around the country. Travel...
    • Townsville: Crime (1 speech)
      Earlier this week I spoke of the tragic death of 22-year-old Jennifer Board. Jennifer was killed when her motorbike was hit by a car which was chasing a stolen car. Lawlessness in Townsville has...
    • Holt Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I rise in this place to talk about a group of 30 outstanding individuals and four local organisations we honoured on Australia Day at the Tooradin and District Sports Club as part of the 17th...
    • Defence Industry, COVID-19: Health (1 speech)
      A few weeks ago I stopped into a business in North Lakes that just had been awarded a Morrison government Defence Global Competitiveness Grant. This is a federal initiative that allows for...
    • Solomon Electorate: Defence Industry (1 speech)
      As we look to the pandemic recovery, jobs for my community of Darwin and Palmerston are at the forefront of my mind. People are doing it tough, particularly those who have lost their jobs. Having...
    • Calare Electorate: Palmers Oaky Rural Fire Service (1 speech)
      Today I pay tribute to the members of the Palmers Oaky Rural Fire Service brigade that faced the catastrophic bushfire season of 2019-20. Australia's Black Summer is seared in the memory of all...
    • Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      In the area of Parramatta we have a woman who has to be called a hero and her name is Rosemary Kariuki. On Australia Day she was named Australia's Local Hero for 2021, which is much deserved. She...
    • Road Safety (2 speeches)
      My story is not as colourful or as uplifting as the member for Parramatta's was. My story is about the tragedy that happens across Australia every day where people make mistakes on our...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
    • Environment and Energy Committee; Report (5 speeches)
      I'm really pleased today to have the opportunity to talk about the most recent report of the House Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy which we titled Tackling the feral cat...
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      I move: That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn. Question agreed to. Federation Chamber adjourned at 11:53