House debates

Monday, 15 March 2021

  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Petitions (0 speeches)
    • Responses (1 speech)
      I present the following 15 ministerial responses to petitions previously presented:
    • Statements (1 speech)
      Mr Speaker, it's been nearly a year since the implementation of strict COVID-19 lockdown laws that impacted us all in different ways. Half of the petitions and ministerial responses that I...
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Banking and Financial Services (8 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) the final report of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry highlighted widespread...
    • Cowan, Mrs Edith Dircksey, OBE (9 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 12 March 2021 is the 100th anniversary of Edith Cowan's election to the seat of West Perth in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, making her...
    • Broadband (13 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises that Western Sydney is Australia's third largest economy, and accounted for more than half of Sydney's population growth from 2012 to 2018; (2) notes that:...
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Statements by Members (0 speeches)
    • Christchurch: Attacks (1 speech)
      Today is the second anniversary of the Christchurch massacre. I vividly recall the horror of that day, the pain and the loss of families, and the shared grief of New Zealand and Australia. To our...
    • Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (1 speech)
      Recently I met with Harold Sharp OAM, a past district governor of Rotary in the Berowra area and chairman of the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, to understand more about ROMAC's work....
    • Christchurch: Attacks (1 speech)
      I rise to echo the sentiments of my friend the member for Bruce, who spoke before me. Today marks two years since the evil attack on people in worship, practising their religion, at a...
    • International Women's Day (1 speech)
      Last week we marked International Women's Day. For me, this time of year has always been about celebrating the achievements of women but also, and just as important, challenging us to do and...
    • Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
      It's my honour to stand here today to congratulate the Mark McGowan WA Labor team on their tremendous victory in the state election on Saturday 13 March just gone. It is a testament to the way in...
    • Reid Electorate: Chinese Australian Services Society (1 speech)
      Australia is one of the most successful multicultural communities around the world, and Reid is home to over 40,000 people who have Chinese ancestry. Two weeks ago I had the great pleasure of...
    • Western Australian State Election (1 speech)
      Every Australian is fortunate that Mark McGowan was re-elected Premier of Western Australia. He is the most experienced member of the national cabinet, and the result on Saturday was a huge...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (1 speech)
      Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: You will make a difference in the world, but not immediately. Your first obligation is to find something you like doing, because if you like...
    • Mayo Electorate: Australia Day Awards (1 speech)
      I'd like to congratulate all the 2020-21 recipients of Order of Australia medals from around our nation and note my gratitude for all they have done and all they do for our community. In...
    • Suicide (1 speech)
      As societal scourges go, is there anything graver than suicide—than the propensity for people to take their own life? The most recent year for which the Australian Bureau of Statistics has...
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      I've just come from the women's March 4 Justice—thousands of women from around Australia came to parliament to have their voices heard, to stand up for equality and to say loudly: gendered...
    • Biloela Community Resource Centre Extension (1 speech)
      On Wednesday last week, I had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon and opening the Biloela Community Resource Centre extension. The Community Resource Centre provides access to resources and...
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      I return to this chamber today after giving birth to my baby boy. I am here on a day of power and I am here on a day of ager. There are women outside this building, there are women and men all...
    • Keilira: Telecommunications Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Keilira is a very small community in the south-east of South Australia in my electorate. It has been visited by bushfires no fewer than three times in the last six years, and it's a mobile phone...
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      I rise today on behalf of the 55,000 women in Lilley and the 100,000 people who just marched across this country—marching for justice—to ask: 'What happens now?' This is a government...
    • headspace Burnie (1 speech)
      Last week, Burnie's new headspace facility was opened officially. This means that young people aged between 12 and 25 years from the greater region of Burnie no longer have to travel to Devonport...
    • March 4 Justice (3 speeches)
      I've just returned from the front lawns of Parliament House, where tens of thousands of Australian women and girls are gathered in a march for justice, in the hope that this...
    • Contos, Ms Chanel (2 speeches)
      I rise to speak in support of an incredible local constituent who is changing the discussion on consent education across Australia. Former Kambala student Chanel Contos has courageously...
  • Condolences (0 speeches)
  • Statements on Indulgence (0 speeches)
    • March 4 Justice (10 speeches)
      Today here and in many cities across our country, women and men are gathering together in rallies both large and small to call for change and to act against violence directed towards women. It is...
  • Ministerial Arrangements (0 speeches)
    • (1 speech)
      The Minister for Industrial Relations, the Attorney-General, will today be represented by the Minister for Home Affairs. The Minister for Home Affairs, of course, is acting as Leader of the House.
  • Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
    • March 4 Justice (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why did the Prime Minister refuse to attend the Women's March 4 Justice address by Brittany Higgins outside the parliament today?
    • COVID-19: Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister outline to the House how the Morrison government is working to secure a more prosperous and safe Australia as we continue our...
    • Minister for Defence (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. How can the Prime Minister maintain confidence in the defence minister when she called Brittany Higgins 'a lying cow'?
    • COVID-19: Economy (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...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Today Brittany Higgins said: I watched as the Prime Minister of Australia publicly apologised to me through the media, while privately his media team...
    • Sex Discrimination Amendment (Prohibiting All Sexual Harassment) Bill 2021 (3 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. To quote Brittany Higgins, 'The system is broken,' and, to quote your own words just now, you want to see people safe. You have the power, being in...
    • Economy (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer update the House on how the Morrison government's strong and decisive economic management continues to help ensure our economic recovery is now...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (2 speeches)
      My question is for the Prime Minister. Today Brittany Higgins said: … the media exposed a long list of people who knew about what had happened to me, a list that seemed to grow by the day...
    • COVID-19: Vaccination (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister for Health. Will the minister please update the House on the global state of the coronavirus pandemic and how the Morrison government's response plan and domestic...
    • Attorney-General (6 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. Why won't the Prime Minister establish an independent inquiry into the sexual assault allegations against his Attorney-General, which would consider the...
    • Women's Economic Security (2 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. Will the minister please advise the House on the Morrison government's commitment to improving women's economic security and on...
    • Attorney-General (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Prime Minister. When deciding whether the Attorney-General was a fit and proper person to remain in his role, why did the Prime Minister listen to the Attorney-General but...
    • Domestic and Family Violence (5 speeches)
      My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. Will the minister please advise the House on the Morrison government's commitment to reducing family and domestic violence,...
  • Questions without Notice: Additional Answers (0 speeches)
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Prime Minister (12 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 calls on the Prime...
  • Personal Explanations (0 speeches)
    • (6 speeches)
      The member for Warringah has indicated to me that she wishes to make a personal explanation.
  • Auditor-General's Reports (0 speeches)
    • Report No. 30 of 2020-21 (1 speech)
      I present the Auditor-General's performance audit report No. 30 of 2020-21, entitled Effectiveness of the planning and management of veteran centric reforms: Department of Veterans' Affairs....
  • 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.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Committees (0 speeches)
  • Business (0 speeches)
    • Rearrangement (1 speech)
      I move: Motion was unavailable at the time of publishing. Question agreed to.
  • Bills (0 speeches)
  • Adjournment (0 speeches)
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      Today, on the lawns outside this parliament and in demonstrations across our nation, tens of thousands of women and their supporters marched and spoke for justice. They were powerful, they were...
    • Queensland: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      Why is it that, every time the Queensland Labor government wants to build a project, we can't get the outcome that the community wants? We, as elected representatives here, in other places and in...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (1 speech)
      Earlier today, thousands marched here in Canberra, outside Parliament House, at the March 4 Justice rally. I was honoured and proud to attend the rally and to march with the protesters and my...
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      As I stood in a sea of thousands of women and men today on the lawns outside Parliament House, the voices were loud and clear and frustrated. Systemic inequality is a problem in our society that...
    • Fowler Electorate: Pensions and Benefits (1 speech)
      I'd like to use my time to talk about what is likely to occur with the end of JobSeeker payments later this month, particularly the impact it will have on an area such as mine, where disadvantage...
    • Electric Vehicles (1 speech)
      Australia and the world's commitment to respond to climate change is leading to incredible changes in technology, showing our ingenuity and demonstrating the role new technology will play. We are...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • National Broadband Network (1 speech)
      I rise today to highlight the incredibly poor state of Canberra's NBN infrastructure and call on the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts to commit to funding...
    • Robertson Electorate: Services Australia (1 speech)
      I rise to update the chamber on the delivery of payments and programs by Services Australia on the peninsula in my electorate of Robertson. Last month, customers at Ettalong were informed...
    • Sandy, Aunty A, Lilley Electorate: Welcoming the Babies, Clean Up Australia Day (1 speech)
      It is with a heavy heart I advise the House of the passing of Aileen Sandy, nee Dawson, a truly great northsider and Australian. Aunty Aileen was a beloved aunty, grandmother and mother and an...
    • Fisher Electorate: STEPS Pathways College (1 speech)
      It's great to see the member for Lilley back in the parliament—welcome back. STEPS Pathways College, in my electorate of Fisher, is an Australian leader in delivering residential training...
    • Western Australia: Election (1 speech)
      Every single Australian is fortunate that Mark McGowan will continue to lead the state of Western Australia, keeping the state that I love safe and strong. Australia is fortunate that Mark...
    • Goldstein Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
      There has never been a better time to celebrate the bold and brave students across Australia who've weathered an educational storm like no other throughout 2020. The Goldstein medal is awarded to...
    • Sneddon, Mrs Dianne (1 speech)
      In every regional community you will find several people who might be described as community leaders, people who go above and beyond what might be expected of them, people who work tirelessly in...
    • Mallee Electorate: Apprenticeships (1 speech)
      Apprentices and trainees are the future of small businesses and industries in Mallee. My favourite days as an MP are spent travelling around the electorate and meeting up with small and family...
    • Aged Care (1 speech)
      I rise today to speak to the horrific findings in the final report of the royal commission into aged care, and to the Liberal-National government's shameful legacy of neglect when it comes to our...
    • International Women's Day (2 speeches)
      The weekend before last I had the privilege of attending an event in my electorate to acknowledge International Women's Day. This event was held at the PCYC Hornsby Ku-ring-gai in Waitara in my...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Video Game Industry (7 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) video games are a large and growing market—Australians spent $3.6 billion on games in 2019, more than double the amount they spent in 2012; (b)...
  • Private Members' Business (0 speeches)
    • Tuberculosis (8 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) 24 March 2021 is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, a day to commemorate precious lives lost and recognise the serious impacts COVID-19 is having on TB...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Economic and Social Measures (14 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) recognises that after over 7 years of this Government, Australia is falling behind the rest of the world on numerous key measures of economic and social success; (2)...
    • Gas Sector (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that gas:   (a) will be central to our ongoing economic recovery;   (b) is a crucial input in our manufacturing sector, which employs...
  • Constituency Statements (0 speeches)
    • Ethanol (1 speech)
      We are probably the only country on earth now that does not have ethanol mandated into our petrol tanks. Every other country on earth is aware of the fact that more people die from motor vehicle...
    • Braddon Electorate: Schools (1 speech)
      Over the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of officially opening two new school redevelopments. Where the focus has been on STEM, both Burnie's Leighland Christian School and the Devonport...
    • Rural Flying Doctor Service (1 speech)
      One of the great pleasures of my electorate is the sheer number of events. On Sunday was the Rural Flying Doctor Service and the Truck Owners and Operators Association truck run, which...
    • Science (1 speech)
      If scientific research is going to inform government decisions, government needs to have confidence in that research. There are more and more people, eminent people, including our former chief...
    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about the government's failure to list life-changing medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Over 400,000 Australians suffer from chronic migraines. I met recently...
    • Cowper Electorate: Oasis Day Program (1 speech)
      Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the new Oasis Day Program facility run by Macleay Options. Macleay Options have been a part of the Kempsey fabric for nearly 60 years...
    • Oxley Electorate: Cineplex, Redbank (1 speech)
      I rise today to talk about a local small business owner in the electorate of Oxley. Sam Catalano is the proud owner of a family-run business, Cineplex at Redbank. It's a great independent movie...
    • Stirling Electorate: Karrinyup Leave No Trace Scout Group (1 speech)
      I'm sure that we all remember the magic of being a kid, when exploring a tiny parcel of bushland was an incredible adventure or when building a cubby house with mates on an endless summer school...
    • March 4 Justice (1 speech)
      In more than 40 events across Australia today, tens of thousands of women gathered to call for independent investigations into gendered violence, full implementation of 2020 Respect@Work report,...
    • Nicholls Electorate: Fruit Industry (1 speech)
      Thank you very much. Last Tuesday I met with a group of fruitgrowers from the Goulburn Valley to discuss the lack of seasonal workers and the impact that's having on their businesses. The account...
    • Holt Electorate: Oromo Ethiopian Community (1 speech)
      Members of Melbourne's Oromo Ethiopian community continue to be concerned by ongoing political tensions in Ethiopia. According to Human Rights Watch, in 2020 the security and human rights...
    • Advance Cairns (1 speech)
      Last week I had the pleasure of attending a gala event to mark the 20th anniversary since the establishment of advocacy group Advance Cairns. Advance Cairns has grown to be one of the most fierce...
    • Dunkley Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
      I rise today to ask the Prime Minister to deliver for the community of Dunkley the promises that he has made. On 6 February 2019—not last year but the year before—the Prime Minister...
    • Moore Electorate: Ocean Reef Marina (1 speech)
      The Ocean Reef Marina redevelopment is the single biggest project in my electorate and is expected to generate a billion dollars in gross development value. It will create significant economic...
    • NBN Connection Box (1 speech)
      For months, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury residents have had to run to their NBN boxes when lightning flashes, because the boxes are being fried. The count for some families is up to eight...
    • Mackellar Electorate: Northern Beaches Women's Shelter (1 speech)
      Throughout COVID-19, we have seen cases of mental health, domestic abuse and hardship skyrocket. Frequently, it is the case that our marginalised communities suffer most and the organisations...
    • Fraser Electorate: Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre (1 speech)
      Yesterday afternoon I was delighted to join with many members of my community at the Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre, a large mosque located in Deer Park in my electorate of Fraser. The Bosnian...
    • Members of Parliament: Staff (1 speech)
      Over the past month we've heard a range of deeply distressing accounts from women across the political divide about appalling criminal behaviour and the failure of this place to respond...
    • Adelaide Electorate: Vietnamese Boat People Monument (1 speech)
      Earlier on this month I joined the Vietnamese association and the South Australian Vietnamese community for the official unveiling of the Vietnamese boat people monument in my electorate of...
    • Lyne Electorate: 2021 Gresford Show (1 speech)
      Country shows are part of the rich tapestry of life not only in the Lyne electorate but around the nation—and how good it is that country shows are back in action! I attended the Gresford...
    • Shortland Electorate: Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (1 speech)
      I want to thank the hundreds of my constituents who have signed my petition opposing the renewal of petroleum exploration permit 11. In all my time in politics, I have never witnessed such a...
    • Swan Electorate: Gibbs Street Primary School (1 speech)
      Last week I visited Gibbs Street Primary School, in East Cannington in my electorate, as they were the recipient of a grant through the Morrison government's Local Schools Community Fund which...
    • March4Justice (1 speech)
      The change is made by those who show up and today around the country thousands of women and men showed up. They showed up to express their anger, their frustration and their sadness at what has...
    • Groom Electorate: Oakey Show (1 speech)
      This weekend I had the pleasure of opening the 113th Oakey Show, a wonderful event. The whole event was a testament to the incredible resilience and spirit of the Oakey community, with crowds and...
    • March4Justice (1 speech)
      Today thousands of women rallied around the country to express their anger and frustration at so little action for so long about gender violence. It's not surprising really when one in five women...
    • Mental Health (1 speech)
      Earlier this month 100 volunteers came together, despite storm warnings, to sit in quiet contemplation at the iconic North Cottesloe Beach, emulating Andrew Baines's painting Consideration of...
    • National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
      As I conduct my weekly mobile offices and phone calls with constituents, it has become clear that there is a lot of angst, fear and concern amongst those living with disability and those in the...
    • Community Services (2 speeches)
      I'm glad we're talking about disabilities, because something I've been fighting for, for Tamworth, is a disability transport hub. I'm glad that we have secured in excess of $600,000 to go towards...
    • COVID-19: Arts and Entertainment Industry (1 speech)
      The COVID pandemic has changed the way we all live, and it has hit some aspects of life particularly hard. Without doubt, one of those is our ability to enjoy arts and cultural activities. These...
    • Geeves, Dr Richard (Dick) OAM (2 speeches)
      I wish to pay a tribute to Dr Richard Geeves OAM, who passed away on Saturday 18 July 2020 at the age of 95. Dr Richard Geeves was a well-known local GP who worked tirelessly for many years...
  • Motions (0 speeches)
    • Taxation (27 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) during the pandemic the wealth of Australia's billionaires grew by 25 per cent; (b) the Prime Minister's 2020 Budget contained $99 billion a year in...
    • Road Safety (13 speeches)
      I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Government is providing record funding for road safety measures around the nation through the: (a) $2 billion Road Safety Program delivering low cost...
    • COVID-19: Travel Agents (10 speeches)
      I move: That this House: notes that: on 28 March 2021 the Government intends to cease the JobKeeper scheme, despite widespread calls from economists and businesses alike to extend the scheme as...
    • National Waste Legislation (7 speeches)
      I move: That this House: notes: that in December 2020 the Government passed Australia’s first ever national waste legislation, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, through the...