House debates
Thursday, 29 November 2012
- Dame Mary Gilmore DBE (1 speech)
Next Monday will mark 50 years since Australia lost Dame Mary Gilmore, the female face of our $10 bill, our first 'lady of letters' and a champion of social justice. She spoke for the... - Scullin Electorate: Domestic Violence (1 speech)
I congratulate the member for Cook on a very splendid contribution to a great Australian woman. Regrettably, I have to report to the Federation Chamber that on a week that commenced with White... - Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants (1 speech)
I congratulate the member for Scullin and the member for Cook for their contributions on both the items they addressed. I guess the member for Scullin's was a segue into what I am going to speak... - Cremation Ceremonies (1 speech)
I was recently approached by Surinder Singh, a member of the Sikh community in my electorate, who raised an issue relevant to the carrying out of the sacred death rituals of Sikhs, Hindus and... - National Archives of Australia (1 speech)
This year, 2012, has been a very exciting and successful year for the National Archives of Australia. It has been an honour for me to continue representing the House of Representatives as a... - Calwell Electorate (1 speech)
It has been a very busy year in my electorate of Calwell. As part of what we all refer to as the 'round up' of the year's events I refer to some of the more recent events in my electorate that I... - Middle East (1 speech)
In so many ways the conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists is a struggle between the enlightened values of a modern democracy and the benighted values of mediaeval theocracy; a struggle... - Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (1 speech)
At the Seymour Centre in Sydney on Tuesday, 20 November I was a member of a privileged audience who witnessed an outstanding performance of young talent. This was the 2012 music theatre showcase... - McTernan, Mr John (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak in relation to my role as a scrutiny of government spokesperson for the coalition and a flagrant abuse of taxpayers' money. Earlier this year, the new SA Premier did a rare... - Our Stories: 52 Stories in 52 Weeks (1 speech)
In May this year, I spoke in this place about a project that I commenced in February called Our Stories: 52 Stories in 52 Weeks. This project aimed to highlight the stories of those in our... - Renewable Energy (1 speech)
In the short time I have available today I raise the cost-of-living issues that are affecting many Australians out there today. One example is Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is almost an international... - Petition: Live Animal Exports (1 speech)
The three boxes beside me contain over 60,000 signatures to a petition which has been considered by the Standing Committee on Petitions and approved for tabling, and which I now table. The... - Riverina Electorate: Youth Events (2 speeches)
Australia's youth are wonderful and this is certainly so in the Riverina. I opened the Shout Out regional New South Wales Youth Summit at Griffith last Wednesday and then spent an absorbing time... - Shortland Electorate: Hunter Sports High School (1 speech)
On Tuesday 20 November, Hunter Sports High School held their 14th annual sports award presentation. Hunter Sports High School has 900 students, and 424 of those students are enrolled in the... - Herbert Electorate: Bruce Highway (1 speech)
We are coming towards Christmas, and Christmas in North Queensland means the wet season. The wet season also means that the Bruce Highway will be cut a number of times this year. This affects our... - Shortland Electorate: Hunter Sports High School (1 speech)
Could I add to the speech I made earlier that the female recipient of the 2HD Senior Sports Person (Female) Award was Mariah Williams; she was the member of the NSW All Schools under-16 hockey... - Queensland Government (1 speech)
A place to call home is fundamental. Home is a base from which we raise our kids, from which we become members of our community and where we seek to build our lives and our careers. However, for... - Carbon Pricing (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about the Perilya zinc and silver mine in Broken Hill in my electorate of Farrer and the very serious effect of the carbon tax on its operations. I just want to talk about... - Thomas, Mr Brian (1 speech)
I rise to pay tribute on the occasion of the passing of a great Labor man, whom you will know, Madam Deputy Speaker Owens: Brian Thomas of Blacktown. On Remembrance Day I received the news that... - Palestine (1 speech)
Australia will shortly face a vote in the United Nations: whether or not to elevate the Palestinian Territories to observer status, bringing it in line with the Vatican City. The reasons are wide... - Operation Slipper Farewell Parade (1 speech)
On 13 October, it was my great honour to represent the Minister for Defence at the 1st Brigade's farewell parade for Operation Slipper at the RAAF base Edinburgh. I was joined by Senator David... - Wannon Electorate: Warrnambool Exchange Fire (1 speech)
I rise today to place on the record an incident which occurred a week ago, which was a fire in the Warrnambool exchange. The impact that that fire has had on south-west Victoria has been... - Protect (1 speech)
Last Wednesday, 21 November, I was grossly and maliciously defamed by Senator Helen Kroger, the Liberal Party's chief whip in the Senate in an adjournment speech. Senator Kroger made several... - Australian Securities and Investments Commission (1 speech)
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has failed in its duty to several of my constituents, who have contacted me over the course of the past 12 months. On ASIC's... - Australia-China Forum (1 speech)
Earlier this month it was my pleasure to attend the second annual Australia-China forum. Established during a difficult period in the bilateral relationship, the forum provides an opportunity for... - National Disability Insurance Scheme (1 speech)
Today I rise to speak on the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The coalition strongly supports the recommendations of the Productivity Commission for an NDIS and has pledged to work... - Renew Newcastle (1 speech)
I rise to update the House on the progress of an incredibly successful initiative in my electorate, Renew Newcastle. Marcus Westbury, founder of Newcastle's national This Is Not Art festival,...
