House debates

Monday, 26 May 2014

  • Richmond Electorate: Coal Seam Gas (1 speech)
    I rise to speak about a great community victory on the North Coast of New South Wales on 15 May when the gas company Metgasco had its drilling licence suspended at Bentley near Lismore. I take...
  • Petition: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1 speech)
    A couple of weeks ago, a small number of passionate constituents presented me with a petition to protect our ABC. This computer-generated petition tells me that 669 unnamed constituents want me...
  • Victoria: Toolangi Forest (1 speech)
    On 24 April, I travelled to Toolangi in the south of my electorate. I had been invited by local conservation groups to come and learn about the Toolangi Forest—a unique ecosystem and home...
  • Pearce Electorate: Riding for the Disabled Association (1 speech)
    On Saturday, 24 May 2014, I had the privilege of attending as the vice-patron at the opening ceremony of the new indoor arena for the Swan Valley branch of the Riding for the Disabled...
  • Budget: Early Childhood Education (1 speech)
    The Prime Minister has often claimed that all must fairly share in the cuts and tax increases imposed by this government in their recent budget, but last week's budget was not a Robin Hood budget...
  • Casey Electorate: Don Valley Fire Station (1 speech)
    It was my pleasure yesterday to attend the official opening of the Hillcrest fire station and Yarra Valley group headquarters in Woori Yallock on the Warburton Highway in the electorate of Casey....
  • Kingston Electorate: Aldinga Football Club (1 speech)
    It was a big day for the Aldinga Football Club on Saturday. The Aldinga Football Club has over this season been struggling a little, and there was a huge push by the community and by the footy...
  • Run Townsville (1 speech)
    This Sunday is 1 June. It is not only the first day of winter. It is also the day when Townsville will be up very early and active. We will be out and running in Townsville. We will be...
  • Whittlesea and District Greek Elderly Citizens Club (1 speech)
    On Wednesday at lunchtime I attended the Whittlesea and District Greek Elderly Citizens Club. I was very pleased to be invited to that club to speak on the budget. I thank the members of the...
  • Robertson Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
    Beside the fountain at Kibble Park in the heart of Gosford last week the Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, joined me and community leaders from the electorate of Robertson to discuss how the...
  • Fraser Electorate: Charnwood (1 speech)
    As honourable members know, Canberra is of course the best city in Australia. It is the part of Australia which is the most egalitarian and the most generous. Canberrans are the most generous...
  • Ryan Electorate: Mining (1 speech)
    I wish to place on record my appreciation to the Minister for Industry, the Hon. Ian Macfarlane MP, for his recent visit to Ryan, where he got a quick snapshot of some of the exciting innovation...
  • Ride for Hope (1 speech)
    I rise today to congratulate all those who participated in Ride for Hope to raise funds to help children living in Adelaide but also living right around the globe. Ride for Hope is an initiative...
  • Hasluck Electorate: Ms Jenna Woods (1 speech)
    Last Tuesday, I met an outstanding young woman from my electorate of Hasluck. Jenna Woods lives in Gosnells, down the southern end of my electorate, and, at 23 years old, is one of the youth...
  • St Joseph's Community Centre (1 speech)
    Yesterday I attended the blessing and official opening of the St Joseph's Community Centre at Paralowie in the city of Salisbury. It was carried out by Archbishop Philip Wilson with the support...
  • Logan Country Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (1 speech)
    The Logan Country Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual business excellence awards, designed to acknowledge and celebrate the success and achievements of small businesses in the Logan...
  • National Sorry Day (1 speech)
    I rise to acknowledge National Sorry Day. In doing so, I would like to put on record my profound commitment to seeing that we remember all those children who were taken from their families. In...
  • Deakin Electorate: Taralye (1 speech)
    Today I rise to acknowledge the work of an organisation in my electorate: Taralye, the oral language centre for deaf children in Blackburn. The pioneering centre was established in 1978 by the...
  • Makin Electorate: Roma Mitchell Secondary College (1 speech)
    Earlier this month I attended the Roma Mitchell Secondary College in the electorate of Makin, in the company of the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Bill Shorten, and the shadow minister for...
  • Flynn Electorate (1 speech)
    On Friday night I was delighted to attend the opening dinner of a very popular and unique event in my electorate of Flynn—the Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show, held at Old Station in...
  • Duffy, Ms Lynne (1 speech)
    by leave—On Monday, last week, I attended the funeral of Lynne Duffy. Lynne was a very active worker within our community. She was a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother and a...
  • Budget (2 speeches)
    Madam Acting Deputy Speaker Andrews, it is wonderful to see you in the leadership position in that chair. All politics and no policy—Labor continues to spin a series of myths to score...
  • Australian Red Cross (1 speech)
    Madam Deputy Speaker, I am sure you would be aware, as you would be very in tune with your community, that this year is the 100th anniversary of the Red Cross. Last Friday, I had the pleasure of...
  • Bendigo Electorate: Budget (1 speech)
    I rise again to highlight the savage cuts that the Abbott government's budget will have on the Bendigo community. I now wish to speak about the cuts to Bendigo Health. Bendigo Health is the major...
  • Petition: Zone Allowance (1 speech)
    I table a petition from the residents of Northern Australia. This petition has 4,146 signatures and has been found to be in order by the Standing Committee on Petitions. The petition calls on the...
  • Makin Electorate: Salisbury Athletics Club (1 speech)
    A couple of weeks ago, I attended the annual general meeting and presentation night of the Salisbury Athletics Club. This club sources its athletes from the Salisbury and Salisbury East little...
  • Swan Electorate: Perth Zoo (2 speeches)
    Madam Deputy Speaker Andrews, I too add my congratulations and it is a pleasure to see you in the new position you have taken up. I am sure you will bring gravitas and the respect that it...
  • Budget (2 speeches)
    I have a lot to say today about the budget and the attacks it will make on people in my local community. Right now I wish to speak about the cuts to education. Last week my state colleague Maree...