House debates

Monday, 16 June 2014

  • Budget (1 speech)
    There has been a lot of posturing about infrastructure spending in the Northern Territory and about how the Territory supposedly missed out in budget 2014-15. Let me say from the outset that I am...
  • Indi Electorate (1 speech)
    On Saturday I had the pleasure of being in Alexandra to enjoy the hospitality of the Alexandra Quilters and the Alexander Truck Ute and Rod Show. The Queen's birthday weekend showcases Indi at...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    As we head to the next stage of the budget process and the budget bills head towards the Senate for consideration, I would like to take this opportunity to present a challenge to those members...
  • Dhondup Wangchen (1 speech)
    In September 2009 I spoke in parliament advocating for the release of Tibetan political prisoner Dhondup Wangchen after meeting his distraught wife in Dharamsala, India, in July of that year....
  • Conference on Population Development (1 speech)
    On 23 to 25 April this year I was privileged to attend the International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the Program of Action for the Conference on Population Development....
  • Child Care (1 speech)
    I rise to draw the House's attention to the struggle for families searching for child care for their young children. Every parent knows that the waiting lists are extremely long. Almost every...
  • Hindmarsh Electorate: Underdale High School (1 speech)
    Last week I attended the Underdale High School's governing council meeting and want to congratulate the principal, Nigel Gill, teachers and parents for some of the good work they are doing at...
  • Bendigo Electorate: Catholic Schools (1 speech)
    Recently here in parliament, during our sitting weeks, I have had the pleasure of welcoming groups of students from our local Catholic schools. The first students I wish to acknowledge are the...
  • Hume Electorate: Tahmoor Underground Mine (1 speech)
    There has been disappointing news for Tahmoor, a village of 4,500 people in the north of my electorate. The Tahmoor Underground Mine, run by Glencore, will be making about 40 workers redundant...
  • Richmond Electorate: RSPCA Tweed Heads Adoption Centre (1 speech)
    I rise to speak on my concern about the imminent closure of the RSPCA adoption centre at Tweed Heads, which is unfortunately due to close on June 30. It is heartbreaking for this to occur after...
  • Lindsay Electorate: Great Community Transport (1 speech)
    I rise today to recognise the outstanding contribution of Great Community Transport organisation, their amazing staff, their volunteers and, in particular, the unstoppable Helen Walker OAM, the...
  • Blair Electorate: Landcare (1 speech)
    The decision by the Abbott government to axe the Grants to Voluntary Environment, Sustainability and Heritage Organisations program is irresponsible and irrational. The program has been running...
  • Reeves, Mr Dennis 'Noddy' (1 speech)
    Each of our electorates has people who leave their mark on our communities after they are lost to us. These people are the salt of our community—the people who put in, treat people with...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    () (): I want to pick up on an issue discussed today in question time with respect to the views put forward by the Prime Minister about what is occurring to pensions under the proposed policy of...
  • Fitzgerald River National Park Improvement Project (1 speech)
    On Saturday, 7 June, I had the honour of representing the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon. Warren Truss, in officially opening the...
  • Budget (1 speech)
    The Abbott government give lip-service to the fact that they want to help young people find employment. Each and every time I visit the budget, I find a new area that the Abbott government has...
  • Gilmore Electorate: Black Spot Funding (1 speech)
    In the first week of June the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, the Hon. Jamie Briggs, confirmed that Gilmore had been successful in its applications for more than $3 million of black spot...
  • Indi Electorate: King Valley Art Show (1 speech)
    Arts are alive and flourishing in Indi, and no place more so than in the beautiful King Valley. I am pleased to take this opportunity to place on record the wonderful work of the committee,...
  • Parkes Electorate: Drought (1 speech)
    I would like to address the issue of drought. Many people will remember that the Prime Minister and the agriculture minister visited my electorate earlier in the year to look at the dire...
  • Halekulani Bowling Club Annual Seniors Forum (1 speech)
    Last Friday I held my annual seniors forum at Halekulani Bowling Club. We had over 150 seniors present that day. As usual, it was a fantastic event. It is one of the forums or get-togethers where...
  • Carnarvon Flood Mitigation Works (1 speech)
    Last Friday I had the pleasure of representing the Deputy Prime Minister at the opening of the stage 2 flood mitigation works in Carnarvon. This is a significant project for the region, with $15...
  • Ryan, Ms Alison (1 speech)
    Today I rise to pay tribute to the late Alison Ryan who passed away peacefully at Clare Holland House recently surrounded by her family after a 15-month battle with cancer. Despite her illness,...
  • Cowan Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
    I would like to thank the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Briggs, and the government for recognising the needs of the motorists in and around the Cowan electorate because $330,000...
  • Bendigo Electorate: Infrastructure (1 speech)
    I stand to support the iLoddon Mallee group calling for our region to be reinstated to the NBN rollout schedule. There is still no rollout schedule planned for big centres in my electorate like...
  • Violence against Women (1 speech)
    As part of my step-by-step walk against violence against women in Australia, particularly in my electorate of McMillan and across Gippsland, I asked Chris Major, our local police inspector, to...
  • Holt Electorate: Cranbourne Convent (1 speech)
    I commend the member for McMillan for the comments he made, which I endorse. I would like to talk about an event conducted in my elected on the 11 June, last week. It was quite a special event....
  • Barton Electorate: Bunny Cottage (1 speech)
    On a recent sunny Saturday morning, I had the pleasure of visiting the Bunny Cottage Preschool and Long Day Care Centre in Bexley, a family-oriented suburb in the electorate of Barton. I was...
  • Environment (1 speech)
    Today in the House of Representatives we are debating the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014, which allows for...
  • National Broadband Network (2 speeches)
    I wish to report that the Abbott government's efforts to speed up the NBN rollout are paying off for residents and businesses in Barker. Indeed, it was my very great privilege on Wednesday, 11...