House debates

Monday, 4 September 2017

  • Hurricane Harvey (1 speech)
    Hurricane Harvey and the catastrophic flooding of Houston is a window into our future if we don't get global warming under control. Scientists warned that when events like hurricanes, monsoons...
  • Oaktree (1 speech)
    As the chair of the foreign affairs and aid subcommittee, today I want to raise with my colleagues the wonderful work done by the Oaktree foundation, Australia's largest youth-run aid and...
  • Herbert Electorate: Townsville Choral Society (1 speech)
    I rise in this place today to congratulate the Townsville Choral Society for an absolutely outstanding rendition of the production Wicked. The depth of talent in Townsville is simply amazing. Our...
  • Calare Electorate: Molong Magpies Rugby Club (1 speech)
    September brings footy finals fever to the Calare electorate, and it is with a heavy heart that I report to this House that the mighty Molong Magpies went down 31-10 in the GrainCorp Cup Northern...
  • Broadband (1 speech)
    From Redcliffe to Launceston, Mittagong to Newcastle and in my own electorate of Whitlam, businesses are pulling their hair out because of problems they are facing with the NBN. It is nothing...
  • Burma: Rakhine State (1 speech)
    The world is witnessing an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Hundreds have died in the conflict between the military, Rohingya and Buddhist communities in Rakhine State in the west of...
  • Parramatta Electorate: Eid al-Adha (3 speeches)
    I rise today to wish the Muslim community in Parramatta and all around Australia Eid Mubarak. Last Friday, I attended morning prayers at Old Kings Oval in Parramatta with over 800 people from...
  • Parliamentary Friends of Young People (1 speech)
    I rise to inform honourable members of the creation of a new parliamentary friendship group, the Parliamentary Friends of Young People. Our parliament doesn't necessarily reflect the aged make-up...
  • Economy (1 speech)
    I would like to bring to the attention of the House the growing problem of intergenerational inequality. Increasingly, young Australians cannot afford to buy their own home, they cannot afford to...
  • Employment (3 speeches)
    Last Monday, I welcomed the Minister for Employment, Michaelia Cash, and my electorate neighbour, Minister Ken Wyatt, to Swan to announce the federal coalition government's Career Transition...
  • Marriage (1 speech)
    I am very fortunate to represent a community that has a tradition of engaging wholeheartedly and constructively in the cause of creating positive change. It's a community that is happy to discuss...
  • McPhee, Ms Anna (1 speech)
    I rise to honour the life of Anna McPhee, daughter of Bill and Trish, wife of Reggie. She departed this world late last week after a long battle with breast cancer. Such was her verve for life...
  • Macquarie Electorate: New South Wales Rural Fire Service (1 speech)
    It's only a few days into spring, but yesterday's almost 30 degrees in my electorate of Macquarie was a taste of the bushfire danger that lies ahead, with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service...
  • Goldstein Electorate: Charities (1 speech)
    Today I would like to celebrate two wonderful charity events organised in the Goldstein electorate. The first one, at the Pantry Party in Brighton, was to raise money for Very Special Kids. It...
  • Domestic and Family Violence (1 speech)
    Recently, I spoke at the National Council of Women's conference about the vulnerability of women. I would like to thank Barbara Baikie for the invitation to be part of the panel discussion. The...
  • Corangamite Electorate: Sporting Facilities, Corangamite Electorate: Charles Stewart & Co. (1 speech)
    It was my great pleasure to join President Dick McDonald and Surf Coast Mayor Brian McKiterick for the turning of the sod at the Anglesea Bowling Club last Wednesday. After a 10-year...
  • Canberra Electorate: Broadband (1 speech)
    Canberrans, what if I told you the current rollout plan for fibre to the node in Canberra would perpetuate the digital divide across the ACT and that the rollout of fibre to the node would...
  • Coptic Christians (1 speech)
    I rise to extend a most warm welcome on behalf of myself and the many Coptic Christians in my electorate of Hughes to Pope Tawadros II, the Patriarch of millions of Coptic Christians around the...
  • Equal Pay Day (1 speech)
    Think back to 1 July, the first day of this financial year. It feels like it was a long time ago, I suppose, but that's because it was a long time ago. It was just over two months ago—66...
  • Veterans (1 speech)
    Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with Ken Jones and Bob Barker from the Vietnam Veterans Association of Echuca-Moama. Ken and Bob wanted to meet me to raise issues that veterans are...
  • Workplace Relations (1 speech)
    Back in June this year, 220 maintenance workers at Esso in Victoria employed by contractor UGL were terminated and offered their jobs back with a cut of up to 30 per cent of their wages and the...
  • Page Electorate: Community Events (1 speech)
    Volunteers were recognised from my community for their outstanding contribution at the annual Volunteer of the Year Awards held at the South Grafton Ex-Servicemen's Club. I'd like to congratulate...
  • National Meals on Wheels Day (1 speech)
    Last week I had the pleasure of spending time with two of our great local Meals on Wheels volunteers. The Australian spirit of generosity and helping each other is often talked about, but there...
  • Father's Day (1 speech)
    Yesterday, 3 September 2017, was Father's Day. I want to take the opportunity to thank all Australian fathers for the work they do. My wife, Louise, had the opportunity to attend the Scripture...
  • Asylum Seekers (1 speech)
    A week has gone since the government's plan was revealed to cease almost immediately all income support for asylum seekers transferred to Australia for medical reasons. These asylum seekers will...
  • Moore Electorate: City Deals (1 speech)
    I support the city of Joondalup in its application for funding under the City Deals program to develop the civic precinct of Joondalup around Boas Avenue and Grand Boulevard. At a time when...
  • Automotive Industry (3 speeches)
    In 1971, the year before I was born, Steve Hollingworth began on afternoon shift at Holden. He worked there for 36 years. He was a great supporter of the industry and of the vehicle division of...
  • Energy (1 speech)
    Last Monday I held a roundtable discussion with businesses, local government leaders and the Minister for the Environment and Energy. I'm glad my South Australian colleague is still in the...
  • Liberal Party (1 speech)
    We're all adults in this place, and I think we'll all agree that through perhaps the effluxion of time, misadventure or folly, or sheerly through being in the wrong place at the wrong time, we've...
  • Pensions and Benefits (2 speeches)
    The somewhat nondescript town of Ceduna, in South Australia, has been thrust into national headlines with the release last week of the ORIMA research on the healthy welfare card wave 2 trials. It...