ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS – KAPOOKA TRAGEDY: 78th Anniversary
Yesterday at the memorial service on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Kapooka tragedy, I witnessed, as did the others who were lucky enough to be present, one of the most inspirational scenes ever. Alan Evans got out of his wheelchair as his daughter Suzanne Christmas laid the wreath at the plinth. He […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – SMALL BUSINESS
At the outset I will commend the mover of this motion, the member for Reid, for her work as a former doctoral researcher at the University of Sydney Business School—I’m pretty sure I’ve got that right—and her commitment to small business. She studied it and she wants it to be better. The difficulty is, she’s […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – BUDGET
Interestingly, the member for Spence quotes the 1994 movie Speed. He’s no Keanu Reeves but we’ll give him his due! It’s a good thing Labor’s not driving the bus on the road. The only road that Labor is paving at the moment is the road to failure, because it has put a hold on all […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – ALBANESE GOVERNMENT
Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I do not agree with the premise that is being put to the parliament. I feel sorry for the children up in the public gallery because they’re the ones who are ultimately going to pay for Labor’s reckless debt and reckless policies. The member for Pearce mentioned $1 […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – CONDOLENCES – Kerin, Hon. John Charles, AM, AO, FTSE
I think my late father, Lance, a very good farmer at Brucedale between Wagga Wagga and Junee, only ever came to Parliament House once. Dad wasn’t one for protesting, but on 1 July 1985 an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 farmers and their friends rallied at Parliament House to protest about the effect of taxes and […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS – STRONGER COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
The Learmonth Cemetery rotunda construction received $20,000 for a rotunda for the internment of ashes in the electorate of Ballarat. In Rankin, the Stretton State College P&C Association received $18½ thousand for a community sports storage facility and shade shelter. I’m sure the Treasurer would have endorsed that. It’s a good project, a good organisation. […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – JOBS AND SKILLS AUSTRALIA AMENDMENT BILL 2023 – SECOND READING
Typical Labor speech: laced with sarcasm, dripping in sanctimony. The member for Spence can do so much better than that. This morning he and I were at the CropLife agriculture industry business breakfast after the budget, and he introduced me to Angelo Demasi, from his electorate. Angelo is the chief executive officer of the South […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA AMENDMENT (INDEPENDENT REVIEW) BILL 2023 – SECOND READING
This bill is a slight on the Prime Minister. The Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 questions the Prime Minister’s authority, because what it seeks to do, and what the government’s reforms will achieve, is to make Infrastructure Australia less independent of government by replacing a 12-member board with three commissioners appointed by the […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT BILL 2023 – SECOND READING
At the outset I want to say there is much of what the member for Moreton has said in his contribution that I agree with. The child’s interests must come first. Children are so important. He also made remarks to the effect that these cases are individual and unique and it’s never easy. Family law […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY AMENDMENT (MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES) BILL 2023 – SECOND READING
I’m glad to see the minister, the member for Brand, in the chamber. I know that she is doing all she can to help northern Australia—I commend her for that—and certainly the resources sector. It is a difficult role, being a Labor minister for those portfolios, particularly resources. Only last night we saw the handing […]