ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – GRIEVANCE DEBATE – Waste Management and Recycling, Renewable Energy
I’d certainly like to join the member for Dunkley in her campaign to reduce plastic waste in our environment because I think what she spoke about has a lot of support in the wider community across Australia. Indeed, when you consider what she said about the amount of plastic in our ocean environment, it is […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024 – Second Reading
This bill is totally political in nature. It is very much formed to be a political wedge to put privatisation on the agenda for the 2025 election. That is what Labor is doing. When Labor introduced its legislation establishing the National Broadband Network, it specifically contemplated a situation in which it could be sold. The […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – ADJOURNMENT – Hyne Timber
In the black summer of 2019-20, the bushfires destroyed 40 per cent of the Hyne Timber mill pine feedstock. Now, for many companies, they might just pack up and leave, but not Hyne. This company was established in 1882. It’s one of Australia’s largest softwood manufacturing companies. It has a commitment to the Tumbarumba region […]
National Broadband NADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024 – Second Reading
Yet another political stunt by this desperate Albanese Labor government. As usual, there is absolutely no real consideration of the issues which are having such an impact on regional Australians. I know Labor neither understands nor, worse, cares about those Australians who live over the sandstone curtain, the Great Dividing Range. How about this government […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – Rural and Regional Health Services
Firstly, I want to commend the member for Mallee, the shadow assistant minister for regional health, on bringing to the parliament this vital motion. It is important, and if there’s anybody in this place who would know just how integral it is to the success, prosperity and productivity of rural, regional and remote Australia it […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – Medicare
The distribution priority areas might be okay in the member for Lalor’s electorate. Her electorate is just 17 kilometres north of Melbourne’s central business district. But it’s not there that the doctors are most needed. It’s out in regional and particularly remote Australia where they are now suffering because of the distribution changes brought about […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE – International Relations
There could be no more important subject to be discussing in today’s matter of public importance debate than the importance of Australia’s relationships with our key allies. It’s appropriate. It’s timely. In politics, as in life, sincerity is everything. Say what you mean and mean what you say; don’t say it if you don’t mean […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024 – Second Reading
I was privileged to receive a very good education, courtesy of my parents, my late mother, Eileen, and late father, Lance. They sent me to St Joseph’s, which closed not long after I departed there in year 2. It reopened later on. It burnt down and reopened again. I went to Henschke boys primary. It’s […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – Aged Care Bill 2024, Aged Care Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 – Second Reading
I have here the Aged Care Bill 2024. It is quite a tome. But in this volume you can’t get the feeling and the emotion and the hurt and the angst and the despair and the anxiety of regional people, for whom aged care is so important. I understand it is important for everybody, but […]
ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT – BILLS – Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 – Second Reading
Between 1991 and 2002 I edited a daily newspaper in Wagga Wagga. That newspaper first published on 10 October 1868, at which point, above its editorial comment piece of the day, it used these words: ‘This is true liberty, when freeborn men, having to advise the public, may speak free.’ It is a verse attributed […]