Speeches 2009
TRADE PRACTICES AMENDMENT (AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW) BILL 2009 Second Reading
October 19, 2009
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009. This bill forms part of the government’s intention to move towards a single national consumer law, which the coalition supports in principle. It seeks to provide increased protection for consumers by voiding unfair terms in standard form contracts between businesses and consumers. Standard form contracts typically cover mobile phones, bank accounts and gym memberships and are non-negotiable. If the consumer wishes to take advantage of the goods or services on offer, he or she has to accept the contract provided without negotiation.
Main Committee CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS Queensland and New South Wales Floods
September 14, 2009
I take the opportunity to read from a letter to the editor which was published in the Coffs Coast Advocate, relating to the recent floods of 31 March. It was written by Georgia Newell, a very articulate 14-year-old.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Building the Education Revolution Program
September 10, 2009
The Building the Education Revolution program is a program out of control. It is a program that is being mismanaged, it is a program that is costing the taxpayer tens of millions of dollars of waste and it is a program in which many schools are not getting what they wanted. It is a program that is causing such concern that the Auditor-General has initiated a full program audit—a full performance audit. I do not think ever in the nation’s history has an audit been initiated just a few months into the commencement of program.HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (MIDWIVES AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS) BILL 2009 MIDWIFE PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY (COMMONWEALTH CONTRIBUTION) SCHEME BILL 2009 MIDWIFE PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY (RUN-OFF COVER SUPPORT PAYMENT) BILL 2009 Second Reading
September 8, 2009
On the face of it, there is much to support in the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and cognate bills. There is even more to support following the minister’s spectacular backflip on the position of the government in relation to midwives. I shall have more to say on that later. It is very much an example of the government rushing to legislate on issues without paying attention to the detail and without thinking through the consequences of the government’s actions. For the moment, I will say that I welcome the minister’s partial backdown, which will allow the status quo in relation to midwives to continue until 2012.
Main Committee PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS Importation of Bananas
September 7, 2009
The private members motion which I have moved today represents an opportunity for the government to show that it does care about Australian agriculture and that it does understand the concerns of banana growers. Across the farming and horticultural sector the Rudd government’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is starting to be referred to as the minister for Punchbowl.
ADJOURNMENT Coffs Coast Flood Victims
September 7, 2009
I take the opportunity to again raise in this House the plight of the flood victims on the Coffs Coast from the flood event of 31 March. I also take the opportunity to commend the local newspaper, the Coffs Coast Advocate, for its work in campaigning on behalf of the flood victims. We saw in this Saturday’s copy of the Coffs Coast Advocate an open letter to Minister Macklin requesting justice for Coffs Coast flood victims.
RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2009 RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) (CHARGE) AMENDMENT BILL 2009 Second Reading
August 17, 2009
I welcome the opportunity to talk on the very important issue of renewable energy. It is certainly a form of energy supply which should be encouraged. Increasing the amount of electricity that we generate from renewable sources is something that is going to benefit our nation in the long term and benefit the environment. The measures that are contained within the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009 build on the measures that were first implemented by the Howard government—a very visionary proposal to increase the amount of electricity sourced from renewable supplies.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Education
August 12, 2009
You have got to hand it to the Rudd government: they are all about spin. They are big on spin, they are big on cliches, they are big on promises, they are big on hard hats and orange vests but they are small on results.
ADJOURNMENT Petition: Queensland and New South Wales Floods
June 23, 2009
I rise to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Coffs Coast, because there has been substantial inequity in the treatment of the victims of the storm event of 31 March. It is an issue that has touched the hearts of many residents in our region.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Workplace Relations
June 17, 2009
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter of public importance. I note the member for Blaxland’s preoccupation with the member for Higgins, the former Treasurer. There is a very stark difference between the contribution that was made by Peter Costello, as Treasurer, and the contribution that is being made by those members opposite.
Main Committee GRIEVANCE DEBATE Queensland and New South Wales Floods
June 15, 2009
Two weeks ago I brought to the attention of the House the injustice of the Rudd government’s decision to deny Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley residents affected by the March 31 floods one-off Centrelink cash payments. On 31 March more than 400 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours. In some areas 600 millimetres fell. In one three-hour period 250 millimetres fell in many areas. The Coffs Coast region and the Clarence Valley were declared a national disaster area. Since then the Rudd government has on numerous occasions rejected requests for one-off cash payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child, as were provided to flood victims in North Queensland in February and as were later provided to those affected by the flood event on the North Coast in May of this year.
Main Committee STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Health Services
June 15, 2009
As we approach June 30 we are nearing the deadline for one of the major election promises made by Kevin Rudd during the 2007 election campaign. ‘When it comes to health, the buck stops with me,’ Kevin Rudd told the Australian people prior to the last election. If the states did not improve their performance, he would take over the public health system. Well, since the Rudd government was elected, the public health system in New South Wales has continued to deteriorate, particularly along the North Coast.
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