Latest Speeches

Opening of Refurbished Training Facilities, Hunter Institute of TAFE - 21 July 2010
Thank you. It's a great pleasure to be here today. I acknowledge that we meet on the land of the Awabakul people - the traditional owners and carers of this land and I pay my respect to elders past and present.

Opening of New Training Facilities at Hunter Community College - 20 July 2010
I am very pleased to be here today to officially open this building extension for the Hunter Community College.

Lambton Family Medical Centre Reopens - 31 May 2010
I rise to update the House with some good news on the Lambton Family Medical Centre, which I have raised in the House before.

Paid Parental Leave Bill 2010 - 31 May 2010
I am very pleased and very proud to rise to speak in support of the Paid Parental Leave Bill 2010 and related bills.

Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2010 - 31 May 2010
I rise to speak in support of the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2010-2011 and related legislatin which supports the Rudd Government's 2010-2011 Federal Budget, the third budget this government has now handed down.

Congratulating Sporting Achievements - 27 May 2010
It is the day after the first round of the State of Origin, and some of us in New South Wales are feeling a little bruised by the result. I would like to share with the Chamber some of the good-news sports stories from my electorate of Newcastle.

Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2010 - 26 May 2010
I rise today to speak in support of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill and related legislation.

Joint Parliamentary Committee of Public Accounts and Audit: Budget Statement - 11 May 2010
The Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act requires the committee to consider draft estimates for the Audit Office, with the chair ultimately making a statement to the House on budget day on whether, in our opinion, the Auditor-General has been given sufficient funding to carry out his duties.

Closing the Gap Report 2010 - 25 February 2010
It is a pleasure to speak on the Closing the Gap report and to follow the member for Lingiari, the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, Mr Snowdown.

Constituency Statement - 23 February 2010
I would like to share with the House a very special event that took place in the Newcastle electorate last week.

Speech at the Newcastle Regional Art Gallery - 18 February 2010
it is a pleasure to be asked to speak at this reception to welcome back this very special work. I acknowledge the Lord Mayor, Councillors and past councillors present with us and thank Newcastle City Council for their continued and long-standing support of the Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme 2010 and Cognate Bills - 10 February 2010
I am pleased to again have the opportunity to debate the CPRS legislation with the opposition. It is the third time that i do so.

Constituency Statement - 8 February 2010
I rise today to commend some of the great community work that has taken place over the last few months in the rejuvination of the Newcastle CBD and, in particular, the Hunter Street Mall.