2006 Speeches Archive
Jim Comerford, 4 December 2006
I rise to pay tribute to the life of Jim Comerford, a man of extraordinary strength, passion and commitment to the principles of fairness and equity, and to honour the significance of his life's work to the character of Australia and the working lives of Australian men and women.
Stem Cell Legislation, 4 December 2006
I support the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Bill 2006, and the hope it offers for many Australians.
Reserve Bank of Australia Annual Report, 4 December 2006
The Economics, Finance and Public Administration Committee scrutinises the performance of the Reserve Bank in its functions of implementing monetary policy and managing the bank payments system.
Aviation Security, 4 December 2006
This committee report was long in coming but is thorough in its work. It gets the balance right between public safety and making sure that processes are correct in order to support safety and security so that the public are able to have affordable and convenient air travel.
Veterans' Home Care Program, 28 November 2006
I wish to draw attention to a recent decision regarding the delivery of veterans home care services in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
Juvenile Diabetes, Cancer & Mental Health , 31 October 2006
Today I would like to bring the Parliament's attention some of the great work being done by people in my Electorate to increase awareness and raise funds for research into some of our most pressing medical problems: juvenile diabetes, cancer and mental health.
Public Accounts Committee Annual Report , 30 October 2006
As Deputy Chair of the JCPAA, I commend our annual report to the Parliament. I think that democracy is strengthened by the work of this committee. The Australian National Audit Office and the JCPAA provide very close and ongoing scrutiny of all government departments and agencies, and are a very powerful tool of accountability.
Refugee Services Contracts , 19 October 2006
Having spoken in this parliament on at least four other occasions about the shortfalls in the administration and delivery of Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy in the Newcastle and Hunter Region, I welcome the government’s belated acknowledgment of the need for vastly improved settlement outcomes for refugee and humanitarian entrants.
Cross Media Ownership Legislation , 18 October 2006
I oppose these proposed new laws because they will lead to a massive concentration of media ownership in both metropolitan and regional Australia. They will also reduce competition and consumer choice and, perhaps most importantly, they are a direct threat to the free and open discussion of ideas and opinions that is the lifeblood of our democracy.
Communications Services in Newcastle , 9 October 2006
Comments on Telstra's announcement of its new network, and ongoing problems with communications and postal services in Newcastle.
Stadium Upgrade & Volunteer Awards , 14 September 2006
Two events last week reminded me just how passionate, proud and committed Novocastrians are. Last Friday I was privileged to present the 2006 Newcastle Community Volunteer Awards at a special ceremony and then in the evening to sit in a sell-out crow at EnergyAustralia Stadium and cheer the Knights home against Manly.
Independent Contractors Bill , 11 September 2006
The central philosophy behind this legislation is that the appropriate mechanism for regulating independent contractors is commercial law, rather than industrial law. This is consistent with the central philosophy behind the Howard Government - that is, an individual worker has as much bargaining power as his or her employer. But that is just plain wrong.
National Dementia Awareness Month , 7 September 2006
Tomorrow marks the beginning of National Dementia Awareness Month, and this year marks 100 years since Alzheimer's Disease was first diagnosed.
Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation Amendment Bill 2006 , 5 September 2006
Labor's amendment to this bill condemns the Government for:
- breaking a promise not to impose a nuclear waste dump on the Northern Territory,
- establishing a hand-picked committee into ncuclear power in Australia,
- disregarding the economic case for all alternative sources of energy, and
- keeping secret all plans for the siting of nuclear power stations and dumps.
Public Accounts Committee Report , 4 September 2006
It is always important to remember that the work of holding government departments to account is a worthy task. It brings great benefits to the Australian people, and the work of the ANAO - the Audit Office - must be praised.
Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006 , 9 August 2006
At the very outset I want to put on the record my absolute opposition to this legislation. This legislation is illogical and it is inhumane. It is illogical because it actually removes Australia from Australia's migration zone. It is inhumane because it actually puts children back into detention centres 12 months after this parliament voted to get them out.
World Refugee Day , 22 June 2006
This week we celebrated a very special day in the UN calendar: World refugee Day. Fortunately, we had no legislation brought forward this week to detract from its importance. The theme of this year's World Refugee Day is hope, which serves as a reminder of our responsibility to help keep hope alive amongst those who need it most - the millions of refugees displaced and who are still far from home.
Technical Colleges , 21 June 2006
Labor does not oppose the legislation to bring funding forward for this program - heaven knows the Australian Technical Colleges scheme needs it after the way the Howard Government has bungled its implementation. What we do oppose is the systematic way in which this Government has underinvested in the skills of this natino's people over the past 10 long years.
Improving the Superannuation Savings of People Under 40 , 19 June 2006
This report was undertaken in the context of an ageing population and obviously the quest for an adequate retirement income which is essential given that people will be living longer and there is a need to offset the costs of an ageing population.
Telephone & Internet Services in Newcastle , 13 June 2006
Today it has been revealed that complaints from the Hunter region to the Telecommunciations Industry Ombudsman have doubled in the past 12 months. That comes as no surprise to me. Hundreds of people have contacted my office in the past year to ask for help to access broadband.
Bali Bombings Update , 1 June 2006
I wish to update the Parliament on the progress being made by Newcastle families who were so tragically affected by the Bali bombings last October.
Federal Budget 2006-07 , 31 May 2006
This budget was another wasted opportunity for a complacent and lazy government to make some real investments in sustaining the future prosperity of this nation. Tax cuts are welcome and I will be voting to support them. But they will only go a very small way to giving some relief from John Howard's high cost of living, especially for those people on middle incomes who recieved only a $10 a week tax cut.
Migrant Service Standards in Newcastle , 22 May 2006
I call on the Minister to investigate this issue as a matter of urgency. If the Government intends to continue to rationalise and centralise tender for service deliver, then it should make sure that it builds in some better accountability and some quality assurance.
Electoral & Referendum Amendment (Electoral Integrity & Other Measures) Bill , 10 May 2006
This bill is a serious attack on the democratic processes and principles upon which our political system is based. This bill seeks to disenfranchise some of the most disadvantaged in our society and to allow a massive increase in the amounht of political donations that can be made without the need for public disclosure.
Bay Group of Companies , 10 May 2006
I rise to report to the chamber on the collapse of the Bay Building group of companies in the Hunter region. It is one of the worst corporate collapses in our region's history, and I call on the Treasurer to order the Australian Securities & Investments Commission to investigate it urgently.
Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill , 2 March 2006
The Howard Government has:
- adopted shipping policies that favour foreign vessels and crew despite the risk to security, jobs and the environment,
- failed to ensure adequate security in relation to the shipping of dangerous goods and hazardous material, and
- failed to ensure ships comply with the requirement to provide details of crew and cargo forty-eight hours before arrival.
Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill , 1 March 2006
We have two pressing needs for the families of Newcastle and of regional northern New South Wales. Our Family Court needs another permanent resident judge and we need improved, appropriate and better accommodation for our courts.
Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Bill , 1 March 2006
There is a clear need to update the Act to give our law enforcement agencies the powers they need to fight crime in this era of new and changing technology. However, any increase in these powers must be measured against the cost to the rights and civil liberties of our people, and we must be careful to get this balance right.
Therapeutic Goods Amendment (RU-486) Bill , 15 February 2006
Issues relating to women's fertility are not best left in the hands of politicians. These are matters for women and health professionals, not the Australian parliament.
Appropriation Bills , 15 February 2006
These bills combined allow the government to spend an additional $3.5 billion. A lot of that spending, though, is for fixes that the Howard Government has had to conjure up to offset the neglect and complacency - or just incompetence - that has built up after 10 long years in power.
Workplace Relations , 14 February 2006
I rise today to once again draw the attention of the House to the Boeing dispute where 27 highly skilled aircraft maintenance workers remain locked out simply because they are seeking a collective agreement. It is now 259 days since they recieved their last pay cheque.
Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy , 13 February 2006
I rise today to draw the attention of the parliament and the Australian people to ongoing concerns about the delivery of IHSS services to humanitarian migrants by the consortium led by the Australian Centre for Languages in NSW, particularly in the Newcastle and Hunter region.