QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Housing
My question is to the Minister for Housing. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley says there are 16,400 dwellings in Sydney approved, but not yet commenced—the highest number in four years. Yet the government's own budget papers say an extra 1.5 million people will come to Australia over five years. When will the minister finally admit that Labor has no plan to house its big Australia?
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Migration
I spoke on this matter of public importance, and I commended the member for Wannon for bringing this matter to the House's attention. It's particularly concerning to read that we're going to have an additional 1.5 million migrants, but this is in conjunction with, in the other place, the Greens rejecting the Albanese Labor government's housing plan on this very day. We'll have 1.5 million additional immigrants, and where are they going to live?
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Cost of Living
I thank the member for Reid for many of her remarks. I note that she has spoken about acting and Logie awards. I would just draw the House's attention and the member for Reid's attention to the Prime Minister's pledges that were made: household and business energy bills will be cut by $275—that's act 1; a real lasting plan for cheaper electricity and cheaper mortgages—that's act 2; Australians will be better off under a Labor government—that's act 3. When the current Prime Minister was opposition leader, he personally promised $275 power bill cuts no fewer than 97 times during the election campaign. Not only has the Prime Minister broken that promise; he refuses in question time to even answer any questions about power bills, and we saw that again today.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Interest Rates
My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, you promised Australians cheaper mortgages, but after 10 interest rate rises in a row on your watch the average borrower is now paying 62 per cent more in repayments than in 2020 and in almost half of New South Wales postcodes the average repayment is more than 40 per cent of median income. Prime Minister, why do Australians always pay more under Labor?
BILLS - Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I spoke about the Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023. The bill is fairly benign in its content, but it deals with a very important issue, which is Jobs and Skills Australia and how we are going to address the massive skills shortage we have within our country.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - Tobias, Hon. Murray Herbert, AM RFD KC
I rise today to speak about a giant of a man and a giant of the legal world in New South Wales. I speak of the Hon. Murray Herbert Tobias AM RFD KC, who passed away on 4 March this year.
Federation Chamber - BILLS - Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I acknowledge and thank all of our current serving veterans, as well as those who have left the military. Thank you for your service.
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS - Housing
I spoke on the motion—particularly, on the government's purported Housing Australia Future Fund, which, after so many months, has still failed to pass into legislation.
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS - Economy
As the Prime Minister has recently reminded us, it has now been 10 months since the Albanese government came to power. In the lead-up to the election in May last year, Labor made many promises. The Prime Minister recently said that Australia has had 'a very good 10 months'. I am yet to meet any Australian who has said to me that the last 10 months have been good.
ADJOURNMENT - New South Wales State Election
The Perrottet government has set the benchmark across the Commonwealth on how to govern and on how deliver state government services. The Perrottet government has delivered on infrastructure.
MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE - Albanese Government
The Prime Minister's claimed that Australians have had a pretty good 10 months, but I'm yet to have any Australian, besides maybe some of those that sit opposite us, saying to me that they have had a pretty good 10 months. Nobody in my electorate of Hughes has come to me to say, 'I've had a really good 10 months', or even a pretty good 10 months.
Federation Chamber - STATEMENTS - National Apology for Forced Adoptions: 10th Anniversary
I spoke on the recognition of 10 years since the National Apology for Forced Adoptions was made. I acknowledged former Primer Minister Gillard, who has not been given the recognition that was deserved to her for bringing about this national apology.
BILLS - National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Data Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2023 - Second Reading
I had the great pleasure to support the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Data Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2023.
BILLS - Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022 - Second Reading
I spoke on the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Modernisation) Bill 2022. This legislation relates to the way our intelligence and security agents operate. I take this opportunity to endorse the words spoken by the member for Braddon today in this place and thank all those who serve our country through working in our intelligence and security agencies.
BILLS - Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023 and Related Bills - Second Reading
I spoke in support of the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023 and related bills which were brought to Parliament to implement some of the recommendations of the royal commission into the banking industry.
CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - Multiple Birth Awareness Week
This week is Multiple Birth Awareness Week. It was fabulous to see the Australian Multiple Birth Association in Parliament House yesterday. I also recently met with the new president of SSMBA, Lauren Smith, and I commend her for her leadership of this important community organisation.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE - Cost of Living
My question is to the Prime Minister. On Sunday 12 March, Caruso's Italian Restaurant, an institution in the Sutherland Shire, was forced to close its doors permanently. Owners Rocky and Kerrin Pitarelli have cited rising electricity costs, rising labour costs and staff shortages as reasons for their closure. Prime Minister, why do Australian families and businesses always pay more under Labor?
BILLS - Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 - Second Reading
I spoke on the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022, which purports to revise the safeguard mechanism applying to Australia's largest emitters to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre
I spoke about a major milestone in my local community and the Hughes electorate, the official opening of the Pavilion Performing Arts Centre at Sutherland on 4 March this year.