OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT

2016-08-30 45 1 1 House of Reps 0 1 OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT 1 OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT

The House met at 10:30, pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor-General.

The Clerk read the proclamation.

The Usher of the Black Rod, having been announced, was admitted and delivered the message that the Deputy of the Governor-General for the opening of the parliament desired the attendance of honourable members in the Senate chamber.

Honourable members attended accordingly and having returned—

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION 1 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance 1

Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance

The Deputy authorised by the Governor-General to administer the oath or affirmation entered the chamber.

The Clerk read the authority authorising the Hon. Susan Mary Kiefel AC to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Queen required by the Constitution to be taken or made by members of the House of Representatives.

Returns to Writs 1

Returns to Writs

The Clerk laid on the table duly endorsed returns to the writs for the election of members of the House of Representatives for all states and for the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory held on 2 July 2016.

Members Sworn 1

Members Sworn

The following members made and subscribed the oath of allegiance:

Division	Name
New South Wales
Banks	David Bernard Coleman
Barton	Linda Jean Burney
Bennelong	John Gilbert Alexander
Berowra	Julian Martin Leeser
Blaxland	Jason Dean Clare
Bradfield	Paul William Fletcher
Calare	Andrew Robert Gee
Chifley	Edham Nurredin Husic
Cook	Scott John Morrison
Cowper	Luke Hartsuyker
Cunningham	Sharon Leah Bird
Dobell	Emma Margaret McBride
Eden-Monaro	Michael Joseph Kelly
Farrer	Sussan Penelope Ley
Fowler	Christopher Patrick Hayes
Gilmore	Ann Elizabeth Sudmalis
Grayndler	Anthony Norman Albanese
Greenway	Michelle Anne Rowland
Hughes	Craig Kelly
Hume	Angus James Taylor
Hunter	Joel Andrew Fitzgibbon
Kingsford Smith	Matthew James Thistlethwaite
Lindsay	Emma Husar
Lyne	David Arthur Gillespie
Macarthur	Michael Randolph Freelander
Mackellar	Jason George Falinski
Macquarie	Susan Raye Templeman
McMahon	Christopher Eyles Bowen
Mitchell	Alexander George Hawke
New England	Barnaby Thomas Joyce
Newcastle	Sharon Catherine Claydon
North Sydney	Trent Moir Zimmerman
Page	Kevin John Hogan
Parkes	Mark Maclean Coulton
Parramatta	Julie Ann Owens
Paterson	Meryl Jane Swanson
Reid	Craig Arthur Samuel Laundy
Richmond	Maria Justine Elliot
Riverina	Michael Francis McCormack
Robertson	Lucy Elizabeth Wicks
Shortland	Patrick Martin Conroy
Sydney	Tanya Joan Plibersek
Warringah	Anthony John Abbott
Watson	Anthony Stephen Burke
Wentworth	Malcolm Bligh Turnbull
Werriwa	Anne Maree Stanley
Whitlam	Stephen Patrick Jones
Victoria
Aston	Alan Edward Tudge
Ballarat	Catherine King
Batman	David Feeney
Bendigo	Lisa Marie Chesters
Bruce	Julian Christopher Hill
Calwell	Maria Vamvakinou
Casey	Anthony David Hawthorn Smith
Chisholm	Julia Helen Banks
Corangamite	Sarah Moya Henderson
Corio	Richard Donald Marles
Deakin	Michael Sven Sukkar
Dunkley	Christopher John Crewther
Flinders	Gregory Andrew Hunt
Gellibrand	Timothy Graham Watts
Gippsland	Darren Jeffrey Chester
Goldstein	Timothy Robert Wilson
Gorton	Brendan Patrick O'Connor
Higgins	Kelly Megan O'Dwyer
Holt	Anthony Michael Byrne
Hotham	Clare Ellen O'Neil
Indi	Catherine McGowan
Isaacs	Mark Alfred Dreyfus
Jagajaga	Jennifer Louise Macklin
Kooyong	Joshua Anthony Frydenberg
La Trobe	Jason Peter Wood
Lalor	Joanne Ryan
Mallee	Andrew John Broad
Maribyrnong	William Richard Shorten
McEwen	Robert George Mitchell
McMillan	Russell Evan Broadbent
Melbourne	Adam Paul Bandt
Melbourne Ports	Michael David Danby
Menzies	Kevin James Andrews
Murray	Damian Kevin Drum
Scullin	Andrew James Giles
Wannon	Daniel Thomas Tehan
Wills	Peter Khalil
Queensland
Blair	Shayne Kenneth Neumann
Bonner	Ross Xavier Vasta
Bowman	Andrew Charles Laming
Brisbane	Trevor Mark Evans
Capricornia	Michelle Leanne Landry
Dawson	George Robert Christensen
Dickson	Peter Craig Dutton
Fadden	Stuart Rowland Robert
Fairfax	Edward Lynam O'Brien
Fisher	Andrew Bruce Wallace
Flynn	Kenneth Desmond O'Dowd
Forde	Albertus Johannes van Manen
Griffith	Terri Megan Butler
Groom	John Joseph McVeigh
Herbert	Catherine Elizabeth O'Toole
Hinkler	Keith John Pitt
Kennedy	Robert Carl B Katter
Leichhardt	Warren George Entsch
Lilley	Wayne Maxwell Swan
Longman	Susan Lamb
Maranoa	David Kelly Littleproud
McPherson	Karen Lesley Andrews
Moncrieff	Steven Ciobo
Moreton	Graham Douglas Perrett
Oxley	Dugald Milton Dick
Petrie	Luke Ronald Howarth
Rankin	James Edward Chalmers
Ryan	Jane Prentice
Wide Bay	Llewellyn Stephen O'Brien
Wright	Scott Andrew Buchholz
Western Australia
Brand	Madeleine Mary Harvie King
Burt	Matthew James Keogh
Canning	Andrew William Hastie
Cowan	Anne Aly
Curtin	Julie Isabel Bishop
Durack	Melissa Lee Price
Forrest	Nola Bethwyn Marino
Fremantle	Joshua Hamilton Wilson
Hasluck	Kenneth George Wyatt
Moore	Ian Reginald Goodenough
O'Connor	Richard James Wilson
Pearce	Charles Christian Porter
Perth	Timothy Jerome Hammond
Stirling	Michael Fayat Keenan
Swan	Stephen James Irons
Tangney	Ben Morton
South Australia
Adelaide	Katherine Margaret Ellis
Barker	Antony Pasin
Boothby	Nicolle Jane Flint
Grey	Rowan Eric Ramsey
Hindmarsh	Steven Georganas
Kingston	Amanda Louise Rishworth
Makin	Antonio Zappia
Mayo	Rebekha Carina Che Sharkie
Port Adelaide	Mark Christopher Butler
Sturt	Christopher Maurice Pyne
Wakefield	Nicholas David Champion
Tasmania
Bass	Ross Hart
Braddon	Justine Terri Keay
Denison	Andrew Damien Wilkie
Franklin	Julie Maree Collins
Lyons	Brian Mitchell
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra	Gai Marie Brodtmann
Fenner	Andrew Keith Leigh
Northern Territory
Lingiari	Warren Snowdon
Solomon	Luke John Gosling

The Deputy withdrew from the chamber.

PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS 4 PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

Speaker 4

Speaker

The Clerk: The next item of business is the election of a Speaker.

4 Sukkar, Michael, MP 242515 Deakin LP

Mr SUKKAR (Deakin) (11:19): I move:

That the honourable member for Casey do take the chair of this House as Speaker.

It really is a true honour to nominate a most distinguished and respected member of our parliament, the member for Casey, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 45th Parliament of Australia. As members of this House are aware, the member for Casey has given many years of dedicated service to his electorate and this House in a number of different capacities. As my electoral neighbour, I have had the absolute privilege of working closely with the member for Casey and, in doing so, I have seen firsthand the outstanding work that he has done representing the people of Deakin—Casey.

An honourable member: Old habits die hard!

Mr SUKKAR: We have had some redistributions! Importantly though, away from his electorate, as the Speaker in the previous parliament, the member for Casey demonstrated that he understands the robust nature of this House, not only respecting its traditions and conventions but also applying a sensible practicality which ensured its smooth operation. As Speaker, we also saw how scrupulously fair and impartial he was in the chair, and that impartiality was most obviously demonstrated to me when the member for Casey in the chair ejected me from the House—the first on the government side—just three days after I nominated him as Speaker the first time around. I really hope there is no repeat of that this week!

In my view, and in the view of many in this House, there is no-one in this parliament who is more qualified or deserving of the speakership than the member for Casey, who I know will bring to the House the experience and the stability that this parliament will require. It is therefore an honour to nominate Tony Smith, the member for Casey, as Speaker.

The Clerk: Is the nomination seconded?

4 Sukkar, Michael, MP 242515 Deakin LP 4 Wicks, Lucy, MP 241590 Robertson LP

Mrs WICKS (Robertson) (11:22): It is an absolute honour to be able to second the nomination of the member for Casey as Speaker of this House. We know that it is a responsibility of each of us here to contribute to making this parliament a better place. In fact, I think the people of Australia believe and know that, and they expect no less. Since he was first elected as Speaker around 12 months ago, the member for Casey has acted in a most exemplary manner. He served our parliament and our nation with dignity, and he has earned the esteem of members from right across the chamber. He has used his considerable political experience to uphold the traditions of this place, and he has presided over the business of the House in a way that has elevated the tone of the chamber, as well as the respect in which this place is held. He has served in many capacities: as an outstanding community representative for the people of Casey, as the chair of various standing committees in the parliament, as a parliamentary secretary and a shadow minister and as a mentor, leader and friend to many.

He is somebody who has a great love of history and a deep appreciation and understanding of the importance of civics education in our society, especially for our next generations, and I know that this place, and indeed our nation, will be better served with the member for Casey as Speaker. In fact, it was his chairmanship of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, and particularly the inquiry into electoral education, that I am sure, in part, led to the member for Casey travelling to different electorates, including more recently Robertson and Grayndler, to share the importance of our parliamentary and democratic history with school students. I recall his words while he addressed a debate about democracy at the Kariong Mountains High School. The Speaker said, 'When you understand our democratic history, you then understand our democratic destiny.' From there, he went on to say, 'You also have a better understanding of your own ability to have a say and to participate in our democratic and political processes.'

And so I thank the member for Casey for both his service and his leadership. I know that he will continue to preside over the business of this House without fear or favour, while also continuing to promote and uphold the importance of our democratic traditions and our processes for the governance and for the future of this great nation. I commend the member for Casey's nomination to the House.

The Clerk: Does the member for Casey accept the nomination?

Mr TONY SMITH: I accept.

The Clerk: Is there any further proposal? The time for proposals having expired, I declare the honourable member for Casey duly elected as Speaker.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: I wish to express my grateful thanks for the high honour the House has been pleased to confer upon me.

The Speaker having seated himself in the chair—

5 Smith, Tony, MP 00APG Casey LP 5 SPEAKER, The 10000 5 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (11:26): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and, on behalf of the government, the warmest congratulations on your elevation—or your re-elevation—to the great office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. You have conducted this vitally important office with elegance, intellect, dignity, charm and impartiality. This is a very robust chamber, as we all know, and sometimes in question time even people that are naturally very reasonable will become unreasonable and even intemperate. But you, Sir, have risen above that, and you project a calm that reflects so well on our House and so well on our democracy.

You have demonstrated that as Speaker in the last parliament, and it is a great achievement that you have done that because all of us understand that we come into politics as advocates, making a strong case for our principles, for our constituents, being prepared to take on arguments with force and sometimes with ferocity. So to translate from that role to one of calm, equanimity, impartiality yet nonetheless authority is a really profound transition, and you have achieved that. You have reflected so well on our democracy, so well on our House, and we from the government are so delighted that you have, once again, consented to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Congratulations and, of course, to Pam and your family without whose support we know you would not be able to perform your high office.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: I thank the Prime Minister.

5 SPEAKER, The 10000 5 Shorten, Bill, MP 00ATG Maribyrnong ALP

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (11:28): Mr Speaker, congratulations on your re-election to one of the oldest and most important offices in our representative democracy, and congratulations to Pam and your family for the support which they provide you. On behalf of the opposition, can I say how pleased we were to support you for your role. In your time in the chair, you did earn the respect of both sides of the chamber. You have often been firm but always fair. Your efforts to be even-handed have gone a long way, I believe, to improving the accountability, the productivity and the civility of this place. Of course, all of us who speak in this chamber are only part-time residents of the parliament.

The beginning of the 45th parliament is an appropriate time for us to pay tribute to all of us who call this grand building home: the army of clerks and attendants, the cleaners and the caterers, the librarians, and even the baristas, the security guards and the drafting officers who work tirelessly behind the scenes. As we strut and fret upon this stage they are behind the curtain, keeping the show running smoothly.

Also today, we note the absence of some familiar faces—old friends and colleagues—but we also welcome 37 new members to the House of Representatives who will experience your leadership as Speaker. We congratulate the members for Hindmarsh and Eden-Monaro on their return. Looking out from the dispatch box for the first time in this 45th Parliament, I am pleased that the Labor Party takes up more room than we did before. I am also pleased now that there are more women in the chamber. The member for Barton becomes the first Indigenous woman to sit in the House of Representatives, and the member for Cowan, the first Muslim woman. Indeed, I am proud to say that Labor have more women members and senators than any time in the history of Federation. Improving the mix of experience and backgrounds and faiths in this House can only help make our parliament a more representative and more inclusive place.

On that positive note, I inform honourable members that I have written to the Prime Minister seeking his support for a motion reaffirming this House's commitment to the right of all Australians to enjoy equal rights and be treated with equal respect regardless of race, colour, creed or origin, consistent with the Speaker's values. Prime Minister John Howard and opposition leader Kim Beazley cooperated to support an identical resolution in 1996 and I believe this will be a powerful and bipartisan note to strike at the beginning of this term. Mr Speaker, let this spirit of cooperation, this spirit of diversity and respect, guide us all in the sitting days ahead.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the Opposition.

6 SPEAKER, The 10000 6 Joyce, Barnaby, MP E5D New England Nats

Mr JOYCE (New England—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) (11:30): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and I would like to concur with the partisan and bipartisan remarks of both the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister. I want to convey the best of will to you in the conduct of your duties; to also acknowledge the work that Pam and your family do in supporting you in that role. It is a fact that so many people do watch parliament and they see this as a reflection of their nation and, as such, they expect there to be, as it is an adversarial chamber, the heat of debate, but they expect it to be conducted in such a way that they would feel proud to show it to their children. I know at times we are a little bit shy of that and it is your job to do your very best to keep this as a vibrant House, as a House that challenges ideas, as a House that puts people under pressure because if you are not good under pressure you are probably not going to be good at doing your job; also, that it is conducted in such a way that people remain with their dignity, and those who watch it believe that the person they voted for was worthy of their vote.

Mr Speaker, I am looking forward to the election of your deputy and I note the great aspirations that we have for a person of the calibre of Mark Coulton to ably assist you in that job. Until such time, I wish you all the best.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Deputy Prime Minister.

6 SPEAKER, The 10000 6 Plibersek, Tanya, MP 83M Sydney ALP

Ms PLIBERSEK (Sydney—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:32): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and congratulations to you on your reappointment in the role that all of us respect and admire so much. You have been a wonderful speaker, perhaps benefiting by comparison with your predecessor. We have appreciated, very much, your ability to guide the parliament to a respectful tone of debate. Winston Churchill said that democracy was the worst form of government except for all the others, and I think it really does take someone who loves our democracy, who loves our Westminster system and our Westminster traditions, to do your job well. I see that love in you—a respect for our traditions, a respect for the rules that we all abide by, and I wish you all the very best in this term as well.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

6 SPEAKER, The 10000 6 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP

Mr PYNE (Sturt—Leader of the House and Minister for Defence Industry) (11:33): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and I congratulate you on your re-election as Speaker of the House in the 45th Parliament. As you know, I have known you for about 30 years—it is now getting on far too long to even mention it any more—and we have been through a great deal together. I do concur with the remarks on both sides of the House, that you have been a very fair and reasonable Speaker, and I think that makes the whole parliament work much better. This is my 23rd year in the parliament and sometimes I have been on the Leader of the Opposition's side of the House and sometimes on this side of the House, and I have always tried to cooperate with all members to try and bring about a happier parliament, a better parliament.

An honourable member interjecting—

Mr PYNE: What is wrong? What are you talking about? But Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, I do know about both sides of the House and how they operate, and having a strong Speaker who tries to be fair to both sides, and keeps the standing orders, makes the parliament work better and it makes it look better, and I think the public appreciate it. You have done that in the almost 12 months that you have been the Speaker. I think in the years ahead, you will go down as one of the great speakers of the House of Representatives. I look forward to working with you again over the next three years as Leader of the House.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the House.

6 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP 6 SPEAKER, The 10000 7 Burke, Tony, MP DYW Watson ALP

Mr BURKE (Watson—Manager of Opposition Business) (11:34): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Congratulations! Whether your term is for three years, as the Leader of the House said, or for a different period for this parliament, we congratulate you. I want to note that the fact you were elected unopposed was deliberate. The opposition from time to time does put forward candidates; we did not in this situation quite deliberately. It is fair to say that since you took the chair the debate that has gone on in this chamber has been about the issues before the parliament rather than the procedure of the parliament. That is exactly what the chamber is here for and you have facilitated that. As well as managing the House, it will also fall to you as Speaker, given the issues that are already running, to have the role of someone defending the privileges of the parliament. We certainly trust that this House will defend parliamentary privilege as robustly as the Senate does.

Finally, the Leader of the Opposition in his comments made reference to the 'struts and frets' line in Macbeth in terms of the players here. There is something eerily familiar about that for the second term of this government. Shakespeare's tragedies run for five acts, so I will start this term by saying, 'Mr Speaker, welcome to act 4.' We look forward to it unfolding.

7 Bandt, Adam, MP M3C Melbourne AG

Mr BANDT (Melbourne) (11:36): Mr Speaker, congratulations on your re-election. When you were elected last time, one of the requests that I made, and I think a number of the members of the crossbench made, was that when you look to the left and to the right you also look down the middle. I want to thank you for doing so. When you look down the middle in this parliament, you might not always be looking at the 'sensible centre', but you will see members who represent a very high number of people who voted at this election for third parties or independents. We hope that our voices continue to be heard in this parliament, where there may be many, many close votes, and that you always remember that there are not just two sides to this parliament but a number of people sitting down on the crossbenches as well.

7 Smith, Tony, MP 00APG Casey LP

The SPEAKER (11:37): I thank the member for Melbourne and all the previous speakers, led by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, for their generous remarks. I thank all of you for electing me as your Speaker in this 45th Parliament. It is truly a special honour to be chosen by you as Speaker, and especially so to be chosen unanimously, as the Leader of the Opposition referred to. To have the unanimous support of the House is not just a welcome endorsement; it is an important reminder that I am Speaker not only of the House of Representatives but also for the House of Representatives—that is, for you, the members of the House of Representatives. I am always mindful of that as I discharge my duties—I was in the last parliament and I will be in this one as well.

When I was elected just over a year ago, I pledged to do all I could to deliver a better parliament, to be as fair as I could in exercising my duties and responsibilities, and to strongly defend the contest of ideas and ideals—a contest that should be vigorous and at times will be willing. I also said it did not need to be as loud or rude as it is on some occasions. That does demoralise the public; we all know that. At the outset of this 45th Parliament, can I say I welcome the kind words but it is my job never to be satisfied. I will be doing everything I can to improve standards further, and of course each and every one of the 150 of us has a responsibility in that regard. I think, whether you represent a party or whether you are an independent, whether your electorate is inner urban, outer suburban, regional, rural or remote, none of the 150 of us can say that our constituents are satisfied with parliamentary standards as they are. We owe it to them to do more to improve things, and I will have more to say to that, not today but on another day.

But let me conclude my remarks on this first day of the 45th Parliament by congratulating each and every one of you on your election. As the Leader of the Opposition indicated, there are 37 members who have just been elected for the first time, two returning and 111 of us who have been re-elected. It is a rare honour indeed to be a member of the House of Representatives. Fewer than 1,200 people have had that honour since Federation, and on this first day of the 45th Parliament let us remember that. Thank you very much.

Presentation to Governor-General 7

Presentation to Governor-General

7 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (11:40): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I have ascertained that it will be His Excellency the Governor-General's pleasure to receive you, Mr Speaker, in the Members Hall immediately after the resumption of sittings at 2.40 pm.

The SPEAKER: I thank the Prime Minister. Prior to my presentation to His Excellency this afternoon, the bells will ring for five minutes so that honourable members may attend in the chamber and accompany me to the Members Hall.

Sitting suspended from 11:41 to 14:40

The Speaker and honourable members proceeded to the Members Hall and having returned—

The SPEAKER: I have to report that, accompanied by honourable members, I proceeded to the Members Hall and presented myself to His Excellency the Governor-General as the choice of the House as its Speaker, and that His Excellency was kind enough to congratulate me.

7 SPEAKER, The 10000 8 SPEAKER, The 10000 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION 8 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance 8

Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance

8 Smith, Tony, MP 00APG Casey LP

The SPEAKER (14:50): His Excellency also presented to me an authority to administer to members the oath or affirmation of allegiance. I now lay the authority on the table.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH 8 GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

Message from the Governor-General 8

Message from the Governor-General

The Usher of the Black Rod, having been announced, was admitted and delivered a message that His Excellency the Governor-General desired the attendance of honourable members in the Senate chamber forthwith.

The Speaker and honourable members attended accordingly and having returned—

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS 8 MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

8 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (15:52): I have the honour to inform the House that following the election held on 2 July, the Governor-General commissioned me to form a government. Ministers and assistant ministers were appointed on 19 July 2016. For the information of honourable members, I present a list of the full ministry. The document lists all ministers and assistant ministers and the offices they hold. It shows those ministers who comprise the cabinet and provides details of representation arrangements in each chamber. I understand the document will be included in the Votes and Proceedings and Hansard.

The document read as follows—

TURNBULL MINISTRY 19 July 2016

Title	Minister	Other Chamber
Prime Minister	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Minister for Indigenous Affairs	Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister for Women	Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Cabinet Secretary	Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service	Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter - Terrorism	The Hon Michael Keenan MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Minister Assisting the Cabinet Secretary	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan	The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security	The Hon Dan Tehan MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister	Senator the Hon James McGrath	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Ass istant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation	The Hon Angus Taylor MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources	The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP	Senator the Hon Matt Canavan
Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources	Senator the Hon Anne Ruston	Senator the Hon Matt Canavan
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister	The Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP	Senator the Hon Matt Canavan
Minister for Foreign Affairs	The Hon Julie Bishop MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Minister for Trade , Tourism and Investment	The Hon Steve Ciobo MP	Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO
Minister for International Development and the Pacific	Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment	The Hon Keith Pitt MP
Attorney-General (Vice-President of the Executive Council) (Leader of the Government in the Senate)	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC	The Hon Michael Keenan MP
Minister for Justice	The Hon Michael Keenan MP	Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Treasurer	The Hon Scott Morrison MP	Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Minister for Revenue and Financial Services	The Hon Kelly O' Dwyer MP	Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Minister for Small Business	The Hon Michael McCormack MP	Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Minister for Finance (Deputy Leader of Government in the Senate)	Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann	The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Special Minister of State	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan	The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Minister for Regional Development	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash	The Hon Darren Chester MP
Minister for Local Government and Territories	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash	The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport	The Hon Darren Chester MP	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash
(Deputy Leader of the House)
Minister for Urban Infrastructure	The Hon Paul Fletcher MP	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash
Minister for Defence	Senator the Hon Marise Payne	The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Defence Industry (Leader of the House)	The Hon Christopher Pyne MP	Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Veterans' Affairs	The Hon Dan Tehan MP	Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC	The Hon Dan Tehan MP	Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Defence Personnel	The Hon Dan Tehan MP	Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection	The Hon Peter Dutton MP	Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Assistant Min ister for Immigration and Border Protection	The Hon Alex Hawke MP	Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science	The Hon Greg Hunt MP	Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia	Senator the Hon Matt Canavan	The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science	The Hon Craig Laundy MP	The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care	The Hon Sussan Ley MP	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash
Minister for Sport	The Hon Sussan Ley MP	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care	The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP	Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield
Assistant Minister for Rural Health	The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP	Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield
Minister for Communications	Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield	The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for the Arts (Manager of Government Business in the Senate)	Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield	The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Regional Communications	Senator the Hon Fiona Nash	The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Minister for Employment	Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash	The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Social Services	The Hon Christian Porter MP	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Minister for Human Services	The Hon Alan Tudge MP	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Assistant Min ister for Social Services and Disability Services	The Hon Jane Prentice MP	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Assist ant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs	Senator the Hon Zed Seselja	Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Minister for Education and Training	Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham	The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills	The Hon Karen Andrews MP	The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment and Energy	The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP	Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham

Each box represents a portfolio. Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type. As a general rule, there is one department in each portfolio. However, there is a Department of Human Services in the Social Services portfolio and a Department of Veterans' Affairs in the Defence portfolio. The title of a department does not necessarily reflect the title of a minister in all cases. Assistant Ministers in italics are designated as Parliamentary Secretaries under the Ministers of State Act 1952.

Mr TURNBULL: I would also like to inform the House that the honourable member for Forrest has been appointed Chief Government Whip and that the honourable members for Forde and Grey have been appointed government whips.

9 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP SHADOW MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS 9 SHADOW MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

SHADOW MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

9 Shorten, Bill, MP 00ATG Maribyrnong ALP

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (15:53): I have the honour to inform the House that the Australian Labor Party has re-elected me as its leader and the honourable member for Sydney as deputy leader. The honourable member for Fowler has been appointed Chief Opposition Whip and the honourable members for Lalor and Moreton as opposition whips. I understand that a full list of my shadow ministry will be included in Hansard.

The document read as follows—

SHADOW MINISTRY LIST

23 July 201 6

TITLE	SHADOW MINISTER	OTHER CHAMBER
Leader of the Opposition	Hon Bill Shorten MP	Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders	Hon Bill Shorten MP	Senator Patrick Dodson
Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders	Senator Patrick Dodson	Senator Patrick Dodson
Shadow Cabinet Secretary	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins	Senator Patrick Dodson
Shadow Assistant Minister for Family Violence and Child Safety	Terri Butler MP	Senator Patrick Dodson
Shadow Assistant Minister for Digital Economy and Startups	Tim Hammond MP	Senator Patrick Dodson
Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader (Tasmania)	Senator Helen Polley	Senator Patrick Dodson
Deputy Leader of the Opposition	Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Shadow Minister for Education	Hon Tanya Plibersek MP	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Shadow Minister for Women	Tanya Plibersek MP	Senator Claire Moore
Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools	Andrew Giles MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Universities	Terri Butler MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Equality	Terri Butler MP
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development	Hon Kate Ellis MP	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Shadow Minister for TAFE and Vocational Education	Hon Kate Ellis MP	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron
Shadow Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron	Hon Kate Ellis MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Early Childhood	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate	Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs	Senator the Hon Penny Wong	Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific	Senator Claire Moore	Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Special Minister of State	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy	Dr Jim Chalmers MP
Shadow Minister for Sport	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy	Dr Jim Chalmers MP
Shadow Treasurer	Hon Chris Bowen MP	Senator Katy Gallagher
Sh adow Minister for Small Business and Financial Services	Senator Katy Gallagher	Hon Chris Bowen MP
Shadow Assistant Treasurer	Hon Andrew Leigh MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Minister for Competition and Productivity	Hon Andrew Leigh MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Minister for Charities and Not-for-Profits	Hon Andrew Leigh MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs	Senator Sam Dastyari	Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Manager of Opposition Business (Senate)	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury	Hon Matt Thistlewaite MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Small Business	Julie Owens MP
Shadow Minister for Environment and Water	Hon Tony Burke MP	Senator Louise Pratt
Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia	Hon Tony Burke MP	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Shadow Minister for the Arts	Hon Tony Burke MP	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Manager of Opposition Business (House)	Hon Tony Burke MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia	Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins
Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia	Julie Owens MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy	Hon Mark Butler MP	Senator Claire Moore
Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change	Pat Conroy MP
Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services	Hon Jenny Macklin MP	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron
Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron	Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Shadow Minister for Human Services	Hon Linda Burney MP	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron
Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers	Senator Carol Brown	Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Families and Communities	Senator Louise Pratt
Shadow Minister for Defence	Hon Richard Marles MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Minister for Veterans ' Affairs	Hon Amanda Rishworth MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel	Hon Amanda Rishworth MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Assistant Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC	Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence Personnel	Gai Brodtmann MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Industry and Support	Hon Mike Kelly AM MP
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure , Transport , Cities and Regional Development	Hon Anthony Albanese MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Minister for Tourism	Hon Anthony Albanese MP	Senator Carol Brown
Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government	Stephen Jones MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure	Pat Conroy MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for External Territories	Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Shadow Minister for Finance	Jim Chalmers MP	Senator Katy Gallagher
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations	Hon Brendan O ' Connor MP	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron
Shadow Minister for Employment Services and Workplace Participation	Ed Husic MP	Senator the Hon Doug Cameron
Shadow Assistant Minister for Workplace Relations	Lisa Chesters MP
Shadow Attorney - General	Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP	Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Shadow Minister for National Security	Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP	Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Deputy Manager of Opposition Business (House)	Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
Shadow Minister for Justice	Clare O'Neil MP	Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection	Hon Shayne Neumann MP	Senator the Hon Kim Carr
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	Senator the Hon Kim Carr	Hon Dr Andrew Leigh
Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science	Hon Nick Champion MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation	Tim Hammond MP
Shadow Minister for Communications	Hon Michelle Rowland MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Minister for Regional Communications	Stephen Jones MP	Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP	Senator Carol Brown
S hadow Minister for Rural and Regional Australia	Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP	Senator Carol Brown
Shadow Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Australia	Lisa Chesters MP
Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia	Hon Jason Clare MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment	Hon Jason Clare MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Minister for Trade in Services	Hon Andrew Leigh MP	Senator Sam Dastyari
Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources and Western Australia	Tim Hammond MP
Shadow Assistant Minister for Northern Australia	Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare	Hon Catherine King MP	Senator Katy Gallagher
Shadow Assistant Minister for Medicare Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health	Tony Zappia MP Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health	Hon Julie Collins MP	Senator Helen Polley
Shadow Assistant Minister for Ageing	Senator Helen Polley

Shadow Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type.

PARTY OFFICE HOLDERS 11 PARTY OFFICE HOLDERS

PARTY OFFICE HOLDERS

The Nationals 11

The Nationals

11 Joyce, Barnaby, MP E5D New England Nats

Mr JOYCE (New England—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) (15:54): I have the honour to inform the House that the Nationals have elected myself as leader. The honourable member for Dawson has been appointed the Nationals Chief Whip, the honourable member for Capricornia is the Nationals Whip and the honourable senator from New South Wales Fiona Nash was elected as Deputy Leader of the Nationals.

BILLS 11 BILLS

BILLS

Statute Law Revision Bill 2016 11

Statute Law Revision Bill 2016

First Reading 11

First Reading

Bill and explanatory memorandum presented by Mr Turnbull.

Bill read a first time.

Ordered that the second reading be made an order of the day for the next sitting day.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH 12 GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH

12 Smith, Tony, MP 00APG Casey LP

The SPEAKER (15:55): I have to report that the House this day attended His Excellency the Governor-General in the Senate chamber, when His Excellency was pleased to make a speech to both houses of the parliament. I have received a copy of the speech, which will be included in Hansard for record purposes.

The speech read as follows—

Honourable Senators and Members of the 45th Parliament of Australia.

Australians look to their Members and Senators to provide them with a Parliament that works hard for them.

You come to this place with the honour of being elected by the people to serve as their voice, to represent their interests, in the great debates that will shape our nation's destiny.

Electorates across the country have vested in you their trust to deal sensibly, responsibly and diligently with a multitude of policy choices important, not only to how Australians live today, but to what sort of society we bequeath to future generations.

In this 45th Parliament, my Government will work constructively, co-operatively and creatively with each Member and Senator to focus on policy that improves the wellbeing, and secures the future, of all Australians, their families and their communities.

This will be a government that delivers.

Senators and Members, you have a full agenda of work to complete over the coming three years.

My Government is approaching this term with optimism and a strong resolve to deliver on its programs and on the investments promised.

The legislative program will deliver on both the economic plan and Budget strategy that was put to the Australian people.

The Economy

It is prudent that this Parliament prepares for any significant shocks from the global economy by strengthening our economic resilience. Failure to prepare will leave our economy and our living standards vulnerable.

The Government is committed to maintaining strong fiscal discipline, strengthening the balance sheet, and supporting policies that encourage jobs, growth and investment.

My Government will continue to bring the Budget back into balance by controlling expenditure growth and by strengthening economic growth. Considerable effort is needed to reduce spending growth.

My Government, with the help of this Parliament, will also ensure that Australia's revenue base is secure, sustainable, efficient and fair.

The Government will implement policies such as ensuring multinational companies pay the right amount of tax on what they earn in Australia; strengthening the Australian Taxation Office's capacity to identify and crack down on tax avoidance by large corporates and high wealth individuals; and better targeting tax concessions to make our superannuation system more sustainable.

My Government is committed to its program of ensuring that all taxpayers—businesses and individuals—pay the right amount of tax.

Middle income Australians are bearing a growing tax burden, which is why the Government will prevent average full-time wage earners from moving into the second top tax bracket, by increasing the 32.5 per cent tax threshold from $80,000 to $87,000.

This will keep 500,000 Australians in the middle tax bracket for longer so they won't be penalised for working hard by paying more tax through a higher rate.

My Government will support enterprise by reducing the company tax rate to 27.5 per cent for businesses with a turnover less than $10 million, before decreasing the tax rate on all companies to 25 per cent by 2026-27.

Consumer protection is a key element of my Government's agenda for the financial services sector, with a focus on lifting the professional standards of financial advisers, changes to life insurance remuneration structures, the review of the External Dispute Resolution framework, bolstering the powers and tools available to ASIC, and improving consumer credit protections.

My Government will work with the 45th Parliament to achieve a strong Budget position, and to ensure that funding is sustainable over the long term so the Government can afford to provide the services Australians rely on every day, and so that future generations will also benefit from the same level of services.

National Security

As you serve as a Senator or Member of this Parliament, you uphold the values and freedoms that have been hard won by those who have made, and are still making, the greatest sacrifice of all—as members of our defence forces.

In this coming term, this Parliament will have many occasions to honour, with dignity and respect, this tradition of service.

As we conclude the Anzac Centenary, we will commemorate the 100th anniversaries of Polygon Wood, Beersheba and Villers-Bretonneux.

This Parliament will also witness the 75th anniversaries of Kokoda, the fall of Singapore, Milne Bay, El Alamein and Hell Fire Pass.

This is an opportunity as a nation to commemorate the great sacrifice of brave Australians in each of these conflicts, and to acknowledge our profound debt to them.

Today, we live in a world of great volatility, in a strategic environment as complex as any before it.

The highest responsibility of any Australian Parliament is to protect Australians, to keep them safe, to provide the peaceful conditions in which they can live and prosper.

Strong defence capability remains vital to Australia's national interests.

My Government will commence implementation of the largest investment in our naval forces since World War II, equipping the Australian Defence Force with the advanced weaponry, personnel and technology it needs.

Over the next decade Australia will invest $195 billion in defence capability, including the construction of new naval vessels as part of our continuous naval shipbuilding strategy.

It is an investment in our future, our security and our industry.

My Government will ensure Australia has both a sovereign defence capability that does not rely on others for our security and a globally competitive defence industry.

It will be transformative for our economy.

Counter-terrorism

On counter-terrorism, my Government will work with all Members and Senators to ensure that Australia's counter-terrorism framework remains robust and responsive to the modern and evolving security environment. In light of this, my Government intends to continue reforming Australia's national security laws, including through two critical pieces of legislation.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory Attorneys-General have met and agreed in principle with the Commonwealth's proposed legislation to implement a nationally-consistent, post-sentence preventative detention scheme, with appropriate protections for high-risk terrorist offenders serving custodial sentences.

A revised Counter-terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill will also be introduced into Parliament as soon as possible. It will allow, among other things, for control orders to be issued for persons as young as 14 years old. The Government has accepted all recommendations on this Bill from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.

Digital Defence

In a digital and connected world, online security is also important for Australia to fully realise the social and economic benefits of being online.

My Government will foster trust and confidence in cyber security by driving the implementation of the Cyber Security Strategy, released in April this year, to ensure Australian interests are not just protected, but also advanced and so that private sector innovation can flourish. Cyber security will no longer be a second order issue but a core element of our national security framework and priorities.

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment

Over the term of this Parliament, my Government will grow our exports, attract investment and boost domestic competitiveness through new trade agreements.

Australia's expanded overseas diplomatic presence will increase market access for Australian businesses, and ensure that our voice, as one of the world's long-standing democracies and defenders of freedom, is given due weight in the wider world.

My Government will pursue a comprehensive trade agreement with Indonesia, continue to push for an ambitious Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with our largest regional partners and a new trade agreement with Pacific Island countries, moving Australia towards our goal of greater regional economic integration.

The Government will seek to launch negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union early next year and ministerial discussions have already begun with the United Kingdom to explore avenues to increase trade and investment in preparation for Britain's exit from the European Union.

The Government will ratify and implement agreements already negotiated, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Australia will play a leading role in bringing the Trade in Services Agreement—involving 23 parties including the European Union and the United States of America—to conclusion as soon as possible.

Services make up approximately 80 per cent of Australia's economy, however, they comprise only 20 per cent of our exports, underlining

the strong potential of a more global services sector that is well-placed to meet the demand from our region's growing middle class.

The Government is contributing to positive multilateral trade outcomes by driving the Environmental Goods Agreement and working towards Australia's accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, in order to open access to major government procurement markets.

My Government will continue to prioritise 'aid for trade' to developing countries as a means to encourage global trade, economic growth, stability and security

Infrastructure

Every part of my Government's policy, every part of the Budget, is designed to promote investment and productivity and to increase living standards.

Infrastructure is a key enabler of productivity across the economy and central to our international competitiveness.

The rollout of the NBN is ramping up and NBN Co has continued to meet its targets. As of 17 August 2016, more than 1.2 million homes and businesses have an active NBN connection and over 3 million premises are able to order a service.

My Government's Digital Transformation Agenda will drive innovation within government, making it easier for individuals and businesses to access better targeted government services.

My Government is committed to connecting Melbourne and Brisbane with Inland Rail and establishing the new Western Sydney Airport.

My Government's $50 billion investment in infrastructure is connecting goods and markets, connecting rural people and industries to neighbouring regional cities, state capitals and international markets, supporting our local industries and getting us all safely home sooner.

Cities

Well-functioning cities are vital to the Australian economy and our quality of life.

The Smart Cities Plan sets out my Government's vision for our cities, and the plan for maximising their potential to be productive, accessible and liveable.

Central to delivering the Smart Cities Plan are the City Deals.

City Deals are a new approach to coordinating investment, planning and reform across the three levels of government.

They aim to deliver better outcomes from the money the Government is already spending.

The Government has committed to early deals for Townsville, Launceston and Western Sydney.

Regional Communities

Cities are crucial, but there are almost 8 million Australians living in rural, regional and remote communities. Our regional communities generate 67 per cent of Australia's export earnings and have untapped growth potential.

My Government will tap into that potential with the $200 million Regional Jobs and Investment Package.

The package will support regional communities to invest in and diversify their economies, create new business and innovation opportunities, and help boost jobs in regional areas.

The new Building Better Regions Fund will also provide continued support to regional projects.

The Government is also focused on improving digital connectivity in regional areas and fixing thousands of mobile phone black spots.

In addition to my Government's commitment to regional communities, the Government will deliver critical road, rail and marine infrastructure in northern Australia.

The implementation of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and the recommendations of the Northern Australia White Paper will also support the north's development including significant opportunities for our First Australians.

Agriculture and Water Resources

In this term, my Government will continue to implement the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

Initiatives outlined in the Paper will strengthen our farming industries, deliver a fairer go for farm businesses, invest in a smarter approach to farming based on a strong research and development system, build 21st Century infrastructure, and strengthen our approach to drought.

My Government is also undertaking the most significant investment in water infrastructure in our nation's history and is already more than half-way through the rollout of more than $10 billion worth of projects in the Murray-Darling Basin, providing not only water security for our farmers, but also enduring, sustainable agricultural production and consequent economic benefits for all Australians.

Environment

As we sustainably use Australia's natural resources to the best advantage, my Government will meet our international environment, climate change and energy obligations.

Climate change will continue to be a critical area of policy attention for my Government.

Australia will meet its 2020 emissions reduction targets and the Government will review Australia's climate change framework next year to ensure it remains effective in achieving the 2030 target.

My Government will promote a more effective gas market, improve governance arrangements for Australia's energy markets, integrate emissions reduction as a part of the energy framework, empower energy consumers and ensure the regulatory framework can accommodate the market's rapid transformation.

The attainment of these objectives will be assisted by all aspects of energy policy being combined in the one portfolio of Environment and Energy.

My Government will share stewardship of the environment with communities across Australia through the National LandCare Program and the new Solar Communities Program and a range of locally-focused environment programs including the Threatened Species Recovery Fund and the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Program.

Ensuring a healthy Great Barrier Reef for future generations will remain a key focus, as will management of marine reserves and continuing Australia's science leadership in Antarctica.

Science and Innovation

My Government's National Innovation and Science Agenda will drive investment in innovative businesses, create more job opportunities for all Australians and prepare our children for the jobs of the 21st century.

Innovation and science are critical as Australia's economy transitions from the mining-led boom to one driven by services, exports, innovation and technology.

My Government's Innovation and Science Agenda will also support our world-class scientists and researchers by investing in Australia's critical research infrastructure.

Reforms to research funding will encourage more collaboration between researchers and businesses and transform our world-leading science and research into growth opportunities for Australia.

Education

My Government is determined that every Australian child must have the educational opportunities to reach their full potential.

That is why my Government will provide record funding to Australian schools throughout the life of this Parliament, growing above both inflation and enrolments and distributed according to needs-based principles.

Reforms will raise literacy and numeracy standards, encourage more students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and improve rewards for our most capable teachers.

Expanding our P-TECH pilot schools, which link major local employers with local schools, is one of the low cost but innovative means by which the Government is supporting secondary students to acquire the skills they will need.

My Government will reform early education and child care to provide simpler, more accessible and more affordable assistance to families who are working the longest hours but earning the least.

Tertiary education must be accessible to all Australians, from all backgrounds, and be of the highest quality. My Government is committed to a tertiary education system that is financially sustainable for students, institutions and taxpayers. It is essential that all of our students choose the kind of tertiary education or training that is appropriate for where they want to be in life. My Government will ensure those choices are there.

The National Strategy for International Education will build on the success of Australia's $19 billion international education sector.

The Government will also implement the redesign of the VET FEE-HELP scheme to restore confidence in the quality and integrity of vocational education and training. The Government is committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships and has already announced five innovative, industry-led pilots for new kinds of apprenticeship delivery.

Employment

My Government will also continue to deliver innovative programs to help young people into work.

The cutting edge Youth Jobs PaTH program, for instance, will create work opportunities and employment for up to 120,000 young people.

Australia needs such innovative programs to ensure that our next generation, and indeed Indigenous Australians, are not confined to a life on welfare.

The Government will also encourage greater levels of private enterprise and investment to support job security and promote new employment opportunities.

Fostering this through a reduction in the tax burden for small and medium-sized enterprises, backing innovation and investment in start-ups and the 10 year enterprise tax plan will encourage businesses around Australia to employ more Australians.

My Government will also support the greater employment participation of Indigenous Australians, mature age Australians and women.

Women's participation in the workforce will be a priority during this term of Parliament.

My Government is also committed to protecting vulnerable workers in Australian workplaces.

Bills to establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Registered Organisations Commission will be re-introduced to Parliament as a priority.

The building and construction industry is one of the largest sectors of the economy, employing more than one million Australians.

It represents approximately 8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product so ensuring an efficient and law-abiding industry is not only crucial for the one million workers, it is vital to the Australian economy.

In addition, my Government intends to introduce the Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016 to ensure that terms in enterprise agreements cannot undermine the ability of emergency services bodies to deploy and manage volunteers.

The Government will also seek to amend the Fair Work Act 2009 to increase penalties so they are set at a level to deter exploitation by unscrupulous employers, including franchisors and their franchisees.

My Government recognises that jobs are vital to people and growth is vital to Australia's economy. A strong economy is, in turn, the means by which we remain a country with a generous social welfare safety net.

Health

Australia has a world-class health system underpinned by Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, public hospitals and private health.

My Government is focused on ensuring our children and grandchildren continue to have this quality, affordable healthcare system into the future.

Strengthening Medicare

Medicare is fundamental to the health care of Australians.

In line with my Government's commitment, every element of Medicare currently delivered by government will continue to be delivered by government.

Primary Care Reform

In one of the biggest patient-focused reforms in Medicare, my Government will improve primary care for 65,000 patients with chronic and complex health conditions by establishing the Health Care Home trials commencing in July 2017. This will put patients at the centre of care with their GP and other health professionals, with the aim of keeping them healthier at home and out of hospital.

MBS Review

My Government is also focused on ensuring people receive appropriate and best practice care, so has established a review into the Medicare Benefits Schedule. A clinician-led taskforce is undertaking a review of all 5,700 items on the MBS—many of which have not been reviewed in 30 years—to ensure that the services provided are based on the best evidence and appropriate to today's patients.

Hospitals

The ability of all Australians, regardless of their circumstances, to receive high quality care in public hospitals is a feature of our unique and fair health system of which Australians can be proud.

My Government has achieved agreement with all states and territories on funding for public hospitals and will continue to work together with the states and territories to improve quality and safety, and better coordinate the care of patients with chronic and complex conditions.

Mental Health

During this term, my Government will implement the comprehensive package of mental health reforms which puts people at the centre of care. Care and services will be tailored at the local level, so all Australians in need have access to support, no matter who they are or where they live.

The Government will conduct trials across Australia to determine best practice for suicide prevention, including 12 suicide prevention trial sites and innovative IT solutions which put support 'in the hands of people' 24/7.

The Government will also focus a number of our trials on improving outcomes for Indigenous Australians who have double the suicide rate of non-Indigenous Australians.

Aged Care Reforms

The aged care system must meet the needs of our increasing numbers of ageing Australians and the needs of today.

The majority of older Australians want to remain in their own homes. My Government's aged care reforms are designed to support this, including a dedicated Aged Care gateway and, from February 2017, a new system for home support packages to provide more choice and flexibility in home-based services and providers.

My Government will work with the community and the health sector to continue to strengthen our health and aged care systems to support Australians now and into the future.

Human Services

National Disability Insurance Scheme

Members and Senators who served in previous Parliaments can be proud that the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has commenced and will be at full scheme by 2020. It is a testament to what the Parliament can achieve together.

The NDIS will transform the lives of around 460,000 Australians who are living with disability.

My Government is committed to fully funding the Scheme, and has set up the NDIS Savings Fund Special Account.

Priority Investment Approach

Transforming lives is also the aim of the Australian Priority Investment Approach to Welfare and the Try, Test and Learn Fund, both of which will finance experimental and innovative responses to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Australians and increase their ability to live independently.

Cashless Debit Card

During this term of Parliament, the Government will decide on the future directions of the Cashless Debit Card. The Card is another watershed reform in Australian welfare, significantly helping to reduce welfare-funded alcohol, drug and gambling abuse.

Domestic Violence

Addressing domestic violence will continue to be a national priority under my Government. Policies will focus on protecting women and children in danger and preventing its causes—gender inequality and disrespect of women. My Government will continue to work in partnership with the states and territories to address violence and disrespect towards women.

Outcomes of Inquiries

This Parliament will show leadership as it considers the outcomes of a number of inquiries, Royal Commissions, a plebiscite and a referendum.

Royal Commissions

At the end of next year the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will conclude. My Government is working to ensure redress is provided for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse by the responsible institutions as soon as possible.

My Government has set up a Royal Commission into the Child Protection and Youth Detention Systems of the Northern Territory which is scheduled to report on 31 March 2017. This will enable a swift inquiry into the failings of the child protection and youth detention systems in the Northern Territory. The Royal Commission's findings will inform other jurisdictions considering how child protection and youth detention systems can be improved. My Government will also take the issues of youth detention and child protection to COAG.

Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite

A decision on same-sex marriage will be made by all Australians via a plebiscite as soon as practical. My Government will ask Australians to make a decision as a nation and then to respect the outcome.

Indigenous Affairs

My Government, like those in the previous Parliaments, will continue to strive for equality of opportunity so the gaps in health, education and employment are closed between our First Australians and the rest of the population.

Our First Australians have cared for this country for tens of thousands of years.

The uniqueness their cultures bring to our national identity enriches all of us as Australians.

The commitment to do things with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, rather than doing things to communities, remains steadfast.

The challenge of this Parliament will be to see every Minister, every Member and Senator delivering on that commitment as we forge stronger and deeper relationships built on mutual respect with our First Australians.

Indigenous Recognition

Finally, and perhaps the most nation-changing work of this Parliament and the Australian people, will be the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia's Constitution.

The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have reaffirmed their joint commitment to constitutional recognition, and have sought an Interim Report from the Referendum Council on its work to date and next steps.

The Council has been asked to lead national consultations, including a series of Indigenous-led consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples—as no proposal can move from first base without the support of Indigenous peoples.

All Australians will have the opportunity to have their say on this matter because near universal support will be needed to take this proposal to a referendum.

Conclusion

My Government is committed to three years of strong, stable economic leadership and to a term of reform and delivery.

Its agenda recognises that lasting prosperity and our nation's ongoing wellbeing comes through embracing new and better ways of doing things; and that we secure a better future for generations to come through considered, mature and timely deliberation on the big issues that affect us all.

Though you come from, and represent, many different viewpoints,

I urge you to work together to provide Australia with economic security, national security and strong and sustainable support for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society.

I know you will serve the Australian people diligently and constructively, but most of all, I know you will serve with honour and the sense of duty to this nation and its values that has inspired so many Australians before you.

It is now my pleasure to wish you well and carry out my responsibility to declare open the 45th Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Address-in-Reply 18

Address-in-Reply

18 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (15:55): I move:

That a committee, consisting of Ms Flint, Mr E. L. O'Brien and the mover, be appointed to prepare an address-in-reply to the speech delivered by His Excellency the Governor-General to both houses of the parliament and that the committee report at the next sitting.

Question agreed to.

Honourable members interjecting—

Honourable members: Two-nil.

The SPEAKER: I made the mistake of pausing then. I understand that it will suit the convenience of the House to have the sitting suspended until 5 pm. I will resume the chair at that time.

Sitting suspended from 15:56 to 17:00

18 SPEAKER, The 10000 PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS 18 PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS

Deputy Speaker 18

Deputy Speaker

18 Christensen, George, MP 230485 Dawson Nats

Mr CHRISTENSEN (Dawson—The Nationals Deputy Whip) (17:00): I move:

That Mr Coulton be elected Deputy Speaker of this House.

It is my pleasure to nominate the member for Parkes as the Deputy Speaker of the House. Farmers bring to this place a strong connection to the country in the industries that made this country what it is today. The member for Parkes has maintained a very strong connection with the land for generations, particularly around the Warialda and Gravesend districts—so much so that every second name in the local paper, TheWarialda Standard, is a Coulton. The name 'Coulton' is now regularly mentioned in more than 40 newspapers across New South Wales, as the electorate of Parkes takes up nearly all of it, covering 393,000 square kilometres. But the Coulton in those stories never actually planned to be a politician. He knew from birth that he wanted to be a farmer, and he spent his first full day driving a tractor at the age of 10.

The member for Parkes has spent 30 years as a farmer and grazier. He and his wife, Robyn, owned a farm producing cereal crops and beef cattle before he became the inaugural mayor of the Gwydir Shire Council in 2004. Those who know the member for Parkes will well understand the important role that his wife, Robyn, has played throughout his political career, giving up her career as a school teacher to dedicate her time to serving the electorate of Parkes as well. I have to say, she has also been a dedicated organiser in the Nationals chief whips' office. They are probably valuable traits that prompted the member for Parkes, some 35 years ago, to sell his best horse for an engagement ring. Should the member for Parkes be elevated to the role of Deputy Speaker, I have no doubt Robyn will be a tireless worker for this parliament as well. We can only hope that the member for Parkes is able to go as good a job in the Speaker's chair as he did horsetrading in the past.

He has been the Nationals' whip for the past three years in government. He was the Nationals' whip for three years prior to that, in opposition. For the better part of those past six years the member for Parkes and I have been seated together in this House. He has provided wise counsel. He was probably seated there to keep an eye on me! However, given that he knows my propensity to interject, I am sure I am going hear a bit from him in the future when he is sitting in your seat, Mr Speaker. Speaking of your seat, Mr Speaker, taking up his new seating arrangement is probably going to be one of the highlights of parliament for the member for Parkes, because we were complaining only this morning about how we have not really moved much in the seating arrangement since we have been here—two to the left every time. Now he gets to go to the front of the parliament and sit in the box seat, and that is certainly a move that was worth waiting for.

One thing that everyone will say about the member for Parkes is that he puts on a pretty good Christmas party. While it might be the Nationals' Christmas party, members from the Liberal Party, the Labor Party and Independents alike have all joined in the entertainment which the member for Parkes has arranged. I am not sure we will see any karaoke machines in the Deputy Speaker's office, though.

In all seriousness, the calm nature, grace and measured approach the member for Parkes has brought to parliament since his election in 2007 are welcome attributes in the Deputy Speaker. He is widely regarded as a voice of reason in the House. One of his favourite lines is: 'You get more done here with honey than with vinegar.' He is also a man of vision. He has long promoted the need for inland rail to open up for the future of this country—a passion of his before coming to this place. That dream that he has pursued is becoming a reality, with funding now available for preconstruction planning and for the purchasing of a corridor, and, hopefully, during his time as Deputy Speaker he will see that work commence.

The member for Parkes is not in this place to be a politician. He is here to represent his local region and to bring to parliament his strong belief in agriculture and the land in inland Australia. I have no doubt that the member for Parkes will carry out the role of Deputy Speaker with great professionalism. I wish him all the very best in discharging those duties.

19 Hogan, Kevin, MP 218019 Page Nats

Mr HOGAN (Page) (17:05): It is an honour to second the nomination of the member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, as Deputy Speaker of this House. We know that we all bring two things to any position we have: our experience and our character. The member for Parkes scores mightily well on both of these traits. With regard to character, he is widely respected on both sides of this House. He is a person of great integrity and someone I respect very much.

In relation to experience, he has been a member of this House for nine years. He has served in many capacities: as shadow minister, the National Party whip for six years—as the member for Dawson has just said—and he has been the chair, or the member, of many standing committees. He has been the chair of the Standing Committee on Publications and a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration. He has also been on the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, the Joint Committee on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings, Standing Committee on Health and Ageing and many more.

Being the member for an electorate that spans nearly 400,000 square kilometres brings some unique skills. The role of Deputy Speaker, like the Speaker, very much sets the tone of this chamber. Given his sense of a fair go, his stability and his compassion for others, I know the member for Parkes would make a fine Deputy Speaker—one that would uphold and promote the importance of our democratic traditions and processes for the governance and future of this great nation. I commend the member for Parkes' nomination to the House.

19 Ryan, Joanne, MP 249224 Lalor ALP

Ms RYAN (Lalor—Opposition Whip) (17:07): I move:

That Mr R. G. Mitchell be elected Deputy Speaker of this House

Mr Speaker, I join the Leader of the Opposition, the deputy leader and the Leader of the House in congratulating you on your re-election to the chair of the House of Representatives. As referenced by the member for Watson when he spoke this morning, in a spirit of bipartisanship the opposition quite deliberately supported your election as Speaker. Your unanimous election came about because we valued the role you played as an independent Speaker in the 44th Parliament and wish to see it continue. It is in hope of that same spirit of bipartisanship and for those same reasons that I commend the member for McEwen as Deputy Speaker.

Like you, Mr Speaker, the member for McEwen is someone who has shown the ability and the experience to be even-handed, reasonable and capable of considering the other's point of view and argument. He is in fact the most experienced person in this House at presiding over the House's daily proceedings. This experience began during the 43rd Parliament, when the member for McEwen served on the Speaker's panel. He also served as deputy chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia and as the deputy chair of the Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network. He is nominated because he genuinely believes in the institution of parliament, which we all serve, and because his passion for better parliamentary standards holds him in good stead for the position of Deputy Speaker, as does his sense of humour. The member for McEwen has been a valuable mentor to new members in this place, helping them to learn and understand proceedings and standing orders and giving generously of his time, encouragement and support to new members joining the Speaker's panel in the 44th Parliament.

I commend the member for McEwen into the House as someone in the mould of former Speaker Jenkins, who I think was adept at presiding over the House through goodwill and by earning the consent of members rather than through the use of the rule book. In this respect, I think that the member for McEwen has been demonstrated in his time presiding in this place to have the right qualities. He is liked by both sides of the House, is respectful of varying points of view and, as he has demonstrated in this place, is diligent in applying the standing orders objectively when the pressure is on.

I hope the House will put aside partisan politics and consider the member for McEwen for this position today. I commend him for this role, not as a criticism or because of any perceived shortcomings of the member for Parkes, whom I congratulate on being nominated. Like many here, I admire the member for Parkes, having been a teller with him for the 44th Parliament, and wish him well. I commend the member for McEwen because, like our current Speaker and unlike, perhaps, others in the past, he would come to this role not as compensation for dashed opportunities but as a willing servant of the parliament, committed to fairness and objective rulings in this, the people's House.

With the House's indulgence, in just one more reference to the Bard, today, I would proffer that the member for McEwen is our everyman, our Falstaff, in the people's House. It is in celebration of that and in recognition of those qualities that I urge the House to support this nomination

20 Chesters, Lisa, MP 249710 Bendigo ALP

Ms CHESTERS (Bendigo) (17:10): I second the nomination of the member for McEwen as Deputy Speaker. The opposition today has shown a tremendous display of bipartisanship in accepting the government's choice for Speaker unopposed. Will the government now reciprocate that approach and support the opposition's nominee for Deputy Speaker? Given that the member for McEwen is the most experienced person for this position, it should.

The member for McEwen has served in both the state and federal parliaments. In this place he has served on the Speaker's panel, been a government whip and served on several committees. In the 44th Parliament the member for McEwen served as the Second Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives. The member for McEwen has always been a passionate advocate for improving parliamentary standards and the working of this place. He is well regarded by members on all sides for his level of professionalism and integrity and the impartial way in which he chairs. His commitment to the role cannot be questioned. The member for McEwen is aware of and understands the Australian people's view that parliamentary standards need to be improved. In working in this position as the Deputy Speaker alongside the member for Casey, the member for McEwen would maintain the dignity and respect of the chair that the 45th Parliament needs. His becoming Deputy Speaker would be in keeping with the view of the member for Sturt, who championed the view that the Deputy Speaker should be a member of the opposition. In this context, obviously, the Deputy Speaker should be the member for McEwen. We support that position put forward by the member for Sturt in the spirit of bipartisanship championed by the Prime Minister.

The member for McEwen and I are neighbours. I know how well respected and regarded he is across his electorate. The member for McEwen has vast experience in the chair and in representing his community. I wholeheartedly second the nomination.

The SPEAKER: The time for motions has expired. The question is that the question be now put.

Question agreed to.

The SPEAKER: In accordance with standing order 11, the bells will be rung and a ballot taken.

The bells having been rung and a ballot having been taken—

The SPEAKER: Order! The result of the ballot is: Mr Coulton, 77 votes; Mr Mitchell, 71 votes. Mr Coulton is elected Deputy Speaker and Mr Mitchell shall be the Second Deputy Speaker.

20 SPEAKER, The 10000 20 SPEAKER, The 10000 20 SPEAKER, The 10000 20 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (17:35): On behalf of the government, I congratulate Mr Coulton on being elected Deputy Speaker. He stands in the boots of Bruce Scott, his predecessor, another National Party member and great farmer. As Deputy Speaker he will bring all of that wisdom and experience of the land to support you in your role, Mr Speaker, so we are delighted by his success in this ballot.

Our congratulations, too, to the Second Deputy Speaker, Rob Mitchell, the member for McEwen. I would say to the honourable member that his numbers might have been a bit better had the member for Bendigo not described him as the Labor Party's Falstaff. Of course, Falstaff—

Opposition members: Lalor!

Mr TURNBULL: I do beg your pardon—Lalor. Falstaff had almost none of the qualities required of a Speaker, so that may have undermined his candidacy. Nonetheless, we congratulate the member for McEwen on his election and look forward to him too supporting the Speaker in this House.

20 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP 20 Shorten, Bill, MP 00ATG Maribyrnong ALP

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (17:37): I congratulate the member for Parkes. I congratulate the member for McEwen.

20 Joyce, Barnaby, MP E5D New England Nats

Mr JOYCE (New England—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) (17:37): After that loquacious endorsement by the Leader of the Opposition, I would like to also add to the comments that the member for Parkes has had an exceptional career. He is seen as the person who has the capacity to reach out to both sides of the House. He is absolutely recommended and commended by his colleagues. I am sure he will do an exceptional job, and I put his success down to the marvellous speech given by the member for Dawson.

20 Plibersek, Tanya, MP 83M Sydney ALP

Ms PLIBERSEK (Sydney—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:37): I would like to start by congratulating the member for Parkes on the win that he has just had. There is a vacancy in my book of favourite Nationals, so I am hoping he will take over from his predecessor, Bruce Scott, who took over from Paul Neville. Of course, that will rely on you being a very good and unbiased Deputy Speaker. I have high hopes on that score.

I also want to congratulate the member for McEwen. Youse was robbed, Rob! We know you would have made a great Deputy Speaker, because you are a person with a very professional background who is deeply committed to his community and deeply committed to representing the people of McEwen in this place—a man who takes our democracy very seriously, but does not mind having a laugh with his friends too.

21 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP

Mr PYNE (Sturt—Leader of the House and Minister for Defence Industry) (17:38): As the Leader of the House, I join my colleagues in congratulating the member for Parkes and the member for McEwen on their selection as the Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker. Obviously they are both very important roles, especially in a parliament where the numbers are much closer than in the previous parliament. I am pleased to see that the Labor Party has agreed to join the Speaker's panel as well, in order to have some of their members find out what it is like to be in the chair and be able to take part in those proceedings. It is a very important role, and I do look forward to the member for Parkes being in that role. He deserves to be the Deputy Speaker, and to follow in the footsteps of the member for Maranoa, with his experience of the House. The member for McEwen acquitted himself well in the Second Deputy Speaker role in the last parliament, and I am sure he will continue to do so into the future.

21 Burke, Tony, MP DYW Watson ALP

Mr BURKE (Watson—Manager of Opposition Business) (17:39): Congratulations to both the member for Parkes and the member for McEwen. Both of them are well regarded and well liked on all sides. This will be a parliament that tests people's patience on many occasions. I do not know why people nominate for that particular role. We very much wish them both well; they enjoy goodwill across the House.

CONDOLENCES 21 CONDOLENCES

CONDOLENCES

Cameron, Mr Eoin Harrap 21

Cameron, Mr Eoin Harrap

21 Smith, Tony, MP 00APG Casey LP

The SPEAKER (17:40): I inform the House of the death on 23 June of Eoin Harrap Cameron, a member of this House for the division of Stirling from 1993 until 1998. As a mark of respect to the memory of Eoin Cameron, I invite all members to rise in their places.

Honourable members having stood in their places—

The SPEAKER: I thank the House.

21 SPEAKER, The 10000 Reference to Federation Chamber 21

Reference to Federation Chamber

21 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP

Mr PYNE (Sturt—Leader of the House and Minister for Defence Industry) (17:40): by leave—I move:

That statements on indulgence in relation to the death of Mr Eoin Harrap Cameron be permitted in the Federation Chamber.

In doing so, I might add that Eoin Cameron was a very good and dear personal friend of mine. I served in the parliament with him from 1993 to 1998. His death at such an early age is to be marked and it is very saddening for us all. I look forward to speaking on his passing in the Federation Chamber.

Question agreed to.

STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE 21 STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE

STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE

Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 21

Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games

21 Turnbull, Malcolm, MP 885 Wentworth LP

Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (17:41): All of us over recent weeks have watched with pride as each of our Olympians donned the green and gold to compete for our country. The commitment, determination and courage of our athletes symbolised and embodied the Olympic spirit and propelled Australia to another top 10 finish in the medals tally. Of course, being selected for the Olympics is about more than being a gifted athlete; it is about hard work, discipline and sacrifice. Most of us, most Australians, will never know what it is like to compete in sport at an elite level. We can only imagine how those few minutes on the track, in the boat or on the bike represent the culmination of years of sacrifice, hours of training, overcoming self-doubt, pushing bodies to the limit and missing out on time with family and friends—all for the love of sport. Gold medal glory, let alone any financial reward, is all too rare.

Each of our Olympians has won the respect of a proud nation. For a country of 24 million we have again punched well above our weight—an outstanding achievement and a credit to each of our athletes. The team brought home eight gold medals, 11 silver and 10 bronze. Let me reflect on a few of the many great moments. Anna Meares, a real Olympic legend, became our most successful track cyclist with four Olympics and six Olympic medals under her belt. What an achievement. Our women's rugby sevens team made history to secure the first rugby sevens gold at an Olympics, and of course they beat New Zealand in the final. Our champion swim team includes individual gold medal winners Kyle Chalmers and Mack Horton, and our triumphant 4 x 100 metre women's relay team. Then there is Tom Burton, the young sailor. His faultless tactics won him gold in the Laser. That will be emulated I am sure by many junior sailors for many years to come at every sailing race on every weekend. Kim Brennan—what a wonderful role model for women's rowing and for women's sport—now has a gold medal to add to her collection. Chloe Esposito made history with Australia's first medal—and a gold—in the Olympic modern pentathlon. Jared Tallent—what a great Australian athlete. His great performance in the 50-kilometre walk won him silver. No other Australian male has won four Olympic medals in track and field.

And, of course, there were so many more. But Australia's performance is not just measured by the final medal tally. Some of the most memorable moments, as we witnessed, were events where our athletes achieved their personal best and showed incredible grace and sportsmanship under the glare of the spotlight, often in the face of disappointment. These moments are an indelible part of our national life. To the athletes, the officials, the coaches, the families and friends that supported them with so much enthusiasm and love over so many years, to all of that wide family of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team, I know that I speak on behalf of all honourable members and indeed all Australians in saying congratulations on a job well done.

22 Shorten, Bill, MP 00ATG Maribyrnong ALP

Mr SHORTEN (Maribyrnong—Leader of the Opposition) (17:45): It is a pleasure to join the Prime Minister in congratulating all 422 of our Australian Olympians on their efforts in Rio. Before we go any further, we send the goodwill and best wishes of this House and the Australian people to the 178 members of our Paralympic Team who are preparing for their games which will begin on 7 September. Every four years, Australians from all walks of life are consumed by the performance, by the athleticism, by the opportunity to watch the best in the world perform at the Olympic Games. We sacrifice sleep to follow the fortunes of people who have given up years of their lives in pursuit of excellence.

At these Olympics, we had so much to be proud of and so much to cheer about. Mack Horton reclaimed the 400-metre freestyle title for Australia. We had the remarkable comeback of Kyle Chalmers, who was seventh at the turn and first to the wall in the 100-metre freestyle. In that same race we saw the extraordinary sportsmanship of Cam McEvoy, who was overjoyed for his friend rather than disappointed for himself. Our sailors, as we have heard, raked in the medals yet again. And, as is so often the case, the women of the Australian team carried the torch for us at the Olympics, claiming five of our eight gold medals. We had the trailblazing success of our rugby sevens and Kim Brennan's stunning victory in the singles sculls. Catherine Skinner is the new hero of Mansfield in Australia, winning gold in the trap shooting. Our women's 4 x 100 metre relay team defended their London title. Chloe Esposito became the first Australian to win a gold medal in the modern pentathlon. Rather than basking in her well-deserved glory, she rushed back to the stands to watch her brother compete.

In winter, we honour the achievements of our football codes. But, when it comes to the Olympics, our women athletes always deliver. The tradition we saw in Rio was the same tradition of the 1956 Melbourne golden girls—Marlene Mathews, Marjorie Jackson and Dawn Fraser—and Susie O'Neil and so many other Australian women champions. In Rio our women were led by the remarkable Anna Mears. Perhaps this might prompt us to redouble our efforts in supporting women's sport and the coverage of women's sport in this country. In Rio the Boomers, the Opals, the Stingers, the Sharks, the Kookaburras, the Matildas and the Hockeyroos gave their all against the best in the world.

When I think about Australia's performance, I am a little disappointed by the lack of generous comment in some parts of our media about the accomplishments of our young athletes. When you look at any medal tally in the world, we do very well. And there is not an Australian who does not feel more proud of Australia at the end of an Olympics than at the start. Sure, we would always like to have more medals. But, when you think about how Australian athletes performed at the Olympics, they have everything to hold their heads up about.

The Prime Minister and I had the opportunity to meet the Olympic athletes on their return from Rio. There, we also saw other people who deserve to be mentioned—the parents who drove their kids to practice before first light; the coaches inspiring, motivating, driving, timing and demanding every inch of effort and absolute self-discipline with early starts and late finishes; and the physios, the medicos and the support staff at Rio who kept these high-performing people healthy and well.

And now so many of our heroes we honour today have spent the past week visiting their former schools and their junior sporting clubs, showing a new generation that the track marked on their school oval, the little lasers at their local beach and the humble community pool were the training grounds of athletes and dreams. If the efforts of our athletes inspire more Aussie kids to try something new, to step away from the screen, to go for a ride or a run, to join a team and to be active and healthy, then it is a very good thing that they do. And for all those young Australians who watched these games, who witnessed the toughest of athletes shed tears of both joy and pain, who could see athletes from small and developing nations struck by the vivid delight of wearing their country's name in the highest global stage, it is not too much to hope that the Olympic ideal will live in their memory too—not just the pursuit of individual excellence to be the strongest, to jump the highest and to run the fastest, but to draw satisfaction from beating your personal best and from the thrill of simply taking part.

In the 'modern spectators pentathlon', complaining about the broadcast coverage comes right after pretending you knew about judo! My particular favourite is 'the diver's splash was too big'! And, of course, there is the perennial event 'I reckon I could do that if I trained'—it is a great event and many of us enter it! I think we can agree that Channel Seven did an outstanding job of bringing the Rio games into our lounge rooms and onto our phones. The deeds of the Australian Olympic team deserve the widest possible audience and Seven did a great job in making it happen.

In the weeks to come, some our team will already be turning their minds to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018. I am sure all Australians, including our top sports administrators, will be backing our team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. Others from Rio will be moving on to a new phase of their lives. But wherever our Olympians go, whatever the do, no-one can take away from them the fact that they were Australian Olympians and the rest of us are very proud of them.

BUSINESS 23 BUSINESS

BUSINESS

Days and Hours of Meeting 23

Days and Hours of Meeting

23 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP

Mr PYNE (Sturt—Leader of the House and Minister for Defence Industry) (17:51): I present a chart showing the proposed program of sittings for the remainder of 2016. Copies of the program have been placed on the table, and I ask leave of the House to move that the program be agreed to.

Leave granted.

Mr PYNE: I thank the House and I move:

That the program of sittings for 2016 be agreed to.

23 Pyne, Christopher, MP 9V5 Sturt LP 23 Burke, Tony, MP DYW Watson ALP

Mr BURKE (Watson—Manager of Opposition Business) (17:52): The program that has been put in front of us means that from budget week till the end of the year this government has 6½ weeks worth of agenda to fill—from the May budget through to the end of the whole year. Contrast this with what the Leader of the House said when he was on this side of the chamber. I quote the Leader of the House:

The people of Australia expect us to serve our electorates and legislate, not to spend 18 weeks here when we should be spending 20 or 21 or 22 weeks.

Know that for this entire year he is only going to make it to 13½ weeks. He said on the same occasion:

The government manage the schedule of business, and we are prepared—

and I agree with these words—

to let them keep on being incompetent. We will turn up. We will keep showing them up for the failures that they are. We will scrutinise them and hold them accountable right through to the next election.

So, while the opposition will not oppose this motion, we certainly place on record our dismay and disdain for the management of this House by the current Leader of the House. He later said:

Why doesn't it have to sit? There are two reasons. Firstly, it does not have a plan for the future for the Australian people. Secondly, it cannot rely on its numbers in the House to pass legislation to win a procedural vote.

Can I say that for this government there is a third reason: every time the parliament sits, its party room has to meet, and the last thing this Prime Minister wants is for all the members of the Liberal Party to ever be in the same room. Have you ever seen a mob, the first time they get back after an election, looking as miserable as they have looked today? This is when you are in government. This is meant to be your happy day—your happy moment. They have arrived with all the enthusiasm of the speech we heard next door where the subtitles were the highlight. For those opposite, if this is an indication of the agenda to come, if this is your achievement after an election when you come here with the enthusiasm for the Australian people, you can be assured there is an enthusiasm and a hunger to make a difference for this country from this side of the chamber, and we will be here for every moment of it.

Question agreed to.

Leave of Absence 23

Leave of Absence

23 Burke, Tony, MP DYW Watson ALP

Mr BURKE (Watson—Manager of Opposition Business) (17:55): I move:

That leave of absence until 22 November 2016 be given to Ms O'Neil for parental leave purposes.

Question agreed to.

House adjourned at 17:56