Latest Speeches

Newcastle City Council - 4 September 2008
I want to draw attention to the fact that before we return to parliament, in just over a week, local government elections will be held in New South Wales.

Interest Rates - 4 September 2008
Almost 15,000 householders in Newcastle are purchasing their dwellings, and they are among the millions of Australians who are relieved that the Reserve Bank has announced a 0.25 per cent cut in the official interest rate.

JCPAA Defence Report - 1 September 2008
Defence, the largest of all Australian government departments by budget and personnel volumes, is an immense and complex portfolio that has with good reason been the subject of a great deal of public and parliamentary scrutiny.

Veterans' Affairs - 28 August 2008
This morning I had the great honour of participating in a special wreath-laying ceremony with students from Waratah West Primary School at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Family Law Amendment Bill - 28 August 2008
I welcome this legislation which will allow de facto couples to access the federal family law courts on property and spouse maintenance matters, make the laws in this area simpler, and end discrimination on the basis of sexuality for de facto couples.

JCPAA Taxation Report - 26 June 2008
On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts & Audit, I present the Committee's Report 410: Tax Administration.

Budget Appropriation Bills - 27 May 2008
This is an excellent Labor Budget aimed at addressing Australia's current economic circumstances, delivering on Labor's election promises, particularly for those in need, and investing in the future for all Australians.

Governor-General's Address-in-Reply - 26 May 2008
While this is my third address-in-reply speech in the Australian Parliament, it is the first time I have had the great privilege of responding to the Governor-General's speech from the government benches.

Ovarian Cancer - 26 May 2008
In the Hunter-New England region the latest available figures show that 259 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 2000 and 2004. In that same period 171 women died of ovarian cancer - 66% of those diagnosed.

Australian National Audit Office Budget Estimates - 13 May 2008
I rise on behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts & Audit to report on the draft budget estimates of the Australian National Audit Office.

Alcohol Abuse - 13 March 2008
After raising this issue in the last fortnight of Parliamentary sittings, I am pleased to speak on the same matter and be able to commend the Prime Minister for his announcement on Monday of a $53 million national strategy to address the binge drinking epidemic that young Australians are experiencing.

Infrastructure Australia Bill 2008 - 12 March 2008
I am very pleased to rise today as a representative of the great nation building Labor Party to support the bill to establish Infrastructure Australia.

Newcastle Jets & EnergyAustralia Stadium - 20 February 2008
The city of Newcastle has got right behind our Jets in the three years of the A-League's existence, and it is great that we now have to teams - the Jets and the Knights - competing at the highest level in two national football codes and receiving such wonderful support.

Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward With Fairness) Bill 2008 - 20 February 2008
This bill is the first step in abolishing the former government's unfair and extreme Work Choices laws. 

Appropriation Bills (3&4) 2007-08 - 18 February 2008
These bills seek parliamentary approval to appropriate additional money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in order to meet the requirements that have arisen since the last budget. 

Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples - 18 February 2008
In rising to speak on the motion offering an apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples, I would like to show my respect to and acknowledge the Ngunnawal people - the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which this parliament meets. 

Keynote Address to the Social Educators Association of Australia - 21 January 2008
Keynote address on the topic: The Changing concept of citizenship throughout Australia's political history - with particular consideration of:
- the impact of the Howard years on Australia's understanding of its national and international identity and the responsibilities and obligations of citizenship, and
- how the concept of multi-dimensional citizenship may figure in the policies and actions of the new Rudd Government.