There has been much talk about the performance of the major political parties in the Queensland Election. I am now going to shift the spotlight onto the criminal activity carried out by the Wilderness Society. On the 23rd of November, just two days before Queenslanders went to the polls, the ABC broadcast a story in…
I have been a long-time advocate for changes in this area, and initially found the journey to be very lonely, but it was something I was determined to do. In 2004, when the Parliament changed the definition of marriage to exclude LGBTI Australians, I stood in the Liberal Party Room and said I didn’t understand…
I rise today to boast, if you like, about outstanding achievements in my beautiful city of Cairns. Cairns is set to become Australia's major hub for maintenance and sustainment work on the Australian Navy and industry ships after the government delivered on its $24 million election promise. Just over a week ago, I announced that…
I would like to congratulate members of the Cairns Rifle Club for their outstanding gold medal wins at the world championships in Canada last month. Marty Lobert, Peter Carter and Steven Lazarus were all part of the winning Australian F-class rifle team. This is back-to-back gold for these men, and this has never been done…
I stand in support of the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017. From my perspective, work has always acted as a great provider for people in so many ways. It gives people a sense of purpose and the opportunity to participate, connect, collaborate, create, and achieve individual and shared goals. Work also allows…
In speaking to this motion I'd like to focus on tuberculosis, which is very much a disease of poverty. As a director of the Global TB Caucus and the Australian convenor for the Global HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis Caucus, I'm also the co-chair of the Asia Pacific TB Caucus and Australian TB Caucus. Australia's TB…
Life is what you make of it, so I'd encourage students from across Weipa to take full advantage of the new Western Cape Trade Skills Centre and create the opportunities and future that they want. I officially opened the centre last month and was able to meet some of the students there. Liam, Katelyn, Jamiee-Lee…
We all meet people in our life, and particularly so when you're a member of parliament representing all constituents in an electorate, but only a few will stand out and leave a lasting impression that will extend beyond a lifetime. Ronald Keith Ireland OAM was one of those people. On Monday 24 July 2017, a…
I’d like to congratulate the organisers of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for the town of Weipa in Far North Queensland in July. Weipa is situated at Albatross Bay on the western Cape York Peninsula, between the Mission and Embley Rivers. In 1967, the Queensland Government named the area Weipa North, which was the site of the newly established Comalco mining town.…
Older constituents in Leichhardt need to be extra cautious if they receive phone calls from people claiming to be from Centrelink. Thanks to Bob Madden and Kevin Molleneux, who both recently contacted my office to report a phishing scam. Bob says he received a message to contact Centrelink on (02)83787970. When he called the number,…