I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2015-2016 and cognate bill. These bills seek authority from the parliament for the additional expenditure of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for this financial year. The total of the appropriations being sought through these two bills is just over $2.2 billion. The…
This Friday I am looking forward to opening a new business in Cairns: Freedom Prosthetics. Co-founder Neil Greening is an amputee himself and knows firsthand the trials and tribulations of losing a limb, which has made him passionate and dedicated about providing an excellent service to the amputee community. The prosthetist, Jerry Vella, holds a…
As someone who has spends a considerable amount of time flying and at airports, I can tell you that a poor experience can send the best-laid plans well and truly out the window, whereas a good one could make travelling an absolute pleasure. So I was very pleased to hear last week that the Cairns…
Thank you very much Mr Deputy Speaker, and I am really pleased that you are sitting in the chair at the moment to share with me what I would like to say. Yesterday was a very sad day for myself, for many of our colleagues past and present and for all parties from both Houses…
On Friday, 20 November, people around the world stopped to commemorate the 16th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. In more than 20 countries, people remembered those who have died as a result of anti-transgender hatred and prejudice. In Sydney people gathered at an event organised by the Gender Centre, while in Brisbane the Story Bridge…
On 29 October I attended a citizenship ceremony hosted by Cairns Regional Council, where 83 people officially received their Australian citizenship. As someone who, like many others, takes their own citizenship as a given, it was an inspiring experience. From all around the world the new migrants came—a total of 20 countries—from Argentina to the…
My electorate must surely be the tourism capital of Queensland. We just proved it at the Queensland Tourism Awards earlier this month, when businesses from Leichhardt took out nearly 1-in-6 of the 80-plus awards of the night. Particular congratulations go to the Cairns Central YHA and Cairns Convention Centre. They both won gold awards for…
One year ago, five schoolgirls from Cairns beat teams from Brazil and Russia to win the under-19 world championship in whitewater rafting. On 27 November they leave for Indonesia to defend this title. Lucy Edington-Chapman, Carina Nixon, Gabriella Brinks, Layla Bitolkoski, Maddi Brittain and the team captain, Stephanie Seed, are training eight times a week…
What an outstanding contribution. I also congratulate the member for Calwell on her initiative in bringing forward this motion. I certainly appreciate the opportunity today to add my voice in support of the motion. There is no doubt that breast cancer is an insidious killer that is widespread in our communities. In Australia, one in…
Around eight million tonnes of plastic rubbish, the equivalent of 16 full plastic shopping bags per metre on the world's coastline, finds its way into the world's oceans each year. It is an issue that all of us should be alarmed about and desperate to fix. That is why I was recently pleased to meet…