Parliament Speeches

Please click below to read some of my speeches in the Queensland Parliament.

Response to Private Members Motion - Crime

September 15, 2016

I rise to oppose this motion. The former LNP government has no credibility on policing. The Lock it or Lose it campaign that this motion is all about is exactly the same campaign the LNP ran in 2014. Those opposite supported it then but it is not politically convenient for them to support it now. The Palaszczuk government supports our hardworking police officers, along with the measures that were announced today by the Minister Assisting the P...

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Social Cohesion Implementation Committee

September 13, 2016

I am pleased to inform the House on the progress of the work of the Queensland government's Social Cohesion Implementation Committee. The committee was appointed in June and has been tasked by the government with developing a draft action plan to strengthen the cohesion and resilience of our communities and reduce the risk of antisocial behaviours and associated violence. We have seen an enormous amount of antisocial behaviour and associated v...

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Pimlico State High School - Fanfare Performance

August 31, 2016

It gives me great pleasure to rise this evening to talk about Pimlico State High School students' Fanfare performance. I had the pleasure of attending on behalf of the Minister for Education and presenting the winning trophy. Unfortunately, it did not go to Pimlico students; instead it went to Cairns State High School. Fanfare has been operating and running since 1985. I thank AEG Ogden, who are the proud sponsors. They picked it up after the...

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Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation (National Injury Insurance Scheme) Amendment Bill 2016

August 31, 2016

This evening I rise to support the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation (National Injury Insurance Scheme) Amendment Bill 2016 as chair of the Education, Tourism, Innovation and Small Business Committee whose responsibility it was to examine the bill in detail. Firstly I want to acknowledge the many groups and organisations that made submissions and for those who spoke to the committee at the various public hearings over the duration. I als...

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Townsville Electorate, Innovation Technology

August 17, 2016

I rise today to make members of this House aware of the outstanding work that is happening in Townsville in the innovation space. This past week I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Innovation IQ—or iNQ—a not-for-profit association that is led by industry experts and innovators who have created a centre that is focused on supporting and nurturing future innovators and entrepreneurs. I would also like to take this opportuni...

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Education, Tourism, Innovation and Small Business Committee - Estimates

August 17, 2016

I rise this evening to speak to report No. 16 of the Education, Tourism, Innovation and Small Business Committee on the estimates hearing conducted on Tuesday, 26 July 2016. First I thank ministers Jones and Enoch for the depth of their responses and the breadth of knowledge of their portfolios in providing fulsome answers to all questions. Today is the day that the people of Queensland will remember that the opposition members of this Hous...

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