Rudd Government Faces First Question Time

Feb 13, 2008

The Rudd Government has faced its first Question Time in the new Parliament.

The Opposition Leader’s first question was about petrol and food prices. It required a Dorothy Dixer from the government’s backbench for the stolen generations apology to be raised.

Julia Gillard delivered the most assured and polished performance, emphasising the government’s mandate on industrial relations when asked about the legislation introduced today to dismantle the Howard government’s WorkChoices. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2007 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Cabinet-Ministry, House of Reps, Parliamentary Procedures, Rudd Government Tagged With: , , ,

Brendan Nelson Supports Stolen Generations Apology

Feb 13, 2008

The Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, has spoken in support of the motion offering an apology to the Stolen Generations.

Listen to Nelson’s Address:

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[Read more...]

Filed Under: Audio, House of Reps, Indigenous, Liberal Party Tagged With: , ,

Kevin Rudd’s Speech On The Apology To The Stolen Generations

Feb 13, 2008

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has moved the motion of apology to the Stolen Generations, at a sitting of the House of Representatives at 9am today.

Listen to Rudd’s Address:

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Watch Rudd’s Address:

This is the text of Kevin Rudd’s Address on the motion of apology to the Stolen Generations.

I move that today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2007 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, House of Reps, Indigenous, Prime Minister, Rudd Government, Video Tagged With: , ,

An Independent Speaker: Howard vs Crean

Feb 11, 2002

This is the text of a media statement from Simon Crean, Leader of the Opposition:

An Independent Speaker: The PM’s Comments

In 1996 when John Howard was elected Prime Minister, he said:

  • You will never have a completely independent Speaker in this country unless the Opposition is prepared to come halfway and commit itself to not opposing the Speaker at a subsequent election.
    (John Howard, ABC AM, Tuesday 2nd April 1996)

Prior to the election, he promised:

  • I will have an independent Speaker, and the great weakness in Parliament over the last few years is that we have not had an effectively independent Speaker. You have had a Speaker who has not been truly independent of the Labor Party and if I become Prime Minister, I will adopt a system of having a completely independent Speaker who can be just as tough on me and my Ministers.
    (John Howard, The Great Debate, Tuesday 25th February 1996)

Last week I wrote to the Prime Minister proposing a range of reforms to the Parliament, including a truly independent Speaker, drawn alternately from Labor and the Coalition regardless of who is in power. The Speaker would by agreement hold the position for two terms of the Parliament.

I look forward to working with the Prime Minister to help restore community confidence in our Federal Parliament.

Filed Under: House of Reps, Parliamentary People Tagged With: , ,

Oiliness, Criminal Intellects And Kristine – A Wild Afternoon In Parliament

Feb 18, 1986

An exchange between former Prime Minister Paul Keating and the Liberal member for O’Connor, Wilson Tuckey, on February 18, 1986, still ranks as one of the more vicious encounters in the House of Representatives.

The House was debating a Matter of Public Importance on Fuel Prices and Taxation. John Howard, then Leader of the Opposition, had spoken first. He was followed by the then Treasurer, Paul Keating. Hansard records events as follows: [Read more...]

Filed Under: House of Reps Tagged With: , , , ,