Residential Tenancies Bill 2010

I acknowledge the great work done by shadow Minister Greg Aplin, the member for Albury in the other place, and the key industry stakeholders in endeavouring to achieve a balanced outcome for tenants and landlords in respect of this bill. In particular, key industry and consumer groups put a great deal of time and effort into improving many ... more

Standing Committee on State Development - Report on NSW Planning Framework

It is my pleasure to address this very large report by the Standing Committee on State Development entitled "New South Wales Planning Framework". At the outset I bring to the attention of members the genesis of this report: a reference on 24 June 2008 from the then Minister, Mr Frank Sartor, which followed the passage through the House of ... more

NSW Self Insurance Corporation Amendment (Home Warranty Insurance) Bill 2010

I lead for the Opposition in respect of the NSW Self Insurance Corporation Amendment (Home Warranty Insurance) Bill 2010. As members would be aware, this bill introduces two key new elements to the existing legislation. Firstly, under this proposed legislation the Government will become the sole authorised provider of new home warranty insurance ... more

Agricultural Shows And Town Festivals

I strongly support the motion of the Hon. Michael Veitch. It is an opportune time to debate this motion after waiting for the best part of two years. No doubt, all members will support such a fine motion. I note particularly that the motion acknowledges the contribution that agricultural shows and town festivals make to the economy and social ... more

National Park Estate (Riverina Red Gum Reservations) Bill 2010 (No. 2)

The record will show that the time is now 2.52 a.m. I strongly oppose the National Park Estate (Riverina Red Gum Reservations) Bill 2010 (No 2). The time is important as it reflects the way in which this Government deals with difficult issues in this place. It introduces a bill late at night in order to restrict debate and to avoid any media ... more

Appropriation (Budget Variations) Bill 2010

I lead for the Opposition in respect to the Appropriation (Budget Variations) Bill 2010. As members would be aware, the object of this bill is to set out the recurrent services and capital works and services for which the Advance to the Treasurer's appropriation was expended in the 2009-10 and 2008-09 financial years and to make the necessary ... more

Censure Motion - Treasurer and Special Minister of State

I say at the outset that the deliberate misleading of this House is one of the gravest transgressions a member of this place can commit. As a Minister of the Crown, conduct of this nature goes to the heart of ministerial responsibility and accountability. It is important in the context of this censure motion to reflect on the precise nature of the ... more

Carers (Recognition) Bill 2010

I strongly support to the Carers (Recognition) Bill 2010. It is important and long overdue and will enact a Carers Charter to recognise the role and contribution of carers to our community and to the people they care for, as well as to increase the awareness of the valuable contribution that carers make. The bill will also establish a Carers ... more

Anzac Day

The 2010 Anzac Day marks the ninety-fifth anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli where 35,000 Australians were killed or wounded. It is a day on which we will commemorate the contribution and sacrifice of those who fought at Gallipoli as well as the brave men and women who served in subsequent wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations as well as ... more

Down Syndrome

The day your child is born is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. It certainly was with the first three of my beautiful children but this joy was stolen away when my fourth child, Rachel, was born three and a half years ago. Rachel was born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition named after the doctor who first discovered that ... more

Queanbeyan Road Works and Asbestos Exposure

It is a sad day when governments endanger the lives and health of the people they were elected to represent. It appears that the Federal Labor Government's recent disregard for the health and wellbeing of Australians is contagious. I reluctantly report to the House that this State Labor Government is also putting lives at risk while trying to pull ... more

Protection of Public Ownership Bill 2009

I lead for the Opposition on the Protection of Public Ownership Bill 2009, introduced to this place by the Hon. John Kaye of the Greens. The stated object of the bill is to prevent, without the approval of the Parliament, the privatisation of publicly owned assets and agencies or services provided by those agencies and to place restrictions on the ... more