Today I rise in this House to acknowledge the 50 years of Lifeline's contribution to Australia and especially to Queensland, my state. In Queensland, Lifeline services are operated by UnitingCare Community. Lifeline is dedicated to providing crisis support services, suicide prevention and mental health support for Australians. The key service streams include individual and community…
A news cycle can last 24 hours or it can last 36 hours, but I can tell you that the rebuilding phase of trying to rebuild a community after devastating floods can last many, many, many months and sometimes years. Today I would like to acknowledge the community spirit shown by constituents of mine within…
No-one enjoys the emotional task of having to sack someone. No-one likes to be sacked. It is an undertaking that I have had to do, from time to time, being an employer with over 105 permanent staff and contractors. But there is a reason it gets done, and hopefully through the course of this overview…
I rise to speak on the Treasury Legislation Amendment (Unclaimed Money and Other Measures) Bill 2012. Yet again, this government is embarking on desperate and despicable cash grab of the people of Australia's hard-earned cash and future entitlements. One word comes to mind when we think of the process that has followed this bill into…
On the weekend just past in Queensland, the Liberal National Party preselection was held for our Queensland Senate team. In a very democratic process, 300 pre-selectors rolled up and elected six fine candidates. I am proud to announce that No. 1 on our Senate ticket is Ian Macdonald, the incumbent senator who has made an…
I rise today to speak on the Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Further MySuper and Transparency Measures) Bill 2012, which is currently before the House. As members on this side of the House are aware, the coalition have always been consistent in supporting changes to superannuation in an effort to make the system more efficient, transparent and…
This week in the parliament I had the opportunity to be present at a function hosted by the National Stroke Foundation. The National Stroke Foundation's objectives were to raise awareness about stroke victims in our community. One of the things I learned is that they do not like being called stroke victims. They are stroke…
I have the privilege of announcing to the House that last night saw the launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Small Business group. The group was co-launched by Gai Brodtmann, the member for Canberra, and me. I was quite perplexed that the parliament had not already had a friends of small business group, so when…
I rise to speak on the Superannuation Laws Amendment (Capital Gains Tax Relief and Other Efficiency Measures) Bill 2012 and the Superannuation Auditor Registration Imposition Bill 2012, which are currently before the House. The former bill provides capital gains tax relief for the merger of superannuation funds; introduces a new registration regime for auditors and…
On the weekend, I had the great privilege of playing two full games of Rugby League for the Murphys Creek Maulers. An honourable member: How do you feel? Mr BUCHHOLZ: I am very sore. I can inform to the House that I feel like a concertina! It was all in good fun; it was all…