MPI NBN

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (15:52): When the coalition was elected to parliament in 2013 there were no premises in my electorate of Grey connected to the NBN. Work had started in Port Augusta, but it had ceased because the contractor had withdrawn from the contract. In fact, they’d gone broke. It was the same in…

Marriage Equality

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (15:15): I rise to speak in support of these amendments. Of the five amendments put forward, this one is the most palatable to all. I actually find it quite difficult to believe that this chamber would not overwhelmingly adopt these amendments, which have no reflection at all upon the Marriage Act…

Marriage Equality

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (17:57): It was Churchill who told us that democracy was the worst form of government, except for all of the rest. So it has been with our postal survey: democracy has been celebrated. It has shown that it can succeed, with a postal survey to assess the country’s desire to legalise…

Diabetes

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (13:54): Diabetes Australia is 60 years old, and last week in the Great Hall in this place we held a 60th birthday celebration. Diabetes Australia is a wonderful organisation with wonderful partners like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the DANII Foundation, and they were all there. We were privileged to…

PMB White Ribbon Day

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (10:41): I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my oath. In 2014 I took this oath when I became a White Ribbon ambassador, as part of my strong belief that women should live in safety and free from all forms of violence. For…

Adjournment Energy

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (16:35): Sometimes you know when you’ve come into the right place and it’s your place in time-when all your little ducks line up, if you like. And so it is with the National Energy Guarantee. I’ve been in this place since the 2007 election. It would be fair to say that…

90 sec Anzac Day Schools Award Crystal Brook

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (13:41): I’m very pleased to take this opportunity to congratulate the Crystal Book Primary School on winning two prizes in the 2017 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. The school has displayed great initiative and creativity in the way it commemorates Anzac Day, helping students to understand more deeply the significance of our…

MPI Poverty and Inequality

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (15:45): I thank the member for Jagajaga for bringing this subject matter to the House’s attention today: poverty and inequality. It brings me to question some of the driving motives of those of us who are brought to this place, and the differences between the government and the Labor Party. I…

PMB Regional Education Hub

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (18:53): I would like to thank the member for Indi for bringing this motion before the parliament. It gives me an opportunity to discuss the coalition’s electoral commitment of $15.2 million from 2017-18 to 2020-21 to establish up to six regional study hubs across Australia. In the electorate of Grey we…

Social Services Legislation Welfare Reform

Mr RAMSEY (Grey–Government Whip) (11:04): I rise to speak on the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017. At the heart of the raft of reforms that were in the bill presented on I think 22 August is the implementation of drug testing for welfare recipients. This really highlights the very big philosophical debate…