Youth Allowance

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (12:34): Firstly, let me thank the member for Bowman for bringing this motion forward. I think it’s very important and quite proper that we discuss this issue in this place. I thank the member for Dunkley for her comments as well, but I must take issue with her view that the proposals…

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75 years of Diplomatic Relations with the Philippines

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:43): One of the privileges of the position I hold is that I am the co-chair, along with the member for Solomon, of the Parliamentary Friends of the Philippines. Last week I had the great pleasure of hosting the ambassador, Hellen De La Vega, for a quiet meeting in the house. We…

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Rural and Regional Services: Health

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (17:34): I raised an issue in the party room a couple of weeks ago about a doctor distribution problem that we have in Australia. We don’t have a shortage of doctors, we have a doctor distribution problem. This was raised by a good article in The Weekend Australian Magazine here, I think about three weeks…

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Working Holiday Maker Program

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (16:35): In November last year the final report into the Inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program was delivered. I’m drawn to recommendation three: The Committee recommends that Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa holders should be able to work in tourism and hospitality in all hard-to-staff…

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Rural and Regional Services: Health

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:31): During the last week, I was very pleased to host the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, Mark Coulton, in my electorate. We met with a number of delegations of doctors, discussing the rural doctor crisis. We met with, I think, 12 different mayors in a couple of…

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Closing the Gap

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (11:29): I welcome this motion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition. It does give us a chance to talk about a very important issue. Eight per cent or thereabouts of my electorate of Grey is Indigenous, and I have made it a core part of my workload, since I came…

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Welfare

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (12:13): I welcome the fact that the cashless debit card trials have been extended for two years in Australia. But, at the same time, I must say I’m really disappointed that they haven’t become permanent in the sites that are designated, including Ceduna in my electorate of Grey—which was, of course, the…

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National Farmers Federation: Regional Digital Tech Hub

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:34): An Albanese federal Labor government is a bit like a mirage in the desert. I don’t think it’s coming any time soon, but, anyway, there you go. There is a percentage of people who still think that a mobile phone is for having a conversation on. In fact, it is the…

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Wardang Island Indigenous Protected Area Adjournment

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (19:45): In August 1998 the Nantawarrina Indigenous Protected Area was declared. It was the first one in Australia. It’s in the Gammon Ranges, or near that, in the northern Flinders Ranges, near Nepabunna. I went there two years ago for a celebration of the 20th anniversary. In 2015 another Indigenous protected area…

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COVID-19: Country Shows

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (10:22): Hot off the press! We all know that COVID-19 has created a lot of issues throughout Australia and particularly with country shows. In my electorate of Grey, not one of our country shows was able to operate this year. So I’m pretty happy to announce that 18 of them plus the…

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National Radioactive Waste Management Facility

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:59): In 2015, following the advice of an independent committee, the government called for people to volunteer their land for the siting of the new National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. We stand in this parliament 5½ years later, and we have found that community. It’s called Kimba. We have been through three…

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National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Grievance Debate

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (10:54): Following a number of thwarted attempts, in March 2015 the government called for voluntary nominations of land on which to establish a national radioactive waste management facility. I raised the possibility of this being well sited in my home town—in fact, on my own farm—in April 2015. The process came about…

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Trade with China

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (16:41): The announcement by China that it will put 100 to 200 per cent tariffs on Australian wine comes as a fairly cruel blow. South Australia will be badly hit by this, given that we are the biggest wine-producing state in Australia and the home of many of the premium brands which…

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MPI Government Achievements

  Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (15:43): I was very tempted, when I saw the subject of this matter of public importance, to pull out my appropriations speech that I gave only two weeks ago, where I spent 15 minutes talking about the achievements of the government in Grey—but of course I’ve only got a five-minute speaking…

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Remembrance Day

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:49): This morning I had the great privilege of attending the memorial service for Remembrance Day at the Australian War Memorial. I congratulate all of those that had anything to do with organising or performing on the day. It was a very memorable service, indeed, and in great taste. Each time I…

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Economy

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:37): There is no doubt that Australia has been going through one of the toughest economic times we’ve seen, certainly since the Second World War and possibly since the Depression. So it was delightful news yesterday when the RBA made a statement to Senate estimates that they believe Australia has come out…

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Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2020-2021, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2020-2021, Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2020-2021

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (19:24): The 2020-21 federal budget is totally focused on getting Australians back to work. It will provide a huge boost right across the nation and certainly it will do so in the electorate of Grey. I’m very grateful for the investments that are being made there. It’s an extraordinary budget for extraordinary…

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South Australia: 2020 Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (19:46): Last Friday night, I had the honour of attending the South Australian Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards, hosted by the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia and attended by the new South Australian minister for agriculture, David Basham, and also by the member for MacKillop, Nick McBride, and the Labor member…

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