Speech: Chapter 3 Building Australia's Future, ALP National Conference

04 December 2011
Delegates, for 40 years this political party has had a view about the best way in which we can effectively move to ensure that there is nuclear disarmament world-wide and peaceful processes of disarmament agreed by countries, within a multi-lateral framework of treaties.

Speech: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference, Darwin

18 October 2011

My first visit to this part of the world, to Northern Arnhem Land and to a predominantly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school was a very long time ago, but it left an indelible impression on me.

Appreciating Culture Lecture: 'The Power of Music in Education, St Spyridon College, Maroubra

18 October 2011
It’s very good for me to be back at St Spyridon—and to know of the great commitment that this school has to the creative endeavour. And to have this opportunity to give the ‘Appreciating Culture Lecture’ to the school community, particularly as this is the first lecture to be held in the Sports and Performing Arts Centre funded by Gillard Labor Government under the Building the Education Revolution program.

Opinion article: Response to Kevin Donnelly on school reforms, The Drum

13 October 2011

Speech: Mick Young Oration, Parliament House, Canberra

12 October 2011
One of my first public appearances as the newly-elected Member for Kingsford Smith in 2004 was to attend the Mick Young Scholarship Trust Race Day at Randwick racecourse. The race day is a great way to remember Mick, who was of course a keen punter himself, and it is also a great way to promote the scholarships and the work of the Trust. Just as Mick would have approved of the annual Race Day, so he would approve of our task tonight

Speech: Second Reading, Clean Energy Bills

11 October 2011
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills in the House.

Speech: ‘Why music education is vital to the wellbeing of children.’ Speech to Barker College, Annual Year 12 Music Dinner, Hornsby NSW

01 September 2011

Dr Roderic Kefford, Headmaster of Barker College, and Mrs Margaret Kefford. Dr Kefford has served the school with great distinction for at least twenty five years, the past 16 years in the leadership role as headmaster. I wish him well in his retirement next year.

Speech: National Lutheran Principals Conference, Parliament House Canberra

22 August 2011

The Lutheran school system is well-established in our country, and whilst a small one compared to our larger public, Catholic, Anglican and other school systems, it is one that places powerful emphasis on academic achievement and positive social values. And that makes it a source of good ideas about how we can strengthen Australian schools in the years ahead.

Remarks: ALP Regional Assembly on Climate Change, Surry Hills, NSW

27 July 2011

Speech: 2011 Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools National Conference, Wrest Point Hobart

16 July 2011

No point on the island is much farther than 400 kilometres from any other point, yet the Tasmanian Government provides distance education courses covering all the years of schooling, as well as vocational education and training courses. This reminds us that distance education is not just about overcoming distance, but about giving people who are isolated—for whatever reason—access to a great education.

Speech: Dove at Dawn ... No Further Contacts, Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society, National Press Club

04 July 2011

As we gather to mark the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru, as patron of the Society, I want to offer my continuing support for your endeavours, especially your efforts in this crucial year of fund raising activities.

Hansard: National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2011

26 May 2011
Today is National Sorry Day, as the parliament has noted. It is more than three years since the historic apology to the stolen generation, one of the most important moments in the history of this parliament—in fact, in our history.

Speech: Beyond My School 2.0, Grattan Institute, Melbourne

17 March 2011
Education’s a serious enterprise. It’s unique in that it delivers personal fulfilment and prosperity, it underpins our culture and productive capacity and it helps inform the nation’s view of itself.

Australia Day remarks: Citizenship Ceremony, Little Bay, NSW

26 January 2011
Australia Day is the day when we reflect on our nation, when we consider our past. When we step out into our year with a renewed sense of understanding of our values, the opportunities and, importantly, the responsibilities that we have

Speech: Australian Education Union conference, Melbourne

17 January 2011
Thank you for the invitation to speak today as we head into 2011. This year education will be a paramount issue for this Government as it is for the nation.

Opening remarks: Australia–United States Education Roundtable 2010, Canberra

16 November 2010
It is my great pleasure to open the inaugural Australia–United States Education Roundtable. I would like to join my fellow Australians in warmly welcoming the very distinguished United States roundtable participants to our nation’s capital.

Speech: 'State of the Education Revolution', News Ltd Education Forum

11 November 2010
I want to begin by acknowledging my hosts at News Ltd for devoting so much space and critical attention over a number of years to crucial debates about Australian schooling.

Speech: Early Childhood Australia National Conference, Adelaide Convention Centre

29 September 2010
It gives me great pleasure to open the Early Childhood Australia Conference today in my new role as Minister for Early Childhood.

Speech: National Whale Day, transcript of remarks at La Perouse Museum

05 June 2010
Tt is a great pleasure to be here on National Whale Day in 2010, with IFAW and with the community that’s come here to this museum in my electorate of Kingsford Smith – a very special place.

Speech: Australia's ambition for the worldwide conservation of whales, ANU Centre for International & Public Law

29 April 2010
Today I want to address one of the most vexed international public policy issues we have faced in recent times, one that successive Australian governments have grappled with since the early 1980's when Australia supported the introduction of a moratorium on commercial whaling.

Speech: Healthy Parks, Healthy People Congress

11 April 2010
I’m pleased to give the keynote address at this important congress. I join John Brumby in welcoming everyone who has come here from across Australia and overseas.

Acceptance speech: WWF's Leaders for a Living Planet award

11 April 2010
It is a terrific privilege to receive this Leaders for a Living Planet award. It’s is not something that when you take public office is at all expected, so I am mightily gratified to receive this award.

Ministerial Statement: Home Insulation Program

11 February 2010
House of Representatives
MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS: Home Insulation Program
Mr GARRETT, Kingsford Smith—Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
1.30 pm

Speech: A National Cultural Policy to 2020

27 October 2009
It’s a great pleasure to speak at the National Press Club about the arts, to record the substantial and enduring contribution they have made to the life of our nation. And in particular to reprise the government’s record of almost two years – in what has been a period of intense, focused activity – and to sketch some important challenges ahead, in particular my ambition for the development of a national cultural policy.

Speech: French Order of Arts and Letters

29 June 2009
Firstly, to say what a great honour this is for me and to say to the Minister how much I appreciate not only the conferring of this honour but also that we were able to meet and speak together very freely and with a great deal of feeling about the arts.

Speech: A Creative Australia - Why we must harness and embrace the arts

10 June 2009
In 1942, Labor Prime Minister John Curtin, when he might be forgiven for having other things on his mind, boldly stated that, “no time [was] more opportune for drawing attention to the cultural development of the Commonwealth”, and that, “in a young democratic nation cultural activities are important as a means of expression of the people”. 

Keynote speech: Green Cities Conference, Brisbane

02 March 2009
It is a pleasure to open this conference and in doing so recognise the work of the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia, who for this third year running have brought the leading thinkers, architects, planners and builders together for what is a timely and essential gathering.

Speech: The Future of International Whale Conservation, Lowy Institute, Sydney

18 February 2009
Thirty years ago, a historic transformation took place in Australia’s policy towards whales. A whaling nation from the late 18th century when European settlers first arrived, Australians hunted whales for their oil, bones and baleen.

Statement to Press Conference Gunns pulp mill

05 January 2009
The Gunns pulp mill has been a matter of considerable public interest and, at times, controversy. The former environment minister, Malcolm Turnbull, approved the Gunns mill subject to a number of conditions.

Constituency statements: Kingsford Smith volunteers

04 December 2008
It is a great pleasure to rise to give due recognition to the role that volunteers play in our community, particularly in Kingsford Smith. I specifically want to note not only the efforts of the surf-lifesaving clubs and those who work in women’s refuges and sporting clubs but also, in particular, the Kooloora Community Centre, whose 20th anniversary celebration I attended earlier this year.

Speech: World Sustainable Building Conference, Melbourne

22 September 2008
It’s a distinct pleasure to speak at this gathering; the world’s foremost event in sustainable building, SB08. I’ve recently met and engaged with Australia’s built environment industries, earlier this month at Built Environment Meets Parliament in Canberra, and of course last night at the World Green Building Council Gala Dinner.

Speech: Responsible Investment Association Australasia, Sydney

19 August 2008

Speech: ATRAA conference, Melbourne

02 August 2008
It is a great pleasure to be here in Melbourne on the final day of your national conference, and thank you to the Clean Energy Council for hosting this event and for the invitation to speak.

Speech: Queensland Media Club, Brisbane

28 July 2008
I’m always impressed by Queenslanders’ conviction that they live in the best part of Australia. You have a significant share of Australia’s great natural assets – and you know how to use and celebrate them for the international wonders that they are.

Speech: Opening of BluGlass production facility, Silverwater, Sydney

17 July 2008

Transcript of remarks: International Whaling Commission, Santiago, Chile

24 June 2008
Thank you Chair, I want to particularly welcome the constructive way that participants have worked to develop the documents before us and acknowledge your work in helping us reach this point.

Transcript of remarks: IWC, Santiago, Chile

24 June 2008
There can be no doubt that whaling under special permit has been the most contentious and divisive issue facing the Commission. In the 21st century there is no need to kill whales for scientific purposes. The programs purportedly conducted under Article VIII of the Convention add nothing relevant to our knowledge for the conservation and management of whales that cannot be obtained by non-lethal means or historical records.

Speech: OECD Environment Policy Committee Meeting at Ministerial Level, Paris

28 April 2008
It is a great pleasure for me to be here today to join ministerial colleagues from 40 countries and representatives of business, trade unions, non-governmental and multilateral organisations. 

Speech: 'The Politics of Art', APRA/AMCOS Song Summit

03 April 2008
Thank you to APRA/AMCOS for the invitation to give the keynote speech at the inaugural Song Summit Sydney, and I want to recognise the support of the NSW Government for this event, an event which I note is entirely carbon neutral – well done.

Parliament: Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples

14 February 2008
In the very first instance I want to disassociate myself from the remarks of the member for Tangney and note that the parliament as a whole did something yesterday which reflected well on each and every member of the House who supported the motion of the Prime Minister.

Speech: Blacktown Solar Cities Project, Cadbury Schweppes factory, Huntingwood, NSW

01 February 2008
I am very pleased to be here to launch Blacktown Solar City’s first commercial solar power installation here at Cadbury Schweppes, as part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program.

Transcript: Doorstop, Parliament House, Canberra

23 January 2008
Subjects: Death of Heath Ledger

Speech: Local government action in Indonesia

11 December 2007
The Australian Government is committed to leading the fight against climate change. Australia’s ratification of the Kyoto Protocol was the first official act of the new Australian Government. This is a clear signal of the very high priority the Government places on climate change.

Speech: Launch of the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility

11 December 2007
On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to welcome the launch of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, and to congratulate Mr Zoellick and the World Bank on this important initiative.

Speech: Launch of Indonesia's Orangutan Conservation Strategy and Action Plan hosted by President Yudhoyono

10 December 2007
Thank you for inviting the Australian Government to participate in this important event. I am confident that Indonesia’s strategy and action plan will set a new standard for the alignment of development and conservation efforts in our region and across the globe.

Photo gallery 1: Federal Labor Arts Election Launch

10 November 2007

Speech: Federal Labor Arts Election Launch, Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

10 November 2007
I want to extend a very warm welcome to everyone here and to specially thank David Wenham for his MC role, Tim Freedman, Sarah Blasko, Mark Seymour, Tamsin Carroll and Perry Keyes for performing. How good it is to hear Aussie music in the midst of an election campaign?

Speech: Opening and Closing Statements, NPC

08 November 2007
Opening and Closing Statements from National Press Club debate with Malcolm Turnbull

Speech: Environment Business Australia Summit, Sydney

05 November 2007
Thank you Environment Business Australia for the opportunity to speak to you tonight. Labor shares your vision that Australia can indeed be “an international leader by demonstrating how an energy intensive economy can remain robust and prosperous using more efficient, cleaner, and renewable sources of energy”

Speech: FutureVision 2020, Auswind 2007 Conference

09 October 2007
I stand before you as a huge fan of renewable energy - so it’s a very real pleasure to speak to you tonight.