Ms Vamvakinou (Calwell) (10:45 AM) —I rise to table a further 3,338 signatures to add to the petition I presented to the House of Representatives on Monday night. This ongoing petition is about the inclusion of the modern Greek Language» in the national curriculum that is currently being developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. This petition has been approved by the Standing Committee on Petitions. This brings the number of signatures collected so far to 22,105.

Ms VAMVAKINOU (Calwell) (9.15 pm)—I move:That this House:(1) notes:

(a) the pledge, first made by Australia in the year 2000, to spare no effort to free ourfellow men, women and children fromthe abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion are currently subjected; (b) that with only five years until the international goals to address extreme poverty are due, there is now an urgent need to recommit ourselves to this task; and (c) that our actions of the past 20 years have already succeeded in halving rates of extreme poverty, and within a generation we can and will make poverty history; and (2) welcomes the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign to ensure that we do our fair share to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals.

Ms VAMVAKINOU (Calwell) (4.09 pm)—I rise today to speak about National Refugee Week, which we are celebrating this week. Last Friday the launch of National Refugee Week in my electorate attracted a huge gathering at the Broadmeadows Town Hall. As the member for Calwell, I represent a constituency which has welcomed many refugees from across the world. I am proud to represent my constituents because they serve as a real living example of the contributions made by refugees who now call Australia home.

Ms VAMVAKINOU (Calwell) (7.26 pm), House of Representatives—I rise to congratulate the member for Hindmarsh on this very timely motion, which draws to the House’s attention the recent 69th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. The anniversary

commemorates the heroic efforts of the Australian Defence Force and the local Cretan community in defending the island from German invasion in this historical significant battle, which began on 20 May 1941.

Ms VAMVAKINOU (Calwell) (6.53 pm), May 31, 2010—I am happy to be following the member for Robertson to speak very much in support of the Rudd Labor government’s historic Paid Parental Leave scheme.

Firstly, though, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the extraordinary efforts of the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Jenny Macklin. The minister’s efforts in introducing Australia’s first ever Paid Parental Leave scheme are to be commended and ,I am certain, will give her a well-deserved place in the history of this chamber.

Ms Vamvakinou (Calwell) (7:03 PM) —It is a pleasure to follow the member for Farrer and my colleague the member for Werriwa in speaking to the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Bill 2010. I rise this evening to speak in support of this bill.

Ms VAMVAKINOU (Calwell) (9.45 pm), May 31, 2010—Tonight I rise to speak on a very important issue in my electorate that continues to be a serious concern to local residents. This issue relates to the Tullamarine landfill—a hazardous waste landfill referred to by

Ms Vamvakinou (Calwell) (4:22 PM) —I rise today to speak on an issue that is very close to my heart. That issue involves the role of languages in the development of our national teaching curriculum.