COMMITTEES

2026-03-02 3 1 0 House of Reps 0 1

Monday, 2 March 2026

The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

COMMITTEES 1 COMMITTEES Petitions Committee 1 Report 1 10:01 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley I present the seventh report of the Petitions Committee for the 48th Parliament. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORT No. 07 Petitions and Ministerial Responses 2 March 2026 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Chair Ms Jodie Belyea MP Deputy Chair Mr Leon Rebello MP Mr Cameron Caldwell MP Ms Emma Comer MP Ms Trish Cook MP Mr Rowan Holzberger MP Mr Llew O'Brien MP Ms Tracey Roberts MP This committee is supported by staff of the Department of the House of Representatives Report summarising the petitions and ministerial responses being presented. The committee met in private session in the 48th Parliament on 10 February 2026. 1. The committee resolved to present the following petition in accordance with standing order 207: Petition certified on 10 February 2026 From 131 petitioners—requesting support to prohibit forced sterilisation (PN0651) 2. The following 20 ministerial responses to petitions were received. Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 10 February 2026 From the Minister for Financial Services to a petition requesting the removal of automated teller machine fees (EN6976) From the Minister for Financial Services to a petition requesting support for victims of fraud and stricter investment broker requirements (EN7385) From the Minister for Communications to a petition requesting mandatory unsubscribe options for political communications (EN7444) From the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to a petition regarding processing of Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) applications (EN7512) From the Minister for the Arts to a petition requesting national guidelines for access to loading zones for professional musicians (EN7515) From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting reforms to anti-racism legislation (EN7526) From the Minister for Small Business to a petition requesting a business loan guarantee scheme (EN7615) From the Minister for Social Services to a petition requesting broader access to concessions for Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders (EN7616) From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to a petition requesting establishment of 21 June as Flannel Flower Day for mental health awareness and suicide remembrance for veterans (EN7689) From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting a national system to strengthen checks for individuals working with children (EN7727) From the Minister for Health and Ageing to a petition regarding changes to chronic condition management plans (EN7846) From the Minister for the Environment and Water to a petition requesting upgrades to weather radars to withstand extreme conditions (EN7878) From the Attorney-General to a petition regarding amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (EN8086) From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting inclusion of freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the Constitution (EN8128) From the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to a petition requesting review of the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (EN8130) From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting a referendum on a new constitutional preamble recognising First Australians (EN8147) From the Minister for Science to a petition requesting information about the use and effects of certain vaccines (EN8172) From the Minister for Social Services to a petition requesting action be taken against individuals involved with the Robodebt Scheme (EN8173) From the Speaker to a petition requesting introduction of mandatory drug and alcohol testing for parliamentarians (EN8235) From the Minister for Education to a petition requesting a national framework to fund free public primary education for children regardless of visa status (EN8435) Ms Jodie Belyea MP Chair—Petitions Committee PETITIONS 2 PETITIONS Presentation 2 10:01 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley I present the following petition: Reproductive Anatomy 2 PETITIONS 2 PETITIONS Responses 2 10:01 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley I present 20 ministerial responses to petitions presented previously: Banking and Financial Services 2 Corporate Governance 2 Political Advertising 3 Skilled Migration 3 Live Music Industry 4 Freedom of Speech 4 Business 5 Pensions and Benefits 5 Veterans 6 Child Care 7 Medicare: Allied Health 8 Bureau of Meteorology 8 Freedom of Information 9 Australian Constitution 10 National Fire Ant Eradication Program 10 Australian Constitution: Indigenous Australians 11 Vaccination 12 Pensions and Benefits 12 Parliamentary Standards 12 Schools 13 PETITIONS 13 PETITIONS Statements 13 10:01 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley There are currently 197 petitions open for signatures on the House e-petitions website. More certifications will follow at the committee's next meeting this week. The committee's inquiry into the standing orders relating to petitions is progressing, with submissions being uploaded to the committee's website. The committee looks forward to continuing to engage with stakeholders throughout the inquiry and extends its thanks to those who have already contributed. I look forward to updating the House further on the work of the Petitions Committee. BILLS 13 BILLS Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026 13

Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026

First Reading 13 Second Reading 13 10:02 Ms PENFOLD 248895 Lyne I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The world's population is growing, but the world's prime agricultural land is shrinking. Food security has never been more important, and it will increasingly be so. This bill is about something fundamental. It's about the land that feeds us, clothes us and underpins our regional communities. Once prime agricultural land is lost, it is almost never recovered. You can't rebuild soil that took thousands of years to form. You can't make rain fall where you would like it to. You can't easily relocate or expand irrigation systems. You can't replicate growing conditions with a click of your fingers, nor can you automatically replace the multigenerational farming knowledge tied to a particular place. This bill puts a simple principle into law: Australia's best farming land should be protected first, not sacrificed for political agendas. I and the Nationals are proud to bring this bill forward, after years of work consulting with farmers and regional communities. The Nationals are the party for regional Australia. This bill is informed by best practice around the world and improving on it so Australia has the very best protections for prime agricultural land on the planet. As population grows, as global hunger grows, as housing spreads into farming areas, we must do more than just get the balance right. We must show the world how it is done. We may have 'bounteous plains to share' but once the good plains are gone, it's bloody difficult to create new ones. Why T his B ill I s N eeded Across Australia, farmers are under pressure. Pressure from poorly planned development. Pressure from projects that promise jobs but leave land worse off. Pressure from foreign controlled interests buying or controlling our most productive farmland. Pressure from an Albanese Labor government hell-bent on a political energy target without a care for the prime ag land it renders unusable to feed and clothe our nation. In my own electorate, the farming communities of Mount George, Wherrol Flat, Bobin and Mooral Creek are facing the prospect of open-cut mining for serpentine rock. The project proponents—MCi Carbon—are in the exploratory phase but their actions—or lack thereof—have failed to engage the community and absolutely failed to earn the project a social licence to operate. This mineral carbonation project is touted as a carbon capture and storage project—one necessary to meet Australia's net zero ambitions. It's a project that—despite its ongoing and repeated failures to engage the community and answer simple questions has received $26 million in federal government funding. That's $26 million in federal government carbon capture and storage funding despite not even producing a carbon lifecycle analysis to prove its net zero worth. That's $26 million in federal government funding when it has refused to engage with local residents and give straight answers to serious questions. The project requires the mining of serpentine rock—a rock that contains naturally occurring asbestos. To mine it, you have to strip mine—a long narrow open-cut mining process that increases the risk of contaminating surrounding areas through its entry into water sources and dust exposure for residents of the area. The rock is found in the Manning Valley—a highly productive beef and dairy country, smack bang in the middle of the Manning Valley water catchment area. How a project that has the potential to destroy the productive farming capacity of a region receives so much federal government investment is the very reason why this bill is so important. In my National colleague, the member for Mallee's electorate, several farms have been purchased or at risk of compulsory acquisition for mineral sands mining projects. In one case, north of Horsham, an intergenerational farming family is being compelled to leave their family home and farm. Farmers are highly dubious about the proponents' claims that the land will be rehabilitated back to full production, because they have seen elsewhere within the electorate, the land has been returned with significantly reduced productivity and unacceptable undulations. The 240-kilometre Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West transmission line project—a Victorian government project—has been given draconian powers to force their way onto farmers' land to progress a project that will result in towers up to 80 metres tall, about 500 metres apart, with around 600-square-metre footprints each, on easements about 70 metres wide, supporting transmission lines about 15 or more metres above the land, which severely limits how farmers can farm their land, limits productivity and brings additional fire risk to their properties. And I note that VNI West and other projects add up to, at best, one-tenth of the 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines under Labor's Net Zero Plan. This bill doesn't shut down development. It doesn't block investment. It doesn't say 'no' by default. What it says is this: if you want to use agricultural land for something else, you must prove the land, the farmer, and the community are respected and protected. Mapping What Matters: Knowing Our Best Land The first practical step in this bill is simple but powerful: we must map nationally our agricultural land properly. There are national tools like the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (known as APSIM), the Australian Collaborative Land Use Mapping Program (ACLUMP) and the Queensland and New South Wales statutory mapping of their prime agricultural land. But Australia lacks a national, uniform map. Australia very quickly ascertained and mapped where the critical minerals are, but we don't seem to have the same focus on mapping where our critical farmland is. Under The Nationals' Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill, the agricultural minister, working with peak farming bodies, must produce a national map that divides agricultural land into three clear categories: Tier 1: our best farmland; Tier 2: good land with productive potential; and Tier 3: marginal land. Tier 1 Land: The Non-Negotiables Let me be very clear about tier 1 land. This bill draws a firm line. The Commonwealth must not fund any future project that: reduces the farming productivity of tier 1 land, or allows foreign owned or foreign controlled corporations to take ownership or effective control of prime ag land. This is not radical. It's responsible. It's in the national interest. Nations are searching the world for prime ag land to bolster their food security—we have plenty right here to not only secure but ensure we produce food for the world. If land is among the best we have for farming then governments should not be using public money to damage it or hand it over. Tier 2 land: Responsible d evelopment Tier 2 land allows more flexibility—but not a free-for-all. Projects can proceed only if they meet clear conditions. If a project risks reducing agricultural productivity, the proponent must: return the land to the same or better condition after the project, and ensure farmers are no worse off by providing a first option to those disturbed by the project to farm nearby without financial impact on their farm. Returning farmland back to equal or better productivity is a claim some make, but the evidence is sketchy and farmers are highly sceptical about project proponents' promises. In some cases, farmers are left in hell—or limbo, if you prefer—waiting for a proponent to finish rehabilitating their farm, which just isn't working. This bill will give them to option to finish the job properly and get on with their lives. These are not empty promises. Under the Nationals' Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill, project proponents' promises of proper rehabilitation must be backed by independently reviewed plans and a refundable bond so landowners and the public aren't left holding the bag if promises aren't kept. Protecting f armers' h omes and l ivelihoods The bill will also ensure that if a project funded by the Commonwealth forces a farmer out of their primary residence, that farmer must be properly supported. Farmers must be no worse off—not in housing quality, not in distance from their farms, not in their ability to keep farming. Social l icence: Giving c ommunities a r eal v oice One of the most important parts of this bill is the ironclad principle of social licence. Before Commonwealth funding is provided for projects affecting tier 2 or tier 3 land, the bill will require the proponents to produce a genuine social licence report. A new Agriculture Commissioner will be the independent umpire on whether social licence has been secured fair and square. Too often we see governments and corporations pay lip service to social licence—no more. Regional Australians have had an absolute gutful of box-ticking consultancy exercises. This is about trust and being treated with the same respect you get in the city The bill will establish the Agriculture Commissioner, who will blow the whistle on poorly handled social licence, and will resolve disputes over land classification and arbitrate conflicts. In closing, let me be clear: this bill is not anti development. It's not anti investment. It is not anti renewables, mining, or infrastructure. This bill is pro farmers, pro food security, and pro community. The SPEAKER 53517 Is there a seconder of the motion? Ms Landry 249764 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. The SPEAKER 53517 The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made in order of the day for the next sitting. Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026 16

Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026

First Reading 16 Second Reading 16 10:14 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Three years ago, when I first introduced this bill, Australians were calling for an end to the culture of entrenched cronyism and political patronage that pervades appointments to major public roles in this country. This culture weakens our institutions and undermines trust in government. Australians had had a gutful of seeing highly paid, powerful public appointments seemingly handed out as captains' picks by ministers as rewards to political allies and/or to ensure alignment with government priorities. For example, the Morrison coalition government, which was strongly opposed to action on climate change, had appointed former fossil-fuel executives to chair both the Climate Change Authority and the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. Strangely, the COVID commission developed and strongly pushed for the so-called gas led recovery. Additionally, the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal, one of our nation's most important institutions underpinning our democracy, had to be abolished and recreated after being heavily stacked with former Liberal MPs, candidates and staffers and other supporters. In fact, the Australia Institute's research shows that, under the Morrison government, up to 40 per cent of plum positions at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal were deemed to be political appointments. Following its election in 2022, the Albanese Labor government spoke passionately about its commitment to transparency and promised to reform the jobs-for-mates culture in Canberra. But, four years on, little has changed. Since first introducing this bill, several Labor stalwarts have been appointed to key roles, including the lead of the review of Australia's Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, the Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Chair of the Net Zero Economy Authority. While each of these may well have been the best person for the job, the absence of a legislated, transparent appointments process means that the public simply has no assurance of that. Importantly, even the perception that an appointment is political can be enough to erode trust in government, and, when trust in government is low, social cohesion suffers. Controversy surrounding public appointments has continued to flourish, including around the appointment of a trade union leader to the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund board, despite not being shortlisted or put through a formal due diligence process, and the head of the Office of National Intelligence came directly to that role from the Prime Minister's office. Several public institutions, including the Centre for Disease Control, the National Reconstruction Fund and the National Environmental Protection Agency have been newly established with no legislated or merit based selection process for their heads. The government has failed to act on the jobs-for-mates culture in Canberra, which is why I'm reintroducing this bill today. When I first stood here back in 2023 to present this bill, the government responded by saying that they were dealing with the jobs-for-mates culture by announcing a review into public board appointments, otherwise known as the Briggs review. But, far from fixing the problem, it has functioned largely to kick the can down the road, not due to the integrity of the review but because of the government's handling and response to it. The Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, on announcing the review, promised that the report would be made public as soon as it was completed, in line with the government's commitment to transparency. Yet, instead, the government withheld the review from the public for 27 months. It was requested over and over again here in this chamber, in the Senate, by freedom-of-information applications and by orders for the production of documents in the Senate. Finally, under growing pressure and media attention, it was quietly released just before Christmas last year. Perhaps the reason for this delay was that the Briggs review does not mince words. It gave a scathing assessment of the public board appointment process, calling the current system 'not fit for purpose' and 'failing the Australian people'. It also gave this damning assessment: … too often the practice in recent years has been to appoint friends of the Government to boards, either as a reward for … loyalty or to ensure alignment with government priorities and all too often these appointments have looked like forms of patronage and nepotism that should have no place in the modern Australian society. 'Patronage', 'nepotism' and 'reward for loyalty'—when these words define an appointment system, there is obviously something deeply wrong. The Briggs review set out a straightforward fix: legislate an independent, standard public-sector selection process for board appointments with commonsense safeguards like cooling-off periods for former ministers and political staffers. But, instead of acting on this review and implementing legislation, the government put forward something entirely different: the Australian Government Appointments Framework. This so-called framework consists of seven dot points, takes up about half a page, is non-binding, uses language so vague it provides no real protection at all and includes no mandatory requirements. The people of Australia have every right to feel let down. Political appointments have deep and enduring impacts on the functioning of our institutions and public confidence in them. They erode public trust. They weaken the capability and efficiency of institutions. They can shatter the morale of public servants. And they affect all of us, because the people in these positions make decisions that affect us directly, including on welfare, visas, safety, health, education, the environment and the economy. This bill is about protecting the integrity of those decisions. Drafted in partnership with the Centre for Public Integrity, this bill would see the creation of a public appointments commissioner and independent departmental selection panels. The appointment process would be overseen by a parliamentary joint committee on appointments, which would have no more than 50 per cent representation from the government. The recruitment process for all major Commonwealth public appointments would be transparent and independent. The recruitment process would require independent selection panels to publicly advertise the relevant position, run a competitive selection process and shortlist at least three candidates for the minister to choose from. An addition to this new version of the bill would also restrict politicians and their staff members from being shortlisted for six months after leaving political employment or 18 months in the case of a minister's portfolio areas. In short, this bill would ensure that it's what you know, not who you know, that gets you the job. Australians deserve a public appointments system they can trust. I commend this bill to the House, and I cede the remainder of my time to the member for Calare. The SPEAKER 53517 Is there a seconder of the motion? 10:22 Mr GEE 261393 Calare I second the motion, and I'm very pleased to be doing so. I commend the member for Mackellar for bringing it to this House again. She has been a tireless campaigner for integrity and transparency, and I commend her on her efforts in this regard since her election to this parliament. Jobs for mates erodes public trust and confidence in our government and our public institutions, and making political appointments to government boards has become an accepted part of Australian political life that's been going on for far too long. All of the major parties do it when they're in government, and it's time to clean this up and bring the practice to an end. As a former minister and cabinet minister, I've seen how this process works firsthand, and it's become a time honoured part of politics in Australia. There's nothing covert about it. But I think if the public knew the extent of it they would be shocked, and this has to change. Trust is the truest test of whether our systems of governance are fit for purpose in both private and public settings. The member for Mackellar has been through the Briggs review and the need for these reforms, but I think it's very important that we note that this bill establishes a number of new key elements that bring openness, transparency and independence to the appointment process. It will introduce a public appointments commissioner to oversee the act and set up a new parliamentary joint committee on appointments to consider selections and report to the parliament on whether the committee supports the selections. This bill would also introduce a new six-month cooling-off period to prevent recent politicians or political staffers from being appointed to major public roles. I don't think it's too much to ask that we have the most qualified people being appointed to key public positions and that there's an open, independent and transparent process around selections. If, as a nation, we are serious about restoring confidence in government, this is surely a vitally important place to start. I commend this bill to the House, and I again commend the member for Mackellar for bringing it. The SPEAKER 53517 The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026 18

Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026

First Reading 18 Second Reading 18 10:25 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The 2026 footy season is upon us. That means that, once again, our screens and our stadiums will be polluted with wall-to-wall gambling advertising. Our children will be exposed to relentless promotion of a harmful product that is driving a serious and urgent public health crisis. Australians are the biggest per capita gambling losers on the planet. As a nation, we lose $32 billion every year. About one in seven Australian adults experiences gambling related harms every year. That's over three million Australians annually. These harms extend far beyond financial distress into the realm of physical and mental health. Gambling results in significant psychosocial challenges, mental health conditions, domestic violence, increased substance use, homelessness, self-harm and, in its most devastating circumstances, Australians taking their own lives. Almost 70 per cent of high-risk gamblers suffer cognitive, behavioural or mental health issues. Sixteen per cent experience suicidal thoughts. Young people are more likely to struggle with gambling than adults. Eighteen- to 24-year-old gamblers are nearly twice as likely to experience harm from it, and Indigenous Australians experience gambling harm at almost twice the rate of non-Indigenous Australians. The vulnerable are actively targeted by this predatory industry. According to the Public Health Association of Australia, approximately 40 per cent of gambling revenue comes from people who are actively experiencing significant gambling harm. Those harms come at an enormous cost. Gambling costs my home state of Victoria $14 billion a year in social costs. This includes $3.3 billion a year in emotional and psychological harm, including depression, suicide attempts and suicide fatalities. The Murphy report into gambling harm was tabled on 28 June 2023. Regrettably, in the almost 1,000 days that have followed, not one of the report's 31 recommendations has been responded to. That includes recommendations addressing gambling harm from a public health perspective, like establishing a national strategy to address online gambling harm or introducing a harm reduction levy on gambling companies to fund research, treatment and rehabilitation. During those 978 days, Australians have lost at least $70 billion to gambling. Many have lost a lot more than just money. The bill that I'm introducing today charts a path towards addressing gambling harm as a public health issue in this country. Last year this parliament passed laws that established, for the very first time, an Australian centre for disease control. I commended the Albanese government at that time for taking this action. It's my belief that the biggest challenges that we face as a nation, from infectious disease to chronic illnesses, from antimicrobial resistance to the health impacts of climate change, demand a well-designed, coordinated and expert led response. But the same is true of the health crisis caused by our national addiction to gambling. This new bill, the Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill, formally recognises gambling as a public health matter, and it will enable public health experts to produce evidence based reports and data on the harms of gambling, just as they have been empowered to do for other addictive and harmful products. Recognising gambling as a public health issue treats gambling harm as a community issue, not as an individual fault. It shifts the focus from a personal burden to the need for systemic change—changes like advertising restrictions and community based education. It frames a necessary national response as prevention and early intervention, comprehensive harm reduction, the need to focus on moderating environments that promote access to gambling and the need to facilitate the use of evidence based policies to inform regulatory changes. As a paediatrician, I'm really conscious of the need to promote and foster the health of all young Australians. Our children are being targeted on social media by betting agencies. They're being exposed to endless betting ads promoted by broadcasters and by our football codes. It's time that we took back control of the mental health of our young people. We have to deal with the scourge and the harm associated with online gambling advertising, and we have to start by recognising gambling harm as an immediate and severe public health emergency. I cede the remainder of my time to the member for Curtin, and I commend this bill to the House. The SPEAKER 53517 Is the motion seconded? 10:31 Ms CHANEY 300006 Curtin I second the motion. I'm pleased to support the member for Kooyong's bill to recognise gambling harm as a public health issue. Let's be honest about what we're up against. In 2024, Australia had about 550,000 high-risk gamblers. Of these, 16 per cent experienced suicidal thoughts; two-thirds faced serious financial hardship, including going without meals; and 19 per cent of people whose partner gambled weekly or more often experienced intimate partner violence. If a pharmaceutical drug caused that level of harm, we would pull it from the shelves. If an industrial chemical produced that collateral damage in Australian homes, it would be banned. This is a public health problem because it affects whole communities, because the harm is predictable and preventable, and because it's driven by an environment designed to maximise addiction. Gambling companies spend millions to make their products as addictive as possible. This is not a fair fight. The best analogy is tobacco. The tobacco industry pushed the personal responsibility narrative for decades. It suited them to say that it's your choice whether you smoke or not. This was compelling enough to buy them additional decades of profits, but, ultimately, we saw through it. Nicotine is addictive. Personal responsibility doesn't work when you're pushing an addictive substance. Gambling is the same. Gambling addiction is recognised in the DSM-5 as a health condition. Big gambling companies use sophisticated behavioural design, relentless advertising and data profiling to keep people betting and to bring kids into the funnel—and it shows. Per-household gambling losses in Australia are now higher than per-household electricity bills, but we tell people experiencing gambling addiction that it's up to them to self-exclude via BetStop or to gamble responsibly. You would expect the Prime Minister to back the underdog—the Australian people—in this unfair fight. Instead, time and again, he chooses to fight for the gambling companies. Treating gambling harm as a public health issue was at the heart of the parliamentary inquiry recommendations I worked on alongside the late Peta Murphy. It's now been nearly 1,000 days since we tabled that report and there is still no response from this government. We know what the Prime Minister will say to the member for Kooyong's bill. It's the same response he's used for nearly 1,000 days, as he stands alone within his party, alone within the parliament, fighting bravely and heroically for the interests of the big gambling companies. He will say, 'We have done more than any other government on gambling reform.' But the actions taken by this government came out of a previous coalition review. The Murphy review was undertaken assuming they would be implemented. They do not fix the problem. He will say, 'Illegal offshore platforms are the problem.' This is a talking point from the gambling industry: 'Look over there.' The evidence shows that the domestic issue is bigger and, despite what the gambling companies say, banning gambling ads didn't push people to offshore sites in Spain or Norway. He will say, 'You're trying to ban gambling.' No-one is trying to ban gambling. Adults will still be able to gamble, but people experiencing harm from gambling will not have ads shoved down their throats and will not be told it's their own problem. He will say, 'Free-to-air TV and community sport will collapse without gambling ads.' Well, TV and radio make about $250 million a year from gambling ads—roughly four per cent of their total ad revenue. The AFL and NRL make about $100 million combined, so this is a $340 million problem. Australians lose $87 million a day gambling. Four days of losses would replace a year of media and sport revenue. A levy of half a per cent on bets would replace that funding four times over. This is solvable. It's time to recognise gambling harm as a public health issue and legislate accordingly. I commend this bill to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER F2S The time allotted for this debate has now expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS 20 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Energy 20 10:36 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde I rise today to speak against the motion. When the member for Wannon moved this motion originally, in the last sitting of parliament, I'm not sure that he was really watching the state of play of the Liberal Party leadership because, had he worked out that the member for Hume, the former minister for energy, was going to be the Leader of the Opposition today, he might not have wanted to talk about failures in energy affordability and also policy transparency. I think that he's been saved by a quirk of the standing orders that he at least had the opportunity to speak on it under the former leader, saving himself the discomfort of speaking to it under the current opposition leader, who I think more than anybody else is responsible for the failures in energy affordability and has practised policy opaqueness, to put it politely, more than any other practitioner in this parliament. The motion here is an opportunity for me to talk about two of the things which I think are the most important things in the economy, and they are affordable housing and affordable energy. Indeed, I think it is the history of postwar Australia, the economic miracle that was postwar Australia, that governments, both Liberal and Labor, believed in cheap public housing and cheap public energy. It is really what drove Australia's economic success story, and Labor and Liberal both agreed to the point where I can say—this is a bit of a surprise to people—that one of my economic role models was in fact a Liberal premier, Thomas Playford, who was the Premier in South Australia from the forties to the seventies. Labor premiers and Liberal premiers and leaders around the country invested in public energy and they invested in public housing, not out of the goodness of their hearts but because they knew that providing cheap energy meant keeping the cost of living down, which took the pressure off wages, which helped business. It was the secret to Australia's success. There's somebody else who I might quote to also shock people a little bit, and that is the former member for Dickson, Peter Dutton, who I think summed it up quite well when he said that energy is not just part of the economy; 'Energy is the economy.' And I can't attribute this to anybody, but I did hear it somewhere—it's certainly not my original thought, this one. But somebody said that the 19th century was very much about coal and steam, the 20th century was about oil and the internal combustion engine, and the 21st century is going to be about electric motors and renewable energy. At each point of those new energy sources, we have seen living standards rise dramatically—just as, with renewable energy and electric motors, we're going to see material abundance, material wealth, beyond our wildest imagination. What we see today, though, is a divergence from that agreement around what was sensible, what was scientific and what worked. Whereas we agreed post war on economic and energy strategy, for some reason the coalition has gone off on a complete tangent and is now, on the other hand, supporting the most expensive forms of energy: coal and nuclear. I really am looking forward to the next election, which I believe is going to be about energy. It's going to be about renewable energy, firmed by gas and batteries—the cheapest form of energy—or it's going to be about the most expensive form of energy, which is coal and nuclear. I can't work out why they have got this ideological obsession with the most expensive forms of energy. They have linked in their minds that renewable energy somehow means agreeing that climate change is human induced and they just cannot bring themselves to do that. Unfortunately, that failure to accept reality, that failure to work together on energy policy, just as Labor and Liberal governments did in postwar Australia, is going to cost Australians, just as the failure of the current opposition leader, when he was energy minister and during his 10 years of inaction, is responsible for people paying higher electricity prices today. Labor is fixing it. Labor is fixing it with the most sensible approach, and I just wish the opposition would join us rather than trying to score cheap points. 10:41 Mr LEESER 109556 Berowra People in the Berowra electorate are hurting. The ABS CPI data revealed last week that in the 12 months to January electricity costs have surged an extraordinary 32.2 per cent. That means families in suburbs like Waitara, Asquith, Normanhurst, Glenhaven—indeed, right across the electorate—are opening their bills at the kitchen table and wondering how they're going to make ends meet. My electorate is still waiting for the government to deliver on its broken promise of a $275 reduction in their power bills. They are still waiting. This gets raised time and time again with me as I'm out and about in the electorate. By failing to lower prices, this flailing government has broken its most basic promise to the Australian people. This summer too many in my community have had to choose whether to put the air conditioner on or to put food on the table. Katherina from Beecroft has showed me copies of her power bills. In the November quarter in 2024, she paid $940 in electricity. In the same period one year later it was $1,189. That's an increase of $249 in a single quarter, and if you extrapolate this it is basically an increase of $1,000 a year. Families were promised a $275 reduction and instead they got $1,000-a-year increase. This is the Albanese government's legacy. I've seen power bills for a small business in Thornleigh. In January 2025, they paid $312 for power; in January 2026, they paid $604—nearly double. That's affecting the viability of businesses across the electorate. How is this the new normal under Labor? What troubles people the most is not just the size of the increase, but the sense that all of this was avoidable. Australia is not a country that is short of energy. We're blessed with resources. We've got the capacity, the expertise and the workforce to power our own economy reliably and affordably, and yet households and businesses are paying more and getting less certainty. Right now, too many Australians feel they are part of an experiment. They are being asked to carry the cost of decisions that haven't delivered on the promised outcomes. It's not good enough for families, and it's not good enough for the small businesses that I represent. Under the coalition, Australia outpaced much of the developed world, cutting emissions by 28 per cent on 2005 levels while growing the economy. But emissions reductions have flatlined since we were in government, despite more than $75 billion in spending, but prices have surged. Energy policy has to be about cost and reliability. This government has dropped the ball. Energy should be a comparative advantage for Australia. We are a resource-rich nation. We export energy to the world, yet increasingly Australians are paying the world-leading prices for a basic necessity. It's not a failure of geography; it's a failure of policy. We need to ask a basic question: how did the country that exports vast coal and gas, that has vast renewable potential, that has world-class engineers and operators end up in the position where families are rationing power. Until the government is prepared to admit that its approach has consequences, real consequences, for families and businesses, the pressure on my community and communities like mine will continue to mount. A new Canstar survey has provided some alarming data following the expiry of Labor's temporary energy rebates. It reported that, of 3,000 respondents surveyed, 72 per cent had seen an increase in their power bills since the end of the rebate, 18 per cent are now struggling to pay their bill and 12 per cent have had to sacrifice to pay the bill. They've had to sacrifice what? School excursions, family outings, insurance cover and even basic groceries. These figures are post Labor's spendathon to artificially push down prices. Billions of dollars were borrowed and splashed around to mask the underlying problems. Those rebates didn't fix supply. They didn't strengthen reliability. They simply delayed the pain, and now households are feeling it in full. Those failures on energy are reflective of a much broader failure of Labor's economic policy across the board. This is a government on track to rack up $1 trillion of debt. The result is Australians pay. Labor's spending drives up inflation. The input costs for everything go up. The consumer ends up footing the bill. When Labor spends, you pay. When Labor spends, Australians pay. Under Labor and the reckless Treasurer, inflation is higher than in any other major advanced economy. It's higher than in the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Japan. High inflation means higher power bills. It means higher prices for Australians. That's why people are paying higher prices in energy across my electorate. It's why interest rates have gone up again. It's why, under Labor, we've experienced the largest decline in living standards in the developed world. The people of Berowra have kept their side of the bargain. They've worked hard, they've paid their taxes and they've trusted what they were told. They deserve a government that does the same. All Australians do. 10:46 Ms COFFEY 312323 Griffith In Griffith, energy affordability is a real cost-of-living issue. Families are opening their power bills and doing the sums again. Small businesses are watching every overhead. People are budgeting carefully and still feeling the strain. We know that. We have acted to ease that pressure, and we know there is more work to do. But the clean energy transition is not only about affordability; it is also about the kind of environment we leave to the next generation. It's about cutting emissions, reducing pollution and moving away from an ageing coal system that is becoming more expensive, less reliable and harder on our climate. For communities like Griffith, those goals belong together. Cleaner energy and cheaper energy go hand in hand. That is why the Albanese Labor government's plan is clear—more cheaper, cleaner energy and a better deal for households. We are modernising the grid so Australia can make better use of the best sun and wind in the world. We are backing renewables, firmed by storage, hydro and gas, because that is the practical path to lower bills, lower emissions and a more reliable system. The Australian Energy Market Operator's own planning says the lowest-cost path for Australia is renewable energy connected through better networks, firmed with storage and backed by gas when needed. So the answer is not delay. The answer is to keep building the modern system properly and to do it in an orderly way. Australia's renewable transition gathered pace in 2025, with a record number of projects given the green light. Since May 2022, more than 19 gigawatts of variable renewable generation has been installed across the country. That includes more than 10 gigawatts of rooftop solar, 4.6 gigawatts of utility solar and 4.4 gigawatts of wind. That is enough to power more than six million households. In the September 2025 quarter, AEMO reported that higher renewable output and lower market volatility helped bring down wholesale electricity prices across every region of the national electricity market. Wholesale prices averaged $87 per megawatt hour nationally, down 27 per cent on the year before, and Queensland recorded the lowest average quarterly spot price in the market, at $72 per megawatt hour. The Australian Energy Regulator said wholesale electricity spot prices have fallen since late 2022 thanks to lower fuel costs, increased renewable energy and government action. AEMO also reported a record 77.2 per cent renewable contribution on one day in September, alongside an 11 per cent lift in rooftop solar output for the quarter. This shows the direction we need to keep moving in. More renewables and more storage in the system mean less dependence on unreliable coal fired power and more protection from the price shocks that come when ageing generators fail. It also means a cleaner grid, lower emissions and real progress towards the climate goals Australians expect us to meet. As the Clean Energy Council said: The more renewables in the system, the less we need to depend on unreliable coal-fired power and gas over time, which will provide much needed cost-relief on bills. We're also seeing this on rooftops across the country. Rooftop solar provided 12.8 per cent of Australia's electricity in the first half of 2025, with 26.8 gigawatts installed across 4.2 million homes and small businesses by June. By the end of 2025, rooftop solar had grown to 28.3 gigawatts and contributed 14.2 per cent of electricity supplied to the grid across the year. That is a powerful national asset, built suburb by suburb, roof by roof and household by household. As a Queenslander myself, I am pleased to report that in Queensland we are leading that work. Queensland added the most rooftop solar capacity in the first half of 2025, with 326 megawatts installed in just six months. When you walk around my community in Griffith, it's hard to find houses without rooftop solar. By the end of 2025, Queensland remained the state with the most rooftop solar installations, at 1.16 million systems. Energy Queensland also reports that around 48 per cent of detached homes in Queensland now have solar, one of the highest rates around the country. Queenslanders have understood for years that rooftop solar is one of the most practical ways to cut household costs, with 44 per cent of households in my electorate now fitted with solar panels. We've also added batteries into that calculation, which means lower bills, greater resilience and a cleaner energy system overall. That's what our plan delivers—more rooftop solar, more batteries and more cheaper renewable energy in the system. It means lower bills over time, lower emissions, a fairer energy market and a grid built for the future. 10:51 Mr WILLCOX 286535 Dawson The Prime Minister promised to lower our power bills, but instead he has simply lowered the standard of living. In a country as resource rich as ours, turning on the lights should not feel like a criminal act against the family budget. Yet under this government electricity bills have become a tax on existence. We're not talking about extravagant luxuries; we're talking about the basics of survival—light, heat and the ability to keep food cold. Yet under this government, electricity bills continue to climb, adding to the crushing cost-of-living crisis that families in my electorate of Dawson are struggling to manage. The social impact is stark. Families are being forced to choose between paying their power bills and putting food on the table. This is not a choice any Australian should ever have to make. High energy costs are threatening jobs and livelihoods across our whole nation, and these are the human costs of Labor's broken promises. Let's look at the cold hard facts. Australians were promised a $275 cut in their power bills. That was the headline. That was the hook. But under this Labor government households are instead paying on average $1,300 more. Energy bills have already increased by close to 40 per cent, and this Labor government has broken its most basic promise to the Australian people. Worst of all, they knew it was coming. The department of energy advised the minister of further significant increases in retail electricity prices, yet this government pushed ahead with the same failing policies. Our manufacturers are being strangled. They aren't being beaten by better products. They're being beaten by competitors who have access to cheaper electricity overseas. This government is making our local industries pay more and produce less. Australians have been let down by this government. They were promised cheaper power. The reality is a 40 per cent price increase. They were promised a decrease. The reality is a $1,300 increase. This government said the renewables would lower the power bills. Instead, they have pushed prices through the roof and delivered no meaningful emissions progress. Without the farmland locked up for carbon credits, emissions today are exactly the same as when the coalition left office. After more than three years of hollow slogans, nothing has changed except the elevated price of electricity. The only thing this government has successfully delivered is a darker future. We often hear the Minister for Climate Change and Energy tout the government's home batteries scheme as a success. At question time, he loves to tell us how many batteries people are buying. But how can a family who can't afford to eat pay for a battery? How is a pensioner expected to find $15,000 for a battery when they're struggling to buy a loaf of bread? This government is using taxpayers' money to subsidise a luxury item that only the wealthy can afford. Meanwhile, the vulnerable are left to sweat. They sweat over the cost of their next power bill, and they sweat through summer because they can't afford to turn their aircon on. Then, let's address the elephant in the room. What happens to these batteries when they inevitably fail in a few years? There is nowhere to recycle them. Currently, large lithium batteries are being sent to Melbourne, where they sit in storage until they're shipped to Singapore. This government claims to protect the environment, but its own policies are driving the country towards environmental catastrophe while bankrupting the nation in the process. This government is creating a toxic landfill and has no plan and no clue about how to manage it. Australia is one of the most resource-rich nations on the planet. Yet this government would rather export our own resources so that other countries can enjoy cheap, reliable power, while making life harder and more expensive for everyday Australians. This government is shipping away our nation's prosperity while our citizens sit in the dark. No family, no business and no community should be collateral damage from this government's ideological net zero experiment. It's time to restore power, it's time to restore the promise and it's time to restore protection to the people who are keeping this nation running. Australians are living under an Albanese Labor created cost-of-living crisis. Labor needs to do better. 10:56 Mr SOON 298618 Banks It is my pleasure to join my colleagues the member for Forde and the member for Griffith in reminding those opposite of the important work of this government in reducing the cost of energy for our communities. Let's start with some facts. Australia's renewable energy transition accelerated in 2025, with a record number of projects given the green light. According to the Clean Energy Regulator, more than 19 gigawatts of variable renewable generation capacity has been installed across Australia since Labor returned to government, including 10 gigawatts of rooftop solar and 4.4 gigawatts of wind. This increase is enough to power more than six million households. Experts from across industry, business and the energy sector recognise the truth—that this government's work in rolling out renewable energy is making the difference we need to reduce power bills. The Energy Market Operator's system plan stated that the government's plan for renewable energy 'firmed with storage, backed up by gas and connected with upgraded networks remains the least cost road map to meet Australia's energy needs'. The Energy Market Commission agrees, projecting a five per cent decrease in per unit prices over the next five years, and added that prices risk rising by 13 per cent from 2030 to 2035 unless renewable energy generation, battery and transmission projects are delivered. This is what our government is focused on. The problem is clear, but so are the solutions, and this Labor government is getting on with the job. It is projects like the Padstow community battery in my electorate of Banks, which I opened with the minister just last week, that are making the key difference. They work by storing excess solar power generated during the day and distributing it to the network in the evening, when the demand is at its highest and generation is, unfortunately, most reliant on expensive, ageing coal facilities. Eligible households in my electorate across Padstow, Padstow Heights, Riverwood, Punchbowl, Roselands and parts of Revesby and Revesby Heights will, because of these community batteries, be able to save more than $200 a year on their bills if they sign up to a plan that encompasses energy storage as a service. While the Padstow community batteries are at a larger scale, smaller solutions are also available, and 250,000 households nationwide have signed up to a cheaper home battery which, coupled with rooftop solar, can cut a household's bill dramatically and, by reducing usage during peak times, creates a more reliable grid and puts downward pressure on energy prices for every single family. In the electorate of Banks alone, 1,675 households have installed a battery already. This is the key difference between the approach of this government on energy policy and that of our predecessor, the former Liberal government, where the now leader of the opposition took the lead on energy. This Labor government recognises that energy prices are a problem, and it's working hard to solve it. The Leader of the Opposition saw rising energy prices and did the opposite, and they worked hard to hide it. They changed the law to keep electricity prices a secret. They deliberately concealed cost blowouts on Snowy 2.0. They didn't spend a dollar of the $1 billion promised to add capacity to the grid, and they funded the VNI West project that the current shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction and other coalition MPs have gone to great lengths to oppose. This is quite the CV for the new leader of the opposition in the energy portfolio. The coalition has now decided that they want to abandon net zero, and the verdict on their so-called plan is clear. Industry, business and experts all say the same thing: abandoning net zero will not spur investment, it won't enable growth in the economy, and it won't bring down power prices for households. When the Australian people look at each side of this House, the contrast could not be clearer. On this side, the Labor Albanese government side, we are serious, we recognise there are issues, and we are getting on with the job of addressing them. On the other side is an opposition that still denies climate change even exists. 11:01 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson I am delighted to speak on the motion moved by the member for Wannon, the shadow minister for energy and emissions reduction, but I'm also concerned. I'm concerned because what we're seeing on the other side is a continual misunderstanding of how bad this situation is. Once again, Australians across the country are facing increased energy bills. Electricity costs rose 32.2 per cent in the 12 months to January 2026, which is an increase from a 21.5 per cent rise in the 12 months to December 2025. What does that mean? It means that families across my electorate—from Burleigh to Bilinga, to Currumbin, to Tugun and to Mudgeeraba—are all having to pay for the consequences of this government's failures when it comes to energy policy. I've been listening to some of the contributions of those opposite. I'll start by responding to the contribution of the member for Forde, who spoke about the fact that we, on this side of the parliament, are going through some sort of ideological crusade. Well, I think the average person watching will look at this government's endless pursuit of renewables and really question the member for Forde as to whether it's this side of the chamber that's going through an ideological crusade or the government. He also spoke about the fact that the direction that Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, is taking our country in is going to result in material wealth beyond our imagination. That is not the experience of people across my electorate. That is not the experience of people across Queensland or people across this country. The latest quarterly update of Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory showed us that, despite the billions of taxpayer dollars spent by the Albanese government, our emission reductions have basically flatlined. The figures are also proof that Chris Bowen won't meet his 2030 emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below the 2005 base year. So for those opposite to criticise us not only for calling out this energy minister and calling out this government but for being upfront and honest with the Australian people about where we're at and where we're going as a country in relation to energy policy is quite frankly misleading to the Australian people, and that concept of misleading has continued throughout the course of this government. We saw, time and time again, that Australians were promised a $275 cut to their power bills by last Christmas and that they would be $378 lower by 2030. But what have we actually seen? We're paying up to $1,300 more for our energy costs. We've seen that, instead of the lower energy costs that were promised by this government, Australians are now paying more due to the policies of this government. Now, when the coalition left office emissions were at 27.3 per cent, and now they stand at 27.4 per cent below the baseline of 2005. It is so clear that this government has no idea about what the consequences are of what it is doing and where it is taking this country. It is high time that Chris Bowen is honest with the Australian public. It is high time that the Minister for Climate Change and Energy is honest with the Australian public and that he actually details how much this government's energy and emissions reduction policies are costing the Australian taxpayer. Across this country, in all directions, Australians are paying for this government's failures. And it's not just the individuals; it's the businesses. I've had the opportunity and the privilege of speaking to a number of businesses in my electorate this week, including one quite distressed business owner in Coolangatta earlier this week. They are the front face of this energy crisis, and those are the people who expect that their representatives in this place, including myself, speak up and speak out about a government that is incompetent in managing our energy policy and a minister at its helm who has no idea about where he's taking this country. Madam Speaker Scrymgour, I say to you that Australia is struggling, Australians are struggling and energy policy is something that must be addressed by this government. 11:06 Mr GEORGANAS DZY Adelaide This Labor government has committed to a future where energy is cleaner, fairer and more affordable for every household and every business no matter where they live, and that has been our commitment. Australia is in the middle of one of the biggest transformations in our modern history. For more than a century, our energy system has relied heavily on a small number of large, central power stations, but now we're seeing an extraordinary shift toward a system powered by abundant sun, strong wind, smart technology and the power of everyday Australians who are embracing that particular change. It's change that is led by this Albanese Labor government, not the coalition. We know that they have opposed our renewables. They've opposed renewables. They're still in a debate about whether we're living through climate change. We saw this whilst they were in government of nine years, where they had nine different energy policies, delaying any outcome to getting renewables in and making energy cheaper. We have assisted the nation with power bill relief, gas price caps and investing in cheaper renewables where the coalition have stood in opposition rather than support. Record numbers of households in my electorate and all over Australia are installing solar panels and home batteries, and this means that people are generating their own electricity on their rooftops, storing it in their garages in their batteries and using it at night when energy would normally be more expensive. Families are gaining more independence, more control and more certainty over their energy use and bringing their energy bills down. This transition is also about fairness. Fairness means making sure energy companies are transparent, fairness means ensuring no household is caught off guard by sudden price hikes and fairness means giving every customer access to simple, fee-free payment options. Fairness means strengthening protection for people doing it tough so they aren't left behind. A fair energy system is one where bills are understandable, pricing is predictable and households know the provider's best offer is actually what they're receiving. A fairer energy system is one where people feel empowered, not overwhelmed, and fairness also means ensuring that everyone from renters to pensioners and from families in apartments to households in regional towns can benefit from this shift to clean energy—not just those who own big rooftops or can afford upfront costs. Record investments in renewable energy and storage show the momentum is real. The development pipeline of new projects is growing, communities are beginning to host the clean industries of the future and a new generation of workers is being trained to support the renewable economy. Beyond numbers and technology, this transformation is about people: families who want lower bills, young people who want a liveable climate, regional communities who want economic opportunity and businesses who want reliable power. We're advocating for better energy, we are advocating for a renewable economy and we are advocating for more power to the people. I wish I could say the same about the opposition. The now leader of the opposition, who was once the energy minister, had anything but the best intentions for Australians. His record displays actions from secretly increasing electricity prices to constantly failing to deliver on his promises of cheaper energy and more electricity. We're taking public action with the nation's best interests in mind. We have made and are making it easier for Australians to save on energy bills and to take advantage of clean, reliable and renewable power. Australians deserve clarity, transparency and fairness when it comes to energy bills. This year the new national energy rules will come into effect to strengthen the protections that we have put forward for households and businesses. Importantly, the new rules place stronger responsibility on retailers to support customers experiencing hardship. Together we are giving Australians control over energy. Together we are paving the way for a renewable and sustainable future. I ask: what have the opposition done? They have done nothing but criticise and undermine, and their record shows that they have no ability to do anything. In fact, when they were in government, electricity costs increased by 40 per cent. The DEPUTY SPEAKER F2S There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Women's Health 25 11:11 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton I move: That this House notes that: (1) twelve months into the landmark $792.9 million women's health package, the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls; and (2) since the announcement, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than 2 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. When you come into this place at the beginning of any given sitting day, when the opening of the parliament happens, you only have to look around you: the 48th Parliament has a record-breaking number of women representatives. The Labor caucus is 56 per cent women, and, for the first time, cabinet has more women than men. Women are drivers of our national economy, women are drivers of our local communities and now women are drivers of the places where we make laws for this country. This representation means that this parliament mirrors the gender make-up of the broader Australian population more closely than ever before. For the first time, parliament is starting to look like the people we represent, parliament is starting to look like the communities that we call home and parliament is starting to look like Australia. Crucially, it broadens the perspectives shaping policy, boosting work on priorities such as safety, workplace equality, families and health. It's health that I want to talk about today. We recently marked 12 months of the Albanese Labor government's landmark women's health package, a package worth nearly $800 million, representing the largest single investment in women's health in the history of this nation. I want to pay tribute to the member for Cooper and the member for Lyons for their work in making that package become a reality. This package is enabling expanded access to essential health services. It's delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for women and girls nationwide. It pulls women's health out of those dark corners, it pulls it out of taboo and it pulls it out of the hushed conversations and into the sunlight. It's important because it means women's health is a national priority. It is addressing longstanding gaps in access, affordability and specialised care, and it is ensuring that women receive timely, evidence based health care that was previously out of reach for so many. This not only improves individual wellbeing but supports women's participation in work and in the economy as well. For the first time in 20 years a new hormone therapy for menopause was listed on the PBS, and, for the first time in 30 years, a new contraceptive pill was listed. That's right—women went without additions to the PBS for these medicines for decades. These additions have already seen 383,000 women save $53 million across 1.6 million menopause therapy scripts, and 328,000 women have saved more than $27 million on 660,000 contraceptive pill scripts. The package's focus on support for women and girls with endometriosis has had a significant impact too. It builds on work already undertaken by the Albanese Labor government in 2024, such as funding for Southside based QENDO for its national endometriosis mentor program, providing crucial peer support. I'm very proud to have one of QENDO's pioneers in MacGregor in my electorate, Jude Perryn, who has put in close to 40 years of advocacy for women facing endometriosis. Now not only have 7,000 women saved $5.7 million on 30,000 scripts; they've benefited from the rollout of 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. We're also expanding the role of several clinics so that they can offer perimenopause and menopause services, with the first of these enhanced clinics already seeing patients and the rest set to come online in the first half of the year. We've introduced Medicare funded menopause health assessments, and these have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women, reflecting the often complex nature of conditions and additional supports required. This year the government will roll out Australia's first national awareness campaign on perimenopause and menopause, finally giving women the recognition and the clear information they have gone far too long without. We're supporting the development of Australia's first national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause—crucial for ongoing evidence based care. This historic women's health package provides support for women across a range of women's health conditions that were simply never discussed before. The DEPUTY SPEAKER F2S Is there a seconder for the motion? Mr Burnell 300129 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 11:17 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay I rise to speak on the motion, noting that it has been 12 months since the commencement of the bipartisan women's health package. This is a package that had the support of both major parties in this place and that built on the significant work undertaken by the former coalition government to improve health outcomes for Australian women. The coalition supported the package, which is an expansion of the historic commitments we made in government to support women's health. Women's health has always been a priority for the coalition, which is why we launched the National Women's Health Strategy 2020-2030 to improve long-term health outcomes for women and girls. In May 2022, in line with that strategy, the coalition announced our historic investment for endometriosis, which led to the establishment of Australia's first endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge two former colleagues—Nola Marino, the member for Forrest; and Nicolle Flint, the member for Boothby—who spearheaded the push through the last parliament to secure the commitment to establish these historic clinics. We welcome the government's decision to expand on this work with 11 new endometriosis clinics. Prior to the last election, the coalition announced that we would match this important women's health package, including measures to enhance menopause care for women through the new Medicare rebate, expand health professional training, develop national clinical guidelines and increase funding for endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. Whether it is helping women who live with chronic health conditions like endo, supporting women through menopause or helping families on their fertility journey, we are committed to getting the policy settings right and we know this must be above politics. In Lindsay, in my community and right across Western Sydney, these issues are very real. Women in my community face barriers when it comes to getting timely treatment for chronic conditions and navigating a health system that can feel hard to access, especially for women from culturally diverse backgrounds or those doing it tough. Local research from Western Sydney University shows these gaps clearly. While services across Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, including Nepean Hospital, do vital work for women, demand is high and access is becoming harder. One of the things that stands out for me in Western Sydney is that only 29 per cent of women eligible for cervical cancer screening are getting screened. This is against the national benchmark of 70 per cent. We welcome the fact that Australian women have accessed more affordable scripts for new contraceptives, therapies and treatments listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme over the past 12 months. But we urge the government to ensure that they are continuing the coalition's longstanding policy of listing all medicines and treatments that have been recommended by PBAC on the PBS and to do so in a timely manner. It must be noted that the Albanese government waited more than 12 months to finally progress a recommendation for Ryeqo, an important treatment for endo, and to list this potentially life-changing medication on the PBS. It was simply not good enough to leave women suffering from endometriosis waiting for more than a year for affordable access to this medication after it had been recommended for listing. We do not want to see this government's mismanagement of the PBS result in Australian women waiting longer than necessary for access to potentially life-changing care. The coalition also remains concerned that, under the Albanese government, it has never been harder or more expensive for Australian women to access critical primary care. Patients are now paying more than $50 on average out of pocket to see a GP under Labor's cost-of-living crisis, the highest out-of-pocket costs in Medicare's history. In Lindsay, only 51 per cent of GP clinics bulk-bill, despite what the health minister claims, which means that for many women the question is no longer whether they should see a doctor but whether they can afford to. Australian women must have timely and affordable access to health advice and check-ups, particularly if they are managing debilitating conditions like menopause and endometriosis or undertaking the important journey of starting a family. Getting access to cheaper medicines is only one part of ensuring women can get the care they need. We want to ensure that women across Australia can access care that not only is affordable but also understands their experience and needs. We will continue to hold the government to account for delays, for delivery failures and for rising costs that are undermining access to care for Australian women. Australian women deserve a health system that works for them at every stage of their life. 11:22 Mr BURNELL 300129 Spence Women's health in Australia has too often been treated as a niche issue, as if half the population were somehow an afterthought. For too long, women were told their pain was normal, their symptoms were hormonal and their concerns were exaggerated. The Albanese Labor government is changing that. We are backing women's health with action, with reform and with nearly $800 million in real investment through our historic women's health package, and we are already seeing the results. More than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS prescriptions for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. That includes the first new contraceptive pill listed on the PBS in more than 30 years, alongside two additional contraceptive options. In all, 328,000 women have saved more than $27 million on 660,000 scripts. For women managing menopause, the first new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years are now listed, and 383,000 women have saved $53 million across 1.6 million scripts. Of the more than one in seven women living with endometriosis—my wife is one of them—over 7,000 women have accessed 30,000 scripts, saving $5.7 million on treatment that previously put enormous financial pressures on families. Women undergoing IVF now have earlier and more affordable access to treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that lower the cost of fertility care. Since January this year, PBS medicines cost just $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders. Those are the lowest prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for Australian women. But women's health is not just about medicines; it's about access, recognition and proper care. That is why from 1 July 2025 Medicare funded menopause health assessments became available. More than 71,000 women have already accessed these dedicated consultations, receiving the time and support they deserve at a critical stage of life. We have introduced new Medicare items and higher rebates for gynaecological care, making longer consultations for more complex issues accessible and more affordable. Around 430,000 additional services have now been delivered for women with endometriosis, PCOS, chronic pelvic pain and other conditions, backed by a $49 million national investment. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access, with larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing saving women up to $400 a year. We are building an Australia-wide support system that simply did not exist before. Thirty of the 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics are now operational, with 11 new clinics delivered under this government. These clinics are expanding to provide perimenopause and menopause care, recognising that women's health is not siloed; it is lifelong. We are funding Australia's first national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause, ensuring consistent evidence-based care no matter where a woman lives. This year, Australia will see its first national awareness campaign for menopause and perimenopause, giving women information and recognition they have been denied for decades. We are also making it easier for women to receive directly from pharmacies treatment for uncomplicated UTIs, including trials benefiting 250,000 concession card holders, who can consult a trained pharmacist at no cost. We have expanded PBS access for IVF medicines like Pergoveris pens, increasing the maximum number per script and lowering out-of-pocket costs for women trying to start to grow their families. These reforms matter nationally, but they also matter locally. In the north of Adelaide, in my electorate of Spence, we have seen firsthand what targeted women's health investment looks like. Perinatal health has often gone unspoken about. When a time that can be filled with such joy and celebration turns dark, many struggle to know where to go and what to do. That is why the Elizabeth Clinic is providing specialised, compassionate care to women and families during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, as well as for perinatal health, supporting mothers at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Many parents experience anxiety, depression or emotional distress during the perinatal period. Our perinatal mental health centre in Elizabeth provides that support in a welcoming, non-judgemental way. This kind of service is not a luxury; it is essential. I'm extremely proud of the work the Albanese Labor government is doing. 11:27 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong I commend the member for Moreton on this motion. It's true that the additional PBS listings announced in last year's budget do develop and deliver more affordable options for contraception and for the treatment of menopause and endometriosis. These listings represent real gains for Australian women and girls. But, while these reforms mark genuine progress, we still have a long way to go before we ensure that all women receive safe gynaecological care in this country. Endometriosis affects about one in seven Australian girls, women and those assigned female at birth. It's a debilitating condition which can cause chronic pain and infertility. Endometriosis can be hard to diagnose and hard to treat. Symptoms can overlap with other conditions. Sometimes, surgery is required for diagnosis. Women living with endometriosis, like all patients across Australia, deserve best practice evidence-based care. Mr Simon Gordon was, until recently, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Epworth Freemasons, the largest private hospital in Victoria. It's recently been alleged that Mr Gordon performed aggressive and unnecessary laparoscopic surgeries in which he removed tissue and even internal organs from a number of women with suspected endometriosis. Laparoscopic surgeries for severe endometriosis attract the highest Medicare rebate for this condition, under MBS item 35641. It's alleged that, for each of these operations, Mr Gordon received up to a $1,449 rebate but that he also billed tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket fees paid by vulnerable women. Some women reported being forced to access their superannuation early or to take out personal loans to pay for procedures which left them with permanent pelvic scarring. Further, it's alleged that some women were rendered infertile unnecessarily, even criminally, by a surgeon that they had trusted—a man in whose hands they'd placed themselves at their time of greatest vulnerability. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guidelines advise caution before undertaking repeated surgery for endometriosis, but Mr Gordon allegedly undertook such surgery as many as seven times on one of these patients. That should have rung alarm bells through excessive billing for specific item numbers either through the federal government's Medicare compliance measures or through the Epworth hospital's internal audits. But, instead, the allegations against Mr Gordon suggest a distressing failure of clinical oversight, system protections and regulatory responsibility over some years. It's a matter of public record that numerous complaints about Mr Gordon's practices were made over a number of years to multiple administrators, from the Epworth hospital to the healthcare regulator Ahpra and to the Victorian Healthcare Complaints Commissioner—complaints made by patients and by his peers. It's inexplicable that this number of complaints did not trigger more effective reviews of his practice. In response to this case, Ahpra has now launched a major external review into its clinical governance. Safer Care Victoria will engage with that inquiry. An inquiry will be undertaken by the Epworth hospital, and the Victorian government has also referred Mr Gordon to the police. But the state government has not signalled any intention to undertake its own investigation. Given the previous failure of the Epworth hospital to act on multiple complaints over several years, it's confounding that the Allan state government is allowing that private hospital to self-investigate its role in this tragedy. The allegations I've detailed have understandably caused great consternation and distress in a very vulnerable patient group which is now unsure whether or not it can trust its doctors. Mr Gordon's case should represent a canary-in-the-coalmine moment. It should prompt a review of regulatory oversight in our private hospitals, it should prompt a review of Medicare billing compliance measures and it should prompt a review of the national health care regulatory authority. Until we strengthen accountability, regulation and transparency in our healthcare system, our system will continue to fail Australians, and it will fail vulnerable women. 11:32 Dr GARLAND 295588 Chisholm I really want to thank the member for Moreton for bringing this motion to the House. It's a very important motion, and, of course, this motion can only come about because we have here in Australia a government that looks and sounds like our communities—a government that is deeply committed to ensuring no-one is held back and no-one is left behind and that includes a majority of women in the caucus. Unfortunately, for too long, Australian women have been left behind when it comes to health policy in this country. They've not been listened to, and their health issues have not been taken seriously. I hear all the time from women in my own community in Chisholm about their experiences of not being listened to, and, indeed, I have had those experiences myself. I'm really pleased that we're changing the way women are treated in the health system in this country. This is happening because, as I mentioned, we have a caucus that is reflective of our country, with women at the table making decisions and ensuring that we get better outcomes for everyone. I'm really proud that our government is delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women. What that looks like is an $800 million women's health package, driving more choice, lower costs and better care for women and girls across the country, and we're already seeing some really good outcomes. Since introducing the women's health package, more than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS prescriptions for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. This includes the first new contraceptive pill listed on the PBS in more than 30 years, plus two additional contraceptive options, helping 328,000 women save more than $27 million on 660,000 scripts; the first new menopausal hormone therapies listed in over 20 years, supporting 383,000 women and saving them $53 million across 1.6 million scripts; and more than 7,000 women with endometriosis accessing 30,000 scripts and saving $5.7 million on treatment that previously put major financial pressure on women. In addition, we're supporting women undergoing IVF receiving earlier and more affordable access, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that lowered the cost of fertility treatment. And, of course, since January of this year, PBS scripts have been just $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders, which is the lowest that medicine prices have been since 2004. That gives all Australians, including, of course, Australian women, more cost-of-living relief. We're also making Medicare work better for women by delivering the services in specialist care women have waited far too long for. Medicare funded menopause health assessments have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women. New Medicare items and higher rebates mean cheaper, more accessible gynaecological care, with longer consultations now available for complex issues. We've funded around 430,000 additional services for women with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological conditions, backed by a $49 million national investment that is directly improving women's lives. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access, with larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing, which is saving women up to $400 a year in out-of-pocket costs. This really matters because we know that women are the largest consumers of health in this country. So this is delivering great health outcomes for women but also delivering real cost-of-living savings. We're building an Australia-wide support system that previously didn't exist, with 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics taking the national network to 33 clinics across the country, improving access everywhere, including regional and metropolitan communities. There is a lot of work that our government has been undertaking in this area. This year we will launch Australia's first national awareness campaign for menopause and perimenopause. This is a really important issue for people in my community of Chisholm. I've undertaken a women's health survey and held several women's health forums, including with women's health researchers. I really want to thank everyone for their generosity in sharing their stories with me so that I can advocate for the best possible outcomes for women's health in my community. I commend this motion to the House. 11:37 Mr LEESER 109556 Berowra I want to rise and make a brief contribution to this debate as the husband of a woman who suffers from endometriosis and also as the co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis, alongside my friend the member for Bendigo. I was one of the founding members of the Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis, a very effective parliamentary friendship group in this place that was founded by former members Gai Brodtmann and Nicolle Flint. Nicolle's story is particularly relevant in that Nicolle decided to get involved on the issue of endometriosis because of friends that she had who had endometriosis and then Nicolle herself found that she had endometriosis and has been undergoing treatment. I also want to acknowledge on my side of the House the former member Nola Marino, who was generous in sharing the stories of her daughter, who had suffered from endometriosis and had a very difficult and trying experience as an endo sufferer. I want to say to the women of Australia who suffer from endometriosis on behalf of their husbands and partners: we love you, we hear you, we support you and we think you're amazing. For any husband that's gone through watching their wife suffer from multiple surgeries and difficult diagnoses it's almost impossible to fully appreciate what they're going through because the pain can be so severe. My message to the women who have not had a positive diagnosis of endometriosis but suffer from debilitating period pain is, if the diagnosis hasn't been properly revealed, go and get a second opinion and, if you still don't think that that diagnosis is correct, get another second opinion. One of the things that we in Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis have done in this parliament is stage a very important day back in February about the importance of endometriosis, in conjunction with Endometriosis Australia. I want to acknowledge the people involved in Endometriosis Australia and, in particular, Monica Forlano and Donna Ciccia, the chair and the deputy chair of Endometriosis Australia. They put on a series of forums that highlighted some of the challenges that people who are suffering from endometriosis face. I want to acknowledge Ellie Angel-Mobbs, who is the broadcaster that moderated some of these sessions, and she did such a great job. She is a sufferer of endometriosis. One of the things that Endometriosis Australia is promoting at the moment is the idea of being accredited with EndoThrive—so becoming a workplace that is supportive of people who have endometriosis. Divya Gokal, along with Dani Difalco from Showpo, talked about some of the benefits of signing up to the EndoThrive program, which is something that I would encourage other employers to do. It provides support for people in your teams that have endometriosis and shows how you can enact best practice as an employer. The gathering was also addressed by Professor Anusch Yazdani, who is a world leader in endometriosis research and who reminded us that Australia is a world leader in this space. I particularly want to acknowledge Greg Hunt, the former minister for health and aged care, for the work that he did when he was health minister in the former government in supporting research into endometriosis, listing medicines and raising the profile of this issue. I want to acknowledge Senator Anne Ruston, who is the current shadow minister for health and aged care in this space, and I want to give credit to the current government for continuing the good work to make Australia a world leader in endometriosis. It's so very important. One of the most affecting presentations at the parliamentary friendship lunch was from Lucia Field and her mum, Miki Field. Lucia is the daughter of Anthony Field, the blue Wiggle, and she is now one of the blue Wiggles. She and her mum both have endometriosis, and it was really only because of her mum's experience that she was successfully diagnosed. But even a woman in her 20s in Australia today, in 2026, was still given the run-around of the health system in terms of getting a proper diagnosis. This really has to be, in my view, the focus of ongoing work, given that we know one in seven women in this country have endometriosis by the age of 49. 11:42 Ms RYAN 249224 Lalor I rise to speak on the motion regarding women's health and on this government's actions to support women's health across the country. I want to thank the member for Moreton for bringing the debate forward. I want to thank the member for Spence and the member for Chisholm for their contributions. I want to thank the member for Kooyong for raising an issue today, which was canvassed by Four Corners, in relation to alleged victims of a surgeon in Melbourne, which has distressed people around the country. It goes to the heart of why this government is taking the action it is taking in women's health. I want to pay tribute to Assistant Ministers Kearney, White and McBride and Minister Butler for the work that they've done since we formed government. Medical misogyny has been alive and well in this country and internationally. How do we know that? We know that because women make up 51 per cent of the population, yet they have been vacant in the health data over the last century. So this is a really important contribution today in terms of bringing this government's actions to the attention of the House, but also identifying what led to it taking these actions. I want to say upfront that the reason this has happened is that the female people around the country are now reflected in a government that has a majority of women at the table. That is why this has happened. It has happened because women have raised the issue that they have not been part of a dataset in medical history and that they can still be faced with medical misogyny at a GP visit, and that has driven a lot of this work. Obviously, it is work that takes time. It takes time once you form government to get in, to get the priorities set, to get the departments working on what we need to do. That's why I rise today to say that this government's nearly $800 million landmark women's health package is righting a balance. It is not putting women before men. It is making sure that that balance is right and that women's health is being addressed in this country. We've done that through 3.2 million cheaper PBS prescriptions, where 700,000 women have accessed cheaper prescriptions. We've done it as a government that listed contraceptive pills on the PBS for the first time in more than 30 years. We've introduced the first new menopausal hormone therapies listed in over 20 years. Over 7,000 women with endometriosis have accessed 30,000 scripts, saving them $5.7 million on treatments, and women undergoing IVF now have earlier and more affordable access to the care they need. We know that delivering for women's health is not a 'one size fits all' policy, and that's why we're strengthening Medicare so it works better for women and delivers the specialist care they've waited too long for. Medicare funded menopause health assessments have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women, and new Medicare items and higher rebates mean cheaper, more accessible gynaecological care, including longer consultations for more complex issues. Around 430,000 additional services have been funded for women with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological conditions. That's backed by $49 million in national investment directly improving women's lives. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access. With larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing, women are saving more. We've taken it a step further, building a national support system providing tailored care that didn't previously exist in our endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. Last week, I proudly stood beside the Prime Minister at the Werribee endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic that has opened in the last three weeks. It is one of the 33 around the country. I was pleased to be there to see this initiative changing lives, to hear from Avoca about the clinics that they have stood up in this space and to hear about the training that the specialist nurses, the physiotherapists, the nutritionists and the GPs are undertaking to ensure that women are getting the absolute best health care. I could not be prouder to be part of a government making sure that women are seen and heard. (Time expired) 11:47 Mrs PHILLIPS 147140 Gilmore Endometriosis, pelvic pain and sexual health have for too long been taboo topics, but the incredible team at the south-eastern endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic in Milton is changing that. The clinic was one of the first of its kind to open its doors in September 2023, and for more than two years has been providing women from Helensburgh to the Victorian border with expert multidisciplinary services and care for endometriosis and pelvic pain. Not only is the team helping women of all ages, many of whom have lived with intense pelvic pain for many years, even decades; they're also educating our younger generation. Women's health nurse Susan Wilford has been travelling across the south-east of New South Wales visiting high schools at Nowra, Moruya, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla as well as community groups including CWAs and VIEW clubs. During her visits, Susan has provided free, comprehensive education about pelvic pain, sexual health and endometriosis to more than 4,000 women and girls, equipping them with knowledge about what is healthy, what is normal and when to seek help if required. I'm always delighted to visit the clinic and to hear so many success stories from women who have accessed free support, often after years of pain. I'm so proud the Albanese Labor government is taking women's health seriously after decades of neglect, and we're making specialised, multidisciplinary care available to more women in regional areas. Our landmark almost $800 million women's health package means more clinics like the one in Milton can provide specialised staff, including nurse practitioners and allied health professionals, with equipment, resources and training to manage and treat complex and debilitating disorders. Endometriosis affects around one in seven Australian women and has an extensive, devastating impact on their daily lives, with those suffering waiting around seven years before diagnosis. I'm really proud that 11 additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics have opened, taking the network to 33 nationwide. The new clinics have also started provided perimenopause and menopause care. The Milton clinic is opening the front door to give women access to the health care they need, and the best part is that it is free under Medicare. A year on from us announcing the groundbreaking women's health package, the Albanese Labor government continues to deliver more choice, better access and more affordable health care for women. How great it is that in just one year more than 700,000 women have accessed more than 2.3 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments listed on the PBS. More than 71,000 women have now received a Medicare funded menopause health assessment, and 383,000 women have saved more than $53 million on menopausal hormone therapies. Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with more than 46,000 women with specific low levels of reproductive hormones accessing $273,00 scripts in the past year. From 1 January women have made further savings with PBS medicines now just $25 and the concessional co-payment remaining at $7.70. Labor's historic investment in Medicare is helping women and their families with more bulk-billing practices, including 32 in my electorate of Gilmore. Our 50 new Medicare urgent care clinics, including the Batemans Bay clinic and the brand new Nowra clinic, opening on Thursday, will offer free walk-in care day and night. Our $1 billion injection for mental health services, including 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres and 20 youth specialist centres are providing free, accessible services for women of all ages. As a mum of four, I know just how important it is that our 20 perinatal mental health clinics now offer free psychological support for new and expectant parents. Finally I want to highlight the wonderful work being done by Waminda, the South Coast's women's health and wellbeing Aboriginal corporation, and their birthing on country centre of excellence. I'm proud to have secured $22.5 million from the government for this, and they're doing a magnificent job. (Time expired) 11:52 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner For decades, women and girls were told to endure pain, to accept discomfort as normal and to wait sometimes decades for answers. Too often their symptoms were minimised, too often their concerns were dismissed, and too often the cost of care placed essential treatment out of reach. I was one of those women. I suffered from very heavy periods, debilitating pain and pelvic concerns from the age of around 14. It remained as a painful condition until my late 30s, when an understanding GP took an interest and referred me to the appropriate specialists. I know that I'm not alone in my own experience, and certainly, when I have shared my experience with my comment, women and girls from across all aged have told me about their own experiences, with many still suffering in silence. That is why I am so proud to stand here as the federal member for Bonner and to celebrate Labor's almost $800 million investment in women's health. It has now been a year since it was first introduced, and it represents the largest investment in women's health in Australia's history. It's delivering more choice. It's delivering lower costs and better care for women and girls right across our country. We are already seeing real and measurable outcomes. Since introducing this historic package, more than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS scripts for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. For the first time in more than 30 years new contraceptive pills have been added to the PBS, helping 328,000 women save more than $27 million across 660,000 scripts. Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that significantly reduce the cost of care. And, of course, since January we have seen PBS script prices drop to just $25—the lowest medicine prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for all Australians, but particularly for Australian women and their families. March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. It is a time to shine a light on a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects one in seven women. More than one million Australians suffer from endometriosis. Recent national coverage has once again highlighted the lived experiences of women battling this condition. The years of pain, the dismissal, the delayed diagnosis and, most recently, the appalling treatment of women at the hands of medical professionals. On average, women wait seven years for a diagnosis. Hospitalisation rates among young women aged 20 to 24 have doubled over the past decade. These are not just statistics; they represent disrupted education, interrupted careers and diminished quality of life. For too long people with endometriosis have suffered in silence and that is simply not good enough. Early intervention is critical, evidence based care is essential and access should never depend on your postcode. That is why the Albanese Labor government has expanded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics nationwide, delivering 11 new clinics and taking the national network to 33 clinics across Australia. Of those, 30 are already operational, improving access in both regional and metropolitan communities. In my community, we are also set to benefit directly from this investment. A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic opened in Oxley in late January. It already has active patients, and is continuing to grow. This clinic will support more women in my community of Bonner to get the diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care they need closer to home without the long wait times and financial strain. These clinics are not only treating endometriosis; they are also improving health care and education around perimenopause and menopause. These reforms represent more than a funding announcement; they represent a cultural shift. They say to Australian women: 'Your health matters. Your pain is real. Your experiences deserve recognition, research and reform. Labor is here for you and delivering for you.' I'm proud of this package, and I'm proud to stand here as part of the Albanese Labor government. The DEPUTY SPEAKER DZY There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. BILLS 32 BILLS Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 32

Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026

First Reading 32 Second Reading 32 11:58 Ms ROWLAND 159771 Greenway I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Royal commissions are the highest form of independent inquiry in Australia, and as such it is important they have strong powers and immunities available to complete their work. Accordingly, this bill will establish a framework for royal commissions to receive and handle operationally sensitive and intelligence information. The framework will be an enduring one and will be available to royal commissions prescribed by regulations. Right now, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is examining critical matters related to national security, intelligence operations and law enforcement. To investigate and report on these matters of national importance, it is necessary for the royal commission to have access to complete and candid information. Potential witnesses who wish to voluntarily provide relevant information to the royal commission should be supported to do so within an appropriate framework—without the concern that they may be breaking other laws by cooperating. The parliament needs to support them to tell the royal commission what it needs to know. The Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 strengthens this essential flow of information. It ensures that people can assist this and future royal commissions with clarity and confidence, and without fear of penalty. Current challenges Secrecy offences play an important role in protecting our national security and other critical national interests. But, currently, secrecy provisions across Commonwealth legislation, especially those relating to intelligence and law enforcement, may deter people from sharing information that is essential to the royal commission's work. Uncertainty about the application of secrecy offences—which can carry significant criminal penalties—can deter potential witnesses and have a chilling effect on evidence. There is a clear and pressing need to ensure that all people, including current and former officials and members of the community, can assist a royal commission freely and without fear of prosecution. The framework in the bill delivers that certainty. This bill is in two parts. Firstly, the bill amends the Royal Commissions Act to: provide a clear pathway for people to safely and lawfully give information to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion without fear of criminal or civil liability; and ensure secrecy provisions do not prevent people and agencies from complying with a requirement from this royal commission to provide evidence. The bill also amends the Criminal Code to introduce a new defence to general Commonwealth secrecy offences, where the person provided the information to a royal commission. This new defence will apply to this current and all future royal commissions. Protection from liability The billcreates a clear, safe pathway for the disclosure of intelligence information and operationally sensitive information to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The amendments to the Royal Commissions Act provide immunity from secrecy offences where a person discloses intelligence information or operationally sensitive information, in accordance with an approved arrangement. The relevant arrangements will be agreed between the royal commission and the Commonwealth. They will govern how information is obtained, stored used and disclosed, and will be publicly available. Where a person follows the processes set out in these arrangements, the immunity will be available. This ensures intelligence and operationally sensitive information is handled safely, while enabling the commission to carry out its statutory functions. In addition to the immunity from secrecy offences, the bill provides further safeguards for someone who brings information forward. The bill prevents both the information itself, and the fact that a person provided it, from being admitted as evidence against that person in civil or criminal proceedings relating to secrecy offences. This complements existing protections in the act for witnesses and reiterates the important principle that people should not face prosecution for coming forward to a royal commission. Reasonable excuse At present, some individuals may rely on secrecy provisions to decline to provide documents or information where a royal commission requires it. The bill amends the Royal Commissions Act to ensure secrecy provisions cannot be used as a reason to refuse to comply with a requirement to provide evidence from the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. This new rule will apply to intelligence and operationally sensitive information subject to an arrangement between the royal commission and the Commonwealth. Defence in the Criminal Code Act 1995 The bill also makes complementary amendments to the Criminal Code, which will apply to this and future royal commissions. The bill creates a defence to general secrecy offences, where a person communicates or deals with relevant information for the purpose of communicating it to a royal commission. This amendment implements recommendation 6 of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and part of recommendation 7 of the Attorney-General's Department's 2023 Review of Commonwealth Secrecy Provisions. This amendment also treats royal commissions in the same way as courts, tribunals and integrity agencies, which attract similar defences in the Criminal Code. Purpose of the protections These new protections are carefully calibrated. They do not shield individuals from liability for other criminal conduct, nor do they enable improper disclosure of sensitive information outside the royal commission's remit, or outside of mutually agreed processes for that information to be provided. The amendments are balanced to ensure that those who come forward to share information in good faith and in accordance with established processes, whether voluntarily or under compulsion, are not exposed to criminal liability for doing so. Conclusion The Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 establishes an important framework for royal commissions to receive and handle operationally sensitive and intelligence information. It will provide certainty for people who hold such information about the process for providing it to support the royal commission's important work, and extend clear protections and immunities to them. I commend the bill to the chamber. Debate adjourned. BUSINESS 34 BUSINESS Standing and Sessional Orders 34 12:06 Mr BURKE DYW Watson by leave—I move: That sessional order 65a be amended to read as follows: 65a Opportunities for crossbench Members Consistent with the principle that the call should alternate between government and non-government Members and to enable crossbench Members to receive the call in accordance with the crossbench proportion of the non-government membership of the House: (a) During Question Time, priority shall be given to: (i) a crossbench Member seeking the call on the fifth, thirteenth, seventeenth and twenty-first questions; and (ii) an opposition Member seeking the call on the first, third, seventh, ninth, eleventh, fifteenth, nineteenth, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth questions. (b) During each period of Members' statements in the House, priority shall be given to at least two crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 43). (c) During each period of Members' statements in the Federation Chamber on Mondays, priority shall be given to at least four crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 43). (d) During each 30 minute period of Members' constituency statements in the Federation Chamber, priority shall be given to at least one crossbench Member seeking the call (standing order 193). (e) During each one hour period of Members' constituency statements in the Federation Chamber, priority shall be given to at least two crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 193). (f) During the grievance debate in the Federation Chamber, every Tuesday priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 192b). (g) During the adjournment debate in the House, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 31). (h) During the adjournment debate in the Federation Chamber, every Thursday priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 191). (i) For the matter of public importance discussion, the Speaker shall have regard to the crossbench proportion of the non-government membership of the House in selecting matters proposed (standing order 46). For the information of members, this is the same sessional order that I moved at the start of the term, prior to the coalition breaking up. This takes us back to where we were three weeks ago. Whether I'm back in three weeks time is a matter for others. I do congratulate the Manager of Opposition Business on the role. I currently hold the record for the longest time spent in that role. I very much hope that he is able to break that record for me, and I wish him well. 12:07 Mr TEHAN 210911 Wannon I thank the Leader of the House for his kind words. I absolutely, 100 per cent guarantee and assure him that we won't be back here in three weeks. What he's going to see is that the government will be held to account. I will not go anywhere near breaking his record. Question agreed to. BILLS 35 BILLS Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 35

Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025

Report from Federation Chamber 35 12:08 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt I rise to speak in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025. This bill is comprised of six sections touching on a range of different reforms. Today I will speak in relation to schedules 1 and 2—two of those reforms—and how they reflect and further the objective of superannuation as set out in the Superannuation (Objective) Act 2024. The core purpose of this bill is to implement two policy measures to support the transition to payday super. Firstly, the bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to support employers to streamline the choice of fund process during employee onboarding. These amendments are intended to provide greater flexibility for when an employer or their agent may request details of an employee's stapled superannuation fund from the commissioner so that the employer or their agent can provide those details to the employee during onboarding to inform the employee's choice of fund. Secondly, this bill amends the Corporations Act to ban advertising of certain superannuation products to new employees as part of that onboarding process. Schedule 2 will commence on 1 July 2026. The ban under this schedule is intended to reduce the risk that employees are induced or influenced to choose a superannuation product that is not appropriate to their needs, or if it results in the opening of multiple unnecessary superannuation accounts during that onboarding process. There are many reasons why people have multiple superannuation accounts, and frequent job changes is one of them. It's not uncommon—around four million Australians have more than one—and, of course, you can if you want to. You might want to keep multiple insurance covers, increase your variety of investment options, or, if your super is a defined benefit fund, you might want to retain that benefit. However, there are well documented disadvantages, like paying more than one set of fees, having to keep track of more balances and investments, and retaining and paying for unwanted insurance cover. Plus, you're at risk of ending up with lost super accounts. The key drawback, though, is that having multiple super funds involves increased charges and fees. We know that most super funds charge a range of fees related to someone's superannuation account, and, if you have more than one, you're most likely paying these multiple times. Super funds will also often provide you with automatic default insurance cover like life insurance—also called death cover—as well as total and permanent disability insurance and income protection insurance if you meet certain eligibility criteria. You might also end up paying multiple premiums for cover that you might not actually need or might not be eligible to claim under. Another drawback of multiple accounts is increased administration, including with respect to nominated beneficiaries, reading multiple annual reports and having multiple different sets of performance to track. There's also the potential for lower retirement savings, because having your super spread out across multiple accounts can make it harder to track the growth of your fund or to make good investment choices. That's on top of paying all the extra fees and insurance premiums. This can leave you at risk of lower retirement savings, and, as we know, the higher someone's retirement savings are, the better. The highest possible accumulation of superannuation is the purpose of our world envied superannuation system. This purpose is set out in the objective of super in the Superannuation (Objective) Act 2024. It states that the objective is to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way. Both the elements 'equitable' and 'sustainable' are equally important. Schedules 1 and 2 to this bill are compatible with that objective. The superannuation choice-of-fund requirement is a foundational feature of our superannuation system in Australia, and it operates to ensure that employees can choose which superannuation fund they want their superannuation contributions paid to. They should be able to do this, because the accumulation of funds in a superannuation fund belongs to the person making that choice. The first principle of our system is simple. The employer must contribute to a fund chosen by the employee. If the employee does not make a choice, the employer can then make a request to the commissioner to determine if the employee has what is called a stapled fund. If the employee has a stapled fund, the employer will generally be required to pay superannuation contributions to that stapled fund. If there is no chosen fund or no stapled fund, the employer may contribute to a new, default fund for the employee. Typically, an employer must give a standard choice form to an employee within 28 days of commencement in order to obtain relevant superannuation fund details for that employee. Stapling in superannuation is where an employee's existing super fund is 'stapled' or linked to them for life, following them if and when they change jobs, and operating to prevent the creation of multiple, unnecessary super accounts when changing jobs, therefore reducing account fees and protecting retirement savings. The objective of stapling is to reduce this unintended creation of new default fund accounts, where employees already have existing superannuation arrangements. This has the effect of reducing unintended duplicate fees and insurance premiums that erode member balances. Currently, requests for stapled fund details can only be made after an employee does not make a choice of fund selection. Schedule 1 rightly amends the stapling provisions to clarify that employers can request stapled fund details before, at the time or after the employee is given a standard choice form. The effect of this is to assist employers to provide stapled fund details to the employee during the employment onboarding process to help inform their choice of fund. Employees benefit from this. Under this reform, it will be easier for employees to see, consider and select their existing fund when starting a new job and it will reduce the potential for employees to create unintended duplicate accounts and then pay the fees and insurance premiums that erode their balance. Employers will also benefit because they will receive accurate fund details quickly, reducing the prospect of delays and mistakes. This change will, therefore, help to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement for working Australians. This is entirely consistent with the objective of superannuation as set out in the act. Like schedule 1, schedule 2 is also compatible with the objective of superannuation as set out in the act, because it will operate to preserve savings to deliver income for that dignified retirement that all working Australians deserve. It will also ensure that onboarding service providers can continue to deliver value for employers, but in a way that is safe, equitable and sustainable for employees. With some limited exceptions, schedule 2 operates to amend the Corporations Act to impose a ban on advertising certain superannuation products to employees during the employee onboarding process. If employee onboarding software platforms are paid to advertise superannuation products, then the policy objectives of the choice of fund and stapling provisions may be compromised. Employees sometimes forget about super funds that they have, and the advertising of superannuation products during onboarding can not only cause confusion but act to pressure employees to select the fund that might not be in their best interests or to open yet another fund that they don't need. There is no doubt that onboarding software is a critical productivity tool for employers, but consumer harm may be the result if superannuation funds are advertised on these platforms during the onboarding process. With choice of fund and stapling provisions available, such advertising is not really necessary. This ban will protect employees from being influenced into making quick and uninformed decisions, opening inappropriate products and unintentionally creating duplicate accounts. The exceptions to this are to show employees their stapled fund and also the employer default fund. Schedule 2 therefore is also consistent with the objective of superannuation as set out in section 5 of the act, because it helps to prevent the evaporation of fund balances, helping members to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement. Employees stand to benefit from greater savings that compound over their working lives through fewer unintended multiple accounts or through funds that are not fit for purpose or not in their best interests. With respect to human rights, schedules 1 and 2 engage with the right to social security as set out in article 9 and article 11 of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the right to a standard of living and security under article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to health, and acknowledges the importance of adequate social benefits in reducing the effects of poverty. Article 11 of CEDAW recognises the right to social security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, old age and other incapacities to work as well as the right to paid leave. These human rights are prosecuted by schedule 1 and schedule 2 of this bill because they enable employers to identify the appropriate fund in which to make timely superannuation contributions for new employees. The prohibition on advertisements in onboarding software platforms during the onboarding process protects new employees from making uninformed or inappropriate decisions around the opening of new superannuation products because of advertising. It reduces confusion and it reduces pressure on employees during the commencement of a new job, which is often an inherently stressful time in an employee's life. The effect is that these amendments help bolster an employee's social security at the retirement stage by ensuring new employees are paid super contributions on a timely basis and into the most appropriate fund for them, avoiding any procedural delays that may arise in the onboarding process or through the influence of advertising. With respect to the right to a standard of living and security as set out in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this article acknowledges that everyone has the right to a standard of living which is adequate for the health and wellbeing of them and their families and the right to security in old age, which we all hope we get to. Schedules 1 and 2 will similarly prosecute this right by streamlining the process to identify the appropriate fund in which to make superannuation contributions so new employees will receive their contributions quickly and not make disadvantageous decisions due, again, to the influence of advertising. Schedules 1 and 2 of this bill are consistent with the objective of the superannuation system in Australia, which is a dignified retirement for working Australians. Our superannuation system is the envy of the world. Labor is the party of workers and the party of superannuation. I commend this bill to the House. 12:22 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde I rise today in support of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025. As a relatively new member, I was a bit surprised to see that there were other measures in this bill that deal with our tax arrangements with Portugal and the Rugby World Cup. I'll concentrate, though, on the thing that I know a little bit more about and that I feel in my bones, just like every Labor member in this place, which is superannuation. We feel it because it has been a Labor scheme right from its inception. At every point along the way, the coalition has really been dragged kicking and screaming along to it. Who knows what plans they have for its future. Let's not forget that, while it stands at 12 per cent today, which was achieved in 2025, originally it was Labor's plan that superannuation would be at that point in 2019. It is quite an easy mathematical exercise to see that that delay cost Australian workers billions of dollars and a healthy retirement. It's a real revelation of what the coalition feels about superannuation. Superannuation is something that I'm familiar with and that I feel in my bones, like other Labor members. But, within the Labor Party itself for many years, from our inception until our latter days, there might have been some sort of perceived hostility between workers and capital. At its formation, over a 100 years ago, I think there was a lot of scepticism. What I'm trying to say here is that there was a realisation, in the eighties, that it wasn't good enough for working people to just be reliant on an income. At some point, we wanted to create a system in which working people could become financially free. I think that is something which I hope—which I know—unites both sides of this chamber. Sometimes we disagree on how we're going to get there, but I think financial freedom is one of the core economic objectives of an individual and I think is a core objective that we try to facilitate as a parliament. It is very much a reflection of my own personal story as well. When I first became interested in politics and economics at about the age of 14, I really thought that they were about achieving better wages and better working conditions on the shop floor. I didn't realise really how important it was that workers invest in assets to create that sense of financial freedom. It probably wasn't until years later, when I became really interested in business myself, that I came to appreciate how important it is to have that goal of financial freedom—so much so that it's something that I talked about in my first speech. But there's something which I didn't really get time to talk about then, which I want to take the opportunity to talk about today, when we talk about superannuation. I became really fascinated in business, so much so that I probably read something like 160 business books. I came to believe that a pursuit of entrepreneurialism, a sense of finding one's own individual destiny, could be one driver in life to give satisfaction. As part of that, I came to appreciate how important it is to be careful with your money, as silly as that may sound. I came to appreciate how important it is to be frugal, to reject materialism, and to use your money, steward it properly and put it into productive assets which create a return for yourself and benefits for the economy. Of those 160 books or so, there are a couple that really stand out in my mind. One of them was very much about that careful approach to saving. The approach—and it was a book written in America—is something which I'm sure would be familiar to a lot of people who have read these books. The approach is that you pay yourself first. You put 10 per cent away of whatever you earn so that you can then build that up to be something for the future. No matter what, pay it before anything else, and then carefully—and this is a theory of this book, written in America—invest in an index; nothing particularly risky or groundbreaking, but a simple index that might return whatever was in that book, three or four per cent or something similar. Over time, it was easy; it was just a matter of arithmetic. You could track at which point your savings, your investments, would pay for the essential services that you needed to pay for, whether that was your housing, your food, your energy. Once you worked out how much you actually needed to survive, you could then track how long it would take saving that money before you actually reached a point at which you could then become financially free. It was not a 'get rich quick' scheme. There was nothing flashy to it. It was just hard work, hard savings and a plan. That was in America, where they don't have a superannuation system. It's amazing that here, in Australia, we have something that really helps us to do that. It helps everybody to do that. In fact it takes more than 10 per cent—it takes 12 per cent, and puts it away in something which actually does better than an index fund. And there is a point at which it does create financial freedom for all Australian workers. The other book that I read was a revelation into how, I think, most businesspeople operate, which is with that sense of frugality and being careful, carefully stewarding the resources that you're given to invest in productive capital. One of the things I came across was that good businesspeople—as I believe the second deputy speaker is, and I'm sure he would know this and would be able to teach me some things on this too—really good businesspeople, are the ones least likely to take a foreign holiday, the ones least likely to drive a new car and the ones least likely to eat out. They are the ones who are most careful with their resources and who know that, ultimately, this money is not something which has been given to us, to those involved in business, but has, in some ways, been given to us to carefully steward. So it is that our superannuation system in Australia does that for every worker—every single worker. It is a revolution in finance that has not only provided a standard of living for Australian retirees that would have been completely unimaginable 50 years ago but provided a pool of national savings somewhere around—what is it now?—$4 trillion, which is the envy of the world. It has also given a seat at the table to Australian workers, some of the biggest businesses in Australia and some of the most important businesses in the world. The measures in this bill are not only building on Labor's superannuation from the Hawke-Keating era and the increase to 12 per cent that was legislated under the Rudd government but building on the actions of this government as well. For instance, it might seem amazing that it took us took us this long to get here, but, because superannuation is under attack, we as a government have had to define what superannuation actually means. It is 'to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way'. Again, it's 'to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way'. It is about helping Australian workers and Australian retirees build up their savings of money to give them financial freedom. We've had to do that, to set that as a baseline, because we want people on the other side of this House who are thinking about changes to superannuation to really reflect on what superannuation is there for and what it really is meant to achieve for Australian workers. Another measure this government has taken is payday super. I'm sure that, as MPs, we are all in contact with constituents who have been ripped off by an unscrupulous employer. There's one very short email that I received a little while ago from a constituent, which I'd like to read out here. This constituent said: 'My daughter worked for a company for about five years. That company chose not to contribute to her superannuation account. When my daughter resigned, and moved on to another position, she realised her guaranteed superannuation contributions from her employer had not been paid. She then had to put the hard work in to try to recover what is rightfully hers for her future. To date, none of those contributions have reached my daughter's superannuation account. She's given up, actually, because it wasn't on her payslip—as simple as that—because she thought that the employer was doing the right thing. The employer wasn't doing the right thing.' One very simple change, one very practical change, could have fixed that problem, just as it will fix problems for people in the future. We have made reforms to the LISTO to ensure that lower income earners who make a contribution to superannuation are paid at a tax rate comparable to their income tax rate. We've taken measures to ensure that superannuation is paid on government parental leave. That's because one of the most telling statistics about gender inequality in Australia is the amount of superannuation which is held by women compared to men. Something like 30 per cent of the nation's superannuation balance is held by women. That is because, as always, it seems to be that it is women taking the time off to have children, women taking time off to look after a disabled child and women taking time off to look after an aged parent. And so there is something that this government can do, apart from trying to address gender inequality in the workforce and in pay separate to superannuation—at least we are able to pay superannuation on parental leave. That is something which is going to have an enormous benefit over the longer term. Finally, as I've said before, we're increasing the superannuation guarantee charge to 12 per cent. It is really inconceivable that the previous Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government thought that they could cheat Australian workers out of what was truly deserved. Remember that superannuation is not something which has fallen out of the sky or that is out of the goodness of the heart of government or even necessarily employers. Superannuation is what workers gave up as a tax cut and what workers gave up as a pay rise. This is workers' money. It is our own money that is going into this. It is no gift. For the previous government to delay that increase to 12 per cent really did highlight their approach to what I and other people on this side of the House believe is a practical way to help people achieve financial freedom. Ultimately, that is what it's about. For me, personally, from being involved in the Labor Party I have realised that that is what we want to achieve—financial freedom for people so that they can really follow their passions, so they can do things and make the contribution to the society that we live in that you can't make if you're focused on just paying your bills and getting through day by day. Financial freedom is what superannuation is about, and it is why I can't understand why those on the other side aren't wholeheartedly in favour of it. The measures in this bill will go further towards making sure it's protected. 12:37 Mr GEORGANAS DZY Adelaide It gives me great pride to speak on this bill on superannuation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025. I've always had a keen interest in superannuation while I've been in this place. We just heard the member for Forde outline the reasons for superannuation and the benefits to workers that superannuation gives in later life. It was interesting listening to the member for Forde talk about the increase to 12 per cent that Labor introduced when we were last in government in 2013. The last coalition government stopped this or delayed it. I recall very clearly, because I was following the debate, the then Treasurer, Mr Hockey, saying when he made that decision not to increase superannuation to 12 per cent that workers would rather have it in their pockets and that most bosses would give it out as a pay increase. Well, guess what? I don't think there was a single increase in wages over the next few years in lieu of the 12 per cent super—not a single increase anywhere. I remember following it very closely, monitoring it and speaking to people in my electorate, asking if they got that increase that the then Treasurer, Mr Hockey, alluded to. In other words, it was just to cover up that they didn't want to give that 12 per cent. Superannuation is not a gift. It doesn't just appear. Superannuation is for services given by the employee. It is no different to your wage and your hourly rate. It is no different to getting your pay at the end of the week. We know that this bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025, aims to strengthen the transparency in superannuation and inform decision-making for employees when they start a new job. It introduces measures that make it easier for workers to see and select an existing superannuation fund if they wish to continue using it. One of the other measures that we've brought in is about getting super when you get paid—in other words, to receive your entitlements for superannuation in your superannuation account as your wages are getting paid—and there was a reason for that. We've seen many constituents—I'm sure both sides of the House have seen this—that have come into the office chasing unpaid super. Previously, it would take up to three months to put the super into the account. Now it's with every pay, which makes it easier both for the employee and for the employer, and it's very important that transparency is there so that people can see what's going into their accounts. They know what's going in, when it's gone in and how it's accumulated. This bill also provides employers with more timely and accurate superannuation information, which helps them prepare for upcoming changes under these new payday super reforms. A key feature of the bill is a ban on advertising superannuation products to employees during the onboarding process when an employee starts his new position or job. A recent review of the Your Future, Your Super framework found that some onboarding software providers had been paid to promote particular super funds—often those linked to the software platform itself. These practices risked influencing employees at a moment when they should be receiving important and impartial information about the future of their savings when they retire. The reforms are designed to strengthen consumer protections, reduce the likelihood of workers being steered into unsuitable products that perhaps have enormous fees and help prevent the accidental creation of duplicate accounts. Overall, the measures aim to ensure that every Australian can make more confident and informed decisions about their superannuation. This bill is a reflection of this good Labor government, which is a party of superannuation and supporting the Australian worker. Of course, superannuation was a Labor policy back in the late eighties under the Hawke-Keating administration. We identified that too many workers were retiring with not enough savings and were relying on the social security pension scheme at the time. So it was identified back then that we needed a scheme like many other countries had around the world, such as pension schemes and superannuation schemes, to ensure that when workers retired they were able to either supplement their super with a small pension that was available or retire with super funds that would give them the dignity required once they stopped working. It's a very important policy that affects every single Australian. Back then, not many people had superannuation or retirement plans. There was superannuation in place, but it was for the very, very few in elite positions—in managerial roles and CEOs et cetera—so it was great reform. It was reform that allowed ordinary workers to ensure that a bit was put aside every week, every fortnight or every month for their retirement to be able to do the things that we all aspire to do when we retire, which is to ensure that we can pay our bills and continue to live the way that we did when we were working. So it's a very important Labor policy. We've always supported superannuation reforms because we know that, when we introduce this legislation, it makes it better for the average worker. Therefore, superannuation has always been about something far greater than numbers on a statement. It's always been more than a policy; it is a promise that, after a lifetime of work, every Australian deserves the dignity, security, stability and peace in retirement, and it's about ensuring that every Australian, no matter where they work or what stage of life they are in, has the chance to look towards the future with confidence rather than with fear. The measures in this bill reflect a simple but powerful principle: people deserve to be in control of their own retirement savings. It's a principle that strongly resonates with this Albanese Labor government. Yet for many Australians, especially young workers in their teens or early 20s, the very beginning of that journey can be confusing and overwhelming. As we heard other speakers earlier speak about, many young workers were not receiving superannuation entitlements at all, even though they were entitled to them. We've seen many constituents come through the office, usually with their parents, to basically say that they had unpaid super in their last employment or wherever they were working last. It's often too difficult and very complicated to get that superannuation back paid. All Australians but especially young Australians need to be able to identify, read and know exactly what's happening with their super, and too often they're signed up to superannuation products without understanding them, without guidance and without realising they even have a choice. Sometimes a single moment of onboarding—a rushed form, a digital checkbox, an unexamined default—can shape the structure of that person's retirement for decades to come. Many end up with duplicate accounts, each quietly draining their savings through fees and insurance that they never needed. This legislation recognises the weight of that moment. By ensuring workers can easily see and choose their existing fund when they start a new job, we give them something invaluable. We give them choice, clarity and control. It gives people clearer control over their own superannuation by ensuring that they can easily identify and choose their existing stapled fund when starting a new job. That reduces the risk of duplicate funds, duplicate accounts and duplicate fees that quietly, as I said earlier, drain away thousands of dollars over a lifetime of work. With earlier access to their stapled fund details, employees can make decisions with confidence—when you have all the information, you can also make informed decisions—and employers are better equipped with accurate information as Australia moves towards payday based contributions. These changes are not just about administrative efficiency; they're about respecting people's futures. They're about making sure that the wealth workers build over a lifetime remains protected, not chipped away by unnecessary duplication or choices that are made under pressure, duress, confusion or lack of information. This bill also sits alongside broader reforms that are designed to protect the integrity of that superannuation system. Together, these efforts help ensure that superannuation continues to fulfil its core purpose. What is its core purpose? To provide an income for a secure, dignified retirement. That's its purpose, a purpose that matters deeply to every single Australian, from the teenager starting their first job or apprenticeship, doing part-time work when they're at university or starting their first full-time job to the parent returning to work and older Australians planning their next chapter in their lives. We should take pride in our superannuation system. It has grown into one of the most respected and successful retirement saving frameworks in the world through the vision that the Labor Party and that Labor government had in the Hawke-Keating years in the eighties. Systems must evolve as people's needs evolve, and that's what this bill is for. It's about changing the system, evolving to the needs of Australians. It must stay strong, it must stay fair and it must stay focused on those that it's designed to serve—and that is people in retirement. Every improvement we make strengthens the retirement outcome for millions of Australians. At the end of the day, superannuation is not about politics; it's about people and their retirement saving funds. It's about their savings, their future, their families and their right to grow old with security and with dignity. That's something really worth protecting, that is something worth improving and it's something that every single Australian deserves. This bill strengthens superannuation. It makes it fairer, it makes it more understandable and it ensures that people, whether they're starting work or whether they are about to retire, know the exact position that their superannuation is in. Superannuation is one of the most important cornerstones of our industrial relations system. It gives people dignity in retirement, the ability to live with that dignity once they stop working, once they're at home, and to plan their retirements in a way that perhaps they couldn't before the eighties. I commend this bill to the House. 12:50 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser Firstly, I would like to thank those members who have contributed to this debate. Given that I was in the chamber during most of his contribution, can I acknowledge the member for Adelaide's contribution and can I also acknowledge his longstanding support for our superannuation system. I want to acknowledge the member for Wentworth's contribution and proposed amendment of the superannuation related schedules of this bill. I acknowledge the member's advocacy in this important policy area and involvement in the government's Economic Reform Roundtable in August last year. I want to reassure the member that this bill recognises and strikes the right balance between choice, competition and safeguards to protect consumers when presented with advertised information. I also acknowledge the now former shadow treasurer's proposed amendment relating to schedules 1 and 2 of this bill. The government will not be supporting the opposition's second reading amendment. In his remarks, the former shadow treasurer suggested the bill would restrict choice in superannuation and that this bill was part of a cynical plot to wedge the opposition. On both counts, he was wrong. With regard to schedule 1, the bill amends the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 to streamline the superannuation choice-of-fund process during employee onboarding. This amendment provides greater flexibility for employers or their agents to request an employee's existing stapled fund details from the ATO earlier in the onboarding process. That way, if a stapled fund exists, the employer can provide those details to the employee during onboarding. This provides employees with more choice earlier in the onboarding process, not less, as suggested by the former shadow treasurer during his earlier remarks. This amendment supports the government's commitment to empowering employees to make informed choices, by making it easier to see, consider and select their existing super fund when they start a new job, if they choose to do so. It will also give employers more timely and accurate superannuation details, supporting their readiness for the government's payday super reforms. With regard to schedule 2, it is important to provide context regarding the policy rationale for these changes. The Your Future, Your Super review 2022 uncovered inappropriate behaviour, where a software provider directed employees towards products that were associated with the provider. This was highly inappropriate. It lacked transparency and left employees vulnerable to being pushed into a product of a related entity, which may not have been in their best interests. Therefore, schedule 2 of the bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 to impose a ban on advertising superannuation products to employees during onboarding. Exceptions will be available for showing employees their stapled fund, the employer's default fund and certain MySuper products which are subject to strict regulation. The condition to show an employee their stapled fund to advertise a MySuper product is an important consumer protection that will provide the necessary information and context to make a better informed decision. This amendment reinforces the government's commitment to supporting Australians to make an informed choice about their superannuation, while providing strong consumer protections. Schedule 3 of the bill delivers on the government's commitment to support Australia's hosting of the Rugby World Cup 2027 for the men's competition and the Rugby World Cup 2029 for the women's competition by providing targeted tax exemptions to the entities responsible for delivering these major international events. These exemptions are consistent with those provided for other global sporting events hosted in Australia, including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. They are essential to meeting our obligations to World Rugby and ensuring the successful delivery of these important tournaments. This measure reflects Australia's ongoing commitment to being a world-class host of international events that are part of Australia's broader sporting legacy leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Schedule 4 of this bill amends the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to give force of law to the tax treaty between Australia and Portugal. This treaty, the first of its kind between Australia and Portugal, is in our national interest. It will provide Australian individuals and businesses with increased opportunities to access capital and technology from Portugal by reducing tax on cross-border income and providing greater tax certainty. It will also facilitate labour mobility to strengthen our cultural ties with Portugal. Finally, the treaty builds on Australia's existing tax integrity measures, designed to combat international tax evasion and avoidance, ensuring multinationals pay their fair share of tax. Schedule 5 to the bill amends the income tax law to specifically list the following organisations as deductible gift recipients: Coaxial Foundation Ltd, Community Foundations Australia Ltd, Equality Australia Ltd, Foundation Broken Hill Ltd, Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment Ltd, Paul Ramsay Foundation Ltd, Social Enterprise Australia Ltd, St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne Restoration Fund, Sydney Chevra Kadisha, the Great Synagogue Foundation and the Parenthood Project Ltd. The schedule also removes the following specifically listed entities: the Bradman Memorial Fund, Clontarf Foundation, NSCA Foundation Ltd, Sydney Talmudical College Association Refugees Overseas Aid Fund, the Australian Future Leaders Foundation Ltd, the Ranfurly Library Service Inc., the Roberta Sykes Indigenous Education Foundation and WA National Parks and Reserves Association Inc. Schedule 6 to the bill will increase support available to all eligible wine producers under the existing wine equalisation tax producer rebate scheme from a cap of $350,000 per financial year to $400,000 from 1 July 2026. These changes deliver on the government's commitment to support the Australian wine industry as well as regional tourism, investment and job creation. I commend this bill to the House. The SPEAKER 53517 The question before the House is that the amendment moved by the honourable member for Fairfax be agreed to.

The House divided. [13:02]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

44 AYES Aldred, M. R. (Teller) Batt, D. J. Bell, A. M. Birrell, S. J. Boele, N. Boyce, C. E. Buchholz, S. Caldwell, C. M. Chaffey, J. L. Chaney, K. E. Chester, D. J. Conaghan, P. J. Gee, A. R. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Hogan, K. J. Joyce, B. T. G. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) Leeser, J. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. O'Brien, E. L. O'Brien, L. S. Pasin, A. Penfold, A. L. Pike, H. J. Price, M. L. Rebello, L. S. Ryan, M. M. Scamps, S. A. Small, B. J. Spender, A. M. Tehan, D. T. Thompson, P. Venning, T. H. Violi, A. A. Wallace, A. B. Webster, A. E. Willcox, A. J. Wilson, R. J. Wilson, T. R. Wood, J. P. Young, T. J. 96 NOES Abdo, B. J. Albanese, A. N. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Bowen, C. E. Briskey, J. L. Burke, A. S. Burnell, M. P. Butler, M. C. Byrnes, A. J. Campbell, J. P. Chalmers, J. E. Charlton, A. H. G. Chesters, L. M. Clare, J. D. Claydon, S. C. Clutterham, C. L. Coffey, R. K. Coker, E. A. Collins, J. M. Comer, E. L. Conroy, P. M. Cook, K. M. G. Cook, P. A. Doyle, M. J. J. Dreyfus, M. A. Elliot, M. J. Fernando, C. J. France, A. A. Freelander, M. R. French, T. A. Garland, C. M. L. Georganas, S. Giles, A. J. Gorman, P. P. Gosling, L. J. Gregg, M. J. Haines, H. M. Hill, J. C. Holzberger, R. A. V. Husic, E. N. Jarrett, M. L. Jordan-Baird, M. A. M. Kearney, G. M. Keogh, M. J. Khalil, P. King, C. F. King, M. M. H. Lawrence, T. N. Laxale, J. A. A. Le, D. T. Leigh, A. K. Lim, S. B. C. Marles, R. D. Mascarenhas, Z. F. A. McBain, K. L. McBride, E. M. Miller-Frost, L. J. Mitchell, R. G. Moncrieff, D. S. Mulino, D. Neumann, S. K. Ng, G. J. O'Neil, C. E. Phillips, F. E. Plibersek, T. J. Rae, S. T. Repacholi, D. P. Rishworth, A. L. Roberts, T. G. Rowland, M. A. Ryan, J. C. Scrymgour, M. R. Sharkie, R. C. C. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) Smith, M. J. H. Soon, X. Stanley, A. M. (Teller) Steggall, Z. Swanson, M. J. Teesdale, J. A. Templeman, S. R. Thistlethwaite, M. J. Thwaites, K. L. Urquhart, A. E. Watson-Brown, E. Watts, T. G. Wells, A. S. White, R. P. Wilkie, A. D. Wilson, J. H. Witty, S. J. Zappia, A. 0 PAIRS

Question negatived.

13:10 The SPEAKER 53517 The question before the House is that the bill be read a second time.

The House divided. [13:10]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

100 AYES Abdo, B. J. Albanese, A. N. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Bowen, C. E. Briskey, J. L. Burke, A. S. Burnell, M. P. Butler, M. C. Byrnes, A. J. Campbell, J. P. Chalmers, J. E. Chaney, K. E. Charlton, A. H. G. Chesters, L. M. Clare, J. D. Claydon, S. C. Clutterham, C. L. Coffey, R. K. Coker, E. A. Collins, J. M. Comer, E. L. Conroy, P. M. Cook, K. M. G. Cook, P. A. Doyle, M. J. J. Dreyfus, M. A. Elliot, M. J. Fernando, C. J. France, A. A. Freelander, M. R. French, T. A. Garland, C. M. L. Gee, A. R. Georganas, S. Giles, A. J. Gorman, P. P. Gosling, L. J. Gregg, M. J. Haines, H. M. Hill, J. C. Holzberger, R. A. V. Husic, E. N. Jarrett, M. L. Jordan-Baird, M. A. M. Kearney, G. M. Keogh, M. J. Khalil, P. King, C. F. King, M. M. H. Lawrence, T. N. Laxale, J. A. A. Le, D. T. Leigh, A. K. Lim, S. B. C. Marles, R. D. Mascarenhas, Z. F. A. McBain, K. L. McBride, E. M. Miller-Frost, L. J. Mitchell, R. G. Moncrieff, D. S. Mulino, D. Neumann, S. K. Ng, G. J. O'Neil, C. E. Phillips, F. E. Plibersek, T. J. Rae, S. T. Repacholi, D. P. Rishworth, A. L. Roberts, T. G. Rowland, M. A. Ryan, J. C. Ryan, M. M. Scamps, S. A. Scrymgour, M. R. Sharkie, R. C. C. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) Smith, M. J. H. Soon, X. Spender, A. M. Stanley, A. M. (Teller) Steggall, Z. Swanson, M. J. Teesdale, J. A. Templeman, S. R. Thistlethwaite, M. J. Thwaites, K. L. Urquhart, A. E. Watson-Brown, E. Watts, T. G. Wells, A. S. White, R. P. Wilkie, A. D. Wilson, J. H. Witty, S. J. Zappia, A. 38 NOES Aldred, M. R. (Teller) Batt, D. J. Bell, A. M. Birrell, S. J. Boyce, C. E. Buchholz, S. Caldwell, C. M. Chaffey, J. L. Chester, D. J. Conaghan, P. J. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Hogan, K. J. Joyce, B. T. G. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) Leeser, J. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. O'Brien, E. L. O'Brien, L. S. Pasin, A. Penfold, A. L. Pike, H. J. Price, M. L. Rebello, L. S. Small, B. J. Tehan, D. T. Thompson, P. Venning, T. H. Violi, A. A. Wallace, A. B. Webster, A. E. Willcox, A. J. Wilson, R. J. Wilson, T. R. Wood, J. P. Young, T. J. 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

Third Reading 44 13:18 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time. Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 45

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025

Second Reading 45 13:19 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay I rise to speak on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, and I move: That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: "whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House is of the opinion that the bill: (1) does not provide sufficient certainty that universal outdoor mobile connectivity for voice and SMS services will be delivered to all Australians within the requisite timeframe, particularly for those living in regional, rural and remote Australia; (2) places a vague and uncertain obligation on telecommunications carriers to provide "reasonable access" to outdoor mobile connectivity on an "equitable basis"; (3) legislates the use of technologies such as voice to satellite before it either exists at scale or is commercially available, fuelling uncertainty and raising false hope particularly for Australians living or working in regional Australia; (4) does not account for the fact that many handset devices in the Australian market will not be compatible with the technology required to access universal outdoor mobile connectivity; (5) does not include express obligations in relation to universal access to triple zero emergency voice calls and SMS messages which is crucial for the health and safety of all Australians; and (6) should be referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry, given the degree of uncertainty and cost implications for consumers, so that public submissions which will inform potential amendments to the bill can be properly considered". The opposition has long supported the objective of improving connectivity for Australians, particularly those who live, work and travel beyond the boundaries of our major cities. It is why we introduced the landmark Black Spot Program, after Labor declined to invest in improved connectivity in the regions. Communications is not an optional extra in modern Australia. It is core infrastructure—economic infrastructure, social infrastructure and safety infrastructure. For families in metropolitan areas, mobile access is part of daily convenience. For regional, rural and remote Australians, it is something far more fundamental. It is the ability to call for help on a remote highway. It is the difference between a safe trip home and being stranded without assistance. Australia is not a small, compact nation; it is a continent. People travel enormous distances for work, for family, for freight and for tourism. Truck drivers traverse thousands of kilometres across the Nullarbor and through the outback. Farmers operate across properties that stretch further than some European countries. Grey nomads, young families and seasonal workers move through regions where coverage remains patchy or non-existent. In those environments, communication is about safety and about dignity. Regional Australians have long felt the frustration of black spots that linger year after year. They know what it is like to climb onto the roof of a ute to get just one bar of signal. They know what it means to lose service just when it matters most. The coalition has always understood that reality. We have consistently invested in mobile black spot programs, regional connectivity measures and infrastructure that improves resilience. We believe Australians should not be disadvantaged because of their postcode. Connectivity equity is a core principle. In concept, extending a framework to outdoor mobile coverage for voice and text is a very worthy and necessary goal, but measures to give effect to this goal must work. They must genuinely expand coverage, and they must do this in a practical, reliable and affordable way. But significant questions still need to be answered. The bill would require major carriers to ensure that mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, but the legislation contains no clear definition of what 'reasonably available' or 'equitable basis' actually mean. Without clarity, compliance becomes uncertain and enforcement becomes difficult. There are no penalties specified for breaches of delivery. There is no clear pathway for the regulator to challenge whether telcos are delivering what is required of them. The timetable for delivery by the end of 2027 also appears ambitious, given that large-scale direct-to-device satellite services are not yet fully deployed in Australia. Legislating technology before it exists at scale risks embedding unrealistic expectations and unintended consequences. Some stakeholders have raised concerns that the onus for delivery sits with the telecommunications operators, not with the satellite infrastructure providers on whom they will depend. Under this model, low-Earth-orbit providers such as SpaceX or Amazon would not be subject to the same obligations or pricing controls as domestic carriers. This raises questions about consumer cost and market competitiveness not addressed in this bill. There is also the question of spectrum. To operate effectively, dedicated spectrum will be required. It remains unclear what arrangements are in place to dedicate this spectrum and who will wear the costs. That brings us to one of the most critical issues: devices—your mobile phone handset. Devices must be designed and manufactured to comply with those operating requirements, particularly to ensure that Australians can contact emergency services. Most devices currently in the market are not configured to utilise direct-to-device satellite technology. Only newer handsets have this capability. Many Australians, particularly in regional and remote areas, hold on to older devices for longer periods of time. Many people hang on to their old device as a back-up in case the new one breaks, or they pass it on to their kids or their parents. This presents a real and clear danger if we have devices that aren't compatible with the technology. We saw the result of this very thing with the closure of the 3G network. Too many people across Australia had their devices rendered completely useless and had to buy new handsets that they could not afford. People couldn't contact emergency services when they needed help. This unintended consequence of government changes must not be allowed to happen again. Putting lives in danger and placing an unfair cost burden on people to replace their handsets in a cost-of-living crisis cannot happen again. An obligation that works only for the latest premium handsets is not an equitable obligation. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. Genuine reform must take account of the rapid evolution of technology while safeguarding those on older devices. It must be cost-effective for customers and for taxpayers. It must strengthen, not weaken, competition. And it must be subject to proper parliamentary inquiry so that these questions are answered before unrealistic expectations are set. It is impossible to discuss communications policy without addressing the Albanese government's record. Australians have been repeatedly let-down on communications under this government. The botched 3G shutdown is a case study in poor oversight and poor planning. The transition away from 3G networks was always going to be complex. It required coordination between carriers, manufacturers, regulators and emergency services. It required rigorous testing of device capability and clear communication to consumers. Instead, what we saw was confusion, late identification of incompatible devices and Australians forced to replace handsets at significant cost. Hundreds of device models were found to be incompatible. Many consumers only discovered the problem when their device stopped working. As the coalition has repeatedly highlighted, warnings were raised and not adequately acted upon. Consumers were left scrambling, businesses were interrupted, vulnerable Australians were exposed. Most concerning of all are the continuing implications for emergency calls. Late last year, around 70 additional devices were detected as incompatible with the network following the 3G shutdown. Tragically, two Australians passed away after their devices could not connect to triple zero. Since then, further devices have been detected as incompatible. This is not a minor administration error; it is systemic failure. It underscores the central point: communications policy is not abstract; it is real world stuff and it has real-life consequences. The problems have not stopped there. Australians have endured significant triple zero outages in recent years. The Senate inquiry into those outages reveal troubling evidence about government shortcomings. Recent revelations about device compatibility and emergency access only compound those concerns. When Australians dial triple zero, they expect it to work. There is no margin for error. There is no tolerance for 'almost'. Yet we have seen a pattern of reactive management by this government, rather than proactive oversight. The government's response to communications challenges has too often been announcement driven rather than delivery driven. Grand promises are made, expectations are raised, the detail is left unresolved. That is why this bill needs to be examined in detail. The government sales pitch for the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation has suggested that Australians will be able to make a call or send a text from anywhere that they can see the sky, but that is not the whole story. Satellite directed device services are constrained by coverage footprints, capacity, handset compatibility and commercial agreements. This bill must ensure that improved access to communications is delivered in a way that ensures it is cost-effective and competitive. The coalition believes in expanding connectivity. We believe in embracing new technology. We believe in satellite services and that they can play a big role in bringing change and bridging the digital divide. But we also believe in doing the hard work of getting the framework right. This bill deserves proper inquiry, proper interrogation and detailed scrutiny of definitions, enforcement mechanisms, pricing structures, spectrum allocation and device compatibility. Regional Australia deserves better than slogans. Australians deserve a government that manages transitions competently and transparently. Communications policy is about trust, it is about safety, it is about equity. Australians should never have to wonder whether their call will go through, and, as I said, over the last few months and throughout the past year, tragically, Australians did die when they weren't able to make those triple zero calls when they needed them the most. We must have high standards when it comes to communications policy, and we must have standards that the government actually meets. That is the standard against which this bill and this government's record will ultimately be judged. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 201906 Is the amendment seconded? Mr Thompson 281826 I second the amendment and reserve my right to speak. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 201906 The debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 43. The debate may be resumed at a later hour. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 47 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Fuel Security 47 13:29 Mr JOYCE e5d New England It's very rare that I agree with the Maritime Union of Australia, but I do today. With the issues in the Middle East and the threats of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, we have to be incredibly aware of our vulnerabilities. We are supposed to have 23 days of diesel supplies—it's actually supposed to be 24 or 25 days, but, in the last quarterly analysis, we only had 23 days. That takes into account what is at sea on ships of convenience, which, at the right point in time, could be ordered to go to any other part of the world. That becomes part of the stock. It also talks about normal usage. If there is a run on diesel, we won't be waiting 23 days. Those ships of convenience will go somewhere else, and we will run out of what we do have incredibly quickly. Might I remind everybody that hospitals run on diesel when the power goes out? There is more diesel used for energy in Australia than electricity. This building runs on diesel if the lights go out. And, if we run out of diesel, the lights in Australia will go out. The trucks will stop; foods going to supermarkets will stop; transport will stop—everything will grind to a halt. People will get hungry, and I don't see any plan in this place to deal with this. Grassby, Ms Ellnor Judith 47 13:31 Mr DAVID SMITH 276714 Bean Ellnor Grassby was a powerhouse of politics and community in the ACT. Elected to the first ACT Legislative Assembly and serving until 1995, she was part of Rosemary Follett's first government as the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. As well as serving in a plethora of public roles, both before and after political life, including her service on the Chief Minister's Ministerial Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs, the ACT Legal Aid Review Committee, the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum, Friends of Old Parliament House Rose Gardens, Women in Racing, Friends of Ireland and many, many more. Ellnor's Catholic faith was central to her life and shaped the values that guided her public work: social justice, fairness and deep compassion for others. Eleanor was in the thick of countless Labor campaigns, both local and federal. I remember the heady hum of activity around her office and her branch, the Belconnen branch. Ellnor provided a start to many in the Labor movement, including current ACT chief minister Andrew Barr. Along with her husband, she played a significant role in opening up a multicultural Australia and Canberra, where diversity was embraced and celebrated. Her loss is felt deeply by all those close to her and across the party. Vale, Ellnor Grassby. National Security 47 13:32 Mr THOMPSON 281826 Herbert The Labor Prime Minister once said, 'My word is my bond.' But, on national security, Australians are seeing the opposite. There is no such thing as 'ISIS brides'. They are ISIS members who set out to cause harm to us and our partners around the world. This Labor government has said it has nothing to do with trying to bring these ISIS sympathisers and members back to Australia, but that is simply not the case. We've seen Minister Burke's friend travel over to Syria to give these ISIS sympathisers their passports so they can travel back to Australia. This simply isn't good enough, because it puts the lives of Australians at risk. We've seen and heard from people with firsthand experience of these ISIS sympathisers. They have spoken about wanting to make bombs. We've heard others say that they want to poison people. These are the types of people that this government is turning a blind eye to. They want them back in Australia. They can stop these people from returning. We do not want terrorists brought back to Australia. We do not want these ISIS members to be brought back here. We want to keep Australians safe. I say we leave these ISIS members where they are. Tertiary Education and Training 47 13:34 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley Last week, I had the privilege of hosting the Minister for Skills and Training in Dunkley to announce a $30 million investment to establish the Digital, AI and Technology Centre of Excellence at Chisholm TAFE in Frankston. This centre will place local TAFE students and teachers at the forefront of cutting-edge skills in one of Australia's fastest growing sectors, delivering modern, job-ready training for people across Dunkley and the broader region. As the member for Dunkley, one of my top priorities is ensuring our community can access the very best training opportunities right here at home, and this investment will strengthen local pathways to high-value careers. The Albanese Labor government is also rebuilding TAFE and backing apprentices with up to $10,000 in direct support to help train carpenters, plumbers and sparkies—those we need to build more homes in our communities. This includes 1,870 apprentices in training in Dunkley. Since 1 July, more than 11,000 apprentices have commenced housing construction trades with strong uptake in carpentry, plumbing and electrical work. While the Liberals plan to dismantle activities that boost productivity and the economy, we continue to deliver the skills and training we need in communities like Dunkley. Fuel 48 13:35 Mr KATTER HX4 Kennedy This place reminds me of the comment, 'Nero fiddled while Rome burned.' We are now importing $62,000 million worth of fuel every year. There's a fight going on right at the heart of the supply line and the supply of oil. Why has our country chosen to import $62,000 million of fuel—that's $12,000 for every family in Australia every year—when we have 32 per cent self-sufficiency in oil, we are arguably the biggest exporter of sugar and we are amongst the three or four biggest exporters of grain in the world? Guess where you get ethanol from? Grain and sugar. That's where you get it from. Brazil is on 68 per cent ethanol and is totally self-sufficient in oil. But here we are in the most precarious situation, and nothing is being done. We're amongst the four biggest sugar-exporting countries. We're amongst the three biggest grain-exporting countries. We are 32 per cent self-sufficient in oil anyway. When the CopperString is built, the vanadium oil deposits will open up right across the top of North Queensland. Massive oil— (Time expired) Middle East 48 13:37 Mr ZAPPIA HWB Makin Last week, Adelaide identity and businessman Sam Shahin organised the display of a public banner with the names and ages of the 18,457 children killed in Gaza between 7 October 2023 and 19 July 2025. More have died since then. The banner placed on North Terrace in Adelaide's CBD was a reproduction of an initiative by well-known US artist Phil Buehler titled Wall of Tears that is now exhibited in Brooklyn, New York. Within about a day of the Adelaide banner being installed, it was vandalised, torn down and removed. The Palestinian children killed and listed on the banner had done no wrong to Israel and had no say in political events in their homeland. They were innocent, defenceless children. The Wall of Tears banner presented a confronting truth about Israel's incursion into Gaza. It is a truth that cannot be ignored; a truth that these are not just statistics but 18,457 real lives of innocent children and babies who were violently killed as expendable casualties of conflict; and a truth that will not go away by tearing down a banner, because, unlike the lives of the children, the banner can and will be replaced. National Security 48 13:38 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey Growing up, I took safety for granted. We all did. But the fact is that, today, Australia just isn't as safe as it used to be. With the Middle East situation rapidly escalating, tough border policies are more important now than ever. We must protect our way of life. But look at Labor and the Greens. We only see national security contradictions. They say ISIS brides aren't welcome, then they quietly issue passports. They pretend their hands are tied while letting NGOs arrange secret returns for people who joined a terrorist regime. Radicalisation doesn't just vanish. ASIO currently manages 18,000 individuals on a stretched watchlist. Adding high-risk returnees is just completely reckless. We cannot compromise or make exemptions when it comes to national safety. This is exactly why the coalition created the 'keeping Australia safe' bill. If anyone helps bring people back who are linked to terror without clear, direct ministerial approval, they will face up to 10 years in prison. If Labor ministers want these returns, they should step up and sign their names publicly. No more hiding behind bureaucratic excuses or outside groups—Australians deserve absolute clarity. They deserve total transparency and, most importantly, they deserve a government that refuses to compromise and that will always put Australia's security first. Parliament 48 13:40 Ms BYRNES 299145 Cunningham I recently had the pleasure of hosting Dina Sultan in my office for work experience. Dina is a University of Wollongong student studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Studies, and she wrote the following speech about her time in my office: This week I was given an incredible opportunity to complete work experience in the federal member Alison Byrnes' office. This experience has been critical in deepening my understanding of how politics and law cross in real-world decision-making. By working with her team, it gave me first hand insight of issues and challenges that our community faces day to day and the responsibilities which Alison and other elected representatives face on a day to day basis, whether it's the Israeli president being invited to Australia or assisting someone who is having difficulties with Centrelink. This experience highlighted how important community voice and advocacy is in shaping our policies which reflect on the needs of the people in our community. It has not only strengthened my passion for public service and law, but also reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career where I, myself, can contribute to a positive change through law and politics. I will be forever grateful for the knowledge I gained and this will undoubtedly lead me as I continue my studies and future career. And on a more personal level, this experience has confirmed my interest in the foundations of law and government to the extent that I had found myself reading the Australian Constitution. Thank you so much, Dina. She wrote that in about 20 minutes, and she's an absolute champion. National Security 49 13:42 Mr CHAFFEY 316312 Parkes I rise to speak on the matter of allowing ISIS brides to return to Australia—personally, one of the most difficult issues I've had to address in this place. Australians are compassionate people. We value our families. We care for our friends and for our neighbours. We extend the hand of help to many nations. It does not come naturally to say no, but in this case we cannot ignore the fact that bringing back people who have made the choice to actively support a merciless terrorist regime is an unacceptable risk to this country. It is a proven, unacceptable risk—we're not just talking about hypotheticals here. In the case of ISIS brides, it is a clear case where logic must overrule emotion. We are talking about people here who have made the choice to take a stance against our country and against our way of life. Their children have been raised within the confines of a terrorist organisation where Australia is the enemy. As a federal member of this parliament, representing a geographical area more than half of New South Wales, it is my duty to put the safety of the people of the Parkes electorate and our nation first. I cannot support actions that would welcome people who have chosen to support terrorism back into this country. It would be misguided, it would be gutless and it would be downright dangerous. Moore Electorate: Arts 49 13:43 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore It was a real pleasure to welcome to Joondalup the member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, in her capacity as a special envoy to the arts on 25 March, and to bring together such a strong cross-section of our local arts community. We had representatives from the Peter Cowan Writers Centre, the Heathridge branch of the Woodturners Association of Western Australia, the Joondalup Symphony Orchestra, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Mirabilis Collective, the Creative Edge Art Collective, the Joondalup Community Arts Association and the City of Joondalup all in the room. What stood out to me was just how much talent, passion and commitment exists right here in our community, as well as the very real challenges the sector is facing. We spoke about the importance of sustainable funding, the pressures on volunteer-run organisations, and the need to create more opportunities for local artists to develop and showcase their work. There was also a really strong and clear message about the need for fit-for-purpose infrastructure. As I said in my inaugural speech, culture is infrastructure, too. It was encouraging to see the level of support for that idea in the room. I'll continue to advocate for the kind of investment that ensures our local arts sector can not only survive but thrive, because, if we're serious about Joondalup as Western Australia's second CBD, we need to invest in the infrastructure that brings it to life, and that includes the arts. National Security 49 13:45 Mr WALLACE 265967 Fisher The Albanese Labor government continues to obfuscate on the return of the so-called ISIS brides. It claims the ISIS brides are not welcome yet fails to use existing tools under the temporary exclusion order regime to prevent their return. Section 10 of the Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Act empowers the minister to issue a TEO if satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that it would substantially assist in preventing terrorism related activities, or if ASIO assesses the person as a direct or indirect risk to politically motivated violence. Islamic State is a brutal terrorist regime responsible for unspeakable crimes against humanity. The ISIS brides' involvement with and support of Islamic State clearly makes them a potential threat, even if they haven't been directly engaged in terrorism. All ISIS brides travelled to the same declared area to support this brutal group. That is, in and of itself, a criminal offence. How can only one person be deemed to be worthy of a TEO? The minister has a very broad discretion, yet he has failed to act. If the government is serious about preventing their return, then why isn't it using the TEO regime to do so? Australians are rightly concerned about the return of the ISIS brides and deserve more decisive action from their government. Mental Health 50 13:46 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner There is no greater investment we can make in Australia's future than investing in the mental health and wellbeing of our young people. When young Australians are supported early and close to home, they thrive, and so do our communities. In my electorate of Bonner, there are over 2½ thousand young people under the age of 25 experiencing ongoing mental health conditions. It is critical that we have local services that can meet this growing need and support our growing population. That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering new, enhanced and expanded free mental health services for young people, including in Bonner. Last week, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride and I toured headspace in Capalaba, a federally funded youth mental health service providing free support to young people across Redland City and across my electorate of Bonner. I'm so proud to say that, as part of the government's additional $72.7 million investment to strengthen headspace nationwide, headspace Capalaba is receiving an almost $800,000 funding boost. No-one should suffer in silence. I will continue to advocate for the mental health supports in our community that our young people deserve. Child Care 50 13:48 Dr WEBSTER 281688 Mallee I rise to speak about a deeply concerning and entrenched pattern of behaviour by the Labor government. In Mallee, which is over a third of Victoria, there are many childcare deserts. People have to travel—and I know one who has to travel—200 kilometres a day in order to take their child to child care. This is ridiculous. It's beyond ridiculous. What is worse is this: in 2023, the state Victorian Labor candidate claimed that there would be a $5 million new child care developed in the Loddon Shire—the Loddon Shire is important because there are actually three towns without any child care at all—and that promise was secured for a place called Wedderburn. That facility is almost complete and should be opened very shortly. But what we had in the 2025 election was the Labor candidate announcing another $5 million for a new child care in Loddon Shire. Well, what happened? Suddenly, we have the new minister for child care saying, 'Oh, it actually wasn't a new child care'—actually, she said it was for a new child care, but we found out in this last week that it is not a new child care; it is just mopping up the mess of state Labor's lack of funding for the Wedderburn childcare centre. Holt Electorate: International Mother Language Day 50 13:49 Ms FERNANDO 299964 Holt Last week I hosted an International Mother Language Day high tea. I was joined by representatives from language schools right across Holt. They are dedicated people who give their time, often as volunteers, to keep culture, identity and heritage alive in our community. In Holt, 165 beautiful languages are spoken. This diversity is our greatest strength. But language is more than just words. It carries our stories, our history and our deep sense of belonging. On a personal note, as I raise my son Ilija, I want him to grow up connected to his heritage. That's why I hope he will learn not only English but also Singhalese, and, from his father's side, Macedonian. The work of our local language schools make this possible for families like mine. I would like to thank the following schools for making this event a grand success: VTA Tamil School, Gyan Jyoti Pathsala Cranbourne, Sunkalp-Ek Nischay, Sada Virsa Punjabi School, Bal Chautari Lynbrook, Dhamma Sarana Temple, VSL Kannada, Hindi Shiksha Sung, Bharathi Academy and Andisha Community Language School. Thank you for all the work that you do. National Security 50 13:51 Mr WILLCOX 286535 Dawson National security is the first duty of government, and this Albanese Labor administration is failing the most basic test. The Prime Minister tells Australians, 'These ISIS brides aren't welcome,' yet their own ministers are quietly shuffling them in the back door. While the Home Affairs minister says that his hands are tied, the Foreign minister is busy issuing passports to bring them in. Wow! These women didn't just join a book club; they chose to align themselves with a most brutal, terrorist regime. Radicalisation doesn't just vanish, and every high-risk returnee exerts extra pressure on our already stretched security agencies. Labor's self-managed returns policy is a reckless loophole. It effectively outsources our own national security to NGOs, allowing individuals linked to terror back into our suburbs without direct ministerial oversight. This is why the coalition has introduced the 'keeping Australia safe' bill. Our bill restores accountability. Assisting the return of anyone linked to a terrorist organisation will become a criminal offence, punishable by 10 years in jail. If ministers want these returns, they must be prepared to sign their name to them. It's time for Labor to front up to the public, stop the secrecy and put the safety of Australians first. Redfern, Capt. Wayne 50 13:52 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter I want to recognise one of the hunter's finest, Captain Wayne Redfern, who has officially hung up the helmet after an incredible 40 years with Fire and Rescue NSW Station 349 at Kurri Kurri. But, like a lot of local firies, Wayne's story didn't start there. Before joining Fire and Rescue NSW back in 1986, he'd already spent 15 years with NSW Rural Fire Service. That means, for more than half a century, Wayne has been turning up at all hours of the day and night to protect Hunter families. In communities right across the coalfields, our firefighters aren't just emergency responders. They're neighbours, workmates, coaches at the footy club and volunteers at the local school fete. Wayne has lived that community spirit every single day of his career. Whether it was responding to the house fires, car accidents, industrial incidents or natural disasters, people in the Hunter knew that, when the pager went off, Wayne would be there. It wasn't just that service on the ground either. In 2016 he proudly brought home a silver medal for the New South Wales Firefighter Championships. That's a pretty good effort for a bloke who spent his life running towards danger while the rest of us were running the other way. On behalf of the entire Hunter community, we thank you, Wayne, for your dedication, your leadership and your services, and you enjoy a well-earned retirement, mate, and have a good one at it. Cheers. National Security 51 13:54 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein Australians are looking at the events on the other side of the world right now, and they're of course deeply concerned about escalation and the threats it could pose to global peace and security. They also look at it and say, 'Why would we want to bring those problems here?' We know in Iran we have an Islamist regime that has done despicable things from treating their own citizens appallingly, subjugating women, murdering homosexuals and of course engaging in the export of terrorism. We know that the Albanese government has a shocking record on national security. It did things like bringing people from Gaza to Australia without doing proper security vetting and assessments, which is one of the most dangerous and reckless acts I have ever seen in public life. Why would we now then turn around and bring Islamist ISIS sympathisers to our country without proper checks and inspections? This is the problem with what the government is doing right now. They claim their hands are tied. The Prime Minister says he can't do anything about it. Now is the time for leadership. Now is the time for people to stand up and defend Australia's national interest against Islamist ISIS sympathisers, who pose a serious risk to the Australian way of life and its security. It's simply unacceptable to see a situation where our government do nothing in the face of such a serious threat, and all they can do is dither with that responsibility. We have a plan and have made it very clear that, if you engage in bringing Islamist ISIS sympathisers to this country, you go to jail, and we are happy to stand by that. Workplace Safety 51 13:55 Ms JORDAN-BAIRD 316021 Gorton Australia has had its fourth-hottest summer on record. In Victoria, we saw temperatures exceed 45 degrees in Melbourne's western suburbs, and a record high of 48.9 degrees was recorded in Victoria's north-west. Our Caroline Springs CFA went out and fought the Harcourt and Longwood bushfires. For that, I commend and thank our incredible volunteers. They should have been the only people working in extreme heat conditions, but they weren't. There are still instances of workplaces failing to meet the general duty for employers in ensuring that workers are not being exposed to health and safety risks, and that includes risks related to heat. Working in heat, especially extreme heat, is a significant work health and safety concern. I know that my husband, Chris, who is a local sparky, had to pull from his own annual leave to avoid working in dangerous extreme heat conditions this summer. I know that other members of my community had to risk their health and safety too. They told me about it at a recent meeting with Transport Workers' Union delegates and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Airport workers told us that temperatures on the tarmac can exceed 50 degrees. I'd like to thank the TWU delegates for raising this important issue as well as the minister for coming out to Melbourne's western suburbs and making the time to hear directly from workers in my community. Because listening to the people who live these issues day to day is where real change starts. I know this, and Labor knows this. I thank the House. National Security 51 13:57 Mr HASTIE 260805 Canning We will always protect the Australian way of life. Protecting our freedom, security and prosperity requires leadership and vigilance, especially after the Bondi Beach terror attack. We can't allow militant political Islam to grow in our communities. That's why we oppose the return of ISIS sympathisers to Australia. This is our home, and we don't want traitors living amongst us. ISIS was responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed this century: rape, enslavement, torture and murder right across the Middle East and Africa. Religious and ethnic minorities suffered under the yoke of ISIS. Who can forget the 21 brave Egyptian Christians who were beheaded on a Libyan beach in 2015 in the name of militant political Islam? Let us not forget that it was ISIS who inspired the Bondi Beach massacre. So why would the Albanese government allow the return of ISIS sympathisers to our shores? If the average Australian can see the threat that ISIS poses, why can't this Labor government see the same thing? The Albanese government denies any role in the return of ISIS sympathisers despite mounting evidence of its assistance. But the truth is that the Albanese government is either incompetent or lying. Either way, on this side of the House, we say to ISIS sympathisers there is no room for you in Australia. We do not want traitors living amongst us, and we will do everything in our power to close the door on you, because the Australian people and their way of life always come first. Liberal Party of Australia 52 13:58 Ms SITOU 298121 Reid I send a warm welcome to the new leader of the opposition. It's the first time he has had the job in this chamber. It's certainly not a sentiment he afforded the previous leader of the opposition. In his first speech as Leader of the Opposition, the member for Hume said his party was in the position that they're in because they stopped listening to Australians, and he is right. They are tone-deaf to the needs of the Australian community. At two elections, the electorates wanted action on climate change. Those opposite gave them a nuclear energy fantasy and dropped net zero entirely. The electorates said they wanted help with the cost of living. Those opposite refused to support energy bill relief and tax cuts. Australians want us focused on them, and those opposite can only focus on themselves. They never listened to what Australians wanted, and my message to Australians is very clear: Labor will always listen to what you want because we are focused on you. They wanted cheaper health care; we have provided them cheaper medicines and a record increase in bulk-billing rates. They wanted cost-of-living relief, and we've provided student debt relief and tax cuts. I welcome the Leader of the Opposition. Maybe it's time you start listening to the Australian people and not to the extreme members of your party. The SPEAKER 53517 In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION 52 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION Member for Farrer 52 Resignation 52 14:00 The SPEAKER 53517 I inform the House that on 27 February 2026 I received a letter from the honourable Sussan Ley resigning her seat as the member for the electoral division of Farrer. Consideration is being given to possible dates for the by-election, and I shall inform the House in due course of the dates which I have fixed for the by-election. SHADOW MINISTRY 52 SHADOW MINISTRY Presentation 52 14:00 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume For the information of honourable members, I present a shadow ministry list reflecting changes announced on 17 February 2026. The document read as follows— SHADOW MINISTRY Each box represents a portfolio. Shadow cabinet ministers are shown in bold typ e. 14:00 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I rise on that to, firstly, say congratulations to the Leader of the Opposition. It's a great honour to lead a major political party, and I congratulate him on becoming Leader of the Liberal Party. In the other place is the deputy leader; as well, I congratulate her. I do want to say I spoke with the former opposition leader Sussan Ley last week. I offered her the opportunity, of course, to give a valedictory speech to the House in which she served her community for a long time, for 25 years, but I fully respect her decision. It has been a difficult time for her. Nevertheless, I think she has shown grace and dignity as a result. She can take pride in the fact that she represented the Farrer electorate for a quarter of a century. She gave her community, our parliament and our nation her best. She will take her place in history as the first woman to lead the Liberal Party, and nothing will take that away from her. I wish her the best in whatever she does in the next chapter of her life. Honourable members: Hear, hear! STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE 54 STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 54 14:02 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler The 2026 winter Olympics has come to a close, and the members of team Australia are celebrating our nation's best ever results. Between 2010 and 2022, Australia won three gold medals across three winter games. In Milano Cortina, Australia won three gold medals in three days. It says something about the effort. Friday 13 February, when Josie Baff won snowboarding gold and Scotty James won his third Olympic medal with a silver in the men's half-pipe, is now officially the most successful day in our winter Olympics history. The efforts of every single Australian Olympian are a credit to their extraordinary dedication and drive. I had the opportunity to have a video call with Alisa Camplin and the winter Olympians as well, who were enjoying their time representing our great nation. Olympians, of course, make incredible sacrifices to pursue their dream, and they don't do it by themselves. They do it with the support of their loved ones and with the support of their family and teammates, but they also do it with the support of Australia. I spoke with one of our flagbearers, Jakara Anthony, a great product of Barwon Heads in Victoria—not a place you normally associate with the snow and winter sports—who won gold in the dual moguls, the first Australian Olympian to achieve that feat, and Cooper Woods, who secured Australia's first gold of the games in the single moguls, a moment that his teammate Matt Graham celebrated by lifting Cooper onto his shoulders. Matt himself went on to claim bronze in the dual moguls. Many of the athletes I spoke to were among the 32 Australians competing in their first winter Olympics. They stood tall in the global spotlight, and I'm sure they'll be part of future Olympic success for many years to come. This Friday, the winter Paralympics begin, and, on behalf of all Australians, we wish the 14 athletes who will wear the green and gold all the very best. 14:04 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume I join the Prime Minister in congratulating the Australian winter Olympics team. The 2026 Milano Cortina games were the most successful winter Olympics ever for our nation, with three golds, two silvers and one bronze, as you've just heard, along with some incredible performances and enormous determination. Amongst those were a number of medallists from the town where I grew up and surrounding towns within the electorate of Eden-Monaro. We've come a long way since that extraordinary performance by Steven Bradbury all those years ago that many of us will remember. What an extraordinary series of performances we've seen at these winter Olympics. They're amazing athletes, and I congratulate the entire team. Fifty Australians, more than 30 debutants, competed across 11 sports, ably assisted by big support teams, who play an enormously important role. Few Australians have the honour of representing their country at the Olympics, and they are now part of this esteemed pantheon. I wish the winter Paralympics team the very best as they approach their competition in the coming days. On behalf of the federal opposition, I congratulate our 2026 winter Olympics team. Your country is so very proud of you. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 55 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE National Security 55 14:06 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume Prime Minister, there are reports that at least 34 passports have recently been issued under this government to facilitate the return of individuals who left Australia to join ISIS. Can the PM confirm that none of his ministers, nor any member of staff, made representations to any relevant departments or agencies to support or expedite the issuing of Australian passports to ISIS sympathisers in Syria? 14:06 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I'll start by saying: … they're Australian citizens, they now have an entitlement; a right to come back to our country. … … … … there's no silver bullet. Those are not my words. They're the words of that soft person, Peter Dutton. He used to sit on that side of the chamber. We'll work with those people, given that they're Australian citizens and they have right to come back … … … … … if people are Australian citizens, they have a right to return and I need to deal with the realities of the way in which our laws and constitution work … Further: … there's good reason as to why we don't want media attention to some individual cases. I don't want cameras parked out the front of schools, or people being scrutinised as they're going into a mosque. Again, guess who? It was Peter Dutton. Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! Members on my right will cease interjecting immediately. The Manager of Opposition Business is entitled to raise his point of order, and he will do so in silence. Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to section 104 on relevance. It might be the Prime Minister's birthday today, but that doesn't mean he should get leeway not to answer a direct question about whether any of his ministers made directions to have these passports issued. The SPEAKER 53517 The manager is correct; the Prime Minister was asked a question about his government and any ministers involved with these decisions. He has had a minute explaining the background to the question, and I'll ask him now to return to the question. Mr ALBANESE R36 What I'm doing is explaining the law as provided by those opposite. They're the laws under which this government is operating, which those opposite put in place when they were in government. I'm talking about the law. We don't have to just include Peter Dutton, because people come and go from the frontbench over there. One of them who's back is the member for Berowra. This is what he had to say: Although many of these people are of counterterrorism interest, under article 12.4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, it is their right, as Australian citizens, to return to Australia. The SPEAKER 53517 The manager on a further point of order? Mr Tehan 210911 You asked that the Prime Minister bring himself to be directly relevant to the question. The question was directly relevant as to ministerial involvement, and he is not coming back to that part of the question. The SPEAKER 53517 The Prime Minister needs to be directly relevant to the question. If he has some quotes—I'm not sure if he's still reading from the same quote. He's entitled to answer the question as long as he's being directly relevant. He can't talk about any other topics. I'm going to listen carefully. He's had some time now, and he was asked a specific question regarding his government's involvement, but he's answering the question. I can't get a yes or no answer, as much as you would like that, but that's not allowed under the standing orders. I don't have that direction. Mr ALBANESE R36 What I'm doing is explaining what they know to be the case, which is that we're operating under the law. Indeed, the member for Berowra went on to say: The proposed TEO scheme doesn't arbitrarily deprive these people of the right to abode. Instead, it necessarily gives the government an effective means to monitor and regulate the return of these fighters … We are not repatriating these people. We have made it clear. A non-government organisation took us to court demanding that we do that. We opposed that court action. We won the court decision, and those opposite know that this is the case. The hypocrisy on this is extraordinary, given that 40 people came home on their watch, including not just partners or relatives but ISIS fighters. Middle East 56 14:11 Mr NG 316052 Menzies My question is to the Prime Minister. What is the Albanese government's response to recent events in Iran and the Middle East, including how the government is supporting Australians in the region? 14:12 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for his question. I'm surprised, frankly, that this was not the topic of the first question from those opposite, but it says it all. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Page is now warned. Mr ALBANESE R36 I hope you're not suggesting that that applies over here. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Page has made his intervention. I'm going to ask him to assist the House by not intervening anymore. Mr ALBANESE R36 Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against what is an oppressive regime. The Iranian regime has directed attacks on Australian soil and has brought death, destruction and chaos on its neighbours for decades. While Australia's not directly involved in current military strikes, we've been clear of our utter rejection of the brutal Iranian regime. We are concerned about regional escalation and the protection of civilians, and we note the public statement just put out by the Gulf States and the United States of America. Australian officials are closely monitoring the evolving situation. We support the US acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security, and we support the Iranian people being allowed to determine their own future. Our first priority is the safety is the safety of Australians in the region. We understand how distressing and challenging this time is, and we will do all that we can to provide you with information and to support you. We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Iran and to leave as soon as possible if it is safe to do so. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited due to the correct decision that we made to expel the Iranian ambassador and close our embassy in Tehran after the evidence of the IRGC's involvement in terrorist attacks on Australian soil. Given our concerns around security in the region, we've also upgraded Australia's travel advice to 'do not travel' for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has activated its crisis centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region. The registration portal is now open for Australians seeking assistance in Israel, Iran, the UAE and Qatar. Travellers should prioritise their safety, monitor events and follow local advice. Australians requiring consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre 24/7 on 1300555135 in Australia or, if they're outside Australia, on +61262613305. The SPEAKER 53517 On indulgence, the Leader of the Opposition to associate himself with those remarks. 14:15 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume I associate myself with the sentiments of the Prime Minister in what he said a moment ago. This is a genocidal, authoritarian and despotic regime that has existed in Iran since 1979. They have been responsible for unspeakable acts. They have supported terrorist organisations throughout the world. Hezbollah, Hamas and the IRGC have acted to support terrorist acts throughout the world, including in this country—we have seen two acts, at least, in this country. Of course the listing of the IRGC was something that both sides of the parliament supported. It should have happened earlier, but both sides of the parliament have supported that. We welcome the actions of the US and Israel. We welcome the demise of the Ayatollah, and we hope for the demise of this regime and a replacement of this regime with democracy and freedom for the people of Iran. National Security 57 14:16 Mr HASTIE 260805 Canning My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. I refer to notes taken by the Secretary to the Department of Home Affairs during a meeting she and the minister had with Save the Children about repatriating ISIS sympathisers—before the last election—that were provided to the Senate. These notes have a reference that 'TB stated a commitment to find a way'. What exactly was the commitment the minister made to Save the Children at this meeting? 14:17 Mr BURKE DYW Watson The evidence clearly is the fact that there was no repatriation and that there was no assistance. That's what this government has done. This government has made sure that we have not in any way—in any way—provided any form of support for these individuals. That is why the meetings were followed with a letter from Save the Children complaining that the government had refused to offer any support. Middle East 57 14:17 Ms STANLEY 265990 Werriwa My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs. What advice is the Albanese government providing Australians in the Middle East who might be impacted by travel disruptions? 14:18 Mr MARLES HWQ Corio I thank the member for her question. Let me start by saying that Australia stands with the people of Iran in their brave struggle against an oppressive autocracy, which in the last few weeks has seen them kill thousands of their own citizens. As the Prime Minister has said, we support the United States led action, which has as a core aim denying Iran the ability of ever having a deployable nuclear weapon—which would be a catastrophe for the world. Australia has a number of equities in the Middle East. There are more than 100 Australian serving personnel in a number of countries across the region, most of whom are in the United Arab Emirates, where we have had for many years operational headquarters at Al Minhad outside of Dubai. I can report to the House that all of those serving men and women are accounted for and, right now, are safe. We have about 115,000 Australians across the Middle East, which represents a significant consular challenge. Again, as the Prime Minister has said, right now we have a 'do not travel' advisory in place for Iran, Israel and Lebanon but also the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. We have had a 'do not travel' advisory in place for Iran since 2020 and not only there but for other parts of the Middle East—for example, in southern Lebanon, where there has been a 'do not travel' advisory in place since 2019. As the Prime Minister has said, our ability to provide effective consular assistance to those Australians in Iran since August of last year has been very limited, but we are encouraging Australians there and in Israel as best as possible to register on the crisis portal, and that has been extended to Australians in the UAE and Qatar. What that means is that those people who register will be given direct communication about our advisories, the latest information and any actions that Australia is planning. Beyond that, we encourage people to follow the advisories we publish on Smartraveller. For those in the region who have particular concerns and, indeed, for those Australians who have particular concerns for family in the region, our 24-hour consular hotline is available, and that number, for people outside of Australia is +61262613305. With respect to air travel, the most obvious point to make is that airspace across the Middle East is currently blacked out, and so there is no air travel at all. Without speculating too much, what I would observe is that, as air travel starts to reopen, we expect that the most expeditious flights which will come online quickest will be commercial options. Now, this is a fast-moving situation. As information comes to hand we are publishing it as quickly as we can in our travel advisories, and it is forming the assessments around the actions that we take because our primary concern right now is for the safety and welfare of Australians in the Middle East. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 58 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Acknowledgement 58 14:21 The SPEAKER 53517 Before I call the honourable member for Calare, I'm pleased to inform the gallery today are 290 students and staff from Christian Schools Australia and other Christian school associations. They've been attending the Compass Student Leaders conference in Canberra over the last several days. Also present in the gallery today is a group of hardworking and leading Australian GPs representing the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. A warm welcome to you all. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 58 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Lithgow Railway Workshop 58 14:21 Mr GEE 261393 Calare My question is to the Prime Minister. The Lithgow locomotive workshop is a critical piece of railway infrastructure. The site is needed to expand and secure existing freight rail businesses and new ventures such as battery electric train manufacturing, yet it seems that Pacific National wants to sell it to a property developer. The community wants the site saved, and I note that the recent NSW Country Labor Conference unanimously called on the state and federal governments to begin discussions to buy the site and support local workers and businesses. Will your government do this? 14:22 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Calare for his question. Indeed, I was in Orange, in the member's electorate, just a couple of weeks ago at the country conference, and I can assure the member that the many members who were there enjoyed their time in what is a thriving regional city, Orange, that is seeing a diversification of its economy. We were very welcomed there, and I thank the community through the member for hosting us. I do note that this is a Pacific National asset, and Sydney Trains operate the line there. The government is supporting a future made in Australia through our National Reconstruction Fund which is supporting the revitalisation of our local manufacturing sector. We're continuing to progress work through a variety of mechanisms, including the National Rail Action Plan. What that was aimed at doing and was subject of one of the commitments that we made in a budget reply is to avoid the situation whereby different states were all trying to manufacture all at once and to get coordination, to get productivity and, therefore, to get costs down for Australian manufacturing. That was an agreement that we've taken through state and territory transport ministers as well. That includes, of course, not just passenger rail but also the rail freight industry, and one of the things that has been very successful about Australian rail manufacturing is that, unlike some of the carriages that have been commissioned overseas in parts of Asia, the trains actually fit the tracks. When the trains need renovation, you don't have to shut down the tracks like when the Sydney light rail track was shut down for more than six months. It's just like when we manufacture ships here you don't have a situation where the ferries on the Parramatta River can't go under the bridges because people would be decapitated if they were on them. It makes sense for us to make things here. The minister will continue to engage with the member, and I'll also raise this issue with the Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator Ayres, in the other place on his behalf. Cost of Living 58 14:25 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering real cost-of-living relief for Australians and making a difference in their lives? How does this compare to other approaches to the cost of living? 14:25 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Dunkley for her question, and I congratulate her on the anniversary of her election in the Dunkley by-election to this place. My second-favourite 'Jodie', I thank you for the question! In the last fortnight I've seen the positive difference that our government is making in easing cost-of-living pressures, improving the lives of Australians and investing in our nation's future. In Melbourne I met nurses at the Royal Children's Hospital who'd been supported by paid prac while they did their training placements. In Croydon, with the members for Deakin and Menzies, I met tradies benefiting from free TAFE and the $10,000 cash incentives to study their trades and build more homes. At the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Jagajaga, I congratulated Rob Winther for his 60 years of service to our veterans, and I spoke to veterans about the difference that it's made us properly resourcing the department and not holding up the payments which they deserve. I visited a newly fully bulk-billing GP practice in Launceston, one of 3,400 across the country, with our investments meaning more people are getting bulk-billed. At an endo clinic in Werribee with the member for Lalor, I spoke to women benefiting from our record investment in women's health. In Adelaide, with Premier Malinauskas, I announced some 17,000 new homes, including 7,000 reserved for first home buyers. I visited the AUKUS facility in the member for Port Adelaide's electorate and looked at the extraordinary investment that is taking place which will mean that we're building nuclear powered submarines there in Adelaide at those facilities. In Orange, we talked about the infrastructure and services we're delivering for people in the regions. As of yesterday, over 250,000 cheaper home batteries have been installed across the nation, cutting power bills with cheaper, cleaner energy. Mr ALBANESE R36 Mr Speaker, I'll take the interjection. We encourage that member to meet more people. We encourage you to get out and about. We do that. Every one of these measures that we're undertaking are practical measures delivering real change for Australians—strengthening Medicare, easing the cost of living and investing in skills, while those opposite have been busy just fighting each other. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! I'll just remind the member for Barker I can definitely hear him from here. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Barker's had a good go. I'm sure he wants to stay. Let's be calm and then we can hear from the Leader of the Nationals. National Security 59 14:29 Mr LITTLEPROUD 265585 Maranoa My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Can the minister inform the House when he or his office last had contact with Dr Jamal Rifi concerning the repatriation of ISIS sympathisers? 14:29 Mr BURKE DYW Watson It would be many, many months since I've had a conversation with Dr Jamal Rifi on that particular issue—very many months since I've had a conversation on that. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Casey is going to leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Casey then left the chamber. The SPEAKER 53517 This continual— Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! Members on my right are not helping the situation. This continual conversation, non-stop, during answers is not going to continue. The minister in continuation. Mr BURKE DYW What followed, the last time that I think Dr Jamal Rifi was present at a meeting I had on this issue, was a letter from Save the Children, who were also at that meeting, which included this sentence: 'We are deeply disappointed with this decision to refuse assistance to Australians in trouble overseas.' Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 We'll just be clear. The minister was asked a question about an individual. He was giving information to the House about the individual and the meeting he had, so there's no way he could be any more directly relevant than he was. Albanese Government: Economy 59 14:31 Mr NEUMANN HVO Blair My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government cutting taxes for workers and making the budget more sustainable? How does this compare with other approaches? 14:31 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin There is no finer local member in this parliament than the member for Blair. I thank him for his question and, on behalf of his friends on this side of the House, I send my best wishes to Carolyn, as well, as she recovers from some of her health challenges in recent times. This government is hard at work putting our fifth budget together. There will be a major focus on inflation in the near term and productivity over the medium term and also on making our economy more resilient at a time of extreme global uncertainty. Developments in the Middle East are an important reminder of volatility in the global economy right now, and we are closely monitoring implications for oil prices in particular. Annual inflation was steady in January—much lower than we inherited but already higher than we'd like, because of a combination of temporary and more persistent pressures. That's why we are helping with the cost of living in ways that those opposite don't support, and it's also why we are improving the budget in ways that they were incapable of. We've found $114 billion in savings. We've delivered two surpluses. We've got their debt down by $176 billion. We improved the budget position in the MYEFO in December, but we do know that there is more work to do. We are strengthening the budget at the same time as we are cutting income taxes for all 14 million taxpayers. Because of our combined tax cuts, the average taxpayer will keep an extra $50 a week to help with the cost of living. If the new opposition leader had his way, Australians would not be getting a tax cut this year or next year, and deficits would be bigger in both years as well. He was the shadow Treasurer responsible for their policy of higher taxes for every taxpayer, bigger deficits and more debt. Not content with being the worst minister in the Morrison government, he was also the worst shadow Treasurer in memory, so they made him the Leader of the Liberal Party. This is why they can't release their election review. I've seen it. I refer you to page 21 of the unreleased election review, which says— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House, rising on a point of order? Mr Hastie 260805 It's relevance, standing order 104. The member for Blair asked about tax cuts and budget repair. He also mentioned other approaches. He didn't ask for an impression of Paul Keating, where he just goes on the attack— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! I will remind the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House that he needs to state the point of order. That was an abuse of your point of order process, but we're going to deal with this. The Treasurer wasn't asked for an alternative approach; he was asked how it compares with other approaches, so there was a difference. It is the Treasurer's birthday, along with the Prime Minister's, so I'm feeling generous today. But the rules still apply to everyone, so I'll remind the Treasurer to be directly relevant to the question he was asked. Dr CHALMERS 37998 That's very kind of you, Mr Speaker, but not as kind as the shadow minister. What a gift on my birthday! Thank you very much. The point I'm making is we're for lower taxes and smaller deficits; they're for higher income taxes and bigger deficits— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Forrest is now warned. Dr CHALMERS 37998 and that's why their election review says that that's what cost them their economic credentials. It says that on page 21; I refer everyone to it. The member for Hume is the economic and political genius who is responsible for the mess that they're in right now, and by electing him their leader they've shown they haven't learned a thing and they haven't changed a bit. The SPEAKER 53517 I think the member for Page was on a point of order regarding correct titles. I didn't want to interrupt the flow. I just remind all members, including the Treasurer, to refer to the everyone by their correct titles. National Security 60 14:36 Mr LITTLEPROUD 265585 Maranoa My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Was the minister or his office aware of intelligence advice that at least one of the ISIS sympathisers posed a security threat to Australians when he met with Dr Jamal Rifi and Save the Children in June 2025? 14:36 Mr BURKE DYW Watson Well, for the first thing, nobody ever should talk about intelligence advice that you receive from the agencies in the privacy of the House of Representatives. And, if you wanted an example of a group of people who are not ready for national security, it's when they start asking in question time about advice from intelligence agencies—when they start talking about that. Let me— The SPEAKER 53517 Hang on. Leader of the Nationals, you've asked your question. This kind of yelling non-stop is not going to continue. I'm prepared to remove you if you don't show the minister respect or the House respect as well. Mr BURKE DYW With respect to that advice that he refers to, he refers to one member of that cohort. Let me say this with respect to the one member I presume he is referring to: there is one member of this cohort where ASIO have advised that they meet the threshold for a temporary exclusion order to be put in place. ASIO are the correct experts to be able to make that assessment, and this government will not take risks with national security. So, when ASIO make that assessment and it is presented to me, the decision immediately is to make a temporary exclusion order, which is exactly what we have done. I would remind the Leader of the National Party of the words of a former leader of the National Party, who said this: All the shock jocks and so many people who call themselves patriots will say they shouldn't be allowed back into Australia, but they're Australian citizens, so you can't leave them stateless. They are entitled to come back here. They're not my words but the words of the member for Riverina. We have a situation where there are people who have been part of an appalling decision to act in support of one of the worst organisations the world has known. The SPEAKER 53517 The Leader of the House will pause for a moment. The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order? Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to direct relevance. The question was very specific: were you aware of that security threat when you met with Dr Jamal Rifi in June 2025? The SPEAKER 53517 The minister was asked a narrow question, but he is providing information regarding the actual individual he was asked about. You're asking a question, and he's giving information to the House about the ISIS sympathiser that he was asked about specifically. I am making sure his answer remains relevant to that point of the question. He's giving some context around a quote from another member of the House. Mr BURKE DYW In terms of this cohort, the government would prefer none of them to return. But if any of them meet the legal threshold for a temporary exclusion order, and our intelligence agencies give that advice, then the order will be put in place—as has happened. Medicare 61 14:40 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. How is the Albanese Labor government lifting bulk-billing rates across Australia? Why is universal access to free GP visits so important after a decade of cuts and neglect? 14:40 Mr BUTLER HWK Hindmarsh I thank the member for Forde. I think he and I first worked on a campaign together back in 1993, in the electorate of Makin for our common friend Peter Duncan. That was yet another election when the Liberal Party was promising to abolish Medicare. He learned and I learned then just how critically important it is for Labor to maintain the rage always to deliver the fundamental principles of that universal health program. That's why he fought so hard for our Strengthening Medicare agenda at the last election—to drive up bulk-billing rates in his electorate of Forde. We knew they were in freefall when we came to government in 2022, and the Treasurer's decision to triple the bulk-billing incentive in 2023 has meant that, already, the bulk-billing rate for pensioners and concession card holders has come right back over 90 per cent; it's over 91 per cent in the member's state of Queensland. We knew that bulk-billing was continuing to slide for those Australians in Middle Australia who did not have the benefit of a concession card—continuing to slide because of the multiyear freeze to the Medicare rebate put in place by the former Liberal government. Our investments on 1 November, and the record investment in bulk-billing, have been so important for Middle Australia. I'm happy to report to the member for Forde that the number of practices that bulk-bill every single patient every single time they come into their practice has doubled in his electorate, which has one of 3,500 general practices in Australia who are now 100 per cent bulk-billing. We know on this side of the House just how important that is, but those on the other side never quite learn. This is the third Liberal leader to sit opposite this Prime Minister. Each of them have tried desperately to differentiate themselves from the failures of their predecessor. But there is one thing that has united every single Liberal leader who has sat in that chair: basic opposition to the principles of Medicare. This latest leader is no different. He was a barracker for every single one of the cuts and pieces of neglect that the member for Forde talked about. When Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk-billing altogether and make every single person pay to go to see the doctor, there was no stronger supporter than the member for Hume. He said they'd be doing Australians a favour, because then they'd pay much more attention to every single GP visit they went to. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Page, on a point of order? I know it's about titles, but the Leader of the Opposition is the member for Hume, and it has been a regular occurrence with previous leaders as well. What's your point of order? Mr Hogan 218019 It is the member not acknowledging the Leader of the Opposition by that title. We could start referring to ministers as what member they are, of what seat they are, but we pay them respect as ministers. The Leader of the Opposition has an official title and respect under the standing orders, and I ask the minister to refer to him. The SPEAKER 53517 I just ask everyone for a little bit of leeway with— The SPEAKER 53517 Prime Minister, you're not helping. There are some new titles in place. There are new positions in place, so I just want to be a bit lenient with everyone for the first week or so. If it continues, Member for Page—trust me, I'm aware of it. I'm monitoring it. You do not need to get up anymore. People are referring to those. We'll just allow everyone to settle in. The Minister for Health and Ageing will assist the House by referring to everyone by their correct titles. Mr BUTLER HWK The now Leader of the Opposition said, 'We know that, by putting a price on going to the doctor, GPs and their patients will look to use the doctor's time as effectively as they possibly can.' It was all a favour to individual patients. How out of touch could you possibly be with the reality of the household budgets of Middle Australia? Middle East 62 14:45 Mr HASTIE 260805 Canning My question is to the Prime Minister. Given the war in the Middle East, and the suspension of air travel following the air strikes on Iran, has the government halted its plan to bring home ISIS sympathisers, and will the government now prioritise bringing home law-abiding Australian citizens at risk from the conflict? 14:45 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler The premise of the question is wrong. Gender Equality 62 14:45 Ms FERNANDO 299964 Holt My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for working women, and what could place this at risk? 14:45 Ms RISHWORTH HWA Kingston I'd like to thank the member for Holt for the question but also for her amazing advocacy for working women right across Australia. The Labor government has put gender equality at the heart of the Fair Work Act, which is delivering real results for Australian women. We as a government have taken action to reinvigorate enterprise bargaining. Recent ABS weekly earnings data show that women on enterprise agreements earn 12.4 per cent more. The Albanese Labor government has consistently advocated for a pay increase and protection of the penalty rates for minimum-wage and award-reliant workers, many of whom are women. Under the Albanese Labor government, the gender pay gap is now at its lowest on record, at 11.5 per cent. When the coalition left government, the gender pay gap was 14.1 per cent. The progress that we have seen hasn't happened by accident. It's the result of a government that prioritises gender equality. I'm asked what could put this at risk. Well, the biggest risk is those opposite, because the new Leader of the Opposition is no different to his predecessors when it comes to his opposition to better wages and conditions for working women. For example, following the good news of a minimum award wage increase—which many working women rely on—the member for Hume could not hide his disappointment, when he said, 'No doubt there'll be tough days ahead.' I'm not sure what he was referring to, but it certainly wasn't the low-paid workers that rely on these wage increases. When the Labor government took action to deliver pay increases to low-paid female workers and increase flexibility in working arrangements, the response from the member for Hume, in an interview on Sky News, was, 'Well, these changes just weren't necessary.' The member for Hume, the new Leader of the Opposition, needs to tell that to the working women of Australia who are benefiting from $255 a week more, on average, under this government. In an interview on Canberra radio, he was very, very critical about our laws. His big criticism? 'They were going to push wages up.' The Leader of the Opposition may have missed the memo, because that's exactly what our laws were designed to do. Of course, he may have got a bit confused, as he was a member of the former Liberal government that had an economic plan to keep wages deliberately low. We know that this government will get on and increase wages for working women, while those opposite are just the same old Liberals. Mr Hogan 218019 I ask the minister to table the document. The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. Before the member for Clark asks his question, I'm going to deal with this notion that people can get up and say that people should table documents. Everybody reads things in this House. Every question that is read out is read out. I read things out all the time. It's childish, and it's not necessary to do that when ministers are addressing the House—or anyone else. It applies to both sides. I'm asking members to cease doing that. It's nonsense. Tasmania: Salmon Fishing Industry 62 14:49 Mr WILKIE C2T Clark My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Minister, last year I wrote to you about the ecological and human risks of any emergency approval for florfenicol for salmon. I received no response, and the approval proceeded. Since then, the antibiotic has been detected in wild marine life up to 10 kilometres from the fish pens. So what penalties will be imposed for this dangerous contamination, or will the government let the salmon companies off the hook again, angling for votes in Tasmania? 14:50 Ms COLLINS HWM Franklin I thank the member for Clark for that question. As the member for Clark would be aware, the APVMA is an independent body and is responsible for the decisions around the emergency listing and use of florfenicol in Tasmanian waters. He would also know that it's the Tasmanian government's responsibility to manage its waterways. The APVMA has made a call that it may remove the emergency listing, and it is basing that decision, as it based its original decision, on new available evidence and science. And I remind him that it's an independent statutory authority. Economy 63 14:50 Mr GREGG 315154 Deakin My question is to the Treasurer. How is the Albanese Labor government helping with the cost of living and boosting retirement incomes? What are the alternative approaches to cost-of-living relief and superannuation? 14:51 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin I thank the member for Deakin for all the great work that he's doing as the newish member for Deakin and also for his question. We saw in the data last week that headline inflation was steady in January: much lower than it was under the Liberal Party but still higher than we would like. And that's why it's so important that we're getting the budget into better condition and also, at the same time, rolling out cost-of-living relief for people who are doing it tough. We've got income tax cuts coming this year and next year. We're boosting superannuation for people on lower incomes. We've got student debt relief, cheaper medicines and also more bulk-billing, because we know that more bulk-billing means less pressure on families. If you think about all the foundations of a decent society in this country, they are Medicare, superannuation, decent pay, the ability to balance work and family responsibilities. They are the foundations of a decent society, and I think it's worth the parliament understanding that the new shadow Treasurer opposes all of those things. Of the three shadow treasurers that I have faced in the last nine months, this one is easily the most extreme and the riskiest of the lot. This is a guy who has called for the privatisation of Medicare. He has said that superannuation should be dismantled, and he's described working from home as apartheid. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Members on my right will cease interjecting. I'd like to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. Mr Hawke HWO Mr Speaker, I know you ruled on correct titles, but the Treasurer just then referred to you as 'this guy'. I think he should refer to people correctly, using their titles. The SPEAKER 53517 Yes, we've had this before, and the Manager of Opposition Business is correct: that title was used in a disparaging way. It was the other side that was doing it in another moment. If we can cease using that way to describe members of parliament from both sides of the chamber, it will greatly assist. The Treasurer is being directly relevant; he's in order, but, because it is clearly important to members, it is important he refer to all members by their titles, including the Speaker. Mr Tim Wilson IMW He's feeling the heat! The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Goldstein does not need to comment on this. Trust me. Dr CHALMERS 37998 He can't even get a question! The new leader of the opposition was expressing some surprise about the shadow Treasurer's views. He might have appointed him, but it seems he hasn't googled him, because all of these views are well known and on the public record. But I think the other interpretation is that the new leader of the opposition agrees with the shadow Treasurer. The shadow Treasurer has called for the privatisation of Medicare, said super should be dismantled and described working from home as apartheid. Two days into the job, he said the Reserve Bank should push for higher unemployment and higher interest rates by ditching the dual mandate. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! We're going to handle this in a respectful way. The member for Goldstein is entitled to raise a point of order. The last point of order was dealt with, but— Mr Tim Wilson IMW Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Goldstein. Mr Tim Wilson IMW The Treasurer is misleading the House. He's verballing me completely. This is a man who— The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. The member for Goldstein knows you simply can't get up here and say what you'd like. That wasn't a point of order. There are forms of the House, as he well knows. If he thinks he's been misrepresented, he may take that, but if he does that again—that is an absolute abuse of the standing orders. Everyone saw that, and that is not acceptable. I know it's the first day back for everyone, but I'm asking everyone to step up their behaviour and follow the rules of the House. The member for Goldstein is warned. We'll get the Treasurer to conclude his answer. Dr CHALMERS 37998 All of these views from the shadow Treasurer are on the public record. Some of them are in the book that he wrote, some of them are from Hansard, and some of them are from his comments in the last couple of weeks. My point is this. At a time when Australians are under pressure, the absolute worst thing that we could do is what the shadow Treasurer proposes, which is dismantle super, privatise Medicare and end work from home—all of the things that he has called for. What we've got here is a weird combination of the worst minister in the Morrison government and the most extreme shadow Treasurer we've seen in memory, and they agree on these disastrous, unhinged ideological policies. National Security 64 14:57 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina My question is to the Prime Minister. In the building today are several members of the Wagga Wagga Yazidi community, who have come to Canberra to share their trauma that they received at the hands of ISIS, or Daesh, before they fled to Australia. How can the government assure the inconsistent messaging regarding ISIS sympathisers returning to Australia won't destroy the lives these beautiful Yazidi people are rebuilding in our country? 14:57 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Riverina for his question, and I join him in welcoming the members of that community. The ISIS ideological position is one that seeks to wreak violence, murder and trauma on the world, but no group more than in their local community, than in the Middle East itself. Minority groups like the Yazidi community have suffered greatly. They have been welcomed to Australia and have been working hard in communities such as yours, working in the agricultural sector. Right throughout Australia, they have been welcomed. We are a welcoming country, and we stand completely against the evil regime that is ISIS. That's why—and I know that the member for Riverina has a proud history of not seeking to promote division or playing politics with these issues—no-one in this place should be doing that. No-one should be suggesting the sort of interjections that I heard across the chamber earlier. We all stand, united as Australians, against Islamic State. We all stand— The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Bowman is warned. Mr ALBANESE R36 And that's an example, where I am speaking about what Australia's position is. We need—and I have consistently said this—a search for more unity and coming together for our common interest, and of not trying to play these political games, pretending the Constitution isn't there and pretending that the law isn't there, but engaging directly with people. That's how people, such as the community that fled danger and made Australia their home as refugees, can get that reassurance that we as a nation have given communities from all over the world, at least since the dismantling of the White Australia policy, which now, I would hope, is a bipartisan position. I say to the member for Riverina: I know that the Minister for Home Affairs is meeting with the community as well. That would be welcomed. Mr Burke DYW This afternoon. Mr Albanese R36 He's meeting with them this afternoon. They are welcome, and I thank them for the contribution they're making as loyal Australians, not giving up the heritage of their own culture but adopting, as well, loyalty to our great nation. Perth: Attack 64 15:00 Ms TRISH COOK 312871 Bullwinkel My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Can the minister please update the House on the arrest made in Western Australia last week for the alleged terrorism offence? 15:01 Mr BURKE DYW Watson I thank the member for Bullwinkel for the question. I know all members, and particularly members from the West, were shaken by the information that came out with the arrest last week. At the end of last week, the Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which involves the Australian Federal Police, the Western Australian Police Force and ASIO, charged a 20-year-old man with acting in preparation or planning for a terrorist act. The man has also been charged with firearms offences. He was arrested by WA police when they were executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic, Islamophobic and racially motivated online hate speech. When they got there, they discovered a manifesto-style document outlining plans for a nationalist and racist ideologically motivated act of violent extremism aimed at attacking mosques in Western Australia as well as Western Australia Police Headquarters and the state parliament. For some time now, our security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been warning that we are entering a new security environment. There are many different ideologies that can give rise to extremism. Sometimes it's a range of ideologies. Sometimes it's a mix of ideologies. Sometimes it's the threat of the ideology. We often talk about it coming across the border. Much of this now is coming straight across the internet into Australia. Whenever the temperature is higher, whenever those who promote hate feel emboldened, this increases the likelihood that violence will be planned and attempted. I say to all Australians: if you see something or are concerned about a rise in hateful behaviour from someone, report it to the police or to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400. The specific attacks, as well as the parliament and police, were aimed at mosques. We know the Australian Muslim community has been experiencing increased levels of Islamophobia. It is not fictitious. It is real. This man allegedly wanted to target mosques—places of prayer and worship for many Australians. Every elected official who claims to care about national security has a responsibility to turn the temperature down. Every act of bigotry flies in the face of who we are as Australians. And every Australian Muslim—because that's who these were directed at—just like every other Australian, has the right to be safe and to feel safe. Fuel Security 65 15:04 Mr JOYCE e5d New England My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Since the commencement of hostilities in the Middle East, what actions has he had to assure Australia of security of fuel supplies, especially diesel, and how much diesel in days do we currently have in store on Australian soil? 15:04 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank the honourable member for the question. The answer to the question is 34 days in relation to diesel, 32 days in relation to jet fuel and 36 days in relation to petrol. I know he only asked me about diesel, but I think he would be interested in the other figures as well. I am pleased to say that these stocks are the highest they've been for any time in the past 15 years. I'm very pleased to say that. Obviously, the more fuel supply we have on hand, the better. I am very glad that we now have more than at any time in the past 15 years. I do note that when we came to office, the stock was held in Texas and Louisiana. I'm not sure whether you'd call that the gulf of America or the Gulf of Mexico, but it's certainly not the gulf of Australia. We believe that our fuel supplies should be kept here— The SPEAKER 53517 The minister will just pause. He's talking about the fuel supply stock, which he was asked about. The member for New England on a point of order. Mr Joyce e5d It's on relevance. With respect, I did say 'on Australian soil'. What he's mentioning now is also what is at sea, on its way to Australia. They are on ships of convenience and can be directed away at any time. The SPEAKER 53517 He was asked about the security of our diesel supply and the supply of that stock. I'm just making sure, if the minister was asked a question about stock in Australia, that he is being directly relevant to the question he was asked. Mr BOWEN DZS I want to commend the member for the point of order. It's a reasonable point of clarification. Those figures only include fuel in Australia or on ships in our economic zone. Only that is what is included. Not ships that are some way away, whether they be in the Middle East or Singapore or the Gulf of Mexico. It is fuel in our exclusive economic zone. It is true that it is not all on land in Australia. My advice is that it does include fuel that is on the way to Australia, that is in our economic zone. We believe it's appropriate, that's why we introduced minimum holding stocks. This was work that was not conducted by the previous government. The previous government saw four out of six petroleum refineries close when they were in charge—four out of six close. The two that we inherited are still in operation. That is not because of an accident; it's because of government and industry working together. We believe this is appropriate because what is required is to have stocks on hand for circumstances that are unpredictable globally and internationally. As I said, the previous arrangement was that these stocks would be held overseas. In fact, I can refer the House to a press release from 8 March 2020 headed 'Visit to the United States of America'. It says: Minister Taylor will hold bilateral discussions with US Energy Secretary … and sign a landmark arrangement with the United States that will allow Australia to access crude oil that is held in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve during an emergency. The giveaway is in the name—the US strategic reserve. We believe in a strategic reserve that is Australian and in Australia. It provides a greater level of convenient access if the soil is closer to where you are, not in the United States. Call us old-fashioned, but we believe that's a better approach—that is, to have that fuel either in Australia or on the way to Australia. The member for New England raised a legitimate question, and my answer includes fuel that is on the way to Australia as we speak as well as fuel that is in Australia. That is a good thing. We think that is a better arrangement than the one we inherited. Rail Infrastructure 66 15:08 Ms SWANSON 264170 Paterson My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. How is the Albanese Labor government furthering the delivery of high-speed rail? How does this compare to other approaches for rail projects? 15:08 Ms CATHERINE KING 00AMR Ballarat Thank you very much to the member for Paterson for her question. I was so pleased to stand with her and the member for Newcastle in Newcastle last week to announce that high-speed rail is a step closer. Our government is now entering the development phase for a line between Newcastle and Sydney. Teams will now go metre by metre, doing the detailed planning and design work required so that we can make a final investment decision to put shovels in the ground. We will be getting early contractor involvement to make sure we have got this project right, and there are industry briefings happening in April in Newcastle. We'll be designing the tunnels, getting the design of the stations right and understanding the signalling system that is needed. This is the steady, purposeful work of getting that design right so that we can make a future investment decision with confidence that we have all of the facts on this project. Our country is, of course, growing, and we know existing road and rail between Sydney and Newcastle is at capacity. Significant investment is going to be needed in the M1 and into rail if we do nothing because of the population growth through this fantastic part of the world. High-speed rail can absolutely be part of the solution to that. Stages 1A and 1B will be dedicated high-speed rail connecting Newcastle to central Sydney in an hour, allowing us to deliver more homes, spread jobs across the state and grow the economy of the Hunter. One of my shadow infrastructure ministers—you may not know there are actually two. There's a National Party one and a Liberal Party one, because, I assume, they don't actually trust each other. But their latest contribution was that the Commonwealth doesn't own a bulldozer and has no constitutional authority to just rock into states and start building dams or roads or rail projects. This is true, but it is a fascinating point to make when that is exactly what those opposite did with Inland Rail. When we came to government, we discovered that this approach to building Inland Rail was frankly just to start before they'd worked out where the line would start and end. They said it would connect the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane, but they couldn't tell us how. There was no schedule nor actual plan. What happened as a result was that the costs have blown out to four to five times what they guesstimated it would cost. We had to commission the independent Schott review to make sure that this wasn't a multimillion-dollar train to nowhere. I'm pleased that, as a result of the review, we've now turned the first sod at the Beveridge intermodal. We're prioritising building to Parkes so we can then start moving double-stack trains from Melbourne all the way to Perth. This, of course, was part of an infrastructure pipeline we inherited that was full of pet projects with no details beyond a press release. Delivering infrastructure takes time, and it takes a government that spends more time on the planning and design than it does on Sky News. That's why our government is entering this detailed planning process for high-speed rail to make it a reality. Mr Albanese R36 Given there has been not a single question about the economy or the cost of living from those opposite, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS 66 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS Report No. 22 of 2025-26 66 15:12 The SPEAKER 53517 I present a corrigendum to the Auditor-General's performance statements audit report No. 22 of 2025-26 entitled Performance statements of major Australian government entities—outcomes from the 2024-2025 audit program: across entities. Document made a parliamentary paper. STATEMENTS 66 STATEMENTS Personal Explanation 66 15:12 Mr LEESER 109556 Berowra Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation. The SPEAKER 53517 Do you claim to have been misrepresented? Mr LEESER 109556 Most grievously so. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Mr LEESER 109556 In question time, the Prime Minister quoted some words I said in the second reading debate on the temporary exclusion orders bill in 2019. What the Prime Minister didn't mention was that I was directly explaining how temporary exclusion orders would allow returns to be managed and why they should only be used in our security interests. The government refuses to issue temporary exclusion orders under its self-managed return policy. The government refuses to do exactly the thing that I said the government should do when I addressed the House in 2019. To imply my position is supportive of the government's current approach, as the Prime Minister has done, is misleading and disingenuous. The SPEAKER 53517 Just before we get to the member for Goldstein, when people are doing a misrepresentation, you simply state where the misrepresentation has occurred, not an explanation around it. Short and sharp is the order of business when it comes to misrepresentation, so I hope the member for Goldstein has picked up that cue. Personal Explanation 67 15:13 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein I wish to make a personal explanation. The SPEAKER 53517 Do you claim to have been misrepresented? Mr TIM WILSON IMW I do. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Mr TIM WILSON IMW During question time today, only a few moments ago, the member for Rankin made a series of misrepresentations of my positions on matters. Firstly, he claimed that I 'want to privatise Medicare'. That is not the case. I believe in sustainable Medicare. He claimed that I want to 'dismantle superannuation'. That is not true. I simply want to stop the corruption and make sure that homeownership takes precedence. He claimed that I had referred to work-from-home as apartheid. This is a very close verballing of what I said. The Allan government of Victoria has created a work-from-home program, which they have described as a right, which will not extend to everybody. So it is they who are engaging in that practice. I am criticising them for engaging in that practice. I will say the Treasurer did get one thing right, which is that I am an extremist for small and family businesses and the self-employed. DOCUMENTS 67 DOCUMENTS Presentation 67 15:15 Mr BURKE DYW Watson These documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. COMMITTEES 67 COMMITTEES Selection Committee 67 Membership 67 15:15 The SPEAKER 53517 I have received advice from the Chief Opposition Whip that he has nominated members to be members of the Selection Committee. 15:15 Mr BURKE DYW Watson by leave—I move: That Mr Pike be discharged from the Selection Committee and that Mr Small and Ms Aldred be appointed members of the committee. Question agreed to. BILLS 67 BILLS Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 67

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025

Second Reading 67 15:16 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton I still remember my first mobile phone, which I got back in 2002. It was the Nokia 5510. It was pretty great. It had a full Qwerty keyboard, a calculator, a stopwatch and, for the first time in a phone, a built-in MP3 player which held a whopping 11 songs, about a third of which were by Christina Aguilera on my phone. Back in the early 2000s, coverage could be patchy. For me, as I was only really using my phone to let my mum know where I was and to play Snake, that wasn't a huge deal. Fast-forward over 20 years and mobile phones look a lot different. When I got my Nokia 5510, I wouldn't have been able to imagine reading the news on it. I wouldn't have been able to imagine ordering stuff online or getting directions or accessing social media. These days we can take photos or videos and share them instantaneously with friends across the globe. One thing hasn't changed though. The core purpose of a mobile phone is to be able to make and receive calls, and that is the essence of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 before us here today. The bill has a simple premise. It's about keeping Australians connected. The Albanese government recognises that reliable mobile connectivity is essential for modern life and wants every Australian to have access to baseline mobile voice and text services right across this country. Connectivity is important. It's key to preventing social isolation, it's key to delivering modern health care and it's key to keeping our economy moving. We need our telecommunications services to be reliable because we depend on them every single day for so many reasons. These might be to keep in contact with friends and family or for running your own small business. Above all, we need them, crucially, to reach emergency services when something goes wrong. Despite these needs, traditional mobile networks currently reach only about one third of Australia's vast land mass. There is coverage in the areas where approximately 99 per cent of Australians live and work, but in large parts of regional, remote and rural Australia you can't make a triple zero call through standard mobile services. Labor has listened to the communities of regional, remote and rural Australia, and these communities have been very clear about the consequences that these gaps in coverage leave during emergencies. Ensuring fairer access to essential mobile voice and text services across the country is a priority for this government. As I said, it's simple. Every Australian, regardless of where they live, should have access to a basic level of mobile connectivity. This is why Labor is introducing the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation. This initiative will deliver foundational outdoor coverage designed to improve public safety and extend the reach of emergency communications. With the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation, Australians will be able to access outdoor mobile connectivity in almost any location. For the technical part, the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation laws will require mobile network operators Telstra, TPG and Optus to provide universal baseline outdoor mobile coverage wherever it's reasonably possible. To do this, mobile network operators will have to use a combination of their existing mobile networks, such as mobile towers and new direct-to-device satellite technology from low-Earth-orbit satellites. Telecommunications companies will use their existing mobile towers which enable the regular network we all use daily and technology that enables normal mobile phones to connect directly to satellites. What that means is that, if a mobile tower can't reach you, a satellite will pick up the signal instead. This bill also updates existing universal service rules, which used to only cover copper landline voice services. Labor is modernising the framework by bringing mobile services on board, by protecting consumers and by ensuring that government can step in if the industry doesn't deliver what this country needs. So how does it all work? The answer is on your existing phone. You don't need a satellite phone. You don't need heavy equipment. Direct-to-device is engineered so that normal, everyday smartphones can connect to satellites in the same way that these phones connect to mobile towers now. If you're in an area with mobile coverage, your phone will use the usual mobile tower network. But, if you're in a remote area with no towers, your phone will automatically switch and connect to a satellite overhead. You won't even know it's happening. That's important because, in an emergency, when you need it, making sure that you're not having to think about technology is key. You only need to be able to get through. You might be exploring a distant national park. You might be enjoying a day offshore, hiking up a mountain or simply driving home along a remote road. With this technology, you will have full mobile coverage. The low-Earth-orbit satellites are close and they're fast-moving. They can pick up mobile signals from standard phones, provide stronger connections than older, faraway satellites and, ultimately, give more reliable coverage in remote areas. Another way of thinking about low Earth orbit satellites is that they are back-up coverage. They're the safety net for Australians when they need it the most. That's what this legislation is about. This legislation and this emerging technology is combining to be a game changer in rural, regional and remote Australia. It will fill the gaps where mobile towers have never been viable because of distance, geography or cost. It will give people a level of certainty and safety that simply hasn't been possible before. Remote communities will get that reliable baseline connectivity, helping to address the digital inequality between cities and the bush. It will remove the black spots that have a negative impact on businesses, on day-to-day life and on the safety of Australians. We're all familiar with stories of travellers stranded for days alongside their car in the outback, sometimes with tragic outcomes. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will enable quicker locating and rescue in these situations where minutes matter and getting through is important. It will help when there is an emergency such as a bushfire or a flood, with SES, fire crews and volunteers being able to stay connected and offer assistance more quickly. We're all familiar with extreme weather or natural disasters like storms, cyclones and bushfires bringing down mobile towers. This will act as a safety net for those occasions too. This technology will be the important backup when that occurs, enabling people to continue to receive warnings, to seek help and to contact their families. So you can see it's not just about convenience; it is far more critical than that. It's not an exaggeration to say that, in some cases, the universal outdoor mobile obligation will be the difference between life and death. It will also help with the day-to-day business in areas which previously had no coverage. Think of how much more easily workers on remote properties will be able to stay connected, enabling more efficient and, importantly, safer workplaces. For those Australians who travel long distances, such as truck drivers and tourists, there will be fewer dead zones along highways and better access to roadside assistance. Now, this direct-to-device satellite technology is still being implemented out around the world, but Labor is pushing ahead with this legislation now because it's crucial for Australians in regional and remote areas and because we want to ensure this vital technology is rolled out as broadly and as soon as possible. The bill introduces a default start date for the new universal obligations of 1 December 2027. The bill also allows for flexibility to alter this according to how quickly the technology develops and how ready the market is. This timeline sends a clear message to mobile network operators. It tells them that we're serious about ensuring better, fairer and safer mobile coverage for all Australians. This bill is part of the government's response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review, the MacTiernan review, and it is the continuation of Labor's commitment to reducing the digital divide. Improving this will support economic growth and increase productivity while meeting the needs for more seamless connectivity across our massive landmass. The better connectivity plan is delivering more than $1.1 billion in improvements for rural and regional communities. This investment forms part of the government's overall commitment of more than $2.2 billion to strengthen communications infrastructure across regional Queensland. As part of the plan, the government allocated $656 million in the October 2022-23 budget over five years to enhance mobile and broadband services and to build greater network resilience in regional and remote areas. A total of $400 million was directed to expand multicarrier mobile coverage along regional roads, to improve service in underserved regional and remote communities and to strengthen the reliability of communications network and public safety infrastructure. This included support for the Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation program. It included support for the Mobile Black Spot Program, the Mobile Network Hardening Program and the Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program. The plan also provides $200 million for two further rounds of the Regional Connectivity Program, which delivers locally tailored digital infrastructure projects to support regional communities' specific circumstances and needs. An additional $30 million has been allocated to improve on-farm connectivity, enabling farmers to adopt and benefit from connected machinery, smart sensors and advanced agricultural technologies. Other initiatives already underway include major government funding to upgrade the NBN and expand its fixed wireless network and $68 million in a package of measures to support First Nations digital inclusion. This bill is about so many different things. At its core, it is about connectivity and making sure that that stopgap is there so that every Australian can get connected to who they need to wherever they are in this country. When we talk about the impact of that—it's big. It doesn't matter if you are a worker who's been injured on the job and is trying to call in to get assistance as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if you are living in a regional or remote area and you've had an accident and you need medical assistance as soon as possible. It doesn't matter if you're living somewhere where you need to be connected to family to avoid social isolation. And it doesn't matter if you're a bushwalker who needs immediate assistance to help you get back home. That is what this bill is all about. It's the safety net we need, it's the connectivity we deserve and it's about ensuring that all Australians have access. As I've said, this bill reflects the Albanese Labor government's foundational belief that every Australian, regardless of where they live, should have access to a basic level of mobile connectivity. Whether someone is facing a natural disaster stuck on a country road, hurt while working on a property or lost in remote bushland, the universal outdoor mobile obligation bill is designed to make sure mobile services are there at the moments when it matters the most. For people in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia, leveraging direct-to-device satellite technology from low-Earth-orbit satellites will translate to greater safety. In modern Australia, this baseline requirement is critical. 15:31 Dr WEBSTER 281688 Mallee I note that we are talking about the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. As the shadow minister for regional communications, I want to assure the House and anyone who happens to be listening that I have been very involved in looking at this bill in its entirety. Having just heard the previous speaker on Labor's side of the bench, I too want to believe in Tinkerbell and fairy dust, but the reality is that this bill leaves much to be desired. While we welcome efforts to bring mobile phone service into the Universal Service Obligation, this bill does not hit the mark. This is, once again, a political headline without substance. It's making into law something that the private sector was going to implement anyway, and the Labor government is taking a pat on the back for it as it goes through. That's coupled with a smoke and mirrors trick of a December 2027 start date but with the power to push it out for years if that doesn't happen to work. We can see the history of this government in the telecommunications portfolio through the failures of the disastrous 3G shutdown. I called for action on the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into the 3G shutdown late last year. But, since then, the minister has been missing in action. The inquiry recommended a program to help customers who lost mobile coverage due to the 3G shutdown and subsidies to improve service and replace obsolete devices and equipment. These have not happened. Thousands of regional Australians face worse coverage or no coverage at all since the 3G shutdown. Phones drop to SOS mode, medical alarms fail and farmers are left without connectivity on their own properties. Christine from Cumnock, New South Wales, had to travel even further after a car accident simply to call triple zero on a landline at a nearby house because she didn't have mobile phone reception. She's not the only one. Joe from Meckering, Western Australia, who called in while I was on Perth 6PR radio, said he has regular visitors at his home on the transcontinental highway asking to use his landline because, contrary to network indications, there is no mobile phone reception on his section of the highway. Mobile phone service is going backwards. An ABC article on Saturday described the experience of Ian from Newborough in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria—I'm standing next to the member for Gippsland—who used to have full mobile phone coverage in his lounge room but now has one bar and sometimes none. We know of complaints data from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman for quarter 2 of 2025-26, which highlighted that complaints about having no phone or internet service were up by 41.6 per cent, and complaints about intermittent service or dropouts were up by 21.6 per cent. Coming back to the bill before the House—this will not result in a UOMO, a universal outdoor mobile obligation, but rather a SOMO, a sometimes outdoor mobile obligation. If the government were serious about genuine delivery of outdoor coverage, it would develop mandatory domestic roaming. Why is it okay for international visitors to have this access but not Australians? A universal mobile obligation must be truly universal without escape clauses to allow the minister to exclude geographic areas where it might be all too hard, along with cars and boats. A universal mobile obligation must put the onus on telecommunications providers and the government to compensate consumers if technology shutdowns are required to implement the requirements of UOMO—for example, if 4G happens to shut down due to limited spectrum availability in the future. Let's not imagine that won't happen. A universal mobile obligation must include protections for rural and remote consumers to ensure the cost of implementing the law is not passed on to them, making services more expensive. There must be transparency measures to ensure the reliability of the triple zero system, as the minister has presided over considerable failings on this front. This government cannot be trusted with emergencies. There have been two triple zero failures on this government's watch: two serious Optus outages, plus devices such as Samsung, OPPO and Apple being disconnected due to their inability to connect to triple zero. The government should expedite work to develop a scalable method of text to triple zero for mass adoption to enable increased access now to emergency services in areas with text-only D2D connectivity—direct to device, for those who are not aware. This exists in several other countries. The government may claim that UOMO is a world first, but is it if it is really a SOMO with several extension dates? They claim also that D2D calling ability is still some time away, so why not activate text to triple zero via satellite now? A potential pilot of mass-adoption text to triple zero was recently confirmed by department of infrastructure officials. Why not include that requirement in this bill? A bill which focuses on providing mobile coverage outdoors when there is a direct line of sight to the sky will not adequately address the needs of so many rural, regional and remote consumers who want and need mobile coverage to go about their everyday lives, such as when the weather is bad, when there is smoke from bushfires, when they are in a vehicle, car, boat or tractor or when they are in a public indoor space without wi-fi—for example, doing shopping or business in town. UOMO is supposed to be technology agnostic, yet there is nothing included to address improvements to or expansion of the terrestrial network. This is essential to meet consumers' needs in a comprehensive way. The Labor government must commit to also addressing the deficiencies of the terrestrial network. Upgrades will continue to be essential. For example, small rural towns with terrestrial coverage with limited capacity are overwhelmed when tourists arrive for special events and cannot keep pace with increased consumer demand. Some of those special events include the Wimmera field days—which are happening right now—the speed field days, the Deni Ute Muster, or the steampunk festival in Dimboola. It happens everywhere where there is a sudden influx of thousands of people but there is nothing to assist. What has happened to the Mobile Black Spot Program evaluation from January 2025? Crickets from the minister; maybe she has had trouble connecting. It needs expansion to dual focus on providing new coverage and improving the quality and reliability of existing coverage when events come to smaller towns, as I've just alluded to, or when towns grow and existing infrastructure simply cannot cope. Also, there needs to be a focus on enhancing resilience of existing mobile infrastructure to prevent outages and power failures in bad weather or natural disasters. Australians in the bush have waited for the minister since April 2025 for around eight projects of the Mobile Black Spot Program to be announced—that's nearly 12 months. Rural and remote consumers suffer through outages and periods of maintenance at present, with no requirement for a replacement service and no limits on the timeframe. Developing consumer protections for mobile services as they exist for fixed voice services under the USO is another essential action. This government, under the minister who presided over the shocking failings of the 3G shutdown and Optus triple zero failures in 2025, has no interest in broader USO reform. They have sat on a consultation about better universal services since 2024, much like they've sat on the recommendation to review the triple-zero system since 2024. This bill must go to a Senate committee. That is what the coalition will be calling for. Structural reform of this scale warrants comprehensive parliamentary examination. Given the government's record on 3G and triple zero, due diligence is not optional; it's essential. The coalition is serious about genuine reform that brings the USO into the 21st century and addresses complex issues, not just headline grabs and political wins. 15:42 Ms McBAIN 281988 Eden-Monaro I think everyone in this House can agree that mobile service requirements across regional communities are very, very different than they are across metropolitan communities. I would hope it's the will of every person in this place—and, indeed the other place—that we work on something that actually delivers consistent change, that delivers priority to people in disaster-prone communities, that delivers productivity to our regional communities. That's why sometimes it's so gobsmacking to hear contributions like what we just heard, which was: there is a problem, but we don't want you to fix it in this way. There is no doubt in my mind that our telco providers are beholden to their shareholders. They are for-profit organisations. But they also have an obligation to provide services to every community across the country, and this is one way that our government wants to hold those telcos to account, to say, 'You need to do better and you need to do better for every Australian, not just Australians in our cities.' That's why today I'm rising to speak in support of the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation—because it establishes a new framework to create this obligation. It complements the existing universal service obligation, which applies to fixed voice services and payphones—which are also incredibly important right across our community—but this is a significant and important reform that will bring mobile services within that universal services framework. More Australians now have mobile devices than have landlines, so it's important that as government and as parliament we ask the telcos to make sure that they are providing universal services to mobile phones. We want to make sure Australians are better connected through these laws. It will require our national carriers—Telstra, Optus and TPG—to provide access to SMS and voice coverage for Australians nationwide—almost anywhere you can see the sky. That's incredibly important not only in my own electorate of Eden-Monaro but in every electorate. Whether you're in a national park, on a hiking trail or out on a farm, outdoor coverage needs to be more accessible. These changes are expected to add five million square kilometres of basic outdoor SMS and voice coverage across the country. That, to me, is a game changer. It'll be made possible by a combination of existing terrestrial towers and new 'low Earth orbit satellite' technology, which allows for mobile signals to connect direct to device rather than rely on land based infrastructure. Yes, the bill has a proposed default date of 1 December 2027, at which time all three operators will be required to ensure that baseline mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors throughout Australia. As someone from a regional community, I know how important connectivity is for our regions. This is a really important reform that will continue to improve connectivity for people in regional, rural and remote Australia. From the outback to the coast to the mountains, black spots are frustrating, and they make doing even the most basic tasks difficult. Improved connectivity not only allows people to keep in touch with one another but it means safer roads, stronger businesses and more access to key services. Telecommunications are vital across regional Australia and, in particular, in times of natural disaster or when there's an emergency. We're currently in the middle of high-risk weather season. As the Minister for Emergency Management, I've heard from communities across Australia, including in Deputy Speaker Chesters' electorate, that staying connected during a disaster is absolutely critical. That's why last week I announced AusAlert, which is a new cell broadcast national messaging system. It will use the latest technology to enable authorities, including states and territories, to send geographically targeted emergency messages to all compatible mobile devices within a 160-metre accuracy of where the incident is occurring. This system won't be impacted by telecommunications network congestion, which means it will help communities get access to information sooner to understand risks and to make decisions about their own personal safety. This is a really important project that will help us and emergency service organisations warn people when they are in harm's way. It doesn't rely on any one telco provider, which is critical, and I know the member for Gippsland and I had those situations in the Black Summer bushfires. Some people didn't receive their emergency text message, because their provider didn't have a tower close to them. This will help save lives and it will protect property during a disaster, which will deliver on a key finding from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. AusAlert is another major development in Australia's emergency communication landscape, and both the establishment of AusAlert and the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation highlight the government's commitment to improve communications during a disaster. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will expand baseline mobile coverage. It'll improve public safety by enabling connectivity to essential services, like AusAlert, and to triple zero. I'm proud that the government is taking connectivity seriously. It wants to ensure that there are industry standards that are enforceable. Our Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will require mobile carriers to provide access to voice and SMS calls to huge areas of receptions that are currently in dead zones across the country. As I said, this policy will improve public safety. It'll increase resilience during times of natural disaster and provide an extra layer of coverage in areas previously thought too difficult or too costly to reach. Since coming to government, we have taken a range of actions to improve connectivity. The government is delivering resilient communication infrastructure to help boost connectivity and narrow the connectivity divide in regional communities. Our Mobile Black Spot Program is one of the largest ever mobile coverage expansions in regional and remote Australia. It helps communities to be more connected than ever across the country. A few months ago, Mount Kosciuszko, which is one of Australia's most popular inland tourist destinations, received a major connectivity boost. A new mobile base station was completed, which provided new and improved 4G and 5G mobile coverage to that community. Mount Kosciuszko attracts millions of visitors each year, and this new facility is providing better access to emergency services, improving data connectivity and supporting productivity at the nearby tourist park. This upgrade has made a huge difference to the mobile coverage at the Kosciuszko Tourist Park, supporting tourists, supporting locals to run their businesses and helping people to keep in touch with family and friends. Upgrades like this are not only important to locals and to visitors but critical for emergency services during emergencies. In other great news for regional connectivity, round 8 of the Mobile Black Spot Program will be announced soon. This $55 million investment will target natural disaster prone locations in regional and rural Australia to better assist local communities during and after an emergency. The Mobile Black Spot Program is part of the Albanese government's Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia, which is delivering more than $1.1 billion to rural and regional communities. Other programs include the Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program, the Regional Connectivity Program and the On Farm Connectivity Program. We're delivering $50 million for the Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program, which is a government initiative to improve multicarrier mobile coverage on highways and major roads in regional and remote Australia. This includes funding for pilot programs in the states and the NT to help improve safety on our roads, to strengthen economic growth, to improve social connectivity and to support regional development. These pilot programs will test new and innovative solutions to increase mobile communications coverage on some of our regional highways and major roads. Another important program is the Regional Connectivity Program, which is funding the delivery of place based telecommunications infrastructure projects to improve digital connectivity across regional, rural and remote Australia. Round 3 has awarded over $115 million towards 74 projects that respond to local priorities. The On Farm Connectivity Program will see $53 million allocated across three rounds to enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to extend connectivity in their fields and take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology. After two successful rounds already, over $30 million has been invested to help primary producers implement connectivity solutions that have transformed their day-to-day operations, transformed farm management and helped with safety—including for graziers like Michael from the Riverina, who has purchased an automated rain gauge and an accompanying water tank level sensor. The water tank level sensor, placed on one of Michael's existing water tanks, alerts Michael via phone and email if issues arise and provides him peace of mind knowing that his cattle will have access to enough water. Twenty million dollars is being committed to round 3 of the program, with applications expected to open in the second quarter of this year. These are all really important projects for people across regional communities. As I said, regional communities like mine know how important it is to be able to take advantage of new technologies, to stay connected, to work smarter and to access services. No matter where you live, you should be able to receive reliable telco services. I echo the words of the National Farmers' Federation: For too long, farmers and people in the bush have been on the wrong side of the digital divide. … … … For farmers, mobile connectivity isn't a luxury, it is essential for safety, their businesses, connecting families, and staying safe in emergencies. It has taken a Labor government to improve connectivity in the bush and on our farms because only Labor is focused on delivering for regional Australia. I commend the bill to the House. 15:53 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein I rise to speak on this bill because making sure Australians have access to the proper telecommunications infrastructure to communicate is a critical part of living in a modern society. If you want to ask anybody about that, you just need to ask the Iranian people right now. They have lived with the consequences of a government that has shut down pathways for people to be able to communicate and speak out. Fortunately, technology has helped bypass that. The people of Iran have spoken up against the violence, harassment and murder of their citizens by their government, the ongoing and brutal treatment by the Islamic regime against the Iranian people, and the subjugation of women, the murdering of homosexuals and the exporting of terrorism around the world—in particular the incitement to kill Jews—including in Australia. Telecommunications to help address these problems is an important part of a country being able to do its job and, more importantly, is about empowering citizens to be able to live out their best lives. We know full well that technology continues to evolve and that, done right, technology can be a central part in telecommunications infrastructure and can be a part of connecting people. But we shouldn't become rigid about this. That was why the former Labor government's plan around the NBN, where they were just going to deliver fibre to the home everywhere, wasn't just economically illiterate; it was also technologically illiterate. We've had technology that has superseded much of fibre to the home, which doesn't mean that it doesn't have value—no-one is arguing that—but that fibre has a place, as well as satellites, as well as mobile telephony. If you actually understand technology, progress isn't just through fixed infrastructure; it also comes as a consequence of changes and innovations in areas like software compression and data compression. It's in this basis that this legislation sits. Technology plays an important role there, but it also plays an important role to address much more civilian challenges that we face today. You just need to go to the Goldstein electorate. In parts of Hampton East and Moorabbin, we're seeing more and more density of population and, more importantly, density in terms of building. If the state government has their plans—you'll see that, around most of the Goldstein electorate, it's largely just an attempted distraction away from their complete and utter failure to build the housing that Australians need to own or rent. It's backed up by propagation by the Minister for Housing, who continues to deceive the Australian community about the density of the population in parts of the electorate. The Goldstein electorate had density levels 30 years ago that were bigger than those of a lot of local councils that have seen significant population growth. Mr TIM WILSON IMW The shrill response from the Minister for Housing says that perhaps we've touched on a difficult and nervous point. But, when you deliberately seek to do as she has done, which is to point out the density levels of the Australian community— Mr TIM WILSON IMW we know full well that the minister has completely lost control of her portfolio and has absolutely no idea how she is doing her role, and she is fundamentally undermining the dream of homeownership for Australians. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 249710 Order! I remind you, the shadow Treasurer, to be relevant to the content of the bill that's in front of you and suggest that you're straying away. I'd also remind the chamber that the member will be heard in silence. Mr TIM WILSON IMW Thank you, Deputy Speaker, but, respectfully, the lived experience of people in Hampton East and Moorabbin because of density issues is explicitly about the absence of mobile phone connection. In fact, they contact me about it, whether it's mobile phone connections or it's television reception. These things aren't being factored into developments, and, as a consequence, they don't have access to modern telecommunications services. So I'm being explicitly relevant to the legislation and making sure that people have access to those services. I know that the Minister for Housing is completely ignorant of how people live their lives in the 21st century, and, as a consequence, she doesn't understand what she seeks to wreak upon our communities. But some of us are very squarely focused on what people need, which is why the universal outdoor mobile obligation is such an important part of the conversation. We know that, when Australians have a big problem with being able to access services, there is a role for government, to make sure that we bridge the divide—but I realise that the Minister for Housing is now leaving the chamber in humiliation, because of the shrill responses we have heard. That's her choice. We're going to continue to focus on how we build the housing infrastructure we need to promote homeownership. We're going to continue to build the telecommunications and telephonic infrastructure we need to make sure that Australians can live their lives and live out the best of their lives. At the end of the day, the Labor Party only has one pathway forward—they want to control your lives as Australians. They want to be able to grab the artifice and the instruments of the state, dictate to people how to live their lives and control their lives, whether it's economically, socially or educationally, through every stage. Some of us are going to stand up against it. Some of us are going to stand up for empowering Australians, whether it's in homeownership or making sure people have access to telecommunications services. 15:59 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore Another wild ride in the chamber! I rise to speak in support of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. On its face, this appears to be a technical reform, a structural amendment to telecommunications legislation. But when you strip away the statutory language and regulatory framing, the underlying proposition is remarkably simple: in modern Australia, if you're standing outdoors, under an open sky, you should reasonably expect to be able to make a phone call or send a text message, not stream a film, not upload gigabytes of data, not conduct high-definition conferencing—just call or send a message. For the first time, mobile voice and SMS services will be brought within Australia's universal services framework. That is not symbolic; it is structural and it reflects something fundamental. The way Australians communicate has changed dramatically. But, until now, the legal framework governing universal access has not fully caught up. In this building, we often refer to a statistic that approximately 99 per cent of Australians live and work in areas that have terrestrial mobile coverage. That is correct, but that statistic only tells part of the story. Geographically, traditional terrestrial coverage extends across roughly one-third of Australia's landmass. Two-thirds of the continent sits beyond conventional tower infrastructure. That means there are millions of square kilometres where, if you are standing outside with a standard handset, you cannot make a call. In many of those areas, you cannot contact emergency services. In a small, densely populated European nation, that gap might be marginal. In Australia, it is consequential. We are a continent. We have freight corridors stretching for hundreds of kilometres. We have pastoral leases larger than some countries. We have remote Indigenous communities. We've mining operations operating continuously far from urban centres. We've tourists travelling vast distances through remote landscapes. Connectivity gaps in that context are not abstract regulatory issues; they are lived experiences. Before I entered this place, I worked as an electrician across Western Australia, including on remote mine sites. Those sites were disciplined, safety-conscious workplaces, with risk assessments, toolbox meetings, radios and procedures. But mobile coverage was often limited or entirely absent. On more than one mine site, the only reliable form of external connection was a payphone bolted to the wall of an accommodation block—a payphone! That was not nostalgia; that was necessity. If you walked out into the operational area beyond the camp, your phone would frequently show no service. If you were driving between regional towns, you knew precise sections of the road where reception would disappear—everyone knew. You planned around it. You told family, 'I'll call back once I'm in range.' You accepted it, but acceptance doesn't mean adequacy. It simply reflected the technological and commercial limits of terrestrial infrastructure at the time. It's true. I have the same problem when I talk to my mum in regional South Australia—the phone drops out all the time. Mr McCormack 219646 She loves hearing from you, too! Mr FRENCH 316550 She does. But technology has moved forward and the law must move with it. Australia's universal service obligation was constructed around fixed line voice services and payphones. It was built in an era where copper line was the primary means of communication. That architecture made sense in 1999. In 2026, the communications landscape is fundamentally different. For many Australians, particularly younger Australians, a mobile handset is their only telephone. Payphones are no longer the backbone of connectivity—mobile networks are. Yet, mobile voice and SMS have not historically been included within the universal service framework. This bill addresses that omission. It establishes the universal outdoor mobile obligation, requiring that baseline mobile voice and SMS services be reasonably available outdoors across Australia on an equitable basis. That is a profound recalibration of universal service policy. It recognises that mobile connectivity is not an optional enhancement to modern life. It is essential infrastructure. The obligation is deliberately scoped. Upon commencement, it applies to voice calls and SMS text messages. The limitation is not timidity; it is prioritisation. This legislation does not attempt to mandate universal high-speed broadband via satellite across every desert track. It focuses on what matters in remote and regional contexts. When something goes wrong, when a vehicle breaks down, when someone is injured, when severe weather rolls in, the first thing you need to be able to do is call someone or send a message. Voice and SMS are the foundations of emergency response and personal reassurance. By embedding those services within the universal service regime, the parliament is recognising their essential nature. The obligation applies outdoors. It does not require indoor reception inside every building. It does not extend underground. It does not extend underwater. This reflects physical realities. Direct-to-device satellite services require line of sight to the sky. Designing the obligation around outdoor availability ensures that it is technically feasible, legally enforceable and operationally meaningful. In many remote communities, the key safety question is precisely this: if you are standing outside under open sky, can you connect? This bill answers that question affirmatively, where it is reasonably achievable. For decades, extending terrestrial towers across sparsely populated regions was commercially unviable. The economics did not support it. Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations are changing that equation. Direct-to-device connectivity allows standard mobile handsets to connect directly to satellites—no fixed disk, no specialised equipment, no bespoke installation. SMS capability is already emerging commercially. Voice capability is expected to follow. The government has chosen not to wait for the technology to fully mature before establishing the legislative framework. Instead, this bill sets the expectation now. It ensures that, as the technology scales up, its deployment aligns with universal access principles rather than purely commercial incentives. That is proactive governance. Under this framework, Telstra, Optus and TPG will be designated as default providers from 1 December 2027. That date provides certainty to industry and clarity to consumers. It signals seriousness. At the same time, the legislation includes flexibility. If wholesale market readiness or technological constraints require adjustment, the minister may refine its commencement or structure through legislative instrument. This is not rigidity. It is disciplined flexibility. The parliament sets the objective; the regulatory framework allows responsive implementation. The obligation is framed in terms of reasonable availability, and that phrase is critical. Telecommunications networks are complex systems. Weather events occur. Maintenance is required. Spectrum interference happens. Devices vary in capability. The law does not require perfection. It requires that, where it is reasonably achievable to provide outdoor voice and SMS coverage, it must be provided. This is not a vague aspiration. It is a legal standard capable of interpretation, enforcement and oversight. It recognises constraints without excusing inertia. Under this obligation, where voice services are supplied outdoors, emergency call requirements follow. As coverage expands, so does access to triple zero. In remote Western Australia I've seen how rapidly circumstances can change. Storm systems move quickly, vehicles fail unexpectedly and the distance between service centres is vast. Redundancy is critical. Layering baseline satellite-enabled connectivity into these environments strengthens resilience. It does not remove risk, but it reduces isolation, and, in remote contexts, reducing isolation can be the difference between delay and response. This is not a voluntary undertaking. The bill enables standards, rules and benchmarks relating to reliability, performance and consumer protection. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will oversee compliance and enforce the obligation. Without enforcement architecture, universal service obligations risk becoming aspirational. With enforcement architecture, they become operational. Connectivity is not only about emergencies; it underpins productivity. Agricultural operations rely on coordination and logistics. Freight movements depend on communication along long corridors. Tourism in remote regions depends on traveller confidence. Resource operations rely on layered communications and systems. Reliable baseline connectivity contributes to economic stability in regions that drive national export performance. This bill strengthens the communication foundation of those sectors. Beyond economics, connectivity sustains relationships. When you are working for weeks at a time in a remote location, the ability to send a message home matters. I remember queuing for payphones onsite—brief windows, limited privacy, timed calls. That was the practical reality. Technology now allows us to provide a more dignified baseline. This reform acknowledges that human connection should not be constrained by legacy infrastructure where modern alternatives exist. It does not erase geography. It does not eliminate technical constraints. It does not mandate universal broadband speeds everywhere. It does not nationalise networks. It sets a floor. If the technology exists to provide outdoor voice and SMS coverage, and it is reasonably achievable to deploy it, then the law should require it to be deployed. That is not extravagant; it is prudent. Australia's scale demands policy responses suited to continental geography. Bringing mobile voice and SMS into the universal service regime is not regulatory expansion for its own sake; it is alignment with reality. It lifts the baseline expectation of connectivity. It ensures that universal service in the 21st century reflects how Australians actually communicate. When I reflect on working in remote environments, one principle stands out: you focus on what works, you build redundancy, you reduce unnecessary risk where you can. This bill reflects that mindset. It does not promise perfection. It does not overreach. It sets a realistic, enforceable baseline. If you're standing outdoors in open sky in Australia and it's technically feasible to connect you, then that connection should be reasonably available. For a country of our size, our ambition and our economic footprint, that is not excessive. It is sensible and it is overdue. For those reasons, I commend the bill to the House. 16:12 Dr SCAMPS 299623 Mackellar Today I rise to speak in support of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. This bill establishes a regulatory framework for a universal outdoor mobile obligation so that mobile providers ensure that mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors to all people in Australia on an equitable basis. This bill will be music to the ears of Mackellar residents who live in Coasters Retreat and Mackerel Bay, who have seeking better mobile coverage for many years. These communities have long asked for an underwater NBN cable connection, just like those of other western foreshore communities in Pittwater, in the northern beaches of Sydney. These communities include places like Scotland Island, Dangar Island, Lovett Bay, Taylor's Bay and Elvina Bay. In arguing their case, the Coasters Association conducted community surveys with residents from Coasters Retreat, Mackerel Bay and the Basin. They wanted to ascertain their experiences and the extent of the telecommunications issues faced by them. Coasters Retreat has 52 households, Mackerel Beach has 117, and every year hundreds of people holiday at the Basin camping ground. The survey results show that residents have a mixture of NBN via Sky Muster satellite, Starlink satellite, ADSL, internet via dongle or mobile, or Telstra 4G with specific antenna. Some of the issues residents identified included that, with ADSL, only one person can use it at any one time. A resident who runs a photography business and transfers large files has frequent dropouts or finds the internet doesn't work at all. Poor Telstra mobile connection renders hotspotting to a mobile phone or a dongle unsuccessful, with one resident saying that, with cloud cover or storms, there is no internet. Another resident, with Sky Muster, said that it's very slow and unreliable and that, when they're trying to work from home, there's absolutely no consistency for video calls. Another said that, while it's okay for streaming and emailing, stormy, windy weather causes it to drop out and wi-fi calling via mobile is useless. A user of Starlink said that it does deliver acceptable speeds. However, it is costly to install and costly to maintain, plus it will not work for everyone at Coasters Retreat due to the topography and tree obstructions to satellites. While it works fine for emails and most streaming, it's not acceptable for video calling. Twenty survey respondents said they have landlines for emergency purposes but that the call quality is often so crackly you cannot hear the caller, particularly after heavy rain. Another resident reported that frequent submarine cable and in-ground copper wire faults caused too many service interruptions and, as a result, they discontinued the landline after an outage of around two months. Coasters Retreat and Mackerel Beach residents are people who work from home, run businesses or are school or university students. One resident who is supposed to deliver online university classes said that the internet connection is rarely good enough to be able to do this consistently. Another resident at Mackerel Beach said that they sometimes have to use the payphone at Mackerel Beach to carry out business calls. Of huge concern is that there are residents at Coasters Retreat and Mackerel Beach who have medical issues. A resident with Parkinson's disease stated that, when mobile reception is out of service, it becomes difficult to organise medical appointments and access support for the condition. A registered clinical psychologist who provides psychological sessions via FaceTime, WhatsApp and Skype is often hugely compromised due to the reception issues. The Basin camping ground is popular for daytrippers and overnight campers. On average, the rangers require emergency medical assistance at the Basin weekly from October to early May and monthly for the rest of the year. Poor mobile phone connectivity is exacerbated when there are lots of boats anchored in surrounding bays, with both Mackerel Beach and Coasters Retreat severely impacted. Due to the high risk of bushfire in this area and the health issues of a community with only water access, high-speed and reliable connections for residents, the rural fire service, marine rescue and paramedics attending incidents at Coasters Retreat, the Basin and Mackerel Beach are essential. They could be a matter of life and death. Despite applying to the Peri-Urban Mobile Program that delivered new or upgraded mobile phone infrastructure targeting mobile coverage and reception issues in 2024, this was not successful as the area was not deemed a priority compared to other areas. It beggars belief that these mobile reception problems at these locations have not been deemed a priority. Increased extreme weather events across Australia also demonstrate the need for reliable mobile services during emergencies. I recently saw firsthand the devastation that the latest storm and torrential rain had caused at Mackerel Beach, including a landslide that damaged or destroyed homes. This is proof that reliable mobile phone reception and internet access is more important than ever at Mackerel Beach, Coasters Retreat and the Basin. I hate to say it, but this situation seems to be history repeating itself. Residents of Cottage Point in my electorate fought for over 20 years to get reliable mobile phone coverage and internet access through the installation of a mobile phone base station. This was despite the death of resident David Berry in 2019 after his wife was unable to call an ambulance because their landline was down and there was no mobile reception. This should never have happened, and it should never happen again. A cable connection with fibre to the node as NBN is what residents are asking for. This would bring these locations into line with other western foreshore communities in Pittwater who are provided this solution to ensure reliable communications. And it's not just the communities of Coasters Retreat and Mackerel Beach who are struggling with mobile phone coverage. Ocean Street in Narrabeen, where my office is actually located, also has ongoing poor mobile phone reception. Despite numerous upgrades to 3G, 4G and 5G, the area still lacks consistent phone coverage. This is despite the already established universal service obligation that aims to ensure all Australians, no matter where they live, have reasonable access to essential telecommunications services. Like many others on Ocean Street, Narrabeen restaurant manager Anika Tolland reports that call quality is poor and unreliable across multiple carriers. This not only impacts the day-to-day operations of her business but also raises significant safety concerns, should an emergency occur. Last year, during a fire in an electrical box, the restaurant lost power and phone access. Because their wi-fi was down, Anika was unable to make calls from her mobile due to the poor reception. In an emergency, this delay could have been critical. It is vitally important that these telecommunication issues are urgently resolved for the communities of Coasters Retreat, Mackerel Beach and Narrabeen. This bill provides a flexible framework for the minister to determine coverage areas, obligations, provider standards, benchmarks and rules in relation to the universal outdoor mobile obligation. The bill will facilitate funding for the UOMO from the public-interest telecommunications services special account, which contains a mix of government appropriations and telecommunications industry levy funds. Part 2 of the bill will insert broad new powers to make standards, rules and benchmarks for carriers and carriage service providers in relation to mobile telecommunications services. My hope is that this bill will hold the telecommunications providers to account and that the communities of Coasters Retreat, Mackerel Beach, The Basin and Narrabeen will finally have the mobile phone reception coverage that they deserve and can rely on. I commend the bill to the House. 16:21 Ms TEMPLEMAN 181810 Macquarie For the past 15 years, I have worked hard to improve the connectivity for the community of Macquarie. This region might only be 75 to 100 kilometres from the centre of Sydney, but you can find yourself in remote and rugged country. In many places, even those that appear to be quite suburban, you might be outside the reach of mobile coverage. I'm very pleased to say that it's improving, thanks to much better mobile phone tower coverage, but the gaps remain in places where it's really difficult to put a string of mobile towers. When you've got fire or you've got flooding, an obligation by a telecommunications provider to provide you with a landline really doesn't cut it, but that's what the current situation is. Among the members of this House, there are those of us who remember when the original universal service obligation came in—in 1991. I remember this because I was actually working for Telecom at the time. The Hawke government initiated reforms that ensured that Telecom, now Telstra, was required to provide voice services and payphones to all Australians, regardless of their location. That was part of broader national carrier responsibilities they had, as competition came to this sector. There was more done to really cement the universal service obligation, under Richard Alston in 1999. Good work was done then. But a lot has changed, and having a landline is not the thing that gives you peace of mind and comfort. In fact, I've heard members in this House comment on the quality of landlines. It is very clear that the quality has deteriorated significantly over the years and that it just isn't enough to say to people, 'You're guaranteed to have a landline; that's going to do it for you'. So, as always, the Albanese Labor government is dragging something from the last century into this century—dragging it into the 21st century and setting it up to see us through for many years to come, with a piece of legislation that says that, no matter where you are in Australia, if you can see the sky, you should be able to make a phone call or send a text message. I'm not talking about uploading to TikTok or being able to necessarily jump on TripAdvisor and tell everyone what the view is. What we're talking about are those emergency and important times when you need to make a voice connection or get a message through. I've certainly personally experienced those times when my community was on fire and my street needed to be able to text each other and find out where our kids were or who was able to give someone a lift out of an area that was about to be hit. It's so vitally important that in these times of crisis you have a reliable message or voice service, and that's what this will do. The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025—very catchily known as UOMO—is going to change what we think about in emergencies as the bill rolls out. Whether you're between the mobile phone towers on the Putty Road in Macquarie, hiking down in the Kanimbla Valley or on horseback in the Upper Macdonald valley, it will be comforting and potentially life-saving to know that you'll be able to dial triple zero from your mobile. I think the community and governments have already worked out that providing this universal coverage is not viable with mobile phone towers. It just isn't possible to put mobile phone towers everywhere that you need them, particularly in rugged country like mine, world heritage country, where there are tall mountains and low valleys and it's very hard for those signals to transmit. Having said that, we've made a significant difference, including towers like Mount Tomah, upgrades at Colo Heights and Bilpin and the towers in Yellow Rock, Hawkesbury Heights, Maraylya and Megalong Valley. All of these towers are making a difference, allowing people to maintain communication as they go about their day. But what the UOMO means is that when you're not in your normal place but you need communication you will have it. I've heard people talk a lot about how much we rely on telecommunications to support our families, our businesses and our communities, but I really want to focus on the bit when you need to seek help in an emergency. These are the calls you might not ever want to make, like when you are in one of the valleys and you've lost your way. The traditional mobile coverage currently provides about 99 per cent coverage where Australians work and live, but it actually only covers one-third of the landmass. There is a big area where you can't currently make a triple zero call using traditional mobile services. The big question is: how will this work? It is only possible thanks to the improvement of technology and the low-Earth-orbit satellites, the LEOsats, which now move around our globe. What we heard from people is that they want to be able to access whatever technology there is that allows the function of being able to dial triple zero or make a call to another point of contact when things are difficult. The UOMO legislation requires the mobile network operators—Telstra, TPG, Optus—to provide universal baseline outdoor mobile coverage where reasonably possible. It's anticipated that they will do this via a combination of terrestrial and new direct-to-device technology available from the low-Earth-orbit satellites, the LEOsats. We should be really clear that this is not about replacing traditional mobile coverage. It's about expanding the coverage to areas where, despite significant industry and government co-investment, it hasn't been feasible to provide mobile coverage. The direct-to-device technology, known as D2D, is an emerging technology and is still being rolled out in Australia and around the world. What we're legislating now is to ensure that this critical new technology is widely available and deployed as quickly as possible to ensure Australians can benefit from it. Given the emerging nature of D2D technology, this bill sets the default date for the commencement of the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation as 1 December 2027. I know from the conversations that I've had with the telcos that they realise they've got a lot of work to do to have the technology ready by that date. While they will be working hard at it, this bill does allow for flexibility to adjust the date to accommodate market readiness. This timing, while it is challenging, is sending a really clear signal to the market on what we see as the importance of equitable and accessible outdoor mobile coverage. It tells the market very clearly that this is a priority for the Albanese Labor government. It's a priority that these services be available to people as soon as possible. We're not sitting around just waiting for the issue to fix itself and for technology to catch up. We are acting early to make sure that Australia is at the forefront of this technology. The legislation brings mobile services into this longstanding universal services obligation regime that I mentioned earlier. It previously only covered legacy copper based voice services. I might reflect that perhaps changes could have been made to this some time ago, but, by doing this now, we're also creating a framework that can protect consumers and ensure mobile services if the industry doesn't deliver in the national interest. I want to point out that support for this has come from many organisations but, in particular, in my electorate, the farmers. I want to refer to the National Farmers' Federation's views about this. The NFF president, Hamish McIntyre, said the legislation has the 'potential to redraw' the mobile coverage map. He said: Getting this bill into Parliament is a big moment. For too long, farmers and people in the bush have been on the wrong side of the digital divide. I know that there are people in Macquarie who recognise that they have not enjoyed the benefits in the same way that people a few kilometres down the road have. We know, when we live in wild places like the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury, when we choose to live in the middle of World Heritage, there are choices that we make, but making a phone call in an emergency is something that I believe everybody should have the right to do. So this is a real game changer for people for when they're doing their adventure travelling through the canyons and the tracks of the Blue Mountains. When they're out with family on camping holidays and adventures, it will give another degree of safety. So I'm keen to see this as soon as is practicable by the industry. This legislation does send them a very strong signal about how quickly we'd like to see it. The UOMO is a critical part of our comprehensive work to reduce the digital divide, increase productivity, support economic growth and meet Australia's growing demand for data and seamless connectivity. I know a decade ago it was almost impossible to work from home in many parts of my electorate because of the quality of ADSL. The NBN, as it came online, improved that, step by step. The increase in fibre to the home has been a game changer for people in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury in being able to run their businesses effectively and successfully from home. I know I tried to do it in the early 2000 with dial-up, followed quickly by the first version of ADSL. It was hard as a small business having to manage that communication side and the volume of material that you could send. So I look back on those days and see how far we have come, particularly thanks to the NBN and the expansion of the mobile phone towers that I fought for for so many years. This is the next step—to make sure that, when people go outdoors into the wild almost anywhere in Australia, if they can see the sky they can make a voice or text call. Our vision is absolutely clear. This is about making Australia the most connected continent in the world. I'm very pleased to support this legislation as a key part of bringing telecommunications law into the 21st century and beyond. 16:35 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina This legislation is being referred to as the UOMO legislation. It could also be called the FOMO legislation. I appreciate that UOMO means universal outdoor mobile obligation. FOMO, of course, means 'fear of missing out', and there'll be a lot of people across Australia who will have FOMO when they hear what some of the Labor members, and the crossbench too, are suggesting, saying and asserting about this particular bill, the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. Here's the rub too. The bill's title says 2025; it's now 2026. Note to those Labor members: this bill, this piece of legislation, was supposed to be brought to the parliament last year. It was an election promise. Indeed, the Labor Party committed to implementing UOMO on 25 February 2025. That's more than 12 months ago. But people out in regional Australia have been waiting for far longer than 12 months. No doubt Labor will say, 'Well, you were there for nine years. What did you do about it?' I'll tell you what we did about it. We provided fairness and equity when it came to rolling out mobile phone towers, not like Labor. I refer to a media release that I put out on 17 February 2023. In that particular statement, I was very critical, and still am, of Labor's Mobile Black Spot Program. Under the 'improving mobile coverage round' of the program, not long after being elected in 2022, Labor's Minister for Communications directed her department to provide 25 of the 26 available grants to Labor electorates. I reckon that, by the time it actually occurred and by the time we actually got to dig down into the detail, it was every one of them, but let's go with 25 out of 26. That's pretty shameful. I know Labor said: 'This is an election commitment round. This is what we promised at the election.' But what we did, as Liberals and Nationals, was look at where mobile coverage was most needed and filled the gaps. It was a continuous program. It was ongoing. Yet what Labor did when they came to office was provide almost all, if not all, of the mobile towers to Labor electorates. Labor often go on about colour coded spreadsheets. There's just one thing wrong with Labor's colour coded spreadsheets, and that is that they're just one colour. They're all red. As the member for Riverina and, indeed, as the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, I can recall how many of the member for Indi's constituents benefited from the Mobile Black Spot Program that we put in place, because we did it with fairness. We did it with equity. We did it based on need. But not Labor—oh no. Yet they've come in here this afternoon talking about, as the member for Macquarie just said—I'm not quite sure she actually meant it. She said that this legislation sends a 'strong signal'. I don't know whether it was a clever play on words. Let's go with that. There will be people out there who are waiting for a very strong signal on one of their devices when this legislation is implemented and has had a chance to bed down. That time will come. I dare say that Labor will still be in office, because they're going to be in office for at least another two years. That will be time enough. I know they're very fond of looking back and regurgitating history. They've been in there for nearly four years now. By the time the next election comes around, they'll have been in there for six years. That gives them time to put their money where their mouths are. That gives them time to build the infrastructure that they are so critical about. We built infrastructure, whether it was mobile phone towers, roads, bridges, highways or byways—even in the member for Nicholls's electorate; I know I went there often. We got it done. We delivered. Labor's pretty fond of going to our electorates and cutting ribbons, yet they haven't got much to show in the infrastructure space or in the regional development space for their nearly four years of government. This legislation provides that opportunity. It provides that opportunity because the ALP members are coming in, whether they're from Western Australia, as we heard before, or from the Blue Mountains, in New South Wales, to talk about the importance of mobile phone connectivity. I agree with just about every word that's been said. Certainly, when it comes to fires, floods and natural disasters, you need to be able to make a triple zero call, because it is a matter of life and death. I want to refer to a particular hero of mine and indeed of the Riverina: Aaron McCarthy. In a harvest accident in December 2021, Aaron lost a leg. Luckily, he had his phone in his pocket when the accident occurred, but he had limited reception. Aaron lived in the shadow of The Rock. Mr McCarthy said: I saw that it had at the top, emergency calls only, so I rung triple-0. We have terrible service so I think I yelled at them four times who I was, where I was and what had happened. Aaron was quick to place a tourniquet on his leg with his shirt. Emergency services then called his wife, Tahnee. Ms McCarthy said: I was in the house and got a phone call and as soon as I left the house my emergency services call dropped out. The last thing I heard a lady say was 'he might not respond, he's in a bad way'. Indeed, he was in a bad way. But Aaron turned adversity into opportunity. He will attend the winter Paralympics. Well done to him. That's an incredibly brave story. He will go to the Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. Just four years after the freak accident involving a header saw him lose his left leg, he was selected in the men's banked slalom and snowboard cross in the SB-LL1 class for snowboarders with moderately affected movement in the knees or legs or the absence of one leg above the knee or two legs below the knee. He's 31, so he's still a very young man. He's got a young family and he's a brave fellow, but it could have ended much worse because of the limited reception that he had where he lived. I hear Labor members saying that mobile coverage is—and they're using the present tense—in 99 per cent of where people live. It's not where Aaron lived and it's not where so many others live. A good mate of mine, Tony Keremelevski, who hails from Goobarragandra, battled for years and felt joy when, finally, the mobile phone tower was opened. I remember being with Mark Coulton, the former member for Parkes, in his ministerial capacity at the time when we made a call. It was the first call available via that tower on the day. It was such a sense of relief not just for Mr Keremelevski but indeed for the people who visit that area, particularly recreational fishers, caravaners and the likes going on adventurous excursions. The difficulty is that, when you go to one of those areas in the beautiful Snowy Mountains—in the foothills at Tumut et cetera—you face the prospect of not having coverage or having very limited coverage. I hear Labor members talking about coverage in 99 per cent of where people live, and I look forward to that. I will be making sure that I keep in a folder all of the contributions that Labor members make to quote back at them in the future, because I welcome what is being proposed here. I know that my predecessor, the former member for Riverina Kay Hull, who has great respect in this place and is a former president of the Nationals political party—the immediate past president—actually crossed the floor over the sale of Telstra. I know that, when you cross the floor in this place, you get sent to Coventry for a while. You do. Labor members cross the floor and get expelled from their party; we just get a bit of— Mr Birrell 288713 Disciplinary action. Mr McCORMACK 219646 Not quite disciplinary action—it depends on where the disciplinary action is coming from, Member for Nicholls. But we get the cold shoulder. We do. It takes guts, it takes bravery and it takes courage to cross the floor, and Kay did on this issue of the universal service obligation because she knew that the big monolith that is Telstra needed to be held to account. Indeed, whether it's Telstra, whether it's the banks or whether it's Qantas, it is an obligation of government to hold them to account, because they service people and they certainly provide services for regional Australians, who don't always get the services that they need. I know Qantas has just stopped the flights from Wagga Wagga and Albury to Melbourne, and that's an issue. I'm glad, I must say, that the ACT and southern New South Wales manager, Chris Taylor, is only ever a phone call away. He's only ever a phone call away from me, but I'm a member of parliament, so they do take your calls. But not everybody has the ability to ring their go-to person to get help. Labor is saying that this legislation is going to provide that much-needed universal outdoor mobile obligation. Good luck with that. I'll certainly be holding Labor members to account because I know, harking back to the first Mobile Black Spot Program that was provided straight after Labor won office, that the Minister for Communications ignored the advice of the department and directed the mobile towers to be built and to be funded to ensure that Labor-held seats were looked after. And that is not acceptable. It is not fair. It is not equitable. I don't know why a neighbouring electorate to Riverina, Eden-Monaro, held by Labor, received nine grants and Riverina received none—not one. It's not fair. The Mobile Black Spot Program has to be, must be, should be a needs based program, because improving mobile coverage should be the very bottom line to making sure that farmers, on their headers and on their harvesters and on their sowers, can do the work, can access the markets, can access the price that might be available there for their grain or for getting their cattle and sheep to market or whatever the case might be. But there is only a limited window, and, unless you have that mobile coverage, you could be up the paddock and have to go all the way back to the farmhouse. That just doesn't work. It keeps them out of the market, and it's not right. Then you've got the people, like Aaron McCarthy, who need mobile coverage in case of an accident. I know that, out Ardlethan way, we had examples of farmers being forced to climb their silos just to get a signal. I heard the member for Macquarie going: 'If you can see the sky, you can get a signal. You should be able to get mobile coverage.' That is fantastic. That is welcome news. I look forward not only to Labor talking about it in the parliament from their talking points that they've had handed to them by the Labor dirt unit—they're so prolific with these sorts of things—but to words being put into action, because regional Australia deserves it. Regional Australia is where the action is. We're paying the nation's bills, whether it's through mining and resources or whether it's through agriculture, growing the food and fibre to feed and clothe the nation, as in the member for Nicholls's electorate, in mine and in others besides. We're doing the hard yards, but we're not getting the benefit of mobile coverage across the board. So here's the challenge. It's one thing to say it in the House of Representatives. It'll pass this chamber. We know that. It gets into the Senate, and no doubt there'll be some deals done. No doubt it'll pass there. Put Labor's words into action. For the sake of regional Australia, for the sake of remote Australia, and for the sake of equity, of fairness and of equality amongst country Australians that pay this nation's bills. 16:50 Mr MATT SMITH 312393 Leichhardt I'm very glad to rise and speak on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. I live in the Far North, where 97 per cent of the electorate does not have mobile coverage. This can be quite handy if I want to get off the grid for a little while. It can also be quite terrifying. I was in Weipa. I wanted to duck down to Aurukun for a day trip, so I did. The wet season started, the PDR was doing what the PDR does—it basically becomes ice. I slipped and slid my way to Aurukun. I ran a basketball clinic. I handed out some shoes. I caught up with a few mates—had a good time. The monsoon trough arrived. I was informed that I would have to move quickly if I was going to beat the monsoon trough out and get back over the Myall Creek to get back into Weipa. The PDR in that condition is not something that you move quickly on. You lose the back end of your ute real fast. But, try as I did, I got to the Myall Creek with zero reception and had to make a choice—a choice that I wouldn't make now but a choice that, when I was younger and reckless, I made. I crossed that creek. Ten minutes later, it was impassable. Had I waited a moment longer, I would have been stuck. I couldn't have got back to Aurukun. The roads behind me were cut. I couldn't have gone forward. The roads in front of me would have been cut. There was no mobile service. I would have spent the night there; the Myall drains pretty quickly. It wouldn't have been the end of the world. Mobile service can mean the end of the world for people, as the member for Riverina rightly pointed out. Women fleeing domestic and family violence—I had a story relayed to me where a woman went and hid in the creek because she couldn't get a triple zero call. I don't have to tell you what lives in my creeks in Far North Queensland. That call is the difference between life and death. It is also the difference between economic opportunity, education and health care. Really remote areas such as mine—which you cannot drive through and which require planes, boats and helicopters in some instances because there are not airfields to get to—rely on telecommunications for their education. They rely on telecommunications to be able to speak to potential buyers, to get their stock sorted, to make sure that their health care is taken care of. Telehealth is so important. It is new to the game, but it is making a massive, massive difference. Unfortunately for a lot of our communities, once you leave 500 or 600 metres from town, it's zip, zero, zilch. I was driving back from Cooktown about 10 days ago. I passed six cars between Cooktown and Mareeba coming the other way. If something had happened to me—if I'd got a flat, if I'd hit some water—it could have been hours before anyone found me. There was no mobile communication. That's why this is important. That's why we are putting our money where our mouths are. This is going to make a difference. It's a nice saying that, if you can see the sky, you'll get reception, but it's true. The advances in technology are making the difference right now. We've gone and seen Telstra. We've seen the work that they're doing already with he satellites coming over the cape. We know that already in some parts where there was no reception before people are now able to send and receive text messages, and this is only going to improve because of the obligation. The word is obligation. The member for Riverina is right. We carry this country. The regions are getting it done. We've got the space. We've got the mines. We've got the agriculture. We've got culture. We've got everything. We deserve what the people of the cities get. We deserve to have our children have good access to the internet. We deserve, should they wish to do university online, that they can. We deserve people to be able to leave their towns and still make calls if something happens. We are the engine room and we had been ignored. This is going to level the playing field so that all of the potential that I see every day, all of the potential that we all see in our regions, can be properly realised. It's going to make a huge difference. We've got to the point now where the ability to be constantly available is basically a human right. This bill is being put forth because we take the regions seriously, because we understand the potential that they have and because we have a moral obligation to do so. It will get through and it will be great. The work is already being done. We are the party of the regions now. We have more regional members than the Nationals. Mr McCormack 219646 You were going so well! Mr MATT SMITH 312393 I thank the member for Riverina for his compliment. We almost got through six minutes without him heckling me. The fact is that we now have a large regional presence on this side of the House. We are making our voices heard and we are making a difference for the regions, not just in telecommunications but in roads, in airports and in those things that our communities need—the things that make a difference on a day-to-day basis, the things that allow our health care, our education and our economic development to increase and expand so that we can be the powerhouse that we've so often dreamed of becoming. The part of Australia that people forget is the part of Australia that is carrying us. I look forward to not being out of reception as I'm driving to Cooktown or to Coen. I look forward to hearing about the kids who are doing distance education on their phones and are able to do it when they go bush, go for a bit of a wander or just go maybe 400 or 500 metres out of town. I look forward to the improved health outcomes. Our health outcomes, particularly in my remote, regional and Indigenous communities, are some of the worst in the world. Telehealth—the ability to have those quick answers on hand with properly trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners there to help deliver that, in some cases, life-saving medication or treatment—is going to be really important because you can't always fly in and fly out a doctor. Sometimes you need the answer there and then. This will allow that to happen. I look forward to the increased economic opportunity and activity. There is so much potential along the PDR to have little bakeries, gift shops, cultural exhibitions and art galleries, but, without that access to telecommunications, there's not much point. This will open up that door too. It opens up the economy of the cape. We desperately need this. It is something that has been on the radar for so, so long. The member for Riverina spoke of fairness. There's nothing more fair than giving mobile coverage to everybody, which is what this bill tries to do. The 97 per cent of my electorate will thank us. No, there are not a lot of people living there. It is sparse and it is empty, but it is dangerous and it is rugged. When things go wrong, they go wrong in a hurry. I enjoy my solitude on the road. I enjoy not getting emails for four or five hours as I move between the towns, but I think overall it's better if I do. It's better for the community, it's better for health, it's better for every single one of those kids and it's safer. We're enjoying a renaissance in the Far North. We're enjoying the investment in what we are. We're enjoying the culture. We're enjoying the lifestyle. This is just going to make it so much better for everyone. When you're out shooting a pig, you can take a photo and send it back to the boys. We can compare pigs. That's awesome. You don't have to drag it back. You're better off leaving the carcase there; the other pigs will come and clear it up later. Mr Birrell 288713 Make sure it's dead first. Mr MATT SMITH 312393 You've got to make sure it's dead first. I don't know what pigs you're shooting. You've got to keep on top of them. With this bill and with the opportunities presented, if you can see the sky, you'll have mobile coverage—from Cairns, where there are still dead spots, right the way to the Torres Strait, where, as we've recently heard, mobile reception is critical for our border security. The Torres Strait Islanders like to record any illegal incursions and send back to Border Watch. They will be able to do that more efficiently in between the islands to make that our borders are safe, to make sure that our communities are safe. I commend this bill to the House. 17:00 Mr KENNEDY 267506 Cook In modern Australia, reliable mobile phone coverage is not a luxury, it's not an optional extra and it's not a lifestyle perk. It's foundational national infrastructure. Just as our roads connect our communities physically, telecommunications connect them digitally. In 2026, these digital connections underpin our economy, they underpin our social cohesion and, critically, they underpin our safety. Australians don't measure connectivity in legislative clauses—surprise, surprise. They measure it when their call connects, they measure it when the EFTPOS machine works, they measure it when they can check emergency warnings and they measure it when triple zero answers when they dial. Recently, Rayna, a constituent in my electorate, wrote to me expressing her frustration. She said the lack of mobile phone coverage on the Cronulla-to-city line is terrible, and getting worse daily. It's not only Woolooware and Kirrawee with no service, but also Sutherland. This is one of Sydney's and one of Australia's busiest rail corridors. Thousands of Australians travel this line every single day to work, to study, to run businesses and to support their families. And yet, connectivity is deteriorating. I reached out to the Minister for Communications regarding mobile coverage connectivity affecting the commuters travelling between Cronulla and the city. The minister's response was that providing in-carriage coverage presents challenges, partly due to the complexities involved in obtaining approvals and building new mobile base station infrastructure within a rail corridor. Well, for one of the busiest railway lines in Australia, this is simply not good enough. It's not good enough from the government, it's not good enough from Telstra, it's not good enough from Optus and it's not good enough from Vodafone. The minister noted these obstacles can deter and are deterring mobile network operators and infrastructure providers from focusing on the train line from Cronulla to the city. This response tells us something important: red tape and slow approval processes are crippling this country. It's hurting our economy and it's hurting our telecommunications infrastructure. Infrastructure providers face layers of regulatory complexity before they can even begin to start improving service. And while bureaucratic processes grind slowly forward, ordinary Australians in Kirrawee, in Lilli Pilli, in Sutherland and in Miranda are missing out. If red tape and delayed approvals are discouraging investment in suburban Sydney, I can only begin to imagine the challenges my colleagues are facing in regional Australia. And this doesn't stop at the rail corridor in my electorate. Residents in Kirrawee and Lilli Pilli continue to report persistent mobile black spots. This isn't remote farmland. This isn't remote regional Australia. These are established suburban communities in the heart of Sydney. These suburbs also face significant bushfire risks. Residents have previously had homes burn down in bushfires. In Kirrawee, in Lilli Pilli and in other bushfire prone areas, connectivity is not about convenience. It's about emergency alerts. It's about contacting your neighbours, contacting your loved ones, contacting your insurers. It's about calling for help if evacuation routes are cut off. If coverage drops during a fast-moving fire front, this isn't an inconvenience, it's a serious safety vulnerability. In inner city suburbs, a dropped call is frustrating. In bushfire prone communities like Kirrawee or Lilli Pilli, it can be dangerous and it can be life threatening. This is why communications policy must be treated as essential infrastructure policy. The coalition supports the goal of extending voice and text coverage outdoors and across more of the country. This is because improved connectivity for Australians is simply the fair thing to do. We need it in our cities and we need it in our regions. The credibility of any reform rests not on the aspiration it proclaims but on the detail it contains and the realism of its implementation. But this obligation must be clearly defined. Carriers must understand precisely what is required, precisely the dead spots they are fixing and precisely how to do it. Consumers must understand what they are entitled to expect—and they should expect. They should not have to deal with dead spots in the heart of the Sutherland Shire, a community that is inhabited by over 250,000 residents. Regulators must have measurable standards to assess the compliance of these infrastructure providers and telecommunications companies. If phrases such as 'reasonably available' or 'equitable access' are left vague, enforcement becomes difficult, if not impossible, for these regulators; and, if enforcement are weak or approvals are slow and mired in red tape, delivery will stall and we'll continue to face outages like we do on the Cronulla-to-Central line. The experience on the Cronulla line demonstrates that complexity and delay in infrastructure approvals deter investment. This cannot become the model for a nationwide obligation. Australians deserve clarity, timeliness and mobile phone connection in bushfire-prone areas and in critical areas like a train line, where you have many safety risks, whether they be accidents at stations, potential problems with the train or potential problems with the track. Direct-to-satellite services offer enormous potential to reduce coverage gaps across the country in regional areas and cities, but much of this technology remains emerging or remains costly. Domestic carriers may bear the primary regulatory burden, but they're going to depend heavily on international satellite providers whose pricing models and deployment schedules are outside of Australia's direct control and often our regulatory reach. Legislating an outcome does not guarantee delivery. It also does not guarantee affordability. And it does not remove the domestic regulatory bottlenecks that slow down tower builds and infrastructure deployment that the minister said is plaguing the Sutherland Shire and the Cronulla-to-city line. If we're serious about improving coverage, we must address not only technology but also the regulatory barriers that slow down infrastructure. We must deregulate this economy. We must deregulate infrastructure, housing and telecommunications and improve the productivity of this country. Right now we have a GDP cap of about two per cent. For any growth over two per cent, we will see inflation. This is why homeowners right across Australia, right across the Sutherland Shire, are facing inflation and facing interest rate rises—because we have this productivity cap. Unless we go on a red tape and deregulation busting mission, we will continue to have this cap on our economy. Australians will continue to pay higher interest rates; they will continue to lose money to inflation as prices of goods go higher than their wages; and, importantly, they will continue to have a slower than needed rollout of telecommunications infrastructure. The outdoor coverage obligation is only meaningful if Australia's devices can connect to the promised service. A reform that functions for only the latest high-end smartphones would undermine the very principle of equitable access it claims to provide. We saw what happened with the 3G shutdown. Hundreds of devices were incompatible. Australians discovered these problems only after the services stopped working. Businesses were disrupted. Consumers faced unplanned upgrades. Emergency access must never depend on owning a new device, and it must never catch consumers by surprise. The recent history of triple zero outages, where there were deaths, sadly, and emerging device compatibility issues have shaken public confidence in this government and in this system. There should be no tolerance for error when it comes to emergency services connectivity. Australians expect that much, and it is just that they do. Telecommunications affordability continues to remain critical. In a cost-of-living crisis, as people are struggling to make ends meet, we've had an interest rate rise and we're facing many more. We know the RBA is planning in their modelling for at least two or three more interest rate rises, heaping pressure on households in my electorate. Just recently I met a mother in Sans Souci who had to give up her house because she could not keep up with the interest rate repayments. There have been 13 interest rate repayment rises for her household, and it's putting pressure on her telecommunications bill. It's putting pressure on her trying to own the latest device. It's not just constituents in Sans Souci and my electorate who are facing this. Regional Australians already also face higher service costs and fewer competitive options. A universal service obligation must not translate into higher bills for those it's intended to support and never more so than in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis where mortgages are going through the roof, energy prices are going through the roof and, as inflation ravages the household budget, the cost of everything is going up, while wages remain stagnant. It's essential that any new telecommunications obligation strengthens market competition rather than inadvertently consolidating power in the hands of a few. Telecommunications deregulation has been one of the successes of this country. Taking Telstra and telecommunications services out of government hands and putting them into the private sector has meant they can innovate. They can innovate new technologies like Starlink and the iPhone. We should take the example of the telecommunications industry and apply it to other areas of essential infrastructure, such as housing and transport. We have seen numerous advances in telecommunications and what you can do on a mobile phone today. But when we look at these other industries dominated by government regulation, be it housing, roads or public transport, we have little innovation. We actually have declining productivity in housing. It's going backwards despite all the technology. Despite AI, automation and robots, somehow our construction industry is going backwards. Well, let's learn from the telecommunications industry now. Sadly, we have had this construction malaise starting to reinfect the telecommunications industry. I wrote to the telecommunications minister asking for help for my constituents in urban Sydney trying to get to work while trying to use their mobile phones and being unable to do so in Australia's most populous city. In one of the biggest, busiest and most advanced cities in the world, they cannot access mobile phone reception in metro Sydney. It's disgraceful and we've had enough. We're drawing the line in the sand now and we will say, 'No more.' The coalition believes in expanding connectivity and embracing these new technologies that can close these longstanding service gaps for the residents of Lilli Pilli, the residents of Kirrawee and the commuters of those train lines. The coalition have an enviable record of investing in regional connectivity because we've led it. Labor cannot hold a candle to our record on investing in regional connectivity. We've backed programs that deliver practical improvements on the ground in regions and in the metros. This is why the coalition spearheaded the Mobile Black Spot Program, a program that worked across all the electorates in Australia, laser focused on improving mobile black spots. We need to resuscitate that program. We need another program. We need this Labor government to copy the former Liberal government's black spot program and start filling the black spots in Kirrawee, Cronulla and that line. Reform must be grounded in technical realism, economic responsibility and rigorous oversight. I support the intention of this bill. It is good legislation, and we do need to close these mobile blackspots, but the devil will be in the detail and in the implementation. Australians and residents of the Sutherland Shire should not have to put up with blackspots as they go from their train to their work in the middle of downtown Sydney. 17:15 Mrs PHILLIPS 147140 Gilmore I rise today to support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 and to applaud the Albanese Labor government's commitment to strengthening the resilience of Australia's telecommunications service. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will require national mobile carriers Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide access to SMS and voice coverage for Australians nationwide, almost everywhere you can see the sky. This is really important reform that will improve connectivity and provide reassurance for people in regional areas like my electorate of Gilmore. Gilmore is a big electorate. A few times a week I drive up and down the highway, sometimes for up to four hours, from one end to the other. Driving through mountains, forests and farmland, I pass through numerous mobile blackspots, so I know just how frustrating it can be when service is interrupted. The Albanese government is getting on and doing something about it. Mobile phone coverage is a huge issue in many pockets of Gilmore, so I'm really excited that we're working to keep people in my region and those living right around the country better connected. The UOMO will keep people in Gilmore connected and safer by ensuring they are able to call for help in times of emergency. New technology means low-Earth-orbit satellite signals can now connect directly to people's mobile phones rather than relying on land based infrastructure like mobile towers. This is great news for people living in remote and isolated areas. Mobile phone blackspots are of particular concern to people living on the New South Wales South Coast, who have been hit with natural disaster after natural disaster. After being left in the dark too many times, they want to be confident that they can call for help during their time of need. They need to know they can call or text if they are involved in, or come across, an accident on the Princes Highway or on one of our many rural roads. Knowing they can connect if they can see the sky will provide some reassurance for Gilmore residents. On 31 December 2019, the Black Summer bushfires wiped out 90 homes in Conjola Park, just one of many towns and villages in my area impacted by the firestorm. Residents were given little time to flee, and many were left standing in the streets in total darkness, enveloped by thick black smoke with embers raining down on them. People drove their cars into the lake and ran into the water to take shelter from the flames that roared to the sand, then leapt over them to the opposite side of the lake, where the blaze tore through more homes. It was horrendous, and people were cut off, with no way of contacting family members, friends, neighbours and, importantly, emergency services. After being turned around at the Princes Highway, one mother drove her car, with crying children in the back seat, from Conjola Park, back through walls of flames on either side of the road, as she sought shelter at the nearby Conjola Beach. When comms went down, she lost contact with her husband, who stayed home to fight the flames, and joined hundreds of other frightened locals, their pets and holidaymakers in the dark on New Year's Eve. People lost their lives, their homes, their sheds, their livestock and their communities. They lost confidence in the communication system which went down for days, isolating them from their loved ones and from the help they so desperately needed. These people are still recovering. Many have rebuilt more resilient homes. Others have never returned. They relive the nightmares of this catastrophic event over and over, and they fear what the future might hold as climate change presents a very real chance of similar events playing out again in our region. Almost immediately after the Black Summer fires, significant floods hit the South Coast, followed by a series of ferocious storms, again highlighting the need for an effective and resilient communications system. Summer on the coast is very busy as tourists flock to the region to swim at our beaches and lakes, to rock fish, to waterski and to surf. They take their boats out to sea, ride mountain bikes and bushwalk in our beautiful forests and national parks. But, unfortunately, not all holidays go to plan, and accidents frequently happen. Our volunteer surf lifesavers do a magnificent job of keeping people safe on our beaches, but far too often people lose their lives when they're caught in rips while swimming at isolated beaches. When someone is in trouble and needs to call for help at our beaches or on our waterways, they deserve the certainty that their call will connect. Our Marine Rescue NSW volunteers also do an incredible job of keeping boaters safe on our ocean and waterways all year round but particularly during those busy summer months. They are called upon to help sinking vessels, pull ailing boaters from the water, search for rock fishers and tow boats to safety. When injured boaties or lost bushwalkers need help, they must be assured their calls will be answered. Our roads and highways are jam-packed over the school holidays as families flock to enjoy everything our magnificent South Coast has to offer. But, when they come from the city to the regions, they should be confident that they can call emergency services in their time of need and their call for help will be answered. Whether it's a bushfire, a flood, someone in trouble at the beach, a sinking boat, a motor vehicle accident or a health emergency, Australians cannot be let down. We must restore Australia's confidence in our national telecommunications service, and we must continue to boost the resilience of our telecommunications network. This bill complements the great work the Albanese Labor government is doing to improve the resilience of telecommunications networks in regional areas like mine, especially during times of natural disasters. The Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation Program has accelerated the development and deployment of new solutions to address communications issues and improve the resilience and availability of telecommunications during disasters. This includes new or enhanced satellite connectivity and new ways to monitor networks and share critical information with emergency services. Reliable communications are vital in emergencies and natural disasters to ensure Australians can call for help, receive emergency information and stay in touch with family and friends. Access to telecommunications coverage during a natural disaster can be the difference between life and death. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, we lost essential emergency communications when the remote Mount Wandera transmission station in the Eurobodalla was burnt to the ground. Right now, work is being carried out at the Mount Wandera station to improve its bushfire resilience under tranche 1 of the Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) Program. The project has included an infrastructure upgrade, improved asset protection zones and road resilience works on the access road. Timber power poles have been replaced with composite poles to help fireproof the power and ensure essential emergency information for emergency workers and the community can continue during bushfires. Composite power poles have also been erected along the length of Durras Road, ensuring the coastal village remains connected during emergencies. It's really great to see Telstra and the government working together to share the cost in bringing new coverage to regional and rural locations like Gilmore. Two new Telstra mobile base stations will soon be switched on at Jamberoo and Worrigee, providing improved mobile coverage and connectivity for locals and visitors. The infrastructure was built by Telstra as part of the Mobile Blackspot Program's Improving Mobile Coverage Round, with funding provided by Telstra and the Albanese Labor government. It means local residents and visitors will be able to access more reliable phone coverage, and it's also really important for local businesses that I know have been struggling with connection issues for years. I've worked hard to improve mobile coverage in our region, and I'm thrilled to be delivering for local communities like Jamberoo and Worrigee. We're partnering with Telstra to fund the construction or upgrade of 168 sites across 147 different telecommunications projects across Australia, from transmission, coverage and capacity upgrades to the construction of new macro or small-cell mobile base stations in blackspot areas. Our better connectivity plan is delivering significant investments to improve mobile and broadband connectivity in regional Australia through the Regional Connectivity Program, Mobile Black Spot Program and On Farm Connectivity Program. We are committed to reducing the digital divide and meeting the country's growing demand for data and seamless connectivity. We're working to improve regional coverage and communications resilience on so many levels because we know how important it is to stay connected, especially in regional areas like the south coast. The UOMO legislation is a key part of the government's response to the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review. The implementation of the service will be an important step towards modernising Australia's universal service arrangements to guarantee we all have access to essential telecommunications services. Our significant NBN upgrades and investment in programs like the Mobile Black Spot Program and Mobile Network Hardening Program will further expand mobile coverage, resilience and capacity. This government has provided access to faster and more reliable broadband for 1.5 million premises across Australia, including 660,000 in rural and regional communities like mine. Labor created the NBN and only Labor is delivering the NBN and keeping it in public ownership. Under the Liberals, my community was left behind. I'll go back to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires again because it was such an extremely significant event in my community when communication was paramount. When the power went out and phones went down, some homes in villages such as North Nowra were on Labor's fibre to the premises and therefore had access to battery systems, allowing them to stay connected. Other communities in the electorate, however, weren't so lucky. Thanks to the previous government, they were on fibre-to-the-node NBN and therefore were left in the dark, with no access to internet or phone services during the fire emergency. Labor's fibre to the premises is the only NBN technology that allows for a battery to be installed at the property so when the power goes out the household still has access to some internet and phone services for a few hours. Thank goodness the Albanese Labor government is committed to continuing fibre-to-the-premises upgrades in Gilmore. This bill will bolster that plan and reiterate Labor's commitment to strengthening the resilience of our nation's telecommunications services. It will ensure that in our hour of need we can make that life-saving call. Improved connectivity not only keeps people connected but means safer roads, stronger businesses and better access to services. Whether you're facing a natural disaster, broken down on a highway, injured on the farm or lost in the bush, under UOMO there will be outdoor mobile coverage nearly anywhere you look up and see the sky. This reform is not about replacing traditional mobile coverage. It is about expanding coverage to areas where, despite significant industry and government co-investment, it has not been feasible to provide coverage. Direct to device or D2D is an emerging technology and is still being rolled out in Australia and around the world. However, we are legislating now to ensure this critical technology is deployed as widely and quickly as possible to ensure Australians can benefit no matter where they live, work or travel. Given the emerging nature of D2D technology, this bill sets a default date for the commencement of the UOMO on 1 December 2027 but allows flexibility to adjust the date to accommodate market readiness. It will provide a clear signal to the market of the importance of equitable and accessible outdoor mobile coverage and that it is a government priority that services are available as soon as possible. We aren't sitting around waiting for this issue to fix itself. We are acting early to ensure that Australia is at the forefront of technology. This legislation brings mobile services into the longstanding universal services regime, which previously only covered legacy copper based voice services. By doing so, we are also creating a framework that can protect consumers and ensure mobile services if industry does not deliver in the national interest. The UOMO is a critical part of the government's comprehensive work to reduce the digital divide, increase productivity, support economic growth and meet Australia's growing demand for data and connectivity. 17:30 Mr BIRRELL 288713 Nicholls I rise to speak on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. As the member for Riverina pointed out, it is 2026, and this was supposed to be delivered over 12 months ago. But here we are. Communications is foundational infrastructure. My electorate of Nicholls is regional and it is rural, but it is far from remote. It is also relatively flat, but you don't have to drive far out of the major cities and towns to find mobile connectivity issues. In the Waaia area, a constituent was unable to make a triple zero call when her child had an epileptic seizure. In another small community called Bearii, locals struggle with poor and intermittent mobile reception. Reliable phone coverage is not a lifestyle extra or a consumer perk; it is essential. We found that out very recently. Fires devastated parts of my electorate, including parts of the member for Indi's electorate, around the Longwood region, and people's reliance on their mobile phone connectivity was essential. I do recall and reflect on the Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters program, which was a feature of the previous coalition government. It strengthened a lot of the telecommunications infrastructure. It has been noted that that has been a benefit when experiencing natural disasters, such as fire and flood. For small businesses, farmers and freight operators, reliable mobile coverage is essential to running day-to-day operations, coordinating logistics and responding quickly to changing conditions on the ground. For families separated by distance, especially across regional and remote Australia, it is fundamental to ensuring they remain connected. For anyone travelling beyond metropolitan areas, mobile coverage is first and foremost a safety mechanism. It provides reassurance that help can be summoned if something goes wrong. Australia's geography is challenging, but new technologies, such as direct-to-device services, show promise in delivering vital telecommunications services. That must be matched by a framework that delivers genuine reliability, not just promises. The last mile is usually the most difficult and the most expensive. Telecommunications affordability remains a critical issue, in particular, for households and businesses in regional and remote areas. If compliance with a new obligation significantly increases infrastructure costs, then those costs are likely to be reflected in retail pricing. Telecommunications policy must anticipate these structural impacts rather than respond to them after the fact. I note that, in this bill, there's the opportunity for the government to use funds in the Public Interest Telecommunications Services Special Account to support contracts or grants for the UOMO that maximise public interest outcomes, and the public interest in remote Australia is that services are delivered at a cost people living there can afford. Regional consumers already face higher service costs and fewer competitive options than their metropolitan counterparts. A universal obligation must not translate to higher bills for those it is intended to support. This objective is sensible, but it must deliver. The coalition supports the goal of extending voice and text coverage outdoors across more of the country because improved connectivity for regional Australians is simply the right thing to do, and it's absolutely necessary for those people living out there. The legislative framework must genuinely expand coverage, and it must do this in a practical, reliable and affordable way. An obligation must be clearly defined so that carriers understand precisely what is required of them and consumers understand what they are entitled to expect. Terms such as 'reasonably available' and 'equitable access' must be translated into measurable, enforceable standards, rather than left as broad concepts, open to interpretation. Emerging technology is critically important as we continue on with legislation and the offering of services in relation to telecommunications. Direct-to-device satellite technology represents an exciting development in telecommunications, with the potential to reduce longstanding coverage gaps across vast regions of Australia. Yet it remains a developing technology. Accelerating the rollout is essential, but legislating an outcome does not magically deliver it. The legislation in this case does leave some questions unanswered. Domestic carriers may bear the primary regulatory burden, but they will depend heavily on international satellite providers whose pricing models and deployment schedules are out of Australia's direct control. It is essential that any new obligation strengthen market competition, rather than inadvertently consolidate it in the hands of a few. Regional Australians, older Australians and small businesses often retain devices for longer periods, either out of financial necessity or practical preference. A reform that functions only for the latest high-end smartphones would undermine the very principle of equitable access it claims to advance. Emergency triple zero access, in particular, must not be contingent on owning a recently released premium handset. The hard lessons of the government's failed rollback of the 3G network show that device compatibility cannot be treated as a secondary issue or left to chance. The government has a mixed track record on communications. The 3G shutdown was a foreseeable and planned change, but implementation led to confusion, late identification of incompatible devices and, too often, inadequate communication to consumers. Some of those consumers were forced into unplanned handset upgrades, and small businesses faced disruption to their operations. That was not an unforeseeable event; it was a transition that required rigorous oversight and proactive management by the government, and that oversight fell short. In relation to triple zero and the consequences of failure, communication policy has real world consequences, as we all know. Australians cannot afford another botched rollout. We need assurance that the systems we put in place will not leave Australians with older handsets behind and vulnerable. There is no tolerance for error when it comes to emergency services and connectivity. Structural reform of this scale warrants comprehensive parliamentary examination. Given the government's record on 3G and triple zero, due diligence is not optional; it is absolutely essential. There is a practical and a competent path forward. The coalition believes in expanding connectivity and embracing new technologies that can close longstanding coverage gaps. We have a record of investing in regional connectivity and in backing programs that deliver practical improvements on the ground. The coalition spearheaded the Mobile Black Spot Program after Labor declined to invest in improved connectivity in the regions. I saw significant improvements in regional mobile phone accessibility during the years of the coalition government before I came into parliament. When I was running for parliament in 2022, I faced some pretty stiff competition from an Independent candidate—and that's fair enough. All's fair in love and war. Some of the Independent candidate's supporters kept pointing to me and saying, 'We've got more mobile phone towers in Indi than Nicholls,' and they were referring to the coalition government who had been in power for nine years. And I said, 'Well, the reason Indi has got more mobile phone towers is not because they've got an Independent representative; it's because they've got more hills.' The undulating geography of Indi meant that it had requirements for more mobile phone towers than Nicholls did. But the Independents wanted to make a big deal of this, saying, 'The Independents shout louder and get more done.' What that shows you is that the Mobile Black Spot Program was put out on need, not for who represents the particular electorate. That's a bit different from what we saw recently. An investigation was launched in August 2023 by the Australian National Audit Office into the federal Labor government's mobile black spot funding program following allegations that funding was disproportionately allocated to Labor held electorates. Key findings and details regarding the allegations included a funding disparity, with reports indicating that 74 per cent of the 54 locations selected for funding in round 6 of the programs were in Labor held seats. The government's defence was that it was fulfilling election commitments. Now, fulfilling election commitments is all very well, but making sure that the electorates most in need get the towers and get the coverage is more important. I'd be amazed if Labor electorates are more in need of those electorates. If you had have looked at it in terms of need, you would have seen a pretty broad spread but possibly more to the more remote electorates that are traditionally held by people from the coalition side of politics. So the rollout of telecommunications has got to be based on need and not on trying to make election promises to seats that you might hold or want to win. We also believe that reform must be grounded in technical realism, economic responsibility and rigorous oversight. I note that, in this policy, we're looking at—I'll use this phrase—technology agnosticism. Mr Repacholi 298840 It's a big word. Mr BIRRELL 288713 It is a big word, Member for Hunter; it's two words, actually, 'technology agnosticism'. I think that's fantastic, and I commend Labor on using that approach to telecommunications. But I suggest that we extend that process and the concept of technology agnosticism to the energy debate as well. That's where that technology agnosticism—I've said it five times now, Member for Hunter, and not messed it up yet. But I really do think that we need to look at all technologies when we're looking at our energy system, because it is such a critical part of our economy and technology is moving fast. We don't want the one-size-fits-all outcome for communications; we want to use all the technology—mobile phone towers, direct to device, low orbit satellites. Technology is moving fast in this area, and whoever's in government will have to keep up. So you have our support for the concept; we just want to see it deliver better outcomes on the ground. As the member for Riverina said in his speech earlier—and apparently he's going to keep a folder of all the presentations by Labor members talking about how great this is going to be—it's great to talk about it here in the House of Representatives. It'll pass. It'll pass the Senate, I believe. Then it will be about the deliver and whether we actually get those better outcomes. We'll be holding the government to account on that. 17:43 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter I rise today to speak in strong support for the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. I do so as the member for Hunter, representing one of the most diverse regions in the country. It's a place of regional cities, mining towns, farming communities and some of the very best wine in the world. It has bushland, national parks and long stretches of highway. It's a place where people work hard, look after each other and too often have had to live with patchy or non-existent mobile coverage once stepping outside town limits. For communities like mine, this bill is not abstract. It is not theoretical. It is practical. It is overdue. It will make a real difference to people's safety, livelihoods and peace of mind in the Hunter. At its core, this bill establishes the universal outdoor mobile obligation for the first time in Australia's history. It recognises something regional Australians have been saying for years, if not decades—that mobile connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is essential infrastructure and it should not stop at the edge of town. Right now, traditional mobile coverage reaches areas where around 99 per cent of Australians live and work, but it covers only about one-third of Australia's landmass. In the remaining two-thirds of the country, including in vast parts of the Hunter, it simply is not possible to make a triple zero call by using a standard mobile phone. That is a gap this legislation addresses. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation will require Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide reasonable and equitable access to outdoor mobile voice and text services almost everywhere across this country. It will ensure that whether you are broken down on a regional road, injured on a farm, working in the bush or caught in the natural disaster you can look up, see the sky and make a call for help. For the Hunter, that is a real game changer. The Hunter is not one uniform place. It includes dense regional centres, like Singleton and Cessnock, but also isolated rural areas, like Laguna, Paynes Crossing, Putty and large parts of the Upper Hunter. It includes mining operations, vineyards, cattle properties, tourism areas and long-haul transport routes. In many of those places, mobile coverage drops out very quickly once you leave town. People know exactly where the black spots are. They slow down to send a text message before they lose signal. They plan trips around coverage. They carry UHF radios or satellite phones, if they can afford them, or their daughters ask them to stop a little bit sooner so they can make sure they can send a message. But too many people don't have those options. I've heard from Hunter residents who have broken down on the back roads with no reception. I've heard from farmers who have been injured on their own properties and have had to drive until they find a signal. I've heard from families worried sick because somebody was overdue and uncontactable. I've heard from parents whose kids travel long distances on school buses through areas with no mobile coverage. I've heard from shift workers who drive home late at night on dark regional roads, with no way to call for help if something goes wrong. This bill speaks directly to those experiences. It brings mobile services into the universal services framework for the very first time. In doing so, it recognises that safety should not be dependent on your postcode. One of the strengths of this legislation is that it is technology neutral but outcome focused. It does not mandate one single solution; instead, it requires mobile network operators to meet the obligation by using a combination of their existing terrestrial networks and new direct-to-device technology enabled by low-Earth-orbit satellites. That flexibility matters, and it's important to acknowledge that we are not starting from scratch. Telstra has already been rolling out the direct-to-device satellite enabled services in Australia. This allows basic SMS and voice connectivity in areas without traditional mobile coverage. In parts of regional Australia, including areas relevant to the Hunter, that service is already making a real difference. I've heard directly from people who've been able to send messages from places where they never could have before. I've heard from workers in remote locations who can now check in on family. I've heard from travellers who feel safer in knowing that they have a backup if something goes wrong. That existing Telstra service shows exactly what's possible. It shows that this technology works, and it shows why this government needs to step in to make sure it is available to everybody, not just those on one network or in one location. This bill builds on that progress and scales it nationally. It ensures that all three major carriers are required to provide baseline outdoor mobile coverage rather than leave it to individual commercial decisions. It also improves competition because not one network should have a monopoly on safety. Importantly, this legislation is not about replacing traditional mobile coverage; it is about expanding coverage to places where, despite decades of investment and co-investment, it has not been feasible to build towers. For the Hunter, that distinction matters. People want better mobile coverage in towns and along highways, and the government continues to invest in programs, like the Mobile Black Spot Program, to do exactly that. But we also need a solution for the places where towers simply are not practical. The Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation delivers that solution. Initially, the obligation will focus on voice and SMS services. That is deliberate. It reflects the current state of the technology and the primary objective of public safety. In an emergency, you do not need streaming or high-speed data. But you do need to be able to make a call, you need to be able to send a text message and you need a service to work reliably. Over time, as technology evolves, this framework will allow the scope of obligation to be expanded. That flexibility is built into this legislation. The bill sets a default commencement date of 1 December 2025. That date sends a clear signal to industry that this is a clear priority, but it also allows flexibility to adjust timing if needed, based on market readiness and technical capabilities. That balance is extremely important. We are not sitting around waiting for the market to fix this on its own. We are legislating it now to make sure this crucial technology is deployed widely and equitably and that regional Australians benefit from it as soon as possible. The bill also creates new powers to set standards, rules and benchmarks for mobile services. That includes the ability to step in if an industry does not deliver or if consumers are being left behind. For communities like mine, that accountability matters so much. People in the Hunter have heard plenty of promises over the years about connectivity. What they want now is delivery. This legislation creates a framework to ensure that that delivery actually happens. I want to ground this in the conversations I have had across the Hunter, because this issue comes up everywhere I go. I've spoken with farmers in the Upper Hunter who have told me plainly that mobile coverage can disappear the moment that they leave the homestead. One bloke said to me that, when he's out checking his stock or fixing his fences, his phone might as well be a brick. If something goes wrong, if he is injured or his machinery fails, he knows he could be hours away from help. The ability to send a message or make a call from anywhere on his property would genuinely change how safe he feels doing his job on his own property. I've spoken with small-business owners who operate tourism ventures in and around the Watagans and the Barrington foothills. They rely on mobile phones to take bookings, coordinate staff and reassure visitors. More than one operator has told me that they spend a good part of every day explaining to customers why there is no reception once they arrive. This affects confidence, repeat business and livelihoods. Knowing there is a basic level of outdoor coverage would make a real difference to how these businesses operate. I've spoken with truckies and shiftworkers who travel long stretches of regional roads late at night. One transport worker told me that he has planned breaks around where he knows he can get reception just in case something happens. Another truckie said he worries about hitting wildlife or breaking down in areas where there is no signal at all. For people whose jobs depend on being on the road, this legislation is about safety, not convenience. I've also spoken with parents, particularly in rural parts of the Hunter, who worry when their kids are travelling long distances for sport, work or school. One parent told me that the hardest part is not knowing whether their child has arrived safely because there are entire stretches where no messages can get through. Even the ability to send a simple text would ease that anxiety. Local businesses have also told me how valuable Telstra's existing satellite backed services have been. I've heard from people who are able to send messages from properties or worksites where they never could before. It's not perfect, but it's progress, and it shows why this technology, when made universal, will have such a powerful impact. These are practical, everyday conversations. They are not about flashy technology or big promises. They are about being able to call for help, check in with the family, run a business and feel safe. The benefits of this bill for the Hunter extend beyond emergencies. Better outdoor mobile coverage supports agriculture, mining, tourism and small businesses. It supports productivity and safety at worksites and job sites. It supports people travelling through the region and it supports community confidence. It also supports our emergency services. When bushfires, floods or storms hit, communications are critical. This bill complements recent reforms to strengthen triple zero and restore public confidence in emergency call services. Expanding baseline mobile coverage improves the likelihood that people can access help when they need it most. I've spoken to Hunter residents who have lived through recent disasters and know how terrifying being cut off can be—no phone, no updates, no way to call for help. This bill is about reducing that risk. It is also about fairness. Regional Australians pay phone bills, the same as everybody else. They contribute to the economy. They power this country through agriculture, mining and energy. They deserve the same level of safety and connectivity. For too long, people outside of the cities have been told that patchy coverage is just part of regional life and that they should accept this—that they should accept less. This bill says that that is no longer good enough. It brings mobile coverage into the universal services regime. It creates obligations, it creates accountability and it creates a pathway to close one of the most persistent digital divides in this country. I also want to acknowledge the extensive consultation that has taken place on this legislation. Consumer groups, regional stakeholders, industry regulators and state and territory governments have all had input. Consumers and stakeholders strongly support this bill, particularly its focus on equitable access and safety. Industry has raised implementation issues, and there is time built into the framework to work through those issues responsibly. That is how good policy is made. For the Hunter, the universal outdoor mobile obligation represents progress that people can see and feel. It means a farmer checking in from the paddock, a truckie being able to call for help on a remote stretch of road, a family feeling safer when loved ones are travelling and a worker being able to send a message from a site that was previously off the grid. Importantly, it builds on services that are already showing results. Telstra's existing direct-to-device service has demonstrated the value of satellite enabled connectivity. This bill ensures that value is shared, expanded and embedded into our national framework. It is not about waiting for perfection; it is about taking a big step forward. The vision is clear: a country where you can step outside, look up and connect, no matter where you live, no matter where you work, no matter where you travel. For the Hunter, that vision matters. That's why I support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, and that's why I commend it to the House. 17:57 Mr LLEW O'BRIEN 265991 Wide Bay I rise to speak on the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. This is obviously an extremely important bill for all Australians, and I do support the intent of the bill. There are elements of the bill that I have concerns about that I'll mention in my speech. We live in an amazing country that is very sparsely populated other than in the city areas, and the needs of Australian citizens in those areas are different compared to the needs of regional Australians. By virtue of the big land that we have and the lack of population density in the regions, we suffer from a lack of mobile telecommunications. Every member coming to this place from urban areas but also from the regions and the rural areas should, as a big priority, be fighting for better services. I really do hope that this bill facilitates better services in the regions. The complaints that come to my office about our telecommunications system—it's one of the most frequent issues that are raised. We rightfully have an expectation that we will have satisfactory telecommunications. Mobile telecommunications have become such an important element of our daily life, whether it's in business, commerce or just our social networking. It is essential that we have high-quality, reliable and cost-effective mobile telecommunications. In parts of Wide Bay, people experience very poor telecommunications. In some cases, they don't have any. When we were in government, I did manage to achieve 19 new mobile telecommunications towers, and I was very proud of that. I know the effect that that will have, in Wide Bay, as I said, and in a wide array of areas. As a former police officer, I know the importance of reliable telecommunications. I know that reliable telecommunications can save lives but also that an absence or a lack of them can cost lives. With the Morrison government, I managed to achieve 19 new mobile telecommunications towers, including at Glastonbury, Widgee, Woolooga, Wolvi, Tansey, Cinnabar, Windera, Oakview, Curra, Wratten's Forest, Maaroom, Poona, Fraser Island, Kin Kin, Boreen Point and Cootharaba. Very disappointingly, since the Albanese Labor government has been in power, Wide Bay has received no further towers. That is alarming, and we need to do something about it. Embracing new technologies may help, but we need a government motivated to improve services in all of Australia, not just Labor seats. While I recognise the intent of the bill and welcome the requirement for major telcos to provide reasonable and equitable outdoor mobile coverage, I have concerns about whether the bill as drafted will actually deliver regional Australians the services that they need and deserve. The government claims that the universal obligation will provide coverage almost everywhere, yet it hasn't been clear about what this means, and who will be left out, or about the new technologies that we'll really rely on that have not been widely trialled, tested or proven in Australia. The universal obligation is built around low-Earth-orbit satellite-to-mobile technology. This technology has great potential, and it may well transform telecommunications in years to come, but clearly it is not where it needs to be to satisfy the sales pitch of the government on this bill. Even Telstra in their submission acknowledged that satellite-to-mobile services are still under development and not ready to meet the expectations this legislation creates. That should be a concern to everyone. I'm also troubled by the vague and open ended definitions in the bill. Terms such as 'reasonably available' and 'equitable basis' are undefined. Giving the minister discretion to determine coverage areas and to exempt locations entirely also worries me when I think about what happened in Wide Bay when, upon the election of the Albanese government, the tap was turned off for these vital services. With such discretion given to the minister, I hope it is used fairly and with all Australians in mind, not just those voting in Labor held seats. Consumer advocates, including the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, have raised concerns about emergency service connectivity, which should be an absolute fundamental. People need to be able to make a life-saving call for help. Access to emergency services should not be negotiable, yet the bill fails to ensure this. As a former policeman, I remember numerous occasions where serious crashes—mainly fatal road crashes—occurred and people were unable to call emergency services because of a weak signal or no signal. In rural and regional Australia, the rate of fatalities is much higher than in built-up urban areas. Regional Australia has a rate of 9.6 traffic deaths per 100,000, compared to 2.2 in the urban areas, so you are far more likely to be involved in a very serious traffic crash on regional and rural roads. That just emphasises that we absolutely need technology that can be utilised at those times when these serious incidents occur. Affordability is another major issue. Without financial support, telcos inevitably pass the cost of new satellite technologies onto the consumers. Regional residents may be required to purchase new handsets or more expensive plans to access the services the government claims will be universal. Low-income families may find themselves priced out of connectivity. That is certainly something that we cannot let happen. People who are struggling to pay the bills need to have access to telecommunications and connectivity for the services that we've talked about as much as anyone. We do have issues when it comes to socioeconomic inequality in the regions. Telstra has noted that there's insufficient spectrum to meet the requirements of the universal obligation, potentially forcing a choice between maintaining 4G and expanding 5G, raising the risk of an early 4G shutdown. We all know the disruptions caused by the 3G shutdown. It caused a lot of anxiety amongst people, which was well founded, and left a lot of people worse off, unable to access 4G and 5G services reliably and, in some areas, with poorer coverage than existed before. Technologies will continue to evolve, and our systems must evolve with it. Regional Australia needs to be put at the forefront of these advanced technologies and our embrace of them. Wide Bay covers more than 14,000 square kilometres, and there are many communities that urgently need mobile coverage. Reliable mobile services aren't a luxury; they're a necessity. I urge the government to do as much as it can to improve those services for regional Australians. 18:07 Mr MONCRIEFF 316540 Hughes The Albanese Labor government was re-elected last year with a mandate to build Australia's future. Australia's future is a connected one. We inhabit a vast and ancient continent, but we live in a time when technology has drastically changed what distance can mean to us. In 1854 we had the first telegram line connect Sydney to Melbourne. In 1871 we had the first overseas telegram reach Australian shores. In the century and a half since that time, we have seen drastic changes to what telecommunications can bring to a modern society. At Federation, there was no way that Australians could have imagined what low-Earth-orbit satellite direct-to-device technology would make possible. In 2026, access to telecommunications is no longer a luxury; it is an essential service that underpins public safety, economic participation and the need to stay connected to those we love. Australians rely on mobile phones for connectivity more than ever. However, Australia's longstanding universal service obligation has not included mobile services. We have legislated for copper phone lines and payphones, while the country has evolved to make the mobile phone the most essential device for everyday life. On this side of the chamber, we believe in a simple principle: no-one held back and no-one left behind. That's why I am so supportive of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025—because communities like those in my electorate of Hughes were left behind while those opposite were in office, especially in relation to telecommunications. While those opposite were in government, they tried to degrade everything that the National Broadband Network was meant to transform. They took a technology designed to connect every Australian with world-class fibre and watered it down. They chose cheaper, slower, inferior technology, and they called it good enough. It meant that communities like Bundeena and Maianbar in the Royal National Park in my electorate missed out on the connections that were changing lives all around the world as digital access changed the way that lives were lived and economies were grown. When I'm out in the community listening to residents of Bundeena and Maianbar, I'm constantly hearing from them about how the lack of connection affects them. Bundeena and Maianbar are one road in, one road out. The road, which starts as Farnell Avenue and undergoes a couple of name changes before meeting Bundeena Drive, is single lane. It's winding and surrounded by dense bushland. These are dangerous roads for Bundeena and Maianbar residents to have to navigate at night. Residents and motorists need to know that, if trouble arises, they'll be able to get help—for a medical episode, a breakdown or a car that comes off the road in the dark. On that road right now, they may have no way to reach anyone if any of these emergencies arise. That's the quiet, daily reality for people in my community in Bundeena and Maianbar, and it's not good enough. These are communities that sit inside the boundaries of greater metropolitan Sydney. From my community, you can see the city, and yet, when it comes to mobile connectivity, they may as well be hundreds of kilometres from anywhere. That's why, on this side of the House, we're introducing a universal outdoor mobile service obligation. For the first time, Telstra, Optus and TPG will be required to provide reasonable access to outdoor baseline mobile coverage across Australia on an equitable basis, starting with voice and SMS services, not just in the cities, not just in the suburbs but everywhere Australians live, work, drive and walk. I spend a lot of time on Heathcote Road. It not only connects the two sides of my electorate; it connects the growing south-west of Sydney to the South Coast. But, for such an important artery, mobile reception on Heathcote Road is not where it needs to be in the 21st century. There are stretches where coverage disappears. If there's a breakdown, an accident or a medical emergency on Heathcote Road, there may be no way to call for help. It's not acceptable for a major road connecting two significant parts of New South Wales. The Royal National Park sits at the heart of my electorate. It's one of the oldest national parks in the world and one of the most visited. On any given weekend, thousands of people from across Greater Sydney, people from across New South Wales and tourists from across the world are walking the coast track, enjoying the water at Garie Beach, riding trails through the scrub, kayaking through the estuary or simply sitting on a clifftop and watching the Tasman Sea. For most visitors, losing mobile coverage is not life threatening. For most people, it simply means more reason to focus on the incomparable nature the park presents. But, sometimes, it does matter—if a hiker slips on a wet sandstone ledge, a kayaker gets into trouble in a swell that came from nowhere or a trail runner takes a wrong turn and the light starts to fade. In those moments, the most connected generation in human history is suddenly and completely cut off from help. The visitor numbers are real, but they are spread across an enormous area, and the park's conservation status limits accessibility. This is market failure, and it's the kind of market failure that this government is seeking to address. This bill is technology-neutral by design. Mobile operators will be expected to use a combination of their existing terrestrial infrastructure and new direct-to-device technology delivered by low-Earth-orbit satellites. The advent of new low-Earth-orbit satellites, or LEOSat, direct-to-device technology has made delivery of mobile coverage across Australia's vast inland areas possible. Within the next couple of years, the direct-to-device, or D2D, coverage will be able to provide baseline outdoor coverage in areas outside terrestrial coverage, allowing people to seek help if they are lost, injured or facing natural disasters in areas without traditional terrestrial mobile coverage. D2D uses satellites orbiting at around 550 kilometres above the Earth to communicate directly with a standard mobile handset without a tower, dish or base station at the user's end. It's just a phone and a view of the sky. That means it works in a national park. It means it works on a winding road through dense bush and on a single-lane road into Bundeena at night. Telstra already has a commercial D2D SMS service operating in Australia today. Optus and TPG have announced their own plans. This technology exists, and it's being deployed right now. The question this bill answers is whether it reaches every Australian or only the ones who happen to be commercially convenient. Setting the obligation now is what will drive the market to build toward it. We want the industry to meet its obligations and provide appropriate coverage to all Australians. A legislated obligation is only as strong as the framework that enforces it. That is why the standards, rules and benchmarks powers in this bill matter as much as the obligation itself. If the industry does not deliver quality services, the minister can act. If affordable products are not available for vulnerable Australians, there is a mechanism to require them. If planned outages are not being managed responsibly, there are levers that can be pulled. I want to acknowledge the 88 submissions made during public consultation on this bill. This bill did not come from nowhere. Those submissions came from mobile carriers, consumer groups, state and local governments and individual Australians. The breadth of that engagement reflects how deeply people across this country feel about connectivity as a basic expectation, not a commercial privilege. Consumer and community stakeholders were particularly clear. They want equitable access, and they want industry held to account if it isn't delivering. This bill gives the government the tools to do exactly that. The president of the National Farmers' Federation described this as a world-first policy and said Australia could become the 'gold standard for regional communications'. This is not just about what the technology can do today; it's about building a framework that is flexible enough to capture whatever comes next. As D2D technology matures, as new services emerge and as the market evolves, this legislation evolves with it. We are not locking Australians into a single solution. We are locking Australia into a standard that every Australian everywhere deserves connection. Because voice services under the UOMO will be classified as public mobile telecommunications services, the existing Emergency Call Service Determination automatically applies. Wherever this bill delivers a voice call, it delivers access to triple zero—on a cliff in the Royal National Park, on a dark stretch of Heathcote Road and on the road into Bundeena. No additional legislation is required; it flows directly from this bill. Triple zero access across every outdoor location must be a core feature of this legislation in order for it to provide real certainty for all Australians in the event of an emergency. The promise of connectivity is one that successive governments have made, but only this side has kept it. We told Australians that mobile phones would keep them connected. This has been true for most of us most of the time, but not for residents like those in Bundeena and Maianbar that are navigating a single lane road, not for hikers and trail runners in the Royal National Park, not for the thousands of commuters on Heathcote Road—who deserve the same coverage as any other major Sydney arterial—and not for the constituents of Hughes, who have held up phones and found nothing there. This bill starts keeping the promise properly, with a clear obligation and technology that can actually deliver it. This bill says that no Australian anywhere should look up, see the sky and find a phone call out of reach. To the people of Bundeena and Maianbar, to hikers in the Royal National Park, to the drivers of Heathcote Road and to every constituent in Hughes: this bill is about addressing your concerns and giving you peace of mind. I commend the bill to the House. 18:19 Mr JOYCE e5d New England This issue in regional Australia is so very, very important. At the start, we had a thing called CDMA. It didn't carry much data, but it had a huge range. It used to be remarkable. When I was out at Saint George—you'd be miles away and you could get CDMA. You could get on the phone. If you broke down or something happened or there was a crash or you needed to get spare parts, CDMA worked. And then they said: 'No. CDMA's no good anymore. We're going to a thing called 2G.' The range got smaller, and they said: 'Don't worry. We'll push it out a bit.' At that point in time, the coalition, to give them their dues—I was part of it—had the Telstra debate, and part of that legislation that went through was because the Labor Party sold 49 per cent of Telstra and they had the remainder. It wasn't about the sale of Telstra. We're talking about the sale of the remainder of Telstra. We only had to sell two per cent, and we lost control of it. Peter Costello, at that stage, decided he'd balance the books by paying off the debt by selling Telstra. I argued against it at the time. Probably, with hindsight, it was the right thing to do because the value of Telstra went down yet the debt was cleared. That's how, when people talk about how the coalition was not in debt, they did it. They sold Telstra to do it. Nonetheless, I digress. What happened after that in that negotiation—I'd just arrived in parliament. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. It was 2005. I'd never been in parliament and neither had any of my staff. At that stage, I'd won with the Queensland Nationals, which no longer exist, and we actually competed against the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party tried to get rid of me. It might happen again. But we actually prevailed, and then we had a majority of one in the Senate, and that was my vote. Because they campaigned against me, I didn't feel obligated in any way, shape or form to play ball. So I held down my vote. There was a fund. We got $2 billion of that. Then, in the next term, the Liberal Party voted with the coalition—the Nationals supported them—to get rid of the fund. That was smart. Then there were the Universal Service Obligation, the Network Reliability Framework, the Customer Service Guarantee, the Network Reliability Framework—a whole range of conditions that were put in place that Telstra had to put in place to keep their licence. I can do this without notes because I'm very across this. It's part of my life. Then we went to 2G. We said to them, 'You can't go to 2G unless you're offering the same coverage as what you had with CDMA.' So we subsidised a whole lot of mobile phone towers to get built all around the countryside. They said, 'We just don't get a return from a tower,' so we had bidding form. If we were going to put a tower up in, say, the seat of Cook, we'd say: 'There's money there. The ones that come up and ask us for the least amount of money get that to build a tower in the seat of Cook.' And off it went. There were 55 towers built in the seat of New England. Then they went to 3G. We said, '3G's fine.' All of a sudden, they could start moving more data. The world became consumed by data. Banks wanted to move bigger files and they needed more bandwidth to do that, and so it went to 3G. But, of course, the more data you move the more your range constricts in and the more you have to supplement that by new towers to get things out. So we had 3G come in, and we had to build more towers. That was fine, but the market in Sydney and other areas relied absolutely on the growth of the programs that were coming out from stockbrokers, from banks and from online delivery of films. Netflix and YouTube required more data again, so they went to 4G, buying the spectrum up. The spectrum became worth a lot of money, so they went into buying spectrum. And to get into buying spectrum they have to retire previous spectrum. When they retired spectrum those on the peripheries, regional areas, lost their mobile phone service. There's always a promise: 'Don't worry. We'll come back and we'll fix it up.' But they started falling off the log a bit on this one, and the Network Reliability Framework and the Customer Service Guarantee and the Universal Service Obligation—as I said, you're not complying with these anymore. They'll tell you not to worry about it, that they'll fix it up in the future, it's all under control and everything's hunky dory. Then came 4G and, of course, now we've got 5G. With 5G, it's almost like a line of sight, to be able to move with a big bandwidth. You can move massive amounts of files. It's great for your banking. You can download your movies. You can do it on your phone. It's marvellous stuff, except that now people on 3G get closed down. They have to grab that bandwidth back. There are all those people who relied on it in the country if you had an accident. We had, the other day, a tragic accident on the highway near Moonbi. A person was killed. It was a truck, and it went into a car. They shut down the highway near Moonbi, so all these cars, from a national highway, started going up the Danglemah Road, which I live on. So the Danglemah Road, a dirt road, turned into the New England Highway, and these people didn't really understand that it's a single-lane road. As I went along, one truck had been pushed just off the edge, on the side of a cliff. It was just hanging on there. We—I didn't, but people from my property did—had to put chains on it so it didn't tip over. That person could have been killed. They went to ring—of course, no reception. Especially in remote areas, when someone has a heart attack, they've got to get on the phone. There's no reception. Even for a simple thing, like a person getting a flat tyre who's probably not able to fix it—that's most of this building!—there's no reception. They can't do it. It's a fundamental occupational health and safety issue in regional Australia that you have a mobile phone reception. It is very, very dangerous if you don't. Every person who's been in regional Australia will tell you about the time they came across an accident. They came across an accident. There were people on the side of the road. The car's disappeared. They just happened to catch a glimpse of it. It's gone off the road, to the side. There's the immediate panic you have: 'I must get the police here; I must get an ambulance here, I've got to find out.' And, if you don't have reception, well, what are you going to do? You can't leave the people. What do you do? Light a little fire? I mean, how does this work? You've got to have mobile phone reception, and we're losing it since they went to 5G. So how are we going to deal with this? Well, where a lot of people will go—and are going—is to Mr Elon Musk with his Starlink—with mobile Starlink. That's where they're off to. That's because we're going right away from any protections in Australia and using delivery of a foreign service, which, of course, should something go wrong, can be shut down, when we should be relying on telecommunications being delivered as promised through the Universal Service Obligation. So we call on the government to actually own this and go out to areas and say, 'If you're not complying with the Universal Service Obligation, the network reliability framework or the customer service guarantee, you put at risk your licence for having a telecommunications company.' So let's talk about how you get more towers out, because the only way you solve this problem is to get more mobile phone towers out. Every time that bandwidth is utilised for 5G—after it will come 6G—more and more volume is required, so less and less area is able to be covered. There have to be more and more mobile phone towers put out around the nation. Lately, in regional areas, that's just fallen off of a perch. I must admit that the coalition were very good at getting out mobile phone towers. But, just observing—I'm not suggesting anything, but I'm observing—where a few mobile phone towers have been going, one might suggest that they're going into Labor electorates. One might suggest that. One might suggest that there seem to be quite a few going in around a place called Bega, but we are not getting any new ones out in other regional areas. This in itself means that there is a diminished standard of living and diminished potential in regional areas. Even now, mobile phone receptions are utilised by mechanics. For a lot of machinery now, if a bearing's overheating or something else is going wrong, a message—in some instances sent to the tower, sent to Detroit if it's John Deere, or sent back to the dealership—tells you to turn off your tractor, because, if you keep it running, it's going to go from a $6,000 bill to a $60,000 bill and cost you a lot of money. This Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 has to have the meat put on the bone so that the government will own the responsibility to get out into regional areas to have discussions with the community and say, 'Where did you use to get reception that you no longer get reception?' and at the very least match what they had, because they don't have it. What I have seen in following this is that every office in regional Australia becomes a lightning rod for telephone complaints. What I have seen is that when you say to them, 'This area that you used to get reception in no longer gets reception,' they come out with the greatest weasel words. They say, 'In the past that was just fortuitous reception.' It's like you were just lucky it happened. Luck had nothing to do with it. They had reception and now they don't. In closing, on Monday mornings I do a piece on Sunrise. There's a hill behind my place, and I've got a track and it goes right up this hill. It's quite steep. It'd be 800 or 900 metres—I suppose 800 metres—at the top. People say, 'You go up there because there's a beautiful view and the sun's rising and it looks wonderful; you and Tanya get out there and get the ratings for Channel 7 and have a whale of a time.' The reason I go up that hill is for mobile phone reception. That's why I go up the hill. If I didn't go up the hill, we wouldn't have the reception to be able to relay that program to the tower. From that area I get 5G because I can see the tower. It's on top of the Moonbi Range. It's just over there, and it's that line-of-sight reception that I get. I used to be able to get reception. Every time they changed the telephone, the 5G to 2G, I used to have to go further and further up the hill to get reception. Now I'm at the top of the hill. I'm at the top of my game, but there's no more hill to go up. I'm going to have to buy the neighbour's place to go any further up. So, if they knock off any more of this, I am out of luck and I say to Sunrise, 'I'm sorry about that; I just didn't have a higher hill.' So let's see that if this obligation is actually fulfilled. Let's see if the rhetoric turns into reality. Let's see if you actually deliver what was promised. Might I remind you what you voted for back in 2005. It was a long time ago, but you did. You voted for these responsibilities, these obligations, and even though it's later on you've got to honour them in 2026. 18:32 Ms COMER 316551 Petrie In the year 2026 mobile phone coverage is not a luxury; it is a necessity for everyday life. It is how Australians communicate with their families and friends. It is how parents coordinate school pick-ups and after-school activities. It's how carers check in on elderly relatives. It is how people stay socially connected in an increasingly digital world. Remote workers rely on mobile data to participate in meetings and access cloud based systems. It is how Australians access services. Many government services now require an online verification code sent by SMS. If you cannot receive a text message or place a call, you can effectively be locked out of essential services. Without reliable coverage, Australians are getting left behind. Mobile coverage is also fundamentally about safety. It is how Australians call triple 0 in an emergency. It is how they receive bushfire alerts, flood alerts and weather-warning notifications. It is how stranded motorists call for roadside assistance. It is how workers on farms, construction sites and remote worksites stay in contact with colleagues and emergency responders. In 2026 connectivity underpins social inclusion. Without it, individuals can become isolated, particularly in regional and remote communities. In the modern era, reliable mobile connectivity belongs in the same category as any other essential infrastructure. It supports our economy, our safety and our sense of connection to one another. That is why reform is necessary, that is why universal outdoor mobile coverage matters and that is why we must ensure that the framework governing telecommunications reflects the realities of everyday life in 2026. We're establishing for the first time a legislative framework to create a universal outdoor mobile obligation. It represents a significant and necessary evolution of Australia's universal services regime. It reflects the way Australians live today, it reflects the way we communicate and it reflects the expectation that connectivity is not a luxury but a baseline necessity. The Albanese government is committed to keeping Australians connected. We believe that every Australian should have access to baseline mobile voice and text services across the entire country. No matter where you live and no matter what you do, you deserve the ability to connect, whether it is to work from home, to run your business, to seek help in an emergency or to simply stay in touch with the people that you love. Traditional mobile coverage is currently provided in areas where about 99 per cent of Australians work and live. That is an extraordinary achievement and one that reflects decades of investment by industry and government. But it covers only one-third of the Australian landmass. In the remaining two-thirds, around five million square kilometres, it is not possible to make a triple zero call using traditional mobile services, and that statistic alone makes a case for reform. We rely on telecommunication connectivity to support our families, our businesses and our communities. Most importantly, we rely on it to seek help in an emergency. Whether you are facing a natural disaster, broken down on the highway, injured on the farm or lost in the bush, you should have the ability to call for assistance. Under the UOMO, coverage will be accessible almost everywhere Australians can see the sky. That underlying connectivity will support expanded triple zero access and strengthen public safety outcomes. This reform means that, whether you are travelling on a regional highway, working on a remote property, camping with your friends or visiting one of our amazing national parks, you'll have baseline access to mobile voice and SMS services outdoors where reasonably possible. The UOMO will require the three national mobile network operators Telstra, Optus and TPG to provide reasonable and equitable access to outdoor mobile voice and text services almost everywhere in Australia. This will have particular benefits in remote and regional areas where there is currently no traditional mobile coverage. It will also improve competition by ensuring that baseline access is available through all three national operators. Mobile carriers are expected to meet the obligation using a combination of their existing terrestrial mobile networks and the new direct-to-device technology enabled by the low-Earth-orbit satellites. The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 is not about replacing traditional mobile coverage; it is about expanding it to areas where, despite significant industry and government co-investment, it has not been feasible to provide coverage through towers alone. Direct-to-device technology is emerging and still being rolled out in Australia and around the world. It allows compatible mobile phones to connect directly to satellites when terrestrial coverage is unavailable, provided there is a clear line of sight to the sky. The bill recognises that there are circumstances where operators may not be able to meet this obligation—for example, in heavily forested areas or deep valleys where a clear line of sight is obstructed. The intent is to ensure services are available as widely as possible. Initially, the mobile telecommunications services subject to the UOMO will be voice services and SMS. This reflects the early capability of the technology and the primary policy objective of public safety. The bill creates a flexible framework that allows the scope and timing of the UOMO to be adjusted by the ministerial instrument as satellite technology evolves and the market capability expands. The bill proposes a default commencement date of 1 December 2027. From that date, all three operators will be required to ensure that baseline mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors throughout Australia. This timing is ambitious, and it is challenging, but it sends a clear signal to the market that equitable and accessible outdoor mobile coverage is a national priority and that services should be available as soon as possible. Importantly, the bill provides flexibility to adjust the scope and timing of the obligation by notifiable legislative instrument if required by market readiness or technical constraints. Any such decision must be made following consultation with the UOMO providers and with consideration of market, technical and consumer matters. This ensures accountability while maintaining necessary flexibility. This legislation brings mobile services into the longstanding universal services regime, which previously focused on legacy, copper based voice services. It modernises that framework. It recognises that mobile phones are now the primary means of communication for the overwhelming majority of Australians. I actually don't know a single person my age that has a landline. It also creates new powers to set standards, rules and benchmarks for mobile services, with flexibility for those to apply before the UOMO commences. This provides a framework to hold industry to account if it does not deliver in the national interest. Standards could cover matters such as ensuring there are affordable products to meet the needs of vulnerable groups, or requiring industry to reduce the impact of planned mobile outages through better planning and communication. While the need for and content of any standards will require close consultation, it is important that the government has the ability to step in if the market does not deliver fair outcomes. Consultation has already been undertaken on exposure draft legislation. Feedback was received from mobile carriers, carriage service providers, state and territory governments, regulators, consumer groups and individuals. Consumer stakeholders have strongly supported the bill, and in many cases have called for even stronger enforcement of standards. Regional stakeholders are keen to see equitable access to mobile coverage and to ensure that direct-to-device technology complements rather than replaces terrestrial infrastructure. I want to speak about what this reform means in practical terms for communities like mine. In Burpengary East, residents have been grappling with limited and unreliable mobile coverage. It is a growing community. Families are moving in, small businesses are establishing themselves, but too many residents struggle to make a call from their own home. I've been working closely with stakeholders to progress improved mobile infrastructure in Burpengary East. Negotiations with Queensland's site grantee are ongoing. These negotiations are critical to ensuring that the proposed base station can move from planning into delivery. Base station deployment is complex. From contract signing, it typically takes between 24 and 36 months to move through site inspection, detailed design, planning approvals, site acquisition, construction and the final activation. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has informed me that it is legally unable to provide a public update while contract negotiations remain underway. I share the community's frustration. I want the residents of Burpengary East to know that I am not treating this as a background issue. I'm advocating strongly, I'm seeking updates, I'm pushing for progress and I will continue to do so. These processes can take time. There are negotiations, approvals, design work and construction phases, but time frames and technicalities would not diminish my commitment to seeing this through, because it is about more than signal bars on a screen. It is about safety, it is about opportunity and it is about fairness. Once contract negotiations are finalised, a public announcement will be made. The UOMO will complement these on-the-ground efforts by ensuring that even where terrestrial coverage gaps remain, baseline outdoor connectivity will be available. This reform is about closing the digital divide. It builds on the government's investments in the NBN, in regional communication programs, in First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan initiatives and strengthening the triple zero framework. It supports productivity. It supports economic growth. It supports Australia's growing demand for data and seamless connectivity. Our vision is clear. We are not sitting back waiting for technology to evolve to its own timetable. We're acting early to ensure that Australians benefit from emerging technologies as quickly and as equitably as possible. Improving coverage is a key concern for communities and a priority of this government. The UOMO ensures that almost anywhere Australians can see the sky, they will have access to outdoor mobile voice and text services. It means that when you look up, you can connect. No matter where you live or what you do, you deserve that connection. 18:43 Mr CHAFFEY 316312 Parkes Communication is one of the most fundamental building blocks of what it means to be a human. For those who live in cities, where you might have hundreds of neighbours in the same building, there are many ways and means of reaching out, for sending a message or for calling for help. But for those in the bush, for those across the huge electorate of Parkes, and for many Australians in other parts of the country that are not centred around a capital city, communication is a huge challenge. For someone who has chest pains on a property outside Wilcannia or who breaks down out the back of Bourke, there are no neighbours. Sadly, this is where telecommunications continue to let regional people down. In this lucky country, this country of opportunity and innovation, the people who produce our food and fibre and the minerals, and the people who work hard and look after the land cannot make a simple phone call. There are times when businessowners in Gilgandra must walk out into the streets to allow their customers to pay with a credit card. There are times when people running businesses from their regional home cannot log on to finalise transactions, cannot lodge their business activity statements and cannot fill in necessary employment or government forms. People cannot coordinate logistics, use modern GPS tools or check on their loved ones. When emergencies strike, regional people are often on their own. They cannot connect to triple zero, and, if they can, the failure of technology often critically adds time to the location needed during an emergency. Sadly, this is not hypothetical; people have died. This goes beyond inconvenience. It goes to the very core of what it is to connect with others, to be part of the lives of your family and friends, to be able to run your business in a professional way and to know that you are safe in all situations. Regional Australians do not ask for something that any person in any other country does not expect. I've heard from people across the Parkes electorate about the problems the lack of reliable telecommunications are causing them every single day. Some of these stories are tragic. Others show that, once again, regional Australians face almost insurmountable challenges just to open a business and to fulfill their dreams to serve those in their communities. As recently as last week I held a network connectivity roundtable in Walgett, where the frustrations of farmers who've struggled for years to find reliable telecommunications were abundantly clear. They have trusted in the advice they've received and purchased expensive plants, expensive handsets and expensive equipment only to find out that it's out of date, not fit for purpose or just doesn't work. We continue to hear about exciting new technology, but, time after time, it's followed by all the reasons it won't work in regional Australia or wouldn't be accessible to ordinary Australians. Regional Australians have had enough of announcements and enough of promises. They just need reliable telecommunications. It is time for moves in this direction to get real. We need practical, reliable and affordable solutions that work for all Australians. As we look at this bill, we must look at it through the lens of this government's track record and through its poor performance in making telecommunications work. Let's not forget the wonder that was the 3G shutdown. The 3G shutdown left people isolated. People were forced into updating their phones, some unnecessarily, and businesses were left without connection and without support. This was a planned event, an outcome that was chosen. It was surrounded by confusion and absolute failure. The trust of regional Australians has been lost. I know myself that on my travels around the electorate connection is sparse and often non-existent. Many people have been forced into using expensive Starlink, causing concerns of having one real supplier being available. Under the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, there is some impressive sounding jargon. Let's take a look at it. It says: This a significant and important reform that will bring mobile services within the universal services framework. … … … The UOMO will require the national Mobile Network Operators … currently, Telstra Limited, Optus Mobile Pty Limited and TPG Telecom Limited, to deliver baseline outdoor coverage across Australia. It sounds good, but I have a number of concerns with this. One is that there is quite a lot of talk of direct-to-device technology here delivering over low-orbit satellite platforms. I'm reliably informed that this technology may not be readily available to fully roll out in the timeline that has been allocated. That's a pretty epic fail and a shady reminder of Labor's unachievable net zero target. I'm also concerned about one element of this technology: you still cannot call triple zero. Currently, the technology allows satellite-to-messaging capability, but you cannot message triple zero. It's another epic fail. We are legislating here ahead of this technology actually being in use or even being fully developed. I quote again: Currently SMS services are available in a number of countries on certain handsets, including in Australia, and voice services are expected to follow. Further along, we have a caveat that makes even more nonsense of this bill. It says: … the Bill includes a power for the Minister to determine circumstances when it would not be reasonable to make mobile coverage available … In one short document, we've gone from universal coverage to coverage if the technology is invented to coverage if the technology is invented, providing you have the right handset, to coverage if the technology is invented, you have the right handset and the minister thinks it's a good idea. Is it any wonder this Labor government has lost the trust of those in regional Australia, many of whom are trying to run a business and a family with one hand tied behind their backs and the other up in the air trying to get a signal? Regional Australia is our backbone. Again, it's where we grow our food and fibre and harvest our minerals. It is what sets us apart from other countries. Yes, it presents challenges. Isn't it time we told regional Australians that we are up for the challenge and that we value everything they are to our country? Isn't it time we stopped switching off technology without knowing the full impact and before something that works is in place? Isn't it time we invested a little of our nation in connecting Australians wherever they might live? We cannot continue to focus all of the government's time and Australians' money in the cities alone. We are all Australians and we all deserve to be able to connect with our loved ones and to do business the best way that we possibly can. We all deserve to be able to reach out and find help in those times of greatest need. 18:52 Ms ROBERTS 157125 Pearce The incorporated speech read as follows— I rise today to strongly support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, a bill that will make a tangible, everyday difference for Australians in every electorate, especially for those living in our fast-growing suburbs and our outer-metro communities, like in my electorate of Pearce and the regions that keep this nation moving. I want to start, as I always do, with the people behind this policy—the families, the small-business owners and the community volunteers who have told me again and again that mobile coverage is not just about convenience anymore. It's about connection, about safety and about opportunity. We've all experienced that moment of frustration—standing outside our homes, phone in hand, waving it about trying to find that one bar of reception. For some of us, it's a nuisance. But for too many communities, that dropped call is more than an inconvenience; it's a barrier to living, working, learning and, sometimes, even surviving. When a tradie can't process an online payment on a job site, when a parent can't reach their child's school because the signal keeps dropping, when a driver on a regional road can't call for help after an accident, that's when the reality hits home. This is not a luxury; mobile coverage is essential infrastructure. It's how we connect, how we do business and how we stay safe. This bill finally gives that truth the weight it deserves in law. It creates a universal outdoor mobile obligation, a clear standard that says: every Australian should have reliable outdoor mobile coverage no matter where they live, work or travel. It enshrines the idea that reliable communications are not negotiable; they are part of the social and economic fabric of this country. What this legislation does is straightforward yet transformative. It ensures that telecommunications providers meet minimum standards for coverage in outdoor areas and that those standards apply consistently across all regions. It provides the framework for monitoring, for reporting and for accountability. It's not enough to rely on goodwill; Australians deserve guarantees. I represent one of the largest and fastest growing electorates in the country. Every week, new families move in to our northern suburbs. Every month, new suburbs and estates come online. The streets appear almost overnight and the houses fill quickly, yet, time and time again, the infrastructure lags behind. Mobile coverage is one of the most common issues raised when I meet with residents and local community groups. I remember speaking with a young family in one of our newer estates. They told me their home didn't have fixed-line internet connected yet, so they relied entirely on mobile data, but the signal was so weak that even downloading a banking app could take many minutes. They had considered moving because they needed to work from home and couldn't. That's not an isolated story; it's happening daily across countless new communities. The reality is that these families aren't asking for anything extravagant. They're asking for the same basic level of service that many take for granted. They're asking for a fair go. And that's what this bill delivers. It's also important to remember that Australia's geography adds unique challenges. We are a vast nation, with enormous distances and dispersed populations. That's why the principle of universal access has always been part of our telecommunications story, from the early telephone networks through to broadband and now mobile coverage. This bill strengthens that legacy for the mobile era. Let's be very clear about what outdoor mobile coverage means in practical terms. It means being able to make a call or send a message when standing outside or inside your home, walking the dog at your local oval or pulling over safely on a remote highway. That's not asking for too much. It's simply setting a baseline that ensures Australians can rely on a connection when it matters most. The Albanese Labor government's vision is absolutely clear: make Australia the most connected continent in the world. For residents in outer-metro and fast-growing fringe suburbs, this is game changing. It means that new estates will no longer be an afterthought when networks expand. For regions, it means that those long road stretches or sparsely populated areas get the recognition they deserve in national infrastructure planning. And, for small businesses, it means reliability. Across my electorate, small business is the lifeblood of our economy. From home based enterprises that rely on mobile internet to tradies using mobile payment systems and local cafes managing online orders, success depends on staying connected. When a call drops, a sale can be lost. When coverage falters, operations stumble. Connectivity is not just about communication anymore; it's about productivity. I recently met a local builder who told me he couldn't update digital site logs from some parts of his development area, because the mobile signal kept vanishing. He said, 'Tracey, I can see the tower from here; I just can't get to it.' That frustration is so common it's almost become a punchline. But, for those running a business, it's serious. It affects livelihoods and planning, and ultimately it affects confidence in our local economy. Beyond business and daily life, this bill is also about safety. That's perhaps the most compelling reason why we must act. In every emergency, moments matter. Whether it's during bushfires, floods or road accidents, being able to make that emergency call can mean the difference between life and death. In regional and rural Australia and even along the edges of our cities, gaps in coverage can have devastating consequences. I've heard from volunteer firefighters, local SES teams and emergency coordinators who rely on residents to raise the alarm. Without coverage, that crucial window for response can close too soon. This legislation provides greater assurance that those critical calls will go through, wherever Australians are. It's about giving people peace of mind—to know that, if they break down on the highway or if a loved one gets into trouble, they can reach someone. You can't put a price on that kind of security. Of course, success depends on accountability and collaboration. Telecommunications companies will now be held to new performance standards, and they'll need to report transparently on how they meet these obligations. The Australian Communications and Media Authority will provide oversight, ensuring compliance isn't optional. This approach is balanced. It's not about burdening industry; it's about partnership. It's about ensuring that investment and innovation align with the national interest. I also want to acknowledge the many councils and regional alliances that have campaigned for this outcome. Local governments have long been the voice of their communities on this issue, mapping out coverage gaps, submitting funding proposals and advocating with persistence and purpose. In my time as mayor and now as a member of this parliament, I have seen firsthand the power of that collaboration. Their advocacy has helped shape this legislation. I want to recognise the many residents who have taken the time to send coverage maps, signal tests and photos showing where their reception cuts out. Those efforts have mattered. When we legislate something as significant as universal mobile access, it's not just a technical policy achievement; it's a testament to community determination. As we look to Australia's digital future, this bill is also a foundational piece of that journey. The move to 5G and beyond promises enormous benefits—faster data, smarter devices and new economic opportunities. But we can't leave anyone behind as we step into that future. A universal outdoor mobile obligation sets the base upon which all these new technologies can expand equitably. It means the acceleration of progress doesn't come at the cost of inclusion. It is also worth acknowledging the broader benefits to health and education. Telehealth, for example, is now a permanent part of our healthcare system. For people in semi-rural areas, reliable mobile coverage means being able to participate in remote consultations without interruption or lag. For students studying online, it means equal access to resources and lessons, not falling behind because the signal drops out. This reform is not simply about technology. It's about fairness. It's about recognising that connectivity is now fundamental to how Australians live, work and care for one another. I've often said that the mark of good policy is that it improves daily life—not in abstract ways but in real, tangible experiences. This legislation achieves that. It takes something that frustrates people every day, and it fixes it with foresight and fairness. It reflects a government that listens, that acts and that cares about outcomes for people in every corner of the country. So, as we debate this today, I want to remind the House what this bill truly represents. It represents a fair go for outer-suburban families. It represents safety and peace of mind for regional travellers. It represents opportunity for small business and resilience for our economy. And it represents dignity—the dignity of being able to rely on a basic service that connects you to your world. It's 2026. Australians have every right to expect that, when they step outside their home, they will have mobile reception. It shouldn't depend on which side of a postcode line you live on or whether your suburb was built five years ago or fifty years ago. This bill draws that line clearly. It says, 'We are one connected nation.' Our communities have asked for action. The Albanese Labor government has listened. And now, through this bill, we are delivering. I am proud to support the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, and I commend it to the House. 18:53 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah I rise to speak in support of this bill, the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025, because so many in our communities and all around Australia were shocked when we saw the communications failure and the outages that impacted the triple zero services. The very real consequence of a system failure like that is loss of life. We have basic standards and things that all Australians must be able to rely upon. Being able to call triple zero and knowing it is there and available is an essential aspect. Mobile coverage is now essential infrastructure. There is no doubt about it. For safety, for participation in the economy and for fairness, we should all be able to access that mobile coverage no matter where we live, in urban or regional Australia. It is essential. This bill seeks to modernise universal service settings by creating a universal outdoor mobile obligation, a baseline expectation that Australians can access outdoor mobile voice and SMS on an equitable basis. On that basis, I support this bill because it does close a very real safety gap, especially in regional and remote Australia. It must be implemented with clear benchmarks, affordability safeguards and service provider accountability so that universality is actually practically meaningful and not just a pretty word to have on a piece of legislation. It has to be universal in application in real time out in the real world. Too many Australians still move through places with no mobile coverage at all on highways, farms, remote worksites, national parks and community roads. When something goes wrong—breakdown, injury, bushfire or flood—coverage can be the difference between help being on its way and help never arriving. In September 2025, an Optus network fault linked to a firewall upgrade meant that some customers in multiple jurisdictions could not make triple zero calls for around 13 hours. The explanations that have been provided from the government and from Optus have, respectfully, not been satisfactory. Reporting and investigations indicated that hundreds of emergency calls failed, and the incident was linked to deaths. It was an awful reminder that emergency access can fail and that the consequences can be fatal. So this is really important. The bill amends the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection And Service Standard) Act 1999 to establish a framework so that baseline mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors to all people in Australia on an equitable basis. Of course, there are gaps within that language and we need to make sure, again, that, in practical application, that equitable access is actually there. Initially, these changes will apply from 1 December 2027 to the three national mobile carriers—Telstra, Optus and TPG—as the primary providers. I note that date—1 December 2027. We as a parliament are still basically accepting that there will be another period of six to eight months whereby there will still be that risk of triple zero not working the way it is meant to for it to be available. I appreciate that, probably, providers are saying that it's going to take them time to make sure they've complied and these gaps in coverage are closed. That's concerning because that says that government has, to date, been asleep at the wheel in making sure that we don't have these gaps in service. The obligation initially centres on voice calls and SMS, not full mobile data. The framework is technology-neutral, allowing providers to meet obligations using existing terrestrial networks where coverage already exists and low-Earth-orbit satellites in areas without terrestrial coverage. The bill provides a flexible framework for the minister and/or ACMA, via delegation, to set standards, rules and benchmarks, including reliability, call quality, SMS performance and congestion tolerance. While I can understand the practicalities of why the government has crafted the bill in this way, we have to be really clear about what the expectation is. The expectation from the Australian public is that we will not get the kinds of outages and failure of triple zero we saw in the Optus outage. Whilst the minister has built into this legislation a framework for flexibility and deference to ACMA, we have to be very clear that the standards, rules and benchmarks must meet the expectations of the Australian public. A national baseline for mobile coverage is long overdue. We already accept universal obligations for fixed voice and broadband access. Finally, the same principle is being extended to the most popular device Australians carry—our mobile phones. The policy intent and public benefit is clear: leverage new satellite-to-phone capability to reduce the safety gap across vast areas beyond terrestrial networks. People in regional and remote areas should not be structurally excluded from baseline connectivity simply because putting up a tower in their area isn't profitable. These are essential services that must be available everywhere. It is for that reason that I support the amendments circulated by the member for Indi. Inserting an explicit meaning for concepts like 'equitable basis' and 'temporary disaster roaming' ensures the inclusion of minimum standards for affordability and guarantees access during crises such as climate driven fires and floods. If baseline coverage exists but people can't afford compatible plans or devices, universality fails in practice. The framework contemplates equitable access, so this must translate into competitive retail offerings, transparent pricing and attention to vulnerable and remote consumers in locations where market competition may be thin. It's essential that this actually work in practice, that this not be a whitewash over the top of a problem and that we actually have people kept safe with access to a triple zero service that works. Unfortunately, we know disasters are going to escalate in severity and frequency. We know they are cascading and compounding. That means access to a reliable triple zero mobile network is essential for all Australians, especially in regional communities, where we know they are going to bear the brunt of climate disasters. They will be hit the hardest and they will be the most reliant upon a triple zero service that works to make sure they can be safe. There is no doubt, as I have repeated often in this place, we are still so far from doing the investment in resilience and adaptation that is necessary to keep Australians safe in light of the kind of climate escalated events that are going to occur. It is essential that the government starts focusing on investing in that safety piece for Australians. That starts with making sure mobile coverage is available and accessible to all. The bill is not about guaranteeing perfect 5G everywhere—I accept that—but it is about establishing a modern, universal service baseline for voice and SMS outdoors so Australians are not left without a lifeline simply because of geography. The Optus triple zero outage last year painfully showed us that lives depend on the integrity and reach of telecommunications. Lastly, I can give a personal example. I enjoy doing long-distance trail events, often in very remote areas of national parks. I have taken it upon myself to actually buy a mini GPS satellite device to ensure I am trackable and can be contactable by family. But that is not something that is the norm. That is not something that people in regional or remote communities should be having to do. There should be this underlying basis of essential infrastructure when it comes to mobile coverage. So I will support this legislation. As I said, I will support the amendment from the member for Indi. But I want to be very clear to the government that this has to work in practice. This can't just be legislation to look like you're addressing a problem but not actually in practice meaningfully changing mobile coverage to ensure all communities have access to triple zero. 19:02 Ms TRISH COOK 312871 Bullwinkel Today I rise to speak in strong support of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025. As the inaugural member for the new electorate of Bullwinkel, it's a profound honour to stand here today and advocate for a piece of legislation that will fundamentally change the lives of my constituents. My electorate is a vibrant, diverse and sprawling part of Western Australia. It is an electorate that stretches from the bustling, growing outer-suburb hubs of Forrestfield, Stratton, Gosnells and High Wycombe, where young families are building their futures, to the historic winding roads of the Kalamunda hills, Roleystone, Mundaring and further out into the expansive golden agricultural heartlands of York, Northam, Toodyay and Beverley. Bullwinkel is an electorate named after Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, a woman whose name is synonymous with extraordinary courage, resilience and an unwavering dedication to her fellow Australians. As a nurse myself for over four decades, I feel a deep connection to her legacy. She was a woman who understood that, in the most dire of circumstances, care and connection are what sustain us. It is in the same spirit of service and care that I approach my duties in this place. It is in that spirit that I speak to this legislation today, because, at its heart, this bill is about care and connection. It's about ensuring that no Australian is left behind or left alone when they most need help. The Albanese government is committed to keeping Australians connected. This isn't just a slogan; it's the core principle of our policy agenda. Whether you're a commuter navigating the morning rush on Roe Highway, a small-business owner in Mundaring or a wheat belt farmer in the far reaches of the Avon Valley, there is one common thread that binds us all—the absolute necessity of staying connected. We live in a world where digital connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a basic utility, as essential as water or electricity. This bill is a monumental step towards making that a reality for every person in every corner of our nation. This government believes that every Australian should have access to baseline mobile voice and text services across the entire country. For too long, our national policy has treated universal service as a relic of the Copper Age. For decades, the focus was on the traditional landline, the fixed phone in the hallway, but the world has moved on. We have moved into a digital age where the phone in your pocket is your office, your bank, your map and, most crucially, your lifeline. Yet our legislation has lagged behind our reality, and this bill addresses that. In Bullwinkel, as across Australia, we rely on telecommunications connectivity to support our families, our businesses and our communities. Connectivity is the bridge that allows a boutique cidermaker in the suburb of Carmel to reach global markets through social media and ecommerce. It's what allows a parent in Gidgegannup to check in on their children after school while they are still at work an hour away in the city. It allows our seniors in Northam to stay in touch with their grandkids, bridging the distance that often separates families in our vast state of Western Australia. Importantly, it is the critical infrastructure we use to seek help in an emergency. Traditional mobile coverage is currently provided in areas where about 99 per cent of Australians work and live, and on paper that sounds like a near-perfect success story, but, for the people of Western Australia and specifically those in my electorate of Bullwinkel, that remaining one per cent of the population represents a massive portion of our geography. In fact, traditional mobile coverage currently covers only one-third of Australia's landmass. Two-thirds of our continent is currently a no-go zone for standard mobile communication. This means that, in the vast majority of our country, it is currently impossible to make a triple zero call using traditional mobile services. As a remote area nurse for four decades, I have seen firsthand the reality of what happens when communication fails or if it is absent. I have seen the difference between a positive outcome and a tragedy, and so often that difference is the speed of the emergency response. When a farmer is working alone in a paddock near York and has an accident, they shouldn't have to hope that someone will find them in due course. They should have the security of knowing that they can reach out for help. I think of the hikers exploring the Bibbulmun Track or the families cycling The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail. These are some of the jewels of the Perth Hills that brings tourism from all over the world, bringing life to our region. But if someone takes a fall or suffers a medical emergency on a remote part of these trails, that 99 per cent phone coverage statistic is of little comfort. What matters is the one per cent of the landmass that they're standing on. In those moments, a mobile black spot isn't just a minor annoyance for someone trying to check their emails; it's a life-threatening barrier to emergency services. Improving coverage is a key concern for communities across Bullwinkel, and it's a priority for our government. The universal outdoor mobile obligation, or UOMO, will provide the underlying connectivity needed to support expanded triple zero access and support public safety outcomes in these areas. UOMO means that outdoor coverage will be accessible almost anywhere in Australia where people can see the sky. We are moving from a system based on where we can afford to build a tower to a system based on where a person has a clear line of sight to the sky above them. This is a profound shift. Whether you're facing a natural disaster—and in the Perth Hills and the Avon Valley we know the threat of bushfires all too well—or whether you're broken down on a remote stretch of the Great Eastern Highway, injured on a farm in Beverley or lost in the bushland behind Mundaring Weir or Roleystone, under UOMO there will be outdoor mobile coverage nearly anywhere that you can look up and see the sky. The Albanese government has heard from stakeholders, from local councils, from emergency service volunteers—like the firefighters in Darlington—and from regional businesses about the importance of mobile services. We have heard, and the message is clear, that the current universal services framework is out of date. It is designed for a time when the internet was a novelty and mobile phones were the size of bricks—remember that? It does not cover the critical form of connectivity that modern Australians actually use. This legislation will require the mobile network operators Telstra, TPG and Optus to provide universal baseline outdoor mobile coverage where reasonably possible. We're setting a national standard. We're saying that, as a country, we will no longer accept that being out of range is just an inevitable part of living outside a capital city or being an MP for a regional area. It is anticipated that these operators will meet this obligation via a combination of our existing terrestrial infrastructure and the incredible new direct-to-device, or D2D, technology, which is available from the LEOs, the low-Earth-orbit satellites. This is the frontier of telecommunications. By using satellites that orbit much closer to the Earth than traditional ones, we can enable a standard mobile phone to connect directly to space. This bypasses the need for a physical tower in every valley and on every hill, which certainly doesn't work for Bullwinkel. This reform is not about replacing traditional mobile phone coverage. In places like Gosnells, High Wycombe or Forrestfield we still need our towers and our high-speed 5G to support suburban growth. UOMO is about expanding the safety net. It's about reaching the areas where, despite years of government and industry co-investment, it simply hasn't been feasible to build a physical tower due to the terrain or the sheer distance. D2D is an emerging technology. It is being rolled out right now in Australia and across the globe. Some may say that we should wait until it's fully mature before we legislate, but this government refuses to wait. We refuse to let regional Australians wait for the market to decide when they are worth the investment. We are legislating now to ensure this critical technology is deployed as widely and quickly as possible so that all Australians can benefit from this innovation. Given the emerging nature of D2D technology, this bill sets a default date for the commencement of the UOMO of 1 December 2027. This provides a clear timeframe while allowing the flexibility to adjust the date to ensure the market is ready. Make no mistake: this timing, whilst challenging, provides a clear signal to the market. Equitable and accessible outdoor mobile coverage is a priority for this government, and we want these services to be available as soon as possible. We aren't sitting around waiting for the digital divide to fix itself; we are acting early to ensure Australia is at the forefront of this technological revolution. This legislation brings mobile services into the longstanding universal services regime. For too long this regime only covered the legacy copper-based voice services. By updating this framework we are creating a system that can protect consumers and ensure mobile services are delivered in the national interest. If industry does not deliver, the government now has a framework to ensure that they do. This is a critical part of our comprehensive work to reduce the digital divide. In Bullwinkel, the digital divide is a daily reality. For businesses in Chidlow, it's the difference between being able to operate efficiently and having to struggle with basic connectivity. It's about a student in Northam having the same educational opportunities as a student in Perth. Improving connectivity isn't just about safety; it's about productivity and economic growth. Our ag sector in the Avon Valley is becoming increasingly high-tech. Farmers are using data driven insights to manage their crops and livestock. But you can't use ag tech without a connection. By expanding mobile coverage, we are supporting the growth of our regional economies and ensuring that they can compete in the 21st century. UOMO also builds on our other major investments. We have invested in the NBN to ensure faster, reliable internet for homes and businesses. We have focused on First Nations digital inclusion to ensure our Indigenous communities are not left behind. We have worked tirelessly to strengthen the triple 0 framework. This bill is the missing piece of that puzzle. Our vision is absolutely clear: making Australia the most connected continent in the world. To the people I represent in Bullwinkel: I know how much this matters to you. I have sat in your kitchens in Mundaring and walked through the paddocks in York. I have spoken to firefighters at Darlington and Glen Forrest. I remember the stories from the Wooroloo fires in 2021, where the ability to receive an emergency alert and call a loved one was the difference between panic and safety. And I know the frustration of the one-bar signal that drops out just when you need it most. This is a landmark reform. It is a bold step forward that embraces the future and puts people first, and I'm immensely proud to support this legislation. I'm proud to be part of the government that is finally delivering the connectivity that regional Australia deserves, because Labor understands the regions. I commend this bill to the House. 19:16 Dr HAINES 282335 Indi I rise today to speak about an issue that matters very deeply to the people in my electorate of Indi and to communities right across regional Australia: universal telecommunications access. Every year that I have served as the Independent member for Indi, poor regional telecommunications has been one of the most frequent issues raised with me by constituents. It's why the work of the Indi Telecommunications Advisory Group has been so valuable to my community and why we've needed significant investment under programs like the Mobile Black Spot Program and the Regional Connectivity Program. However, there is much, much more work to be done. The universal outdoor mobile obligation, UOMO for short, is a generational change in the commitment of government to ensure we all have access to a minimum level of connectivity, no matter where we live. For years, the universal service obligation included reasonable access to payphones and a landline phone in your home. For many years before mobile phones, that was enough. But times have changed, and now we work on our mobiles, run businesses on them and keep in touch with family and friends on them. We participate in telehealth appointments on them. We've also seen the rise of the low-Earth-orbit satellites that make it possible to connect to the internet from practically anywhere with a line of sight to the sky. Many people don't realise that most smartphones produced in the past five years can already connect to satellites through emerging direct-to-device technology. It's why the government is now introducing the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 to upgrade our universal service framework so that we can access phone calls and SMS from anywhere in Australia, as long as you can see the sky. It's a potential game changer for regional communities—no question. I've spent years fighting for better internet and connectivity for regional Australia, so I welcome this bill. With the rise of these new technologies, it will make life safer for those working, exploring or living in the bush or off the grid. In Indi people desperately want the UOMO to succeed as promised, because, whether you are a farmer in Goomalibee, a nurse travelling from Tolmie or a hiker out in Dandongadale, people are sick of second-rate access. It makes it harder to work and get by, and, in an emergency, it is absolutely life threatening. In recent months, communities in my electorate have been devastated by bushfires, with hundreds of homes lost on the tablelands between Euroa and Alexandra and in the Upper Murray too. In many of these fire affected communities, as I heard from a woman last year in Merton, connectivity is sparse in good times and much harder to maintain in an emergency or, indeed, during tourist season. Put simply, the UOMO will save lives if implemented correctly. I'll now discuss in more detail what this bill does, and then I'll outline my concerns and speak to important amendments I will be proposing to this bill. This bill amends the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to incorporate the UOMO into the existing universal service regime. The UOMO will complement the existing universal service obligation by creating a new section in the act that will establish the UOMO as an existing part of Australia's telecommunications framework. Initially, three mobile network operators will be captured as primary universal outdoor mobile providers: Telstra, Optus and TPG. The minister may designate other mobile network operators in the future. In reality, this will only happen if new telcos enter the Australian market, which at this stage seems unlikely. The UOMO will require providers to deliver baseline mobile services—voice services and short message services, SMS—to all our outdoor areas on a reasonable basis. The government expects these providers will meet UOMO requirements by using a mix of their current terrestrial land based mobile networks and rapidly evolving direct-to-device technology, which will be delivered through satellites. When operational, the UOMO will theoretically guarantee SMS and voice call coverage for significantly uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas where it has never been and never will be viable to provide land based towers. While the UOMO will only require provision of voice services and SMS at first, the legislation is written to enable the addition of new services, such as data, subject to technological and market developments. The bill will also establish ministerial powers to create standards, rules and benchmarks that will lay out how the UOMO will work in practice. This flexibility is important because technology can change quickly, as we've seen with the low-Earth satellites in recent years, and the legislation must be flexible enough to adapt to future innovation and changes in the technology landscape. The bill will also allow the government to create standards that would apply in the interim period before the commencement of the UOMO in 2027, which is just under two years from now. We cannot accept avoidable delays to this date, and I implore the government to ensure the telcos know that this deadline is not aspirational. They need to be clear; it is essential. So, while the bill charts a destination—universal outdoor access—it doesn't describe every step of how we get there. That's understandable, but in its implementation the government, the regulator and the telcos must deliver a gold standard UOMO because that's what we need and that's what Australians deserve. I have some concerns with the bill as it's currently drafted. Central to this concern is the ambiguity in what is meant by 'reasonably available' and 'equitable basis'. This bill requires that mobile coverage be reasonably available outdoors to all people in Australia on an equitable basis. While these terms sound great at face value, it isn't clear what these terms mean and how the government and the telcos will interpret them in practice. It has left key advocacy groups fearful that some groups will be left behind if 'reasonably available' is left to the for profit telcos to define. We know the direct-to-device technology is only available to the most recent smartphones. For example, the government funded Regional Tech Hub states on its website that, currently, only iPhone 13, 14, 15 and 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25 devices are supported by Telstra's direct-to-service SMS service. It's clear that many Australians won't have one of the phones I've just listed, and it's not clear if they'll be able to access the UOMO when it launches. For those without means to purchase these compatible phones—with the latest iPhone starting at $1,399—where does this leave pensioners or young families struggling with the cost of living and living in regional or remote Australia? There's a real risk that less well-off users will see less or no benefit from UOMO compared to those who can afford premium devices and premium plans. When the 3G shutdown occurred, the users of older devices were forced to purchase new ones. Many were using older devices because they couldn't afford a new one, and therefore they bought budget phones that now won't be compatible with direct-to-device technology. Knowing these were concerns raised clearly in the consultation on the draft UOMO legislation, I hoped the government would have provided sufficient explanation to allay my concerns and those of key consumer advocacy groups. So I turned to the bill's explanatory memorandum, which expands on what is meant by 'reasonably' available, stating that this would include 'a choice by a consumer not to purchase an appropriate handset or plan'. A choice? For so many in my community struggling with the cost of food, the cost of housing or the cost of health care, purchasing a $1,000 phone isn't a choice for them right now. If access to a universal service is limited by income and affordability, then by definition it is not universal. I accept that we can't connect every device to satellites right away. That's just a technological fact. But to shift the responsibility for that onto the consumer is grossly unfair. The government must do more to explain how it will ensure all Australians, and especially those doing it tough, with less financial means, aren't left behind. I've spoken with the Australian Communications and Consumer Action Network, who are similarly concerned about the lack of a clear definition for what constitutes 'reasonably available'. They've said: This open-ended language creates significant uncertainty regarding what constitutes 'reasonable' mobile coverage. It creates opportunity for providers to circumvent their obligation … We're trying to get a universal obligation. Similarly, I've spoken with the National Farmers' Federation, who have said: If the UOMO is to be truly universal, it must be accessible not only in terms of coverage, but also in terms of cost. They said that, in regional areas, 'there is a real risk that consumers in these areas will be priced out of essential mobile services, undermining the very purpose of the UOMO'. This is why I have circulated amendments—to ensure affordability is explicit in this legislation and to ensure that the concepts of 'reasonably available' and equitable access consider the cost of mobile devices and plans. They will also clarify that 'reasonably available' includes affordability and cost as a key element. In addition to amendments putting affordability at the heart of the UOMO, I'll be moving amendments that make three other changes to the bill. First, I will seek to introduce a power for temporary disaster roaming. This overdue reform has been recommended by inquiry after inquiry after inquiry, including most recently by the government's hand-picked regional telecommunications infrastructure review committee. Despite saying it was looking into disaster roaming over two years ago, the government is yet to act. Now, this isn't good enough for my electorate, where bushfires have this summer destroyed hundreds of homes and left communities disconnected. Second, my amendments require the minister to set out a statement of reasons when determining a location that excludes the UOMO. This will improve transparency about decisions that limit the universality of the obligation. If the government is going to limit its universal service obligation, then it must be required to explain why and what impact it will have on affected residents. Finally, my amendments will require performance standards to include fault rectification timeframes. This is a significant issue in regional Australia, where faults take much longer to fix, on average, than in metropolitan Australia. Standards for providing universal access should consider the time it takes to restore reliable service. We must recognise that terrestrial infrastructure, the mobile towers and other physical assets on the ground, continue to have a central role in the telecommunications network. That's why ongoing investment to fix black spots and strengthen power backup to mobile phone towers and telephone exchanges is absolutely essential. I support this bill as an important step towards truly universal telecommunications in Australia. The UOMO acknowledges that new technologies, including low-Earth-orbit satellites, are expanding how we connect and that our embrace of these new technologies must benefit all Australians, not just those who are well off. However, I remain concerned that, at least initially, the UOMO won't be truly universal and will favour those with access to the latest smartphones, disadvantaging vulnerable Australians and those doing it tough. So, while I commend this bill to the House, I will continue to advocate for an outdoor mobile obligation that genuinely, truly serves all Australians wherever they live and whatever their means. Debate interrupted. ADJOURNMENT 107 ADJOURNMENT Tertiary Education and Training 107 19:29 Mr LEESER 109556 Berowra Last Thursday, I told every public university in this country that, unless there are compelling reasons or exceptional circumstances, they should get rid of group assignments. The response has been profound. In the last five days, I've been flooded with responses from people across the country who shared their experiences. People feel deeply about this issue. On Friday, I spoke to a mum who told me that her daughters chose not to enrol in particular subjects to avoid group assignments. On the weekend, I spoke to another mum whose daughter had been penalised because someone else in the group had been caught using AI. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Since my speech, I've heard from thousands of students and teachers across Australia venting about their experiences, including people like Hilary, who said: Group assignments are torture. It is virtually impossible to get others to do their fair share. Steve wrote: Spent 30 years working in universities. Could not agree more. Laura said: Agree—group assignments were horrible … Alison wrote: 100% absolutely agree. I have just completed a 4-year nursing online degree where there was a considerable weighting on group work … It is a contrived and unrealistic replication of teamwork in the 'real world'. Sarah wrote: Group assignments for online degrees should be outlawed! The reason I'm studying online is because I'm a Mum to little ones & I don't have a uni near me but I'm expected to do a group assignment somehow? Insane! Megan said: I totally agree. Unless students are made accountable for their contributions a few are doing the work for everyone else. Sharon started like this: Totally agree. Our daughter and niece always were left to carry the others—even in high school. Rontania said: Absolutely agree. As a teacher I've seen too many kids get stuck with terrible groups and have to pull all the weight only to achieve a satisfactory grade. Braden said: I withdrew from a course because of the group assignments. Especially with adult education, where some students work shift work, juggling family responsibilities, it's not fair and feasible to be doing group assignments this day and age. Others disagree, and their main argument seems to be that, in the workforce, you often have to collaborate. I appreciate that. Collaboration is a good thing, and I understand that employers want graduates who can work with others. But, at a time when the integrity of the university assessment system is under attack and the purpose of a degree is to assess an individual's knowledge and skills, not a group's knowledge and skills, group assignments only weaken the standing of a degree, and, in too many cases, they are simply unfair. The depth and volume of the response sends a clear message. This issue has hit a nerve, and there's a common thread. It's about fairness, and it's about the integrity of the degree. Students feel instinctively that, in many cases, it's deeply unfair to assess them individually based on the work of others. There's always that student who does the work and that student who reaps the benefit. A university degree is an individual certification. It tells the world that the individual student has met the required standard and that they have a particular set of knowledge and skills. In group assignments, too much of that falls away. In a sense, it's the same basic question that is being raised by the use of AI and cheating factories: is the individual student demonstrating they have the knowledge and skills to earn this degree? Have they been properly and fairly tested? In a group assignment situation, too often the answer is no. On Friday, the Minister for Education was asked for his thoughts on the issue. Instead of answering, he used the opportunity to make a joke and give some gratuitous political commentary. He's a politician—fair enough. I'm a politician; I get it. But it's a shame, because this isn't about politics; it's about students. It's about 1.6 million students in higher education in this country for whom group assignments are a daily reality. I say to the minister: listen to the students who tell you they're being unfairly penalised; listen to those who are telling you that group assignments force them to carry others; and listen to the mums and the mature-age students who somehow have to fit study between work and caring and family responsibilities, who don't have the flexibility to work around three or four other people, who don't have time to do the lion's share of a project that is meant to be split and who can't hand in an assignment, which their group have left until the last minute, during their night shift. This isn't a small thing; it's the real life experience of students. In conclusion, I say to the students and former students across this country: I'm listening. If you've had an unfair group assessment, if you could have been assessed in a better way—tell me. Let's make it better, because our system needs to be modern and it needs to be fair. To academics and university administrators around the country, I say this: unless there are compelling reasons or exceptional circumstances, I'm calling on you to get rid of group assignments. Thousands of students have now backed this in. I'm calling on the universities to listen. Energy 108 19:34 Ms RYAN 249224 Lalor I rise today to speak about the clean energy transition and what it means for communities like mine in Lalor. Too often the conversation about clean energy can feel abstract or distant, but in Lalor it is neither of these things. It is already happening in people's homes, on their rooftops and, increasingly, in their driveways. In Lalor, local families are embracing practical clean energy solutions that lower bills and power their homes. Across the country, Australians have installed 250,000 home batteries with Labor's 30 per cent discount. My electorate has some of the highest battery installation rates in the country with more than 2,000 batteries installed, placing suburbs like Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee among the top five in Australia for total installations. This is really exciting news, and I'm really pleased to see that locals are getting the technology that is going to support them to decrease their energy bills. Families in my community are pairing solar with home batteries so they can store energy during the day and use it when they need it most in the evening when households are busiest and electricity demand is highest. This has been happening through a time where Victoria faced catastrophic weather and avoided the brownouts because of the number of people who were using solar. It tells us very important about the people in my electorate—they are practical, forward-thinking and looking for real ways to reduce their household bills. Clean energy is not just about the power in our homes. It is also about the way we move. Lalor is one of the leading electorates in Australia when it comes to the uptake of electric vehicles. According to the EVC, Tarneit and Werribee are among the top suburbs in the country for electric vehicle ownership, and the reason is simple. People in my community have long daily commutes for employment, and switching to an EV can save households up to $3,000 annually. This is money back in the pockets of families, money that can go towards groceries, energy bills, school costs and repayments. This government understands that supporting the clean energy transition must also make life more affordable for our communities. That's why the Clean Energy Finance Corporation has committed up to $60 million to partner with Hyundai Capital Australia to reduce the upfront cost of electric vehicle ownership. Through this partnership, Australians will be able to access discounted finance on eligible Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles, making it easier for more households to make the switch. At the same time, the Labor government has introduced policies like the fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles which helps reduce the cost of EVs for Australian workers and families and, importantly, has created, or is partly responsible for, the second-hand EV market, which people in my electorate are jumping at, taking to like fish to water. Yet the opposition, particularly the Nationals, complain about the cost of living and interest rates while labelling the EV FBT exemption as wasteful. In my electorate, people are seeing this as an opportunity, an opportunity for working class people with long commutes to cheapen their travel costs. You cannot claim to care about household budgets while opposing policies that help Australians save thousands of dollars every year. The reality is that communities like mine in Lalor are already embracing a clean energy future. What my community is showing is simple. Clean energy is not just good for the environment. It is good for family budgets and for Australia's economic future. The people in Lalor who are investing in solar, in batteries and in electric vehicles are part of the future, but they're also demonstrating that working class people care about the issues and care about their hip pocket. In Lalor, the clean energy transition is already delivering real benefits, cutting emissions, lowering costs and putting more money into the pockets of Australian families. The infrastructure is keeping up locally. I want to give a shoutout to my local government, who have installed EV chargers at community centres around my electorate. They're in there supporting and helping my community move with the future, save money and make life easier. Cost of Living 109 19:39 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay 'Struggling to survive'—that is how too many people in my community, and people right across this country, describe their lives right now. Last week I heard that message firsthand when I welcomed our new leader, Angus Taylor, to Lindsay. We met with Simon and Jen from Screaming Beans, who are hardworking, proud and determined small-business owners doing everything they can to stay afloat. Between them, the couple is working around the clock just to keep their doors open—not to get ahead, not to build wealth, not to take holidays, but simply to stay afloat. Simon and Jen are not an isolated case. They are representative of so many families and small-business owners right across Lindsay and across Australia—people who get up early, work late, pay their staff, pay their taxes, support local suppliers and sponsor the local footy team. They are doing everything right, and yet they are barely keeping their heads above water. Under this Labor government, living standards have declined. Australia has experienced the largest fall in real household disposable income in the developed world. Families are earning, but they are not getting ahead. Wages are being swallowed by rising mortgage repayments, higher rents, soaring energy bills and grocery costs that seem to climb every single week. The Red shield report 2025 from the Salvation Army paints a sobering picture of what Australians are experiencing. Ninety per cent of the Salvos' emergency relief recipients said that the cost of living remains a constant strain, with more than one in three resorting to buy-now pay-later schemes just to cover essentials like food, utilities, medicines and transport. Forty-two per cent could not afford child care or preschool. Forty-three per cent could not afford essentials for their infant—baby formula, nappies, a cot or a pram. Let that sink in. People are borrowing just to eat, just to keep the lights on and just to get to work. Housing stress is now the norm, not the exception. More than seven in 10 are spending over 30 per cent of their income on housing. What does that mean for families, for women trying to return to work and for households that are already stretched to breaking point? In a country as prosperous as Australia, that should trouble every single one of us. In my electorate of Lindsay, we are seeing firsthand the pressure that rapid growth, rising mortgages, rent increases and utility costs are placing on families. Young families who moved to Western Sydney to build a future are now questioning whether that future is secure. When I speak to people in Lindsay, they do not talk about abstract economic theory. They talk about their power bill, their insurance premium, their next interest or mortgage repayment, their interest rate hikes and pulling their kids out of after-school sports because it just isn't an option anymore. They talk about whether they can afford to fill up their car and still buy groceries. They talk about being carers and then being forced to fight bureaucracy just to retain the payment that keeps food on the table. They talk about the fear of a payment being paused or cancelled—not because they have done the wrong thing, but because the system is complex and unforgiving. They are asking for stability. They are asking for fairness. But what they're getting are declining living standards. It's not just numbers on a spreadsheet. It's a carer in Lindsay staying up past midnight to complete forms after a full day of unpaid care. It's a retiree worrying about medical bills while waiting for an age pension or healthcare-card application to be processed. It's a family budgeting down to the last dollar because one administrative decision has tipped them into debt. We need to back small businesses like Simon's and Jen's, who I mentioned earlier, so they don't get drowned in costs that are rising and in red tape. We need to increase housing supply so families are not competing for too few homes. We need to ensure child care is accessible, affordable and flexible and that parents have choice. According to ABS figures, in 2024-25, caring for children was the most common reason that women who wanted a job were unavailable to start within four weeks. This was higher for mothers with children under 15 years. We need child care that works for real life, so parents aren't forced to choose between their children and their livelihoods. As the member for Lindsay and as the shadow minister for women, the shadow minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the shadow minister for families and social services, I'm seeing firsthand how these pressures are impacting Australians. As their representative, I'll continue to fight for policies that recognise their struggle, respect their effort, restore hope and give them choice, because surviving should not be the benchmark in Australia; thriving should be. Pearce Electorate: Alkimos Aquatic and Recreation Centre 109 19:44 The SPEAKER 53517 I understand the member for Pearce would like to present a copy of her speech for incorporation into Hansard, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 6 November 2025 19:44 Ms ROBERTS 157125 Pearce The incorporated speech read as follows— Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm pleased to update the House on the Alkimos Aquatic and Recreation Centre in the community of Pearce—its progress, the funding partnership that is making it possible and what it means for our fast-growing northern suburbs. As the federal member for Pearce, and having championed this project since my time as mayor of the City of Wanneroo, my focus has always been on delivering the full, high-quality facility our community deserves—a centre that truly meets the needs of local families, seniors and sporting groups. The Alkimos Aquatic and Recreation Centre is far more than a construction site. It is part of the future heart of our northern coastal corridor—a place where families will gather, children will learn to swim, seniors will stay active and local clubs will thrive. This is the kind of community infrastructure that turns new suburbs into connected neighbourhoods, and it's exactly what our residents have long been asking for. From my time as mayor through to representing Pearce here in Canberra, I've fought hard for this project. I've heard from parents who drive long distances every week for swimming lessons, from older residents who want accessible facilities close to home, and from clubs who have been lobbying for proper training and competition spaces. Every single conversation has reinforced my determination to make sure Alkimos gets a first-class facility. The project is now budgeted at just under $88 million. The main works contract has been awarded, construction is underway and completion is expected late this year. During construction, approximately 250 jobs will be supported, with a further 42 ongoing roles once the centre opens. That's a huge boost for local economic activity, and a clear example of how community infrastructure drives growth on multiple levels. I have consistently championed this project at every opportunity—in council chambers, at community meetings, and in federal parliament—always with one message: our northern suburbs must not be left behind. Securing strong funding partnerships has been central to this advocacy, and I'm proud that the Australian government has committed $30 million towards the project, including $25 million through the Priority Community Infrastructure Program and $5 million via the Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream. This builds on contributions from our state and local partners: approximately $12.6 million from the state government and more than $45 million from the City of Wanneroo and developer sources combined. It is a genuine partnership between all levels of government, working together to deliver for the people of Alkimos and surrounding communities. When I look at the plans, I don't just see pools and courts, I see opportunity. I see children learning life-saving water safety skills. I see teenagers finding a positive, welcoming place to spend their time. I see seniors keeping fit and socially connected. And I see local jobs—good, secure jobs that help families build their future right here in our community. The design reflects these aspirations. It includes a 50-metre outdoor pool, indoor lap and leisure water, fitness areas, multi-use sports courts and community spaces—all located close to the Alkimos train station to make it easy and accessible for residents across the region. This is community infrastructure done right: connected, inclusive and sustainable. I would also like to acknowledge the thousands of local residents who have stood alongside me over the years, those who signed petitions, attended consultations and wrote to share their views. Our passion and persistence have been instrumental in shaping this project and demonstrating its importance. This has always been a shared effort—by local people, advocacy groups, councillors and all the tiers of government who believed in what this centre could achieve. As construction moves into the more visible stages—the structural build and interior fit-out—I will continue to seek regular briefings on cost, timing and progress so that our community stays fully informed every step of the way. Transparency and accountability matter, because this centre belongs to the people of Alkimos and the wider Pearce electorate. As we watch the development take shape, I feel enormous pride but also renewed responsibility. My commitment remains unwavering: to keep standing up for the infrastructure, services and opportunities that our northern suburbs need and deserve. Together, we are not just building a pool. We are building a stronger, healthier and more connected community for generations to come, made possible by shared determination from every level of government and every resident who has helped bring this vision to life. Victorian Government, Sale College 110 19:45 Mr CHESTER IPZ Gippsland There is nothing wrong with Australia that a good government can't fix, and the same goes for the once great state of Victoria. For 23 of the last 27 years the Labor Party has been in power, and Victorians have heard enough. This independent report, Rotting from the top, goes to the heart of everything that is wrong with the state of Victoria. What's inside this independent report is a catalogue of corruption and criminality. If the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, had an ounce of decency, she would take responsibility for the failures of the government and resign immediately. Ms Allan was the minister at the epicentre of the Big Build projects when independent anticorruption investigations uncovered $15 billion worth of rip-offs and rorts. Many of these projects involve funding from the state and federal governments, and in all cases the taxpayers have been failed by the Victorian government. You have to ask yourself: why does it matter? It matters because, apart from the detailed allegations of criminality and complete contempt for the rule of law, every dollar wasted on bikies, wasted on union thugs, is less money going to the things that matter most in Victoria. That $15 billion could have built new hospitals. It could have built new schools. It could have improved our public housing. Or we could have just fixed the bloody roads. The taxpayer money paid to these union thugs and their organised crime mates could have been used to recruit more police, to recruit more nurses, to recruit more teachers in our state. When it comes to schools in need of urgent funding, you don't need to look any further than my old public school of Sale College. If the state government wasn't wasting $15 billion on CFMEU corruption, we would have had a new school in Sale years ago. Alongside my colleague and the member for Gippsland South Danny O'Brien, we've been trying to get the state government to prioritise the construction of a new campus. All we've had, year upon year upon year, are more excuses from the state government. Currently Sale College is split across two campuses—the junior campus in Guthridge Parade and the senior campus in York Street. That model is not meeting the needs of students, and it's not meeting the needs of teachers or the support staff. The junior campus in particular is literally falling apart. I've seen video footage in the last couple of days where, on a rainy day, water is just streaming through the ceiling into the classrooms. It's a 50-year-old school. It's beyond its useful life and there is no point attempting to refurbish these facilities when an entirely new school is required. There has been structural damage to some of the rooms. Some rooms can't even be used at the moment. There are safety risks associated with mould and asbestos building materials, and you can't repair those sorts of things with a few coats of paint and a maintenance program. Over the years I've met with concerned parents and teachers, and they are disgusted with the facilities that students are being forced to endure. How do we really expect students, who may come from struggling backgrounds in some cases, to value their education when the state Labor government gives them a second-rate learning facility like this? Across my electorate, from Morwell to Mallacoota, this is the No. 1 public school infrastructure project because of these enduring poor conditions. As a former student of the school, I don't believe a split junior and senior campus is desirable, and establishing a brand-new school on one site would deliver significant long-term cost savings and benefits in terms of educational outcomes for the students themselves. Moving the school would also provide opportunities for the township of Sale to re-use some significant parcels of land, both in York Street and in Guthridge Parade, for housing and other activities. While the federal government does give money directly to the states for education, it's up to the state minister to decide the spending priorities in the budget, and we need to get Sale College to the top of the list. But while the money is being rorted, we are continuing to miss out. So I am pleased to see that the leader of the Liberals in Victoria, Jess Wilson, and the Nationals leader, Danny O'Brien, are offering a fresh start and real solutions. A Liberal and Nationals government in Victoria would stop the rorts and waste by establishing a royal commission into CFMEU misconduct and a new industry watchdog, Construction Enforcement Victoria. We need to end the rorts, waste and corruption to get Victoria heading in the right direction. Hunter Electorate: Thoroughbred Industry 111 19:50 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter I rise today to speak about an industry that is absolutely central to my electorate of the Hunter: the thoroughbred industry. When people think about the Hunter, they often think about the world's best wine, the best coal in the world, the iconic power stations, manufacturing and our stunning Lake Macquarie, the largest saltwater lake in the Southern Hemisphere, and they would be right. But they should also think about the horses, because the thoroughbred industry is one of the greatest success stories of our region and it deserves recognition in this place. This is not just about racing on a Saturday afternoon. This is a serious regional industry that operates every day of the year and supports thousands of jobs right across the Hunter and the Upper Hunter and beyond. From Scone to Aberdeen and from Jerrys Plains to Denman, the thoroughbred industry is part of daily life. You see it in the paddocks, on the roads early in the morning and at the local cafes filled with people who've already done half a day's work before most of us have even had our first coffee. Yes, they probably still work harder than most politicians! That bar remains low, and they clear it comfortably. A racehorse doesn't just turn up on the track ready to go. It takes years of work: breeding, foaling, breaking in, spelling, training and constant care. That means stablehands, stud grooms, vets, farriers, transport operators, feed suppliers, fencers, irrigators, admin staff and local tradies. This is skilled, physical and proud work. This is work that relies on experience passed down through generations and on new skills and technology that keep the industry competitive and world class. The Hunter Valley is the engine room of thoroughbred breeding in Australia. New South Wales is the largest breeding state in the country, and the Upper Hunter sits right at the centre of it. Horses bred in my electorate are sold and raced across Australia and around the world, carrying the Hunter name with them. We are home to the most expensive yearling ever sold in Australia. It's the filly out of champion mare Winx that sold for a massive $10 million. The economic impact is significant. The thoroughbred-breeding industry contributes well over $1 billion to the national economy each year and supports thousands of jobs, many of them in regional communities. In the Hunter region alone, the industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs. That money flows straight through into local communities—into shops, pubs, schools, sporting clubs and small businesses. This is the kind of industry that keeps regional towns alive—not just surviving but growing. It also brings global attention to the Hunter. Buyers from across Australia and around the world travel to see horses bred in our region. They invest here, spend money locally and take the Hunter name back with them. One of the clearest examples of that is the Magic Millions sales. Each year, Magic Millions brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, with the recent January sales consistently topping $200 million. Hunter bred horses regularly feature among the leading vendors, showing the world the quality produced in our region. That means real money returning to the Hunter and being reinvested in farms, workers, equipment and local communities. I'm a proud supporter of the thoroughbred industry. I support it because it supports jobs, I support it because it supports regional communities, and I support it because it shows what the Hunter does best: hard work, skill and world-class results. But support means more than just turning up on race day and taking a photo with a horse worth more than my house—although I will admit that the horse probably does have much better hair than I do! It means backing in good local roads so horses and workers can move safely; supporting training and skills so young people can build a future locally; providing planning certainty so businesses can invest; and maintaining the strong animal welfare standards that the community and the industry expect. The people in this industry do not ask for special treatment; they just ask for a fair go. The thoroughbred industry is not a sideshow. It's a major employer, a major exporter and a core part of the Hunter's identity. So to everyone working in the industry, on the studs, in the stables and behind the scenes: thank you. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for all you do for the thoroughbred industry in the Hunter. You help power the Hunter economy, and you have my support in this parliament. Thank you to everyone that works hard out there in the horse and thoroughbred industry. Roads 112 19:54 Mr CHESTER IPZ Gippsland 'Just fix the bloody roads!'—that is a message that I get every day in my electorate as I travel around from Morwell all the way through to Mallacoota and the New South Wales border. There's one road in particular which is the spine that runs through the electorate of Gippsland—the Princes Highway. The Princes Highway is the critical arterial road that carries the wealth of our community in terms of the goods we produce and products we take to market. It also brings the visitors to our community who are so important for our tourism economy. What bothers me is that, after almost four years now in government, the Labor Party, the Albanese government, has not allocated a single new dollar of expenditure in the budget for the Princes Highway, the most important transport route in my electorate. It beggars belief because what's happening now is the Princes Highway, in many sections, is simply falling apart. We know that poorly maintained road surfaces contribute to serious injuries and deaths on our roads. They also contribute to damage to cars. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, many Gippslanders are telling me they're paying for repairs on their wheels, on their axles and on the alignment of their cars. They are paying the price for the Albanese government's neglect of the Princes Highway. This is in stark contrast to when the coalition was in government. When we were in government, we had two packages of funding for the Princes Highway east of Bairnsdale. One was $50 million and one was $60 million. With that money, we put in six new overtaking lanes east of Bairnsdale and we upgraded the streetscapes of towns like Nicholson, Johnsonville, Swan Reach, Lakes Entrance, Numeralla, Cann River and Sale. On top of that, we funded the full duplication of the Princes Highway between Traralgon and Sale. The full duplication was funded during our time in government, and yet, in four years, there's been not a single dollar of new funding from the Albanese government. But just when you think it couldn't get any worse it gets just a little bit worse. When we left government there was money in the Princes Highway corridor plan for work to occur in Victoria. Now, after four years, there's still $130 million sitting there in the budget to do work on the Princes Highway, but it depends on the Victorian Labor government providing some matching contributions. How do I explain this to my constituents, motorists, heavy-transport operators and tourists? How do I explain to them when they say to me, 'Fix the bloody roads!' that there's $130 million over there but it's just waiting for the state government of Victoria to actually match the funding? It is extraordinary that the Victorian Labor government are so incompetent, so completely ignorant of the needs of regional Victorians, that they would leave that $130 million sitting in the federal Treasury and not provide the matching funding. But, when you think about it, it's not that hard to understand because Premier Jacinta Allan, as infrastructure minister in charge of the Big Build and now the premier of the state, has sat back and watched as the CFMEU and bikie thugs have rorted $15 billion of taxpayers' money from Big Build projects. If they weren't wasting that $15 billion on criminal activity, surely they would have enough money to match the Commonwealth's funding of $130 million for the Princes Highway projects in my electorate? So I say to the Victorian Labor Party and to those opposite: just get on with the job of fixing the bloody roads. People are killed and injured in high-speed crashes on roads which have potholes, no shoulders and a lack of overtaking lanes in many areas. There's money available if you just get your mates in Victoria to provide the matching funding. So I urge those opposite to start showing just an ounce of respect for the motorists in regional Victoria in places like Gippsland and just help us fix the bloody roads. House adjourned at 19 : 59 NOTICES 113 NOTICES Presentation 113

Monday, 2 March 2026

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Mascarenhas ) took the chair at 10:30.

CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS 115 CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS Vuleta, Mr Gregory Stephen 115 10:30 Mr KATTER HX4 Kennedy Vale, Greg Vuleta, a great Australian and to me a close mate. Greg is one of the three amigos that ran Innisfail. Nobody made a move in Innisfail without first speaking to John Moyle, Bruce Gillan and Greg Vuleta, three very close friends. They were big-timers. Every year, they worked as labourers at the Innisfail show—these three really big-time blokes doing menial clean-up jobs at the show. Playing another prominent role, Greg was an extremely good actor, invariably the lead in shows at the local theatre, popularly run by Alison Moyle, the mother of Innisfail. Theatre was very big in Innisfail. Two hundred people seemed to pack out every theatre session. Greg reached superstar status when the National Party leader and ag minister Warren Truss issued an import permit for bananas from a country where people work for $5 a day. Our wages then were $18 an hour. As the voice of North Queensland on drivetime 4KZ, he became the loud voice of opposition to Warren Truss's decision. He whipped up a rage, did a magnificent job and then led 3,000 marchers in a giant protest rally in Cairns. He was working on the megaphone, and he was so committed to his task that he hadn't realised what was happening to himself. He collapsed with heat stroke and was rushed to hospital. He was lucky to have survived the heat stroke, but he was a man so passionately committed to the people of Far North Queensland and his people and his homeland that he fought the fight. And I might add that we won and Warren Truss didn't. Housing 115 10:32 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon Last week, my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Clare O'Neil, the member for Hotham, joined me in Darwin to announce support for more first home buyers from Darwin to get into homeownership by increasing the property price cap for the five per cent home deposit scheme. Currently, the property price cap for the Northern Territory is $600,000 across the board for the whole of the territory. However, we announced that on 1 July this year two price caps will operate in the Northern Territory—one for Greater Darwin, which will be $750,000, and one for the remainder of the Northern Territory, which will remain at $600,000, taking into account median house prices across our great territory. This change brings the NT in line with other states and ensures that our Greater Darwin property price cap aligns with median house prices in Darwin, which have been on the rise. It brings more properties in Darwin into eligibility for the scheme and will give first home buyers in Darwin more choice. Hundreds more Australians will get into homeownership years sooner because of this change, saving tens of thousands of dollars on lenders mortgage insurance. The five per cent deposit scheme has already helped more than 1,800 Territorians move into their first home since we moved into government in 2022. Industry has welcomed this announcement, including Luis Espinoza of HIA, Housing Industry Association, Northern Territory, who I visited on site in Holtze at the big housing development there last week. Young people have welcomed this too. I attended an event in Darwin on Thursday with local radio stations Hot100 and Mix FM, and I received that message loud and clear from the absolute legends there, young people working for those radio stations who gave me great feedback and just kept on serving up banger after banger at that event. Thank you. A key part of Labor's plan to build houses is growing our construction workforce. Last month I joined the celebration of the partnership between Intract, McMahon, the HIA and SEDA College to deliver the Construction and Trade Program. This program provides year 11 students with the opportunity to complete their secondary education while gaining practical skills, hands-on training, mentoring and industry exposure, all nationally recognised with the qualification of a Certificate II in Construction Pathways. Thank you to Billie-Jo Hudson, Mick Laidler, Luis Espinoza, Francis Gill from the SEDA College and the fantastic kids at SEDA College. Energy 115 10:35 Mr HAMILTON 291387 Groom The very first thing I did as the shadow assistant minister for energy, security and affordability was to go to the seat of McMahon and have an energy forum down there. Of course, that is the seat of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and I wanted to go to better understand the minister and what drives him, because we have such different views on the role of energy in the economy. I wanted to go and see if he is a representative of a community that does not care about energy prices. You can see it in my title; it's a very different approach that we bring to the energy space. For the minister, energy is about climate change, our international commitments and promises we've made to other countries. For me, energy is about industry. It's about jobs. It's about local communities like Oakey, which has a wonderful coalmine, a great meatworks and a hugely energy intensive community. I wanted to understand the minister better. I went to Fairfield and held a little forum. I walked the streets of Fairfield talking to people. There were a couple of people who stuck out. One was Taric. He's a small-business owner. He's got five employees, all from McMahon. I sat down and asked him about his energy bills—and, like with everyone else around Australia, they've gone up, by $1,500. I said, 'But, Taric, mate, what about the home battery scheme?' Every time we ask the minister about rising energy bills, he says the home battery scheme is the answer. He looked at me and said: 'Mate, I can't afford home batteries. I can't afford to put in solar. I'm barely struggling to pay the bills to keep my kids fed and in school. I'm just struggling to hold it together. I need to focus on the issue of my power bills, not on some scheme separate to that.' I then went out to a local mosque. It was iftar, at the end of Ramadan. Everyone was coming out and having a feed; they're a little bit happier! I remember one gentleman who came out, and he had this great line for me. I said, 'Do power bills concern you, sir?' He said, 'Mate, I've got a big family and big power bills.' It was a commonly-referred-to joke—and I made the connection that in Toowoomba I say the same thing to my local Irish Catholic community, who have four kids on average. They have big families and big power bills, and they're feeling the pain. So, no, this is not a community that does not care about its power prices; this is a community who, like everyone else in Australia, is hurting and struggling under rising power costs. When we go further into the home battery scheme, we see how unfair and unequal it is to battlers. If you look at the top 100 postcodes by income, they get four times the investment from that scheme than the bottom 100. This is not just middle-class welfare; this is upper-class welfare. This is not helping those who are struggling; this is taking the tax dollars of those who are struggling and using them to help the upper class buy batteries above the capacity they need. It's absolutely insane. Blair Electorate 116 10:38 Mr NEUMANN HVO Blair In May last year, I was proud to be re-elected again as the member for Blair in the Albanese Labor government. Since then the government has delivered on many of the commitments made in my electorate, including delivering the biggest-ever investment in bulk-billing and cheaper medicines, and cutting 20 per cent of student debt. In 2026 our work continues, and I'm focused on helping local families with cost-of-living relief and delivering on local commitments, which include much-needed transport and community infrastructure in our fast-growing region. Having secured federal funding for several major projects in Ipswich and the Somerset region, I want to see the Queensland government progress the Amberley Interchange and the Ipswich to Springfield rail business case, as well as upgrades to the Mount Crosby Road Interchange, the Bremer River Bridge, the Brisbane Valley Highway and the Ipswich Motorway. Also, I'm focused on delivering on a number of local election commitments for my community, especially a new rugby league and sports centre in the Ripley Valley; extensions to the Ipswich Basketball Stadium and Fernvale Sports Park netball courts; expanding the Chuwar Koala and Native Fauna Conservation Park; a new headspace mental health centre in Redbank Plains; a new House of India community and cultural centre in Springfield; and upgrades to the Lowood pool and Springfield Central YMCA. On top of these fully funded election commitments, there are three catalytic local initiatives I'm keen to seeing progressed in 2026. First, I'd like to see the Ipswich City Council apply for federal funding for stage 2 of the North Ipswich Reserve stadium redevelopment. Stage 1 is currently underway with $20 million of federal money, $10 million of state money and $10 million of local council money. The stage 2 redevelopment would incorporate a new high-performance centre, an administration block and an eastern grandstand. I call on the Ipswich City Council to do the right thing and apply for federal money in the new infrastructure program for that particular facility. Second, I'm engaging with Ipswich City Council and other stakeholders on options for a new synthetic running track and track-and-field complex for our community. I'd like to see Ipswich City Council end their internal divisions and develop a solution for this pressing need. I'd like to see a centre of excellence for athletics in Ipswich. This facility would meet a real need in terms of local sporting infrastructure in the lead-up to the 2032 games and beyond. Third, I'm supportive of Ipswich Hospice's plan for a new 30-bed palliative care facility at the University of Southern Queensland Ipswich campus. Fourth, I will support the Brisbane Lions' Brighton Homes Arena stage 2 upgrade. I'll continue to advocate for federal funding for these projects. There's a lot of work to do, and we're making good progress in our region. Durack Electorate: Community Events 116 10:41 Ms PRICE 249308 Durack I rise today to talk about my recent visit to Karratha. I first want to give a quick shout-out to Chris from Pitter Pat Productions. Pitter Pat is a small theatre company based in Karratha and operating quite literally on the smell of an oily rag and without a permanent base. Chris and his team are dedicated to bringing live theatre to the Pilbara, working with remarkable flexibility and ingenuity. From borrowing garages for storage to painting sets in the park and recruiting locals to perform, they do whatever it takes to ensure the show goes on. I want to acknowledge an important event I attended in Karratha, the Pilbara for Purpose community sector networking expo, which took place at the coalition-funded Red Earth Arts Precinct. Pilbara for Purpose is the peak body for the for-purpose and not-for-profit community sector across the Pilbara. Since 2015, it has worked hard to build a more connected, resilient and effective sector in one of the most remote and challenging regions of our country. I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Karen Armstrong, CEO of Pilbara for Purpose, who continually champions underresourced service providers working to support their communities each and every day. It was also fantastic to hear from young residents of Newman who are part of the East Pilbara Youth Advisory Council at the expo. They bravely addressed the room full of adults about their lives as young people in Newman. Let me tell you that the future of East Pilbara appears to be in very good hands. This was collaboration at its best, and I very much look forward to next year's event. I also had the privilege of spending time in Roebourne with representatives of the Yindjibarndi nation. We began our visit at the Ganalili Centre, the reimagined Victoria Hotel in Roebourne, now a community space housing the Roebourne Visitor Centre and local art gallery, symbolising renewal and investment in the future in the small and beautiful town of Roebourne. From there, I was invited to join a yarning circle with a group of women representing Roebourne and surrounding communities. They spoke with strength and honesty about the challenges their families face: the shortage of housing, the limited access to healthcare facilities and the urgent need for greater mental health support. It was deeply meaningful conversation about their lived experiences and practical solutions, and I'm very grateful for the women who joined me and shared their views very honestly. We also toured the Wunggu Maya transitional housing facility, an impressive development of 10 one- and two-bedroom homes which opened only late last year. It's already offering a safe and stable place for residents and families to build skills, strengthen their wellbeing and transition into a private housing market. This is more than just housing; it's a pathway, with the centre also offering health and employment services. (Time expired) Bruce Electorate: Ramadan, Middle East 117 10:44 Mr HILL 86256 Bruce One of the coolest new things in south-east Melbourne is the Ramadan night markets in Dandenong. Everyone was superexcited to welcome the Prime Minister on the first night. There was an incredibly warm welcome. He was mobbed by wellwishers. It started last year and it took Melbourne by storm. Hundreds of thousands of people came through in the first year, and this year it's twice the size. We provided an election commitment of $225,000 over three years to help with the safety, security and staging. It is a safe, welcoming and family-friendly environment, with kebabs, drinks and rides for the kids. Perhaps the best thing about it is to see Muslim and non-Muslim Australians all mingling in the streets, having a great time and enjoying the markets together, sharing an iftar in the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic cultural tradition. Thursday to Sunday into Eid, come on down. It's a big month of course, with Christians marking Lent, in the lead-up to Easter, and Chinese Lunar New Year, or Tet in the Vietnamese calendar—the Year of the Fire Horse. But, despite the celebrations, it's also a very difficult time for thousands of people in my community, given the violent conflict in Iran and the Middle East. Tens of thousands of Australians are worried about family and loved ones. For Iranian Australians, there are mixed feelings. There were celebrations in Melbourne, Sydney and elsewhere at the death of the ayatollah—a murderous dictator, the head of an evil regime responsible for orchestrating attacks here on Australian soil. For decades he's overseen the murder of untold tens or hundreds of thousands of his own citizens and the oppression of millions, breaching —any concept of human rights in a modern world. He's been a sponsor of terror across the region and the globe, the head of a nuclear weapons program, in violation of United Nations sanctions and resolutions, and a threat to global peace. Whilst many Iranian Australians, they are also saddened, worried about family and loved ones and civilian casualties, and fearful of what may come next. As the Foreign Minister said, it's up to the Iranian people to determine their destiny. They're a beautiful, cultured, educated people, the inheritors of the Persian civilisation. I hope they can seize the moment and reclaim their country from extremists. But also for the Afghan community—there are tens of thousands of close family members of Australians, who fled the Taliban, sheltering in Iran right now. They are partners, children, parents, brothers and sisters of Australians. The government has upgraded the travel alerts to 'do not travel' for countries across the region. There are many questions being received on visas. The situation in the Middle East is such that the Department of Home Affairs is unable to operate at all in Iran and is severely limited across the region. We advise Australians to leave safely if they can and to register with Smartraveller. There's an emergency portal open for Australians in Iran and Israel, for citizens, permanent residents and family who already have the right of entry into Australia. Australia has no role in this conflict, and it's up to the combatants to explain how their actions comply with international law. (Time expired) Brain Cancer 118 10:47 Mr VIOLI 300147 Casey In my first speech in this parliament, I spoke about the most precious gifts we all have: life and time. For two families in my community, this statement rings true. Bonnie and Charlie are two young girls from my electorate who live entirely separate lives but who have both been diagnosed with rare brain tumours. At age four, Charlie's routine eye test changed the Fraser family's life forever when it uncovered a brain tumour larger than a tennis ball pressing on young Charlie's brain. In her short lifetime, Charlie has undergone two major surgeries, including a 21-hour operation. Our incredible surgeons managed to remove just over half of the tumour, but Charlie needed multiple blood transfusions and spent three days in ICU in an induced coma to let her little body recover. She was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of brain cancer—just the third case in Australia in 15 years. The good news is that it is curable, but only with a specialised radiation therapy that is only available in Florida, America. I was proud to support her parents, Daniel and Kate, and the family by playing in the T20 fundraising match between the Mount Evelyn Cricket Club and the Powelltown Cricket Club to help raise funds for Charlie's trip. It was a heartwarming display of community spirit, raising much-needed funds and providing a morale boost for the family. Bonnie has also undergone many treatments in a short number of years, with varying degrees of success. Bonnie's latest round of chemotherapy has not achieved desired results, and her specialist has recommended the proton beam therapy in Florida. These local families aren't just fighting the devastating diagnosis; they are fighting a geography that says their child's best chance of life exists 15,000 kilometres away. It's simply because we haven't prioritised the technology here in Australia. The most devastating part is that Australia was on track to have a proton beam therapy centre in Adelaide, and it has become abundantly clear that the federal government has lost confidence that the South Australian Labor government can deliver this critical project, which would treat 2,000 patients a year. Health Minister Mark Butler told a press conference last November that he was 'working through the issue'. I note the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre has handed the government a proposal to buy and operate a proton therapy unit. This must be fixed urgently, and I stand here today to ask the government to prioritise the establishment of a proton therapy unit in Australia to help families and give Aussie kids like Charlie and Bonnie the best chance of the bright future that they so richly deserve. Australia Day Honours and Awards 118 10:50 Mr GREGG 315154 Deakin I rise today to warmly congratulate four incredible individuals in Deakin who have made significant contributions to our local community and who have been recognised recently as part of the Australia Day awards. Margaret Dymond has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to motorsport. She's known in many circles as the owner of Penrite Oil, which makes a great locally manufactured set of products for vehicles and which her family has owned since 1979. That's an awfully long time. She's worked incredibly hard in supporting the motorsport industry and has been a huge supporter of young up-and-comers in motorsport. She's often seen at local car shows and events and has been a pinnacle member of the motorsport community. She's also led a great Australian manufacturer. In addition to her recent award, she has been recognised as the Australian Performance Automotive Council's Australian of the Year. She remains heavily involved in the business, along with many others in her family. She's done an incredible job in our community, for the motorsport community in general, for local business entrepreneurs and, as I said, for local manufacturing. I am in awe of all that Margaret's achieved and congratulate her on her recent honour. Robert Edwards has also been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, for his service as a Rotarian. He's been involved in Rotary's Warrandyte Donvale branch for 42 years now. He's been president twice, as I understand it—once in the early nineties and once very recently. He's done every job that it is possible to do within a Rotary club. He has done electrical testing and inspections for the op shop and for local events, has served on a range of working groups and committees and is just the kind of person you see always pitching in. And his service continues. Rob has been a real pillar of the community. I congratulate him for his service—not only for Rotary but for our community more generally—and, obviously, for his great achievement in winning a Medal of the Order of Australia. Lionel Parrot has also been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. He has used his lived experience to help improve and promote educational outcomes. He began his career as a careers adviser having noticed, through his own life experience, that sometimes it's very difficult to find that pathway to future success at the end of your school life or in university. He's really dedicated himself to helping young people find their path, whatever that might be. He also played an instrumental role in setting up the Billanook College, a private school out in Mooroolbark—the member for Casey would be well and truly familiar with it—and he's been a lifelong education advocate. I, again, congratulate him on his achievement of being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. Finally, Reverend John Taylor has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia as well. He was the inaugural CEO of OzChild. He has been a great leader in governance in the not-for-profit sector and has really lifted the quality of services provided for vulnerable children and young people. Congratulations to Reverend John Taylor for his Medal of the Order of Australia. Early Childhood Education and Care, National Security 119 10:53 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson I rise today to speak on an issue that affects every parent across our nation—that is, child care. Child care is a cornerstone of a strong economy. It enables parents to return to work, supports early childhood development and helps families balance the competing pressures of modern life. Yet, despite record government spending on childcare subsidies, parents are paying more out of pocket than ever before. That's a reality that families simply cannot ignore. It's vital that we have a childcare system that truly works. Recently I spoke with local advocate Jen Fleming in my electorate, and I speak today to amplify her voice. Jen reminds us that no two families look the same, and childcare policies must reflect that. Australian parents already patch together care in makeshift ways—time at home, help from grandparents, centre based care, flexible work arrangements. They make it work because they have to. But government funding and regulations remain built around a narrow one-size-fits-all model that doesn't always reflect the way that families actually live. Jen shared how young parents are doing everything they can to get ahead, yet they're being squeezed from every direction, juggling work, rising bills and childcare options that simply do not meet their needs. Through Childcare Choice Australia, she's calling for balance and genuine flexibility. Not only is a system that supports flexibility fairer for families; it streamlines access to care, strengthens workforce participation and reflects how care already happens in practice. This isn't about attacking providers. Centre based care plays an important role, but it should be one option among many, not the default dictated by policy design. Government policy should, at its core, support parents. The first responsibility of any government is to keep Australians safe, and that means shutting the door on ISIS terrorists. Right now, a group of individuals linked to ISIS is seeking to return to Australia, yet this Prime Minister is not doing everything possible to stop them. In fact, the opposite appears to be true. Passports have been issued, visas have been granted, and the Commonwealth has been actively engaging with state governments about their return and resettlement. These are people who, against all government advice, chose to leave Australia to join an extremist terrorist movement. They knew that this was a serious betrayal and that it would carry serious consequences, yet they still chose to abandon our nation. These people left Australia to fight against our values and our way of life, and that is why we're introducing a bill to protect Australia. Our legislation would make it a criminal offence to facilitate the re-entry of individuals linked to terrorist organisations or who support terrorist causes. If you choose ISIS over Australia, you should not expect Australia to welcome you back. The door must be shut. I urge the government to support this bill in the national interest. Iran 119 10:56 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde I had intended today to talk about some of the really positive things that are happening in Forde and some of the really positive and essential people who work hard in our community, but it is difficult to talk about that today when the events that are happening in the world are causing a lot of concern to many hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the electorate of Forde. During these constituency statements this morning, I really do want to recognise the depth of feeling in the community that I represent and really reinforce what the government has said about the situation in Iran. Fundamentally, we stand with the people of Iran. I remind you that this is a regime that has brutally suppressed its own people and, most recently, murdered thousands of its own people. As the Foreign minister has said, a regime that requires murder to maintain authority is a regime without legitimacy. Let us not also forget that the Iranian regime brought terror to Australia and was responsible for organising two firebombings on Australian soil, two terrorist acts on Australian soil, apart from the other operations that the Australian government thwarted. That's why this government has done more than any previous Australian government. We expelled the Iranian ambassador. We put sanctions on somewhere around 200 Iranian linked individuals, and we declared the revolutionary guard as a terrorist organisation. But, fundamentally, I do want to say that there are many Australians of Iranian descent living in Forde and many Afghans living in Forde whose families are in Iran. These are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, wives and husbands. These are people who have emailed me over the last couple of days, who have texted me over the last couple of days or who have called me over the last couple of days, desperately worried about their family overseas, living in that region. And so I do want to reinforce the message that the No. 1 priority of the Australian government in all of this is the safety of Australians. Do not travel. Follow that advice. I can only imagine what it must feel like at the moment to be disconnected from your family not only by geography but also by technology, as communication lines have gone down. I can only imagine the pain and anxiety that you feel. But hang in there. Do not travel, and know that the Australian government, myself included, are on your side. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 298800 In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members constituency statements has concluded. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS 120 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Cost of Living 120 11:00 Ms LE 295676 Fowler I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges that: (a) Australians are still battling a cost of living crisis, with many low and middle income families already unable to absorb surging mortgages, rent, energy bills and everyday essentials as annual inflation sits at about 3.8 per cent, above the Reserve Bank's two to three per cent target band; (b) the higher than expected inflation outcome has increased the likelihood of a further cash rate rise next month, which would push already stretched households to the brink, forcing many to choose between meeting their mortgage, paying the rent or covering basic necessities; and (c) high mortgage stress electorates such as the electoral division of Fowler, where many families are on low and modest incomes and have little to no financial buffer, are among the hardest hit by the combination of higher prices, higher interest rates and shrinking household budgets; and (2) calls on the Government to ensure that any policies it introduces tackle the roots of cost of living, does not further exacerbate inflation rates and that it works with, and not against, the Reserve Bank's efforts to bring inflation back to target. This week, a young constituent named Kimberley shared her family's cost of living challenges. Their energy bill has tripled, from around $400 to $1,200 a quarter. Their car insurance has gone up by 25 per cent, and the family has two cars. Their rent has increased as well. Groceries, fuel and tolls are also on the up. Kimberley works part time and studies, and she's grateful to be able to support her family. But I couldn't help but notice the worry in her voice. Then there's Caroline Gorges, a mother from Wakeley in my electorate. She wrote that her family is being stretched to breaking point. Her mortgage has gone up again. Groceries keep climbing. Power bills keep climbing. She told me that at the end of each month she sits at the kitchen table, calculator in hand, trying to decide which bill gets paid first—the registration or the groceries, the gas or the mortgage. And she said something that really struck me: We're not asking for handouts. Just understanding. Real help. Real government policies that make a difference. And James from Liverpool messaged me saying: plz Dai, it's all about the cost of living and the cost of living comes down to one thing, the cost of energy. When you hear stories like this, you cannot help but ask what it is that we are actually doing in this place to make life easier for families in Fowler and south-west Sydney and probably across Australia. The increasing number of batteries that the government keeps on boasting about—the last I heard was around 250,000 installed—is not the answer to these families struggles nor the sugar hit rebates. Families feel that, despite doing everything right—working hard, studying, paying their taxes—they're still falling behind. It isn't just households. Our small businesses and the industrial engine of our electorate are red lining. From the cafes in Cabramatta to the manufacturers in Wetherill Park, I hear the same thing: the cost of doing business is becoming impossible. When a local manufacturer sees their electricity costs double and their overheads skyrocket, they just don't absorb them. They cut staff, they reduce hours or, heartbreakingly, they shut down. Make no mistake, small business is the lifeblood of Fowler, and manufacturing is our backbone. If these engines fail, the entire machine stalls, and the repercussions will be felt for a generation. We are losing the local employers and the very foundation of our community's prosperity. When ordinary Australians see, or listen to, what we do in this House, they don't see a solution. They see a stage. While many of our leaders deliver media grabbing performances at the dispatch box in the House, real lives in the real world are falling apart. While the government are busy managing the optics and worrying about their next 30-second grab, my constituents are managing the crumbs left in their bank accounts. People are sick of performance. They're frustrated, angry, disillusioned and worried, and they're tired of hearing that the economy is resilient when they're skipping meals to pay their rent. In Fowler, many of our households are large, multigenerational families. There is no saving cushion. Every policy failure hits the kitchen table tomorrow. That is why I hold my Bring Your Bill days. I see the invoices for tolls, water, energy and gas. I see the math that doesn't add up. These are proud, hardworking people. They don't want a government that treats their suffering like a PR problem to be managed. As we approach the May 2026 budget, the government needs to step off the stage and do some actual work. Stop the red tape that is strangling our small-business owners and manufacturers. I have heard this so often from successive governments, yet nothing seems to change. Instead of reducing red tape, they've added more hurdles, green tape and more taxes. Deliver reliable energy that doesn't treat a basic utility like a luxury. It's not just about installing home batteries for those who can afford it but real structural energy policy changes so people like Kimberley, Caroline and James don't have to face the threefold increases in their energy bills. Stop the wasteful spending on pet projects that fuel the very inflation hurting our families. Behind every interest rate rise and every percentage point of inflation is a real family and a real business owner suffering. I have stood here since 2022 raising these alarms. I will keep standing here until the government stops acting and starts governing for the people of Fowler and Australia. Our country's engine is stalling. It's time to stop the show and start the repairs. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 298800 Is there a seconder for the motion? Mr Gee 261393 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 11:05 Mrs PHILLIPS 147140 Gilmore The Albanese Labor government's No. 1 priority is to keep delivering cost-of-living relief for Australians. We're focused on helping on so many levels, from tax cuts for every taxpayer and a pay rise for our lowest-paid workers to cheaper home batteries and slashing student debt, because we know every little bit helps. Our record investment in Medicare is at the heart of our cost-of-living relief, with a focus on cheaper medicines and reducing healthcare costs. I'm so pleased that, since the Albanese Labor government's GP bulk-billing incentives were introduced, on 1 November 2025, the number of fully bulk-billing medical practices in Gilmore has more than doubled. There are now 32 fully bulk-billing practices operating across my electorate. This means it's easier for locals to see a doctor and it's saving families hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Our Medicare urgent care clinics are saving families money by offering free walk-in health support seven days a week. The Batemans Bay Medicare Urgent Care Clinic has been invaluable for locals and visitors alike over the busy summer holiday period, helping with stings, breaks and other urgent but non-life-threatening care. And I'm so excited that the new Nowra clinic will open its doors on Thursday, providing much-needed walk-in care seven days a week and taking pressure off the busy Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital emergency department. From 1 January, we've made the biggest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, with all PBS scripts now $25 or less—the cheapest they've been in more than two decades. And our landmark $792.9 million women's health package has helped more than 660,000 women access cheaper medicines, including contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment, in the last year. That's our government delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women. Labor has provided more free health care, energy bill relief for every household, free TAFE and so much more to help families. Every taxpayer, including 64,000 people in Gilmore, will receive another tax cut in July this year. That's money going straight back into the pockets of hardworking locals. We've expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks, and super is now being paid on that as well. This is such a massive help for new parents and young families. We're giving housing apprentices a leg-up, with a $10,000 bonus on top of their wages, and we're supporting our nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery students with paid pracs to help cover the costs of accommodation, travel and uniforms. More than 14,000 students in Gilmore are also saving an average of $5,500, with their student debt slashed. Of course, one close to my heart is permanent free TAFE. As a former TAFE teacher, I've seen firsthand how TAFE changes lives for the better. I'm seeing local school leavers now studying for free and older people upskilling in priority areas, like disability, aged care, construction and early childhood education. We've delivered a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, and we're opening the doors for eligible families to access three days of subsidised child care per week. Gilmore has one of the highest numbers of seniors and age pensioners of any electorate, so I'm thrilled that we're supporting our wonderful aged-care nurses with another pay rise. Labor is delivering on our ambitious $45 billion plan to build more homes, get more Australians into homeownership and get renters a better deal. We're getting young Australians into homeownership through our five per cent deposit scheme, and our Help to Buy scheme is helping low- and moderate-income earners, who have previously been locked out of homeownership. As of this week, 2,450 homeowners in Gilmore have taken advantage of our Cheaper Home Batteries Program to cut their power bills, and more community batteries are being rolled out in the regions, including four in Gilmore this month, to help more households share in cheaper, cleaner energy from the sun. I know people in my electorate are feeling the pinch, and that's why I'm proud to be part of a government that is getting on with delivering things that matter most to families in my community. 11:10 Mr GEE 261393 Calare The cost-of-living crisis is having devastating impacts in regional Australia and the Calare electorate. It's a grim picture. In the 12 months to January 2026, Australia's inflation rate was 3.8 per cent. Electricity and gas prices continue to be a major source of financial strain. Persistent increases to food prices have climbed across many essential categories, including fresh produce, meat and dairy, and they contribute significantly to everyday household budget stress. Interest rates are going up, and, along with it, mortgage stress is on the rise. Fuel prices continue to rise. Home, car and health insurance premiums are rapidly increasing. Overall, these essential costs are rising faster than wages, and country Australians are hurting as a result. Businesses are struggling to stay afloat. A constituent from Lithgow contacted me recently and said: 'I'm writing because, frankly, I've reached my breaking point. I care for my mum while barely surviving myself. I live in fear of rent hikes that could leave me homeless. Lithgow has no mental health services for people like me. Waitlists are a joke, and I've been told to just call Lifeline. Last week, I chose between feeding myself and feeding my cat.' My constituent goes on to write: 'I don't want platitudes; I want a plan. It feels like no-one in power cares if people like me live or die.' A constituent, Peter, who is a pensioner, also wrote to me and said, 'I am writing to express deep concern regarding the rising cost of living, particularly its impact on pensioners residing in Orange.' Peter highlighted the rising cost of electricity and said: 'The daily supply charge of electricity has now reached $1.80, a staggering increase of 50c per day. For pensioners on fixed incomes, this is a significant burden. It raises the question: where can one afford to live and still enjoy a modest quality of life?' Another constituent, Jason from Mudgee, wrote to me and said: 'Across Mudgee and the wider Calare electorate, people are feeling the cost-of-living crisis more severely than those in metropolitan areas. Yet the federal government continues to rely almost exclusively on interest rate rises as its main economic tool, despite this being outdated and increasingly ineffective. This lack of modern thinking is failing regional Australians, who are already under pressure from high fuel prices, rising rents and house shortages, soaring groceries and supermarket price manipulation, steep increases in insurance and energy bills, supply shortages affecting farmers, tradies and small business, and wages that aren't keeping up with inflation. Meanwhile, the sector's actually causing inflation. Energy companies, insurance giants and supermarkets continue to operate without meaningful accountability. Other advanced countries have modernised their inflation tools. Australia has not.' Jason goes on to state, 'Regional Australians cannot be expected to carry the weight of poor policy decisions made in Canberra.' Jason makes very good points, as do all of my constituents. Nearly one-third of Australia's population, around seven million people, live in regional and rural areas. But this gap between city and country is only getting wider, and it's being exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. Country people have 15 per cent lower incomes and 22 per cent lower net household worth compared with those living in metropolitan areas. Country people face 30 per cent higher costs for essential food items, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and bread. Country people experience inequitable health outcomes, including higher rates of hospitalisation, chronic disease and premature and preventable death. Country people face greater housing insecurity and overcrowding and greater housing affordability issues. Country people experience rental stress above the New South Wales state average, with more than 38 per cent of households affected in the regions. We have growing social housing waitlists, with nearly 26,000 vulnerable households across regional New South Wales seeking secure housing. Homelessness is a rising issue, with rough sleeping surging by 51 per cent since 2020, primarily driven by an increase in the cost of living. Homelessness in regional communities just keeps continuing to grow. The cost-of-living crisis is having devastating impacts in regional Australia, and country people shouldn't bear the brunt. We are calling on the government to take immediate and urgent action to address this cost-of-living pain and the devastation that it's causing. 11:15 Ms BRISKEY 263427 Maribyrnong I thank the member for Fowler for bringing forward this motion because on her main point we agree; Australian households are under pressure. This is something the government has always acknowledged and has been central to our economic management since coming to office. Across my electorate, I hear from families and older residents who are feeling the weight of cost-of-living pressures. They don't need to be told times are tough; they live it every day when they open a bill or fill up their car. But what Australians also deserve is the full picture, not selective snapshots, not economic amnesia and certainly not sensationalist headlines that ignore the real reasons we got to this point. When we came to office, inflation was 6.1 per cent and rising. Underlying inflation was around five per cent. Wages were going backwards. We inherited large deficits and $1 trillion of Liberal debt, and there was no serious plan to deal with any of it. Today, inflation remains higher than we would like and has done for longer than we would like, but it is much lower than what we inherited. Underlying inflation has fallen significantly, real wages have been growing, unemployment remains low, participation is near record high, business investment is strengthening, debt is down and the budget is in much better shape. That progress didn't happen by accident; it happened because this government made responsible choices—choices that aimed to ease pressure without making inflation worse. That is why our approach has been disciplined and targeted, providing real relief without adding to inflationary pressure. We focused on where families feel it most: health, education and essential costs. We are restoring and strengthening Medicare after a decade of neglect. We have tripled the bulk-billing incentive so more Australians can see their GP for free. We capped PBS medicines at $25 a script, the lowest it's been in decades. We are training more doctors and nurses. It is affordable, accessible health care so Australians no longer have to decide between a check-up and the bill at the checkout counter. We are delivering affordable early learning and expanding paid parental leave. We are backing increases to minimum and award wages so working Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn. We've also delivered practical relief while investing in productivity. Fee-free TAFE is helping Australians retrain in areas our economy needs. Cutting student debt by 20 per cent delivered immediate cost-of-living relief to millions without driving inflation. We've strengthened the social safety net for those on low and fixed incomes. Back-to-back increases to rent assistance are helping around a million households. Higher social security payments are supporting more than 1.1 million Australians. We're extending parenting payment (single) so tens of thousands of single parents can receive support for longer. When it comes to tax reform, we are delivering three tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer: one already delivered, one on its way this year and another next, with more than 14 million Australians benefiting thus far. Inflation doesn't always moderate in a straight line. We've seen that globally. The recent uptick is unwelcome, but the Reserve Bank has made clear that stronger private demand, not fiscal recklessness, has been the key difference in forecasts. Public demand was not the driver. That is why we remain focused on the right priorities, bringing inflation down further, uplifting productivity and navigating global uncertainty. It stands in stark contrast to the opposition. They speak about cost of living but voted against cheaper early learning. They opposed energy bill relief. They opposed measures to lift wages. They offer megaphones and slogans but no plans. You cannot fight inflation with a megaphone and a wish list. You fight it with discipline, targeted support and a clear economic strategy. Australians voted for higher living standards, higher wages, and secure, well-paid jobs. We recognise people are under pressure, and we're doing something about it. We will continue delivering responsible cost-of-living relief while strengthening the economy and building a more resilient future because Australians deserve practical support that makes a difference, not political theatre, and that is exactly what this government will continue to deliver. 11:19 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein Back in reality, it's important that we stand up and speak out about the real challenges Australians are living with cost-of-living pressure. I just heard a speech from the member for Maribyrnong which truly was the very definition of audacity and denial. We have a government that simply does not seem to understand that it is pouring debt petrol onto the inflation fire. This is not based on some sort of academic assessment; it is what Australians are living right now. They're waking up, dropping their kids off to school and finding their way to work. They're going to the supermarket at the end of the day, and every day, when they check out their items, they are experiencing fewer goods going into that red basket—fewer goods that they're able to buy with their dollar. That is how Australians are living right now. Do not underestimate how lived this reality is. More and more parents are going to supermarkets and having to put items back on the shelf. They're having to tell the person at the supermarket checkout that they can't afford the total bill, and they're having to take items out of their basket. I understand from some of the research that has been done that, increasingly, Australians are choosing to go through self-service checkouts because it's a way to maintain their dignity by not having to tell other people that they can't afford the full cost of the items in their basket. This government's answer is hubris and arrogance, saying, 'Inflation is under control. You're all living in la-la land. We've got nothing to do with it,' despite the fact that it is pouring money into the economy and fuelling the inflation problem. They are pouring debt petrol onto the inflation fire, and Australians are having to live with higher inflation and higher interest rates. Those opposite are engaging in a form of denialism in this chamber and this parliament, and it's truly sickening. It shows they don't understand what they're doing. It's not just a matter of fiscal recklessness, though it is that; it's an active engagement in denial as they actively fuel inflation in this country. You just need to look at the simple stats. Since the Albanese government was elected, insurance premiums have gone up 39 per cent; energy costs, up 38 per cent; rent, up 22 per cent; health insurance, up 18 per cent; education costs, up 17 per cent; and food costs, up 16 per cent. It's not just a problem for households, though that is very serious; it has a dramatic impact on small businesses, leading to the current small-business crisis. We've had record small-business insolvencies. Forty-one thousand small businesses have gone insolvent since the election of the Albanese government. Last year we had record small-business insolvencies, and we are currently on track to have a higher number of small-business insolvencies this year than we had last year. At every point, all we've heard from this government is a denial that it has something to do with it, even though the Reserve Bank governor has made it explicitly clear that public expenditure directly contributes to private demand. Every time the government says, 'Oh, it's just private demand; it's got nothing to do with us,' it's actually the government pouring debt petrol onto the inflation fire. They're doing it through things like public sector employment, or indirect public sector employment. Eight out of 10 jobs are being created by direct and indirect public expenditure, while there's a complete crisis in private sector employment. This denial is not the act of a responsible government. It is not the act of a government that understands what it's doing, and it's certainly not the act of a Treasurer who is in charge of his portfolio. To his credit, the Prime Minister has now turned around and betrayed the Treasurer, saying to his various ministers: 'You have to get spending out of your portfolios, because the government is now contributing to the inflation pressure that Australians are living.' The Prime Minister now has his thumb once again on the Treasurer, who simply seems unwilling or unable to act to do his job, both to keep inflation down and to drive the competitive reforms that Australia needs. But the people who are experiencing the consequences of this are the Australian people. They are living higher interest rates, higher inflation, higher rents and, of course, higher costs at the supermarket checkout, and they are going to continue to be punished until this government is honest with the Australian people that its solutions are actually the drivers of the problem. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 298800 The allotted time for this debate has expired. Housing 124 11:24 Mr ABDO 316915 Calwell I move: That this House: (1) notes that: (a) on 1 October 2025, the Government expanded the 5 per cent deposit scheme to all Australian first home buyers, three months ahead of schedule; and (b) more than 220,000 Australians have now bought their first home with a small deposit of 5 per cent or less thanks to the expanded 5 per cent deposit scheme; (2) acknowledges that this housing challenge has been 40 years in the making, thanks in part to underinvestment and under-delivery of previous governments; and (3) commends the Government's $45 billion housing agenda, which is focused on building more homes, making it easier to buy, and making it better to rent. I welcome the opportunity to move this motion on Australia's housing challenge. Housing has become one of the defining pressures on the lives of Australians. For many, working hard, playing by the rules and building careers hasn't translated into securing a stable place to live. I hear it from young people who did everything that they were told would set them up for success—study, steady work and disciplined saving—yet they doubt they'll ever own a home. I hear it from parents who were able to buy early in life and now worry their children won't have the same foundation of security. I hear it from renters absorbing relentless increases and facing tough choices about where they live, how far they commute and what they go without. I know it from family. I hear it from my community. I've seen it from firsthand experience. This challenge has been building for decades. As it intensified under the coalition's decade of neglect, the Commonwealth stood back, abandoning the responsibility of meeting the challenge through leadership and national coordination. We recognise that a challenge of this scale, built up over decades, will not be solved overnight. Under the Albanese Labor government, the Commonwealth is back at the table, marking a significant change in federal involvement in housing. Our ambitious $45 billion plan for housing is focused on three areas to ensure that hard work once again delivers the security of a home—building more homes, making it easier to buy and making it better for renters. It is the boldest, most ambitious and substantial housing agenda pursued by a Commonwealth government since the postwar era, and it is being rolled out right across Australia and in my own community. Labor's five per cent deposit scheme reduces one of the biggest barriers to ownership. It allows eligible buyers to enter the market sooner without waiting years to save a 20 per cent upfront deposit. In Calwell, the impact has been clear, with real progress on the ground and on delivery. Since Labor came to government, 3,912 people in my electorate to date have purchased their first home with a five per cent deposit. That means 3,912 households and families no longer stuck on the sidelines trying to chase a moving target—thousands of families who have secured a home and begun paying down their own mortgage. It is the fundamentally life-changing reality of homeownership—a set of keys, a stable roof over their head and, finally, a measure of certainty about where they will live in the years ahead. When it comes to home building, we've got an ambitious national target of 1.2 million new homes to address the key issue of housing supply. To help Australia get there, we're cutting red tape, delivering new infrastructure and training more tradies right across the country. Lifting housing supply depends on having the skilled workforce to build it. It's why we're backing skills training for tradies with practical measures to grow the pipeline of qualified tradies needed to get more homes built. There are 1,765 apprentices in Calwell, many benefiting from apprentice support payments. We're back in the game of building more social and affordable housing, working with the state government to deliver 121 new and refurbished social homes in my community. While we're getting on with the job of delivering for communities like mine, helping thousands achieve the dream of homeownership, the coalition have given up on them and opposed every single measure. They voted against Help to Buy. They opposed our build-to-rent plan, the 80,000 new and affordable long-term leases and our $10 billion plan for 100,000 new homes reserved for first home buyers. They voted against five per cent deposits and they opposed secure rentals, smaller mortgages, building new homes for first home buyers and lower deposits that are right now helping tens of thousands of Australians into homeownership. While we build more homes, support first home buyers, back our tradies and provide cost-of-living and rent relief, those opposite have opposed the measures that make it possible. Where they have chosen obstruction, we remain focused on delivery, expanding supply, strengthening opportunity and backing the aspirations of Australians. I commend the motion to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265980 Is the motion seconded? Ms Jordan-Baird 316021 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 11:29 Mr CALDWELL 306489 Fadden This is an important motion because it seeks to effectively give the government a pat on the back for housing, when in actual fact we know that they're failing quite broadly on housing. What we do know for sure is that the minister has absolutely no solutions to this problem. She continues to talk about this aspirational plan that they have to deliver 1.2 million homes. She continues to talk about the $45 billion spend, but in reality, out there, every day Australians are finding it harder and harder to buy a home. They are finding it harder and harder to keep a roof over their heads because their mortgages are so high and their rent has escalated so dramatically. The coalition believes that we must restore homeownership as the centrepiece of the Australian dream. Under Labor, the great Australian dream is fast turning into a nightmare. We know that this minister was hopeless in Home Affairs in the last term of this government and now we see she is hopeless with homes. Today we've got the new backbenchers here––which is great––sent in to do her bidding on all of this, which is really quite catastrophic for Australians. For example, the motion says that the housing crisis has been 40 years in the making, when what we know to be true is that, actually, it's only been four years under this Labor government. It's time for this Labor government to front up to the Australian people and be honest about how they're tracking. They're actually failing each and every Australian. What we've got today is their entire housing wisdom on display. Minister O'Neil and Treasurer Chalmers are the two people who the Prime Minister has decided are going to solve this issue. We know the minister's track record, but Treasurer Chalmers, of course, has something special going on today; it's his birthday. The member for Calwell will well know what Treasurer Chalmers would like for his birthday––higher taxes. What we will see for the Treasurer's birthday, no doubt, is that at some point all of these discussions, this banter and the speculation about taxes on housing will probably come to fruition in order to celebrate the great Treasurer. But we all know that higher taxes will equal fewer houses. That's why this combination of Minister O'Neil and the Treasurer is such a dangerous combination. Their track record so far is that renters are struggling because rents have gone up 22 per cent under this Labor government. Every mortgage holder in Australia, because of higher-than-expected inflation and higher-than-necessary inflation, is seeing higher interest rates. That means thousands and thousands of dollars more for each and every Australian who's just trying to pay a mortgage. The really scary thing is that recent real estate data would suggest that homeownership is now less affordable than it's ever been through most of our capital cities. The minister continues to spruik the 1.2 million home build that will be delivered, but what we see is absolute failure. We've seen that they've fallen 80,000 homes short of their target just over the first year and a bit. Every quarter that goes by, this carrot that they're holding out for all Australians—that there'll be homes there for them—is being dangled further and further away. It is absolutely unachievable. The last point I want to make—this is a little game here for the member for Calwell; he can play if he likes. How do you spell 'runaway construction costs'? CFMEU. Mr CALDWELL 306489 No, I asked to spell, Member for Calwell––CFMEU. If there were ever a single reason why costs of construction have blown out, it's them, and we've now got report after report confirming those blowouts. 11:34 Ms JORDAN-BAIRD 316021 Gorton Let me tell you a little bit about the community I represent in Melbourne's western suburbs, the place I call home. Gorton stretches from Mount Cottrell in the south-west all the way to Keilor in the northern corner. If you look at a map of the electorate today and a map of the electorate 20 years ago, you'll notice they look very different to one another. Suburbs like Fraser Rise, Truganina and Plumpton didn't exist not so long ago. They've popped up across our community, and these suburbs make up the western growth corridor, full of new housing developments. That's because we're one of the fastest growing electorates in the country, where young families are moving in to build homes and to plan for their futures. Gorton is one of the youngest electorates in the country, too, with a median age of 35. We have more than 40,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 39. I speak to young people in my community every day. They're people who are at the stage of life when settling down and starting a family is front of mind. They're good people, full of ambition—hardworking Aussies who are building a future for themselves and for their families. But the future they envision and the future they deserve has been out of reach for too long. Because of the neglect of the previous coalition governments, homeownership was not a dream everyone could aspire to. I've spoken to people in my community who told me they couldn't think of a world where renting wasn't their only option, and these young people are not alone in their anxieties about the future. Housing is a life-defining challenge for millions of Australians today. Too many young Australians are being locked out of the housing market. Too many young Australians feel that homeownership is out of reach. Too many young Australians feel that they have no choice but to confront a future they can't plan for. And that's not right. This housing challenge has been a generation in the making. For decades, this problem has been shafted to the states. When the coalition were in government for almost a decade, they were negligent when it came to housing. This problem can't be tackled overnight. But, unlike previous coalition governments, we are addressing this issue. We're not leaving the issue of homeownership for an entire generation of Australians all up to the states to try and fix. We're taking a hand in it, and we've brought the federal government back to the table. That's why I'm proud to report the success of the Albanese Labor government's five per cent deposit scheme. We're already delivering and seeing real results right across the country, like for hardworking Aussies in my own community. I stand here today to tell you that my electorate of Gorton, in Melbourne's western suburbs, has one of the highest uptakes of the five per cent deposit scheme in the country. Since we came to government, 3,119 people in my electorate have bought their first home with just a five per cent deposit. How good is that? That's over 3,000 people in my community who have gotten their foot into the housing market—their own property, a future they can plan for, a future they'll raise their family in. Make no mistake, this is fundamentally life-changing, and it matters massively in my community. We were able to deliver on this promise three months ahead of schedule, opening the door sooner to first home buyers. When it comes to home building, we've got an ambitious national target of 1.2 million new homes. To help Australia get there, we're cutting red tape, delivering new infrastructure and training more tradies across the country. I know that, for more homes, we need better infrastructure—like better roads—and that's exactly why we've committed a billion dollars to upgrade the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs. And, in March last year, we announced $300 million for the Calder Park Drive Interchange on the Calder freeway, making things a lot safer for our community as we continue to grow. Every day, I'm reminded of how privileged I am to live and work in Melbourne's western suburbs and to represent our wonderful community. I'm so proud that, thanks to Labor's five per cent deposit scheme, more people in our community and around the country can finally own their own homes. Homeownership is life-changing, and, for those over 3000 people in our community of Gorton, homeownership is no longer just a dream. 11:39 Mr WILLCOX 286535 Dawson (): Two hundred and twenty thousand is a big number, a big number that the Albanese Labor government is now on the hook for. I'm glad the member for Calwell is acknowledging the housing crisis that Australia is facing, because—make no mistake—housing in this country is in crisis. After four years of Labor, housing has become a crisis, and it's getting worse. Demand has grown rapidly, while supply has fallen sharply. While the government pats itself on the back for backing in loans for kids of millionaires, more Australians are finding themselves homeless. Families are living in tents. The number of people sleeping rough is growing. Young Australians trying to find their way in this world are staring down the barrel of a lifetime of perpetual renting. Entry-level homes are now 70 per cent more expensive than they were five years ago. Lower deposit rates and greater buying power for first home buyers will not fix the housing crisis. Labor must fix the supply-and-demand imbalance. Labor needs to build more homes quickly and efficiently. This means cutting red tape and green tape to get approvals flowing and construction happening. It means giving people a reason to build and a reason to invest. Labor must open up the supply and urgently put downward pressure on the number of people coming into this country, who then compete for the shrinking number of homes that are available. Five per cent doesn't sound like much, but, with the median house price in Australia having now surpassed $1 million, you still need a $50,000 deposit. With rent spiralling and the cost of living rising, how is anyone on a lower income or even an average income meant to save 50 grand? If this imbalance isn't corrected fast, it won't be long before a five per cent deposit catches up to what a 20 per cent deposit is today. Since the government expanded the five per cent deposit scheme, last October, the average house price has continued to climb, and interest rates are again heading north. The scheme has done nothing but fuel demand and turbocharge property prices, making it even harder to get into the market. With inflation surging and interest rates continuing to rise, many participants in the scheme risk falling into mortgage stress. If they default, the government and, ultimately, the taxpayer have the liability as guarantors. Worse still, these buyers could be locked out of the market for good, unable to access their first home concessions again in the future, while struggling to recover financially. Some are lucky—they have the bank of mum and dad for a loan or even a cash gift to get them into the market, but what about those who don't? What about those Australians who dream of homeownership but do not have that safety net? As prices continue to soar, that $50,000 deposit will need to increase. And what about those who were once homeowners but have fallen off the property ladder—perhaps someone who has gone through a life-changing divorce or someone who has little left? First home buyer schemes don't help those people. It is clear the Labor government is struggling. They're having Treasury review the numbers on capital gains. They're not doing it in the hope of opening up supply; they're simply looking for extra tax revenue. Let's be honest about the impact of reducing the current discount. In a market where rents are rising and returns remain strong, investors will have even less reason to exit and to sell up to potential homeowners. If the goal is to free up existing housing stock, policy should encourage turnover, not discourage it through heavier taxation. We need homes for every Australian. We need housing policy that creates the conditions for people to enter the market and stay there. We need a housing policy that accelerates approval, increases building productivity and incentivises private investment. Housing policy must be more than writing cheques and announcing big numbers. It must focus on getting the supply right and ensuring it keeps pace with demand. You can't fix a housing shortage by giving government guarantees instead of building houses. Labor needs to get the supply right, get the demand right, get the houses built and get homes for all Australians. 11:44 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt I bought my first house in 2017, when I was 35. I'd been living overseas for almost the past decade—actually in the beautiful part of the world that the member for Calwell is from. I was seeing the world, working hard and having unforgettable experiences that shaped the person I am today. I came back to Adelaide in late 2016, and it was necessary for me to move back in with my parents. But, having lived out of home in various rental properties and share houses since I was 23 years old, I couldn't wait to move out, to put down roots in my own little piece of the earth, to get a couple of pets, to play the music I wanted to play, to cook what I wanted when I wanted, to buy the type of furniture I liked and to create a little garden in a small backyard. So being back home with mum and dad was a very strong motivation to try and buy a house, and I ended up buying the second house that I saw. I lived by myself in that house with my pets for about four years until I met the man who would go on to become my husband and moved in with him. But that house meant so much to me—and still does—because it was mine. I worked hard to save to buy it. No-one helped me. My parents are hardworking people, but they didn't have the money to help me buy a house. I did it on my own, and it's my little piece of the earth. I vividly remember getting a kick every single time I drove home from work, from the shops, from the gym, from wherever I had been, and turned onto my street, turned up my driveway and parked in the garage of the house that I owned. I got a kick out of it every time—the knowledge that this was my house, the knowledge that I was building my future and that I would have security of housing, a roof over my head, and in Adelaide, a place that I love. That feeling, that kick, that thrill, that sense of pride, is what I want for all Australians—to feel that sense of security as they drive up their street, as they drive up their driveway, as they get out of the car and unlock the front door to their own home. I want Australians to be able to put down roots in a community, to feel the pride and the sense of relief that I felt when I was able to access the housing market. When I bought my house, I had a good job and a good income, and I remember thinking: 'Gosh, this is actually really expensive. This is crazy. I can't believe what I paid and how long it took me to save for a 20 per cent deposit.' But time has passed since then, and it has gotten more expensive. We know this. It's even harder to save for a 20 per cent deposit, even if you have a good job and a good income. The housing environment that we find ourselves in was decades in the making, and there is no quick fix. The Albanese Labor government understands this. It understands that housing is a life-defining challenge for so many Australians and that people are working hard, saving and sacrificing and they still can't afford their own home. This is not fair, because secure housing is a right. This is why the Albanese Labor government has a $45 billion three-pronged plan of attack to build more homes, to make it easier to buy and to make it easier for renters. It is a case of building more houses—we need more houses—and that is why Labor has an ambitious target of 1.2 million new homes within the next five years. But this is a challenge, and this is why we are taking steps to ease red tape, to make land and building approvals easier, to reform the building and construction code, to make it easier for builders to build the homes that we need. This is where free TAFE comes in, free TAFE for those in the building and construction industry, because we know that we need more houses and houses don't build themselves. We need highly skilled, highly qualified tradespeople to do that work so that young Australians can get into a home to secure their future. In South Australia, almost 8,000 people, including hundreds of people in my electorate of Sturt, have taken advantage of Labor's five per cent deposit scheme—not 20 per cent; five per cent—giving them a foot on the property ladder and getting them into their own home so they too can now buy the furniture that they like, play the music they like and get a couple of pets. Most importantly, they're going to get the same kick, the same thrill, that I did every time I drove up my driveway and turned the key to open the door to my own home. A five per cent deposit means that the life-changing prospect of homeownership is now within reach for many more Australians, and that matters to people in every community in every part of this country. 11:49 Ms WATSON-BROWN 300127 Ryan Both major parties have contributed to the absolute disaster that is our housing crisis here in Australia. It's decades of underfunding of public and social housing. In the postwar period, we were building up to 25 per cent of our housing stock as public and social housing. Now, public housing waitlists skyrocket while those in the greatest need are forced into the private rental market. It's the tax concessions for property investors. The capital gains tax discount introduced by the Howard government has absolutely skyrocketed inequality. Sixty per cent of the benefit flows to the top one per cent. That's $12.7 billion a year. But Labor's latest policy innovation has sent prices skyrocketing even further: bigger mortgages for first home buyers. If you're a renter, saving a deposit is an even more distant goal. If you saved up for a house deposit last year, no, you didn't. That's what last week's data shows. Over the last year, the amount of time it takes to save up for a deposit increased by almost a year. Let me say that again. If you spent last year saving for a deposit, it is very likely that you are no closer to that deposit, because house prices have increased by so much. It's like the property industry has attached a long stick and a string to your head, whacked a house shaped carrot at the end and told you to start running. Someone from the government might interject at this point—maybe they will—and say that they've allowed people to buy a house with a five per cent deposit. Great—some people get the carrot by paying 50 per cent of their income to service a truly diabolical debt. Meanwhile, the stick just got longer for everyone else, because this policy has pushed up house prices. That's a fact. If that were my policy, I'd certainly be embarrassed about it. If there has ever been an example of how our political establishment has failed this country, you have to look no further than the housing market. Labor and the Liberals—and, on this question, they're the same—since the 1980s have both decided that housing is a commodity, not a place to live, not a right. They've deregulated the banks. They've introduced massive tax incentives for property investors. They've decimated public housing, which at least offered a competitive pressure on private housing. That is the Australia that they have built, a system designed to benefit the big banks and wealthy asset owners—not ordinary people, who are spending more and more of their income just trying to put a roof over their heads. At this point, they're not even trying to hide it. The architect of Labor's housing policy that's driving up house prices and creating enormous profits for the big banks now works for one of those very big banks. The housing minister's top policy adviser, who played a central role in creating the five per cent deposit scheme—which has saddled first home buyers with enormous debt and sent house prices skyrocketing—has now accepted a role as executive manager, group strategy, at the Commonwealth Bank. In Brisbane, house prices are set to increase by another 20 per cent over the next two years. In some areas, like Moggill in my electorate, prices have doubled in the last five years, and I don't need to tell you this is far outpacing wage growth. It's an absolute disaster. It's a generational disaster. The policies of both major parties have caused this—underinvestment in public and social housing and the tax breaks for property investors. But it's Labor's five per cent deposit scheme that's kept that gravy train—house prices increasing even more—going. The scheme is literally designed as a gift to the banks. They get to lend more to people and collect more interest payments, but they're not taking any of the risk of that extra lending. No, that's on us; that's on the taxpayers. We're going to have to bail out the banks if any of this goes sideways. How many meetings did he have with Commonwealth Bank lobbyists while he was in his role? Was he lining up this new job while crafting the devastating pro-bank policy? I think the people of Australia really deserve to know. 11:54 Mr NG 316052 Menzies I rise today to speak about one of the most pressing issues facing people, especially younger people, in my electorate of Menzies: housing. Over the last 20 years, homeownership rates have declined across Australia, most sharply amongst young Australians. Amongst 30- to 34-year-olds, ownership fell from 57 per cent to 50 per cent between 2001 and 2021. Amongst 25- to 29-year-olds, it has dropped from 43 per cent to 36 per cent. We cannot continue on this trajectory. Homeownership sits at the heart of intergenerational inequality. In 2002 the median dwelling price was 4.4 times the median income. Today it is 8.9 times. There's no denying it is harder to buy a house and harder to save for a deposit. As co-chair of Parliamentary Friends of Housing, I am committed to ensuring Australians have access to affordable, secure and quality homes. After nine long years of neglect and drift on housing policy by those opposite, our government is tackling the housing crisis. For most of those nine years the Liberal-National coalition did not have a housing policy. They did not even have a housing minister for most of the time they were in government. They only built 373 social and affordable homes while, across the country, waiting lists for those in most need of secure shelter ballooned. That is why the Albanese Labor government is acting. Our home guarantee scheme allows first home buyers to enter the market sooner by requiring only a five per cent deposit or, for single parents, a two per cent deposit. This reduces the time needed to save for a deposit from around a decade to just a couple of years. For the people of Menzies, this is already making a difference. In my electorate, 420 people have purchased their first home with a deposit of five per cent or less through this program. We are also increasing the supply of social and affordable housing. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund, 102 homes in Box Hill are being delivered in the first funding round. In addition, new and refurbished social homes are being delivered across Manningham and Whitehorse local government areas through the social housing accelerator, providing support to some of those most in need, such as those fleeing domestic and family violence. Support is also being provided for renters. We have delivered consecutive increases in Commonwealth rent assistance, lifting maximum rates by almost 50 per cent since coming to government. In my electorate alone, 5,315 people have now received this support. We are also expanding long-term affordable rentals through our build-to-rent program, with 425 new homes in Menzies under construction or in planning. While we know there is still more work to do, this represents real progress. For the people of Menzies, it shows that we are serious about delivering on housing. Whenever I'm doorknocking or speaking with residents at local street stalls, housing is the issue young people raise most often. Many say they fear homeownership is permanently out of reach. I hear similar concerns from those in their 30s or 40s with families, including those in dual-income households, who still struggle to buy in well-located communities. I hear it from the parents of young people as well. They fear their children will never be able to live close to them and that they won't be able to play a role in raising their grandchildren. Housing is a fundamental human need. Ensuring access to secure housing is a responsibility governments must take seriously. Since coming to office, the Albanese Labor government has advanced the most comprehensive housing agenda in decades. More than 220,000 Australians have entered homeownership through the five per cent deposit program nationwide—that is, more than 220,000 hardworking Australians have overcome a massive, life-changing hurdle when it comes to owning a home. Our broader housing agenda represents a $45 billion investment focused on building more homes, making purchasing easier and improving rental security. We are working with the states and territories and with industry to meet a national target of 1.2 million new homes. Around 500,000 homes have already been completed, since 2022, and tens of thousands more are in planning or construction. I am proud to be part of a government focused on practical action and real outcomes. For the people of Menzies, this work is about restoring confidence in secure housing and homeownership. It's about making sure that those remain achievable goals for Australians who work hard and contribute to their communities. I'm proud to be part of a government that understands the needs of Australians and takes actions to support them. 11:59 Ms CHANEY 300006 Curtin I rise today to speak on the motion presented by the member for Calwell, in which he congratulates the Labor Party for doing something in relation to housing—specifically, allowing first home owners to borrow more money than they would otherwise be able to by putting down only a five per cent deposit. Two hundred and twenty thousand Australians have taken up this offer, and I understand why they took up that offer—because they have no choice—and good for them, sort of. They now have a home, but they also have bigger debts. Let's not kid ourselves that this policy actually addresses the housing crisis. It just throws more fuel on the fire. It means more people can borrow more money, driving prices up. It's basic economics. If there's more money available, prices go up. Don't get me wrong, I want to see housing policy to address intergenerational inequity, but it will need to be bold, and this isn't it. This changes who gets into the lifeboat first and increases the cost of a seat in the lifeboat, but it doesn't create more lifeboats. Housing access and affordability are now the biggest issue I hear about. Two weeks ago, when I was out doorknocking in Scarborough, people stood at their front doors and told me how worried they are about their children and grandchildren being locked out of the market entirely, or they shared their own concerns about rising interest rates and their housing stress. Last week at UWA orientation day, I asked new first-year uni students what issues concerned them most. Housing was their No. 1 issue, both in our gumnut poll and in our more detailed online survey. When I was a uni student, it didn't cross my mind that I wouldn't be able to find a house eventually. My then boyfriend lived in a comfortable share house with the support of Austudy and a part-time job. That's now pretty much impossible. Even my youth advisory group, made up of year 11s from all the schools in my electorate, are concerned about their future housing prospects. That shouldn't have to be your biggest concern when you're 16. I find it hard to tell these young people that the solution is to let them borrow more money, to let them become more leveraged, to take on more risks so that they can pay the ever-increasing prices for the houses that their parents and grandparents could easily afford. So what should be done? Well, there's no silver bullet, but there are plenty of ideas focused on increasing supply and levelling the playing field so new homeowners and renters get a fair go. Part of this has to be changing the tax settings. I've been engaging with my community to gauge the level of appetite for reforming capital gains tax and negative gearing. It's a complex issue, but I'm getting a strong message from my community that people can see that these settings are no longer fair for young Australians who simply cannot compete in a market where tax structures favour investors. Across doorknocks, community forums in person and online, and surveys, the message is clear: we need a fairer system that gives the next generation a genuine chance at homeownership, and that means being honest about what's working and what's not. Reform to housing taxes is just one of 15 ideas in our Curtin housing policy developed through community workshops, surveys and expert input. Here are a couple of others. We need to build more social and affordable housing. In 1983, there were 14 social housing approvals for every 100 private builds. Today, that figure is just 1.7 per 100, a dramatic decline that's left the bottom rung of the housing ladder dangerously thin. The HAFF is a start, but more needs to be done. We need to allow more medium-density housing in appropriate areas. Planning and zoning processes take too long. Medium density needs to be done with local consultation so we build communities that people want to live in. When Auckland reformed its zoning laws, it saw a four per cent increase in housing stock. We must protect renters. With house prices unlikely to fall sharply in the short term, more Australians will be renting for longer. They need basic, nationally consistent protections so they can live with stability and dignity while they save, study or raise families. There are 11 more ideas in my Curtin housing policy on my website. As we head towards the government's next budget, the real test is whether those in power will show the political courage to act. We won't fix this problem by allowing first home buyers to borrow more money. Housing is the foundation of security, opportunity and community. People in Curtin and across the country are calling for bold action because every Australian deserves a safe, secure place to call home. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265980 There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made in order of the day for the next sitting. Australian War Memorial 130 12:04 Mr CHESTER IPZ Gippsland I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges: (a) the Australian War Memorial (AWM) was built to recognise the service and sacrifice of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel following the Great War; (b) the role of the AWM has grown to encompass all ADF service including major conflicts, peacekeeping missions, humanitarian aid and disaster relief; (c) the AWM combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive; and (d) its mission is leading remembrance and understanding of Australia's wartime experience; (2) notes that: (a) the former Government committed to a major redevelopment of the AWM with early construction work commencing in 2020 and scheduled for completion in 2028; and (b) the key reason for the former Government funding the redevelopment of the AWM was to provide additional exhibition space to tell the stories of contemporary service in the ADF in a timely and appropriate manner; and (3) urges the Government to ensure the independent AWM Council remains true to its mission without political interference. I regard the Australian War Memorial as the most important building in our nation because it lies at the heart of our commitment to remember the 103,000 service personnel who have died wearing the uniform of our Army, Navy and Air Force. It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today came at an extraordinarily heavy price. Those who were killed, those who were physically wounded, those who never recovered from the mental scars and the families who supported them in their service are the ones who paid the price for our freedoms, and we must never forget that sacrifice. It was conceived by historian Charles Bean, who witnessed the bloody battles in Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I, and the memorial took 12 years to build from 1929 to 1941. Bean's guiding philosophy is captured in this quote from 1948: Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made. Those words ring true today and explain why the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial was essential. We are simply adding to Bean's extraordinary legacy. The memorial's purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war or in operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict. Its mission is leading remembrance and understanding of Australia's wartime experience. The key reason for the coalition funding the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial, while we were in government, was to tell the stories of contemporary service in the Australian Defence Force in a timely and appropriate manner. Over the past 30 years, more than 100,000 Australians have served in war, conflict and peacekeeping missions. Today, their stories remain largely untold. The Australian War Memorial redevelopment is modernising and expanding the galleries and the stories we tell of Australian service and sacrifice. For the first time, the memorial will have displays dedicated to Australia's efforts to prevent war and to contribute to peace. So, in commending the project, which is due for completion in 2028, I completely reject the critics who claim the memorial is glorifying war or that the money could be better spent on our veterans. Let's be very clear about this. The $550 million is a lot of money, and I know the director, Matt Anderson, and the council are determined to deliver on the project within the budget and with due respect for taxpayers' dollars, but not a cent is coming from the Department of Veterans' Affairs budget. As veterans minister at the time when the decision was made to proceed with the development, an agreement was reached with Treasury for new funding to be allocated from outside DVA. During the eight years of construction involving this $550 million, the DVA will spend somewhere around $100 billion on supporting our veterans and their families. It is contemporary veterans and their families who are among some of the strongest supporters of this redevelopment. They want to be able to walk through the expanded Australian War Memorial with their own children and explain their story of service to our nation and not only the service of their parents or grandparents or great grandparents. As the minister of the day, I agreed with memorial's board members that there was a need to increase the size of the exhibition space in order to place more items on display and better tell the stories of our more recent missions. It is part of the healing process for our veterans and their families who have been impacted by military service that their contemporary stories can be told in a meaningful way, and the expanded memorial will allow that to happen in the very near future. It's interesting that Australians seem to want to learn more about our military history, as evidenced by the raw numbers. According to TripAdvisor, the memorial is the No. 1 visitor attraction in Canberra, and the war memorial is a top rated war memorial in the world. That's a credit to the council, the director and the staff, who do an incredible job to support visitors and respectfully commemorate our military history—most notably, I'd say, by the last post ceremony every evening. I have had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and inspect the redevelopment along with the recently opened sections of the war memorial. This is a national endeavour that Australians can be proud of, and I'm pleased to see the current government is continuing with the project. The coalition will always ensure the Australian War Memorial is properly resourced to fill its critical role of respectful remembrance and commemoration. The redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial is a bold endeavour of inter-generational significance, and it helps to sustain the eternal promise that we will remember them. Lest we forget. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265980 Is the motion seconded? Mr Thompson 281826 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 12:09 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon At the outset, I want to acknowledge we've got two former ministers for veterans affairs in the chamber. We also have a Timor and Afghan veteran, the member for Herbert; my good mate the member for Spence, who also has worn our country's uniform; and a big supporter of our veterans, the member for Makin. This morning I visited one of our nation's most sacred sites, the Australian War Memorial. When opening the new main entrance in February last year, the Prime Minister referred to it as 'the most important building in the nation'. The Australian War Memorial was founded in the aftermath of the First World War, and the names of 61,721 Australians that lost their lives during the Great War are on the memorial's Roll of Honour. It was a young nation, fewer than five million people, so that loss was indeed profound. The War Memorial was built to honour their service and sacrifice and to ensure that we never forgot the terrible cost of war. The War Memorial was driven by the vision of Charles Bean, Australia's official war correspondent in the Great War. He believed that, if Australians were asked to serve Australia in harm's way, then the nation owed them not only commemoration but careful documentation. He envisaged not simply a monument but a living institution, a place of remembrance, reflection and rigorous historical research. The Australian War Memorial is unique in combining three essential functions: a national shrine, a world-class museum and an extensive archive preserving official records and deeply personal stories. Through these functions, it fulfils its enduring mission of leading remembrance and deepening understanding of Australia's wartime and operational experience. On the Roll of Honour, there are now 103,132 names, each one belonging to somebody who has made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, including Private Robert 'Jock' Buchan, who died when they were engaged in a firefight in the Nui May Tao mountains alongside my father but also Kenny Higgins, the president of Mackay RSL—and I give a shout-out to Kenny and Dad—when they were engaged in that firefight in South Vietnam in 1969. Another number of that 103,000 Australians belongs to Private Scott Palmer of the 2nd Commando Regiment, who was killed in Afghanistan on operations on 21 June 2010. Scotty was a dedicated and highly skilled soldier, a proud Territorian and a great mate to many of his comrades. Eight other soldiers from 2 Commando Regiment also lost their lives during the Afghanistan campaign. Their names are also on the wall. Each name on that wall represents not just an individual but a family, a unit and a community forever changed. In Darwin, in tribute to Scott, we're delivering the Scott Palmer centre. It will be a place to support veterans and their families in the Greater Darwin area, a reminder that remembrance is not abstract; it is lived daily in communities across Australia. Today, the War Memorial encompasses all ADF service from the First and Second World Wars to Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and training exercises, and it ensures that contemporary veterans are recognised with the same dignity that has been afforded rightly to earlier generations. The major redevelopment of the War Memorial has been underway for some time. Some of it, such as the HMAS Brisbane exhibition, is open now, but full completion will be made in 2028, and it will ensure that there is sufficient space to sufficiently and properly tell the stories of contemporary service. The upgrade includes the protection and preservation of our national collection, improving accessibility and enhancing the education and research facilities. The Australian War Memorial is a sacred place in the nation, and it is right that it is properly developed. 12:14 Mr THOMPSON 281826 Herbert I'd like to thank my friend the member for Gippsland for bringing this motion to the parliament. I acknowledge all those sitting in here who served our nation. I also acknowledge the many brave men and women who continue to serve and our veterans and their families. The Australian War Memorial is one of the most sacred places in our country. It was built after the Great War to honour those who served, the sacrifice of the men who never made it home and those who came back carrying wounds—some visible, many not. But over the years its purpose has grown, as has our nation's understanding of what service truly means. Today, the memorial doesn't just speak to the diggers of the First World War; it tells the story of every Australian who has worn the uniform—every conflict, every operation, every mission where Australians have stepped forward to help others. It recognises the men and women who fought in major conflicts, those who kept the peace in troubled parts of the world and those who have delivered humanitarian aid and disaster relief when people were at their most vulnerable. What makes the Australian War Memorial so important is that it is there to make sure that our brave men and women have a place to reflect. It's a shrine where we honour those who gave their lives. It's a world-class museum preserving our military history. And it's one of our nation's most extensive archives, holding the records, stories, letters and memories that help us make sense of what war does to people and to our country. All of this supports its mission to lead remembrance and deepen the understanding of Australia's wartime experience. That mission has never been more important. But, for that mission to stay relevant, the memorial must evolve. That's why the former coalition government made the decision to commit to a major redevelopment, with work beginning in 2020 and set to finish in 2028. The reason was simple: our veterans, those who have served on all operations, deserve to have their stories properly told. This redevelopment wasn't about politics. It wasn't about monuments or buildings. It was about people: our veterans. It was about ensuring that the next generation understands what our service men and women have done and what they've seen—what they've carried; what they've sacrificed. For me, it's deeply personal. Every time I walk into the Australian War Memorial, I don't do it as a politician; I do it as a veteran. I walk in as a soldier. I walk in as someone who has stood beside mates in uniform—in training, on deployment, in combat—in some of the hardest moments of our lives. When I stand in the memorial, I think of my mates who never came home: those whose names are etched on the wall. I also think about those who made it home physically but continue to fight battles. Too many of them lost that fight. Their names aren't engraved in bronze, but their sacrifice is just as real. For veterans, the Australian War Memorial is not just history; it's a mirror. It forces us to confront the cost of service. It reminds us that we're a part of something bigger than ourselves, and it gives families, friends, loved ones and everyday Australians a place to understand what service truly demands. No government of any side or any colour of shirt should ever try and shape or distort the stories told within those walls. These stories belong to the men and women who served, not to politicians. We owe it to the next generation of veterans to tell their stories honestly. We owe it to the families who sent their sons and daughters to war, and we owe it to the Australian people to help them understand not just why we fight but what fighting costs. The Australian War Memorial belongs to all of us, but for our veterans it holds a special place. It reminds us of mateship, sacrifice, courage and grief. It is a place of remembrance and, for many, a place of healing. As we look to the future, let us make sure that the memorial remains a place where every Australian veteran, past, present and future, is honoured with dignity, respect and truth. 12:20 Mr BURNELL 300129 Spence I thank the member for Gippsland for bringing forward this motion today—an important topic. I also thank the member for Herbert and the member for Solomon for their contributions as well. The Australian War Memorial is a sacred national space where a grieving nation can gather and a place of commemoration for those who returned and for those who did not. From its earliest days, the memorial has stood as a solemn place of international standing, telling the story of Australia's military history and as a vast archive preserving official records, artefacts and deeply personal accounts. Together these functions fulfil its enduring mission to lead remembrance and deepen understanding of Australia's experience of war. That mission is not just for ceremony; it is central to education in this country. Each year the memorial is a focal point for school excursions, particularly for year 5 and year 6 students travelling from across Australia. For many young Australians walking through the galleries, standing in the commemorative area or watching the Last Post ceremony, it is their first direct encounter with our nation's military history. It transforms textbook learning into lived understanding. It connects names on a page to real lives, real families and real communities. The memorial also serves as a vital research hub. Tertiary students studying history, international relations and military studies rely on its archives and collections. Letters, diaries, operational records and personal artefacts provide the primary source material that shapes serious studies across the country and worldwide. In this way, the memorial does not simply preserve history; it actively informs how history is written and understood. Over time, its scope has expanded to reflect the full breadth of Australian service, from the Boer War and the World Wars to Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, from peacekeeping missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It ensures contemporary veterans are recognised with the same dignity afforded to earlier generations. Now, a major redevelopment is underway, scheduled for completion in 2028, to ensure there is sufficient space to properly tell the stories of modern service. Remembrance must evolve as service evolves. The redevelopment also supports broader historical reflection, including recognition of frontier conflict and the organised violence that occurred during colonisation. That inclusion strengthens understanding of Australia's full historical experience. The project incorporates significant upgrades to protect the national collection, improve accessibility and create better educational spaces. Central to this is the new Charles Bean Research Centre, a facility designed to expand archival access support and rigorous scholarship and to continue the careful documentation that Charles Bean championed. The Albanese Labor government has ensured the resources are available to complete this redevelopment and secure the memorial's future. This is an investment not just in infrastructure but in education and remembrance. It ensures that the future generations of Australians will continue to learn from and reflect upon the service of those who have worn the nation's uniform. It has been encouraging to see the progress achieved, and I commend the memorial for remaining open throughout construction so students, researchers and families can continue to engage with its spaces. I thank Matt Anderson, the director, for his engagement over that time with myself and many people in this parliament. As the expanded galleries take shape, there is also value in taking time to reflect on ongoing operations close to home such as Operation Resolute, the Australian Defence Force's standing mission to protect our maritime borders. It brings together Navy, Army and Air Force personnel working alongside the Australian Border Force. Through maritime patrols, aerial surveillance and interception tasks, it safeguards Australia's sovereignty. It is sustained, demanding service often carried out beyond public view. Thousands of ADF personnel have contributed to Operation Resolute over the years. Their professionalism and endurance deserve thoughtful recognition. As new exhibition spaces are developed, there is merit in considering an installation that acknowledges Operation Resolute not as a commentary on policy but as recognition of service—recognition that the defence of Australia takes many forms, from historic battlefields abroad to ongoing vigilance in our own region. The Australian War Memorial stands as a promise that those who serve will be remembered, from Tobruk to Timor, from the Boer War to Baghdad and in operations like Resolute. The redevelopment ensures that promise endures, that the memorial continues to educate, commemorate and inform. Lest we forget. 12:25 Mr WALLACE 265967 Fisher The Australian War Memorial stands as one of our nation's most sacred institutions. It's not simply a museum; it is a place of remembrance, reflection and national identity. Every Australian schoolchild who walks through its doors learns what service and sacrifice truly means. We owe it to those who served to ensure their stories are told properly, completely and without political distortion. The War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum and an extensive archive. Its purpose is clear: to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war or on operational service and those who have served our nation in times of conflict. Its mission is leading remembrance and understanding of Australia's wartime experience. That mission traces all the way back to Charles Bean, Australia's official war correspondent in the First World War. Bean did not want a monument to victory. He wanted a place that honoured the ordinary Australian—the digger, the nurse, the airman, the sailor—and he wanted it to record their stories faithfully. His concept of a shrine, a museum and an archive was uniquely Australian. More than a century later, that founding vision still guides this incredible institution, and the scale of the memorial's impact is extraordinary. It attracts around a million visitors each year, even during what is a huge redevelopment. More than 100,000 Australian students participate in its education programs annually. Its national collection contains over 40 million items. The Roll of Honour commemorates more than 103,000 Australians, one of whom was my great uncle Murray Davies, men and women, like him, who have died in service under our nation's flag. The Last Post Ceremony that is conducted every evening at the War Memorial has been conducted more than 4,000 times since 2013. Those figures are not just impressive; they reflect the central place the memorial holds in our Australian story. The character of Australian service has evolved. Since the Second World War, more than 100,000 Australians have served in modern conflicts and operations, including Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and in numerous peacekeeping missions and humanitarian missions. Their service deserves to be recognised with the same dignity and space as those who served in the First and Second World Wars. That's why the coalition, when we were in government, committed more than $500 million to the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial. Early works commenced in 2020, with completion scheduled for 2028. The purpose was straightforward: to provide additional exhibition space to properly tell the stories of contemporary service in a timely and appropriate manner. This was about ensuring that veterans of Afghanistan, those who served in Iraq, those who've deployed on peacekeeping missions or those who've provided disaster relief at home and abroad see their service acknowledged within the national narrative. I want to specifically acknowledge the leadership of the current director, Matt Anderson, and the leadership of the former director, Brendan Nelson, in their work guiding this complex redevelopment and safeguarding the memorial's mission throughout this process. The professionalism of the memorial's leadership and staff has ensured that even during construction, the institution has continued to operate at the highest possible standard. The Australian War Memorial must remain above politics. Its council was established as an independent statutory authority. Its role is to preserve history, not reinterpret it through the lens of the government of the day. Remembrance must unite Australians, not divide them. This redevelopment was a clear commitment by the former coalition government to honour contemporary service. It was funded. It commenced. And it is being delivered. It is important that the historical record reflects that commitment accurately. The memorial belongs to the Australian people—especially to those who served and, importantly, their families. Lest we forget. 12:30 Ms SWANSON 264170 Paterson Last week I shared a wonderful story celebrating a little corporal called Horrie. It was on the war animals remembrance day, and Corporal Horrie was a tiny, flea-bitten desert dog that was found by Australian soldiers in Egypt. He was hardly the image of a soldier, you might say, but the men who found him saw something worth saving. They took him in. They fed him. They trusted him. And, before long, he became one of them. He became a mate and a fellow soldier. Horrie travelled with them across the Middle East and the Mediterranean. He served. He survived shipwreck. He endured hunger, heat and hardship. And he had a gift: he could hear enemy aircraft long before the human ear could. That gift saved lives. And, when the war ended, his mates couldn't bear to leave him behind. They smuggled him home to Australia, where he lived out his days surrounded by the men who knew what service really looked like. Horrie reminds us that service comes in many forms. Sometimes it's courage in battle. Sometimes it's loyalty. Sometimes it's a tiny, flea-bitten dog that saves lives with his ears. Not only was Horrie afforded the rank of corporal, but also he was fashioned a uniform, and that uniform now is in the Australian War Memorial. And that's what the War Memorial captures. It's not just battles. It's not just dates. It is the humanity of service. The memorial was imagined not simply as a building but as a sacred national space—a space where a grieving nation could remember those who'd served and those who never returned. It is a national shrine of remembrance, a world-class museum and an archive preserving official records, artefacts and deeply personal stories for generations to come. Through these three functions, it leads remembrance and—potentially, the most important—it deepens our understanding of Australia's wartime experience. I'm a great believer that, if you understand the history, you've got a far better chance of understanding the future and charting a better course. Right now, the memorial is changing. A major redevelopment is underway, scheduled for completion in 2028. It's about more than walls and galleries. It's about ensuring there is space to tell the stories of contemporary service too—of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who serve today, in our time. That includes the 3,500 dedicated serving members at the Williamtown RAAF base in my electorate and at bases across the country. The Albanese Labor government has provided the resources to make this possible, ensuring the memorial continues to stand as one of our nation's most important cultural institutions. And, just like Horrie's story, this redevelopment is about more than bricks and mortar. It's an investment in remembrance itself. It's about making sure that future Australians can continue to learn, to reflect and to honour the service and sacrifice of those who've worn our nation's uniform. I want to applaud the Australian War Memorial for staying open throughout this redevelopment. Australians can still walk the halls, see the exhibitions, explore the archives and remember—because remembrance is not paused for construction. It continues. It persists. It matters. When I think of Horrie—who was affectionately known as 'Horrie the wog dog' back in those days—I think of the way the memorial tells his story and the story of every soldier, every nurse, every airman, every sailor and every family left behind. It reminds us that service is not about uniforms or medals. It's about courage. It's about loyalty. It's about sacrifice. And, quite frankly, it's about love. And that is why we invest in the memorial. That is why we ensure its sustainability. That is why we make sure future generations can hear these stories, feel these stories and be inspired by them—just as we are inspired by Corporal Horrie and the thousands of others whose service defines who we are as Australians—particularly those young school children who, I know, visit the memorial and are greatly impacted by the experience that they have there. The DEPUTY SPEAKER C2T The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Key Apprenticeship Program 135 12:35 Mr LAXALE 299174 Bennelong I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the Government's Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) is delivering real outcomes, with over 11,400 housing apprentice commencements in the first six months; (2) commends the Government for prioritising apprentices to build more houses through providing $10,000 incentive payments for apprentices in housing construction trades in instalments across the apprenticeship to support commencements and completions; (3) recognises the Government's other measures to support apprentices, including increasing the allowance for apprentices living away from home for the first time in more than 20 years, while also doubling support for employers hiring apprentices with a disability; (4) supports these measures as vital steps towards building a skilled workforce and addressing the worst skills shortage in 50 years which was left unaddressed by the previous Government; and (5) further recognises that National Centre for Vocational Education Research data shows there were 22 per cent more apprentices in training within the construction sector at 30 June 2025 compared to 30 June 2019. To build a better Australia, we need more homes, we need more manufacturing and we need to transition to renewable energy. And, to do all that, we need workers. We need more carpenters. We need more plumbers. We need more sparkies. We need more tradies. To deliver on this vision, one now backed not once but twice by the Australian people at elections, we need a strong and skilled workforce. Progress on skilling our workforce is critical to meeting our housing accord targets, our net zero commitments and our Future Made in Australia agenda. That's why Labor has invested so heavily in skills, and one of those investments, of course, is the Key Apprenticeship Program: a $10,000 cash incentive going straight into the pockets of eligible apprentices, making sure they receive the support they need. Apprentices receive five $2,000 payments, while employers can claim up to $5,000 as well. That's necessary funding for expenses like tools, equipment and fuel to support workers in crucial industries like housing and construction. The good news is that the data shows that our investments in skilling up our workforce are working. Since its launch in July last year, 11,407 apprentices have signed up to the Key Apprenticeship Program. But it doesn't just stop with that. For those who need to relocate for work and to train, the living away from home allowance offers weekly assistance throughout the apprenticeship's journey. We've raised that allowance for these workers for the first time in 20 years, a huge step in encouraging apprenticeship completions, particularly for people living in rural, regional and remote areas, boosting employment and economic growth. It's just one of many ways that we're reforming policy to address cost-of-living pressures and to reduce barriers to work. In New South Wales alone, 2,759 new housing construction apprenticeships commenced across 2,186 employers. Younger Australians are getting fantastic head starts because of the policies of this government, as nearly 55 per cent of apprentices are aged 19 and under. Importantly, stats from the National Centre for Vocational Educational Research show that there were 22 per cent more apprentices in training within the construction sector at 30 June 2025 than there were at 30 June 2019. These policies matter, and they're delivering results. Women's enrolments in the industry are highly promising with growth each and every year. But, of course, the government acknowledges, as does the sector, that there's so much more to do to balance out the gender gap in construction, which is why we've invested $60 million into the Building Women's Careers Program. Stuff like that is essential. Let's never forget that, when we came to government in 2022, the government inherited one of the worst skill shortages in modern history. The former Liberal and National government handed down record-low apprentice numbers, the worst in 50 years. They neglected workers that the system and our economy needed. They ripped out billions from TAFE at the federal level. And, of course, in New South Wales, the state Liberals did even more: selling campuses and slashing jobs, leaving us with a crisis that we could not ignore. And we didn't. We invested in free TAFE. Because of that, over half a million people's lives were changed. They were granted access to affordable education and set on a path for securing stable and well-paid employment. And today, because of Labor, free TAFE is a permanent feature of the national VET system. My electorate in Bennelong is home to two TAFE campuses of our own, and there's one just across the border. We've got nurses, chefs, electricians, IT specialists and early childhood educators, all of whom can receive free TAFE locally. It's so important. It's keeping Australia running and it's making sure that workers can thrive. To the carpenter and joiner, the plumber, the sparky, the glazier, the tiler, the brickie and the concreter: thank you. We need you to succeed so that you can build the homes that our society needs. You have to help us meet this housing crisis, and we've got the policies to back you in. The DEPUTY SPEAKER C2T Is the motion seconded? Mr Gregg 315154 I second the motion and waive my right to speak. 12:40 Mr WALLACE 265967 Fisher I rise to speak on this very important motion as one of the few tradesmen, or tradespeople, that work in this building—along with my good friend Senator Colbeck, who's a fellow carpenter. I do want to make a few comments about this motion because it is very important. I had the privilege of doing my carpentry apprenticeship shortly after I finished school. Trades are incredibly important because an Australian trade can take you anywhere in the world. I want to send a big shout-out to anybody who may be listening to this or reading this at a later stage about the importance of trade qualifications, because so much emphasis over the last 20 or 30 years has been on sending young people to university. Now, I've done both; whilst going to university, for some, is important, getting a trade is an incredibly valuable, life-changing experience. I particularly want to encourage mums and dads who are sitting around the kitchen table talking to their young sons or daughters about what they might want to do when they finish school. I want you to encourage your young kids to think about a trade, because things have changed a lot since I did my apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner back in the eighties. Back then, we tradespeople—well, back then, it was essentially tradesmen, I have to say—drove utes and vans, and lawyers drove Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs. Now, it's the opposite. Tradies drive BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes, and the legal profession tend to drive lower quality vehicles, because the tides have turned. You think about how hard it is for you to get an electrician or a plumber or a chippie. You think about the trade. We have an incredible skill shortage in this country, and it has been driven predominantly by years and years and years of neglect. That's why I want to encourage mums and dads and young people to think about a trade, because a trade will take you anywhere. If you go on and work for yourself after your four-year apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to earn very good money. Yes, apprenticeships are tough. I know; I remember my apprenticeship. It was a tough four years, but I like to think that it made me the person that I am today. Having a trade in today's world gives you the ability to run your own business, it gives you the ability to have a greater degree of freedom, and it gives you a terrific ability to earn good money—sometimes very good money. If you are in the building industry, you can go on and become a builder, as I did. As you get older, as many tradespeople do—well, we all do—it's tough. It's tough on the body as you get older, but there are career paths for you as you mature—like the Deputy Speaker, who's very mature. The DEPUTY SPEAKER C2T I'll remind honourable members not to reflect on the chair! Mr WALLACE 265967 When you are working on the tools, it's often hard yakka, but there is a life after being on the tools—there is a good life. You can go on and do many other things. Now, it would be remiss of me if I didn't talk about the housing crisis that this government has created. They wanted to build a million homes. They are 100,000 homes short of building what they need to build every year—a 100,000 deficit of homes. One of the main reasons why is that we have, and continue to have, not enough tradies to be able to build the homes that Australians need. So those members opposite can jump up and down and squawk all they like, but we have a deficit of 100,000 homes each and every year––each and every year. So, young people, I encourage you: do a trade; the world will be your oyster. 12:45 Ms DOYLE 299962 Aston The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future. But, if we are serious about building that future, about building more homes, delivering clean energy and strengthening our communities, then we must also build the workforce that will deliver it. That is why we are backing apprentices by putting real support––real dollars––behind the next generation of carpenters, plumbers and sparkies, who will build this nation going forward. The Albanese Labor government is providing $10,000 directly to apprentices to help them complete their training. That's practical support with the cost of tools, equipment and fuel that will help with the everyday pressures that come with starting out in a trade. We are also making free TAFE permanent because we understand a simple truth: investing in TAFE is investing in Australia's future. In my electorate of Aston, we are already seeing the benefits. Our government's Key Apprenticeship Program is attracting new apprentices into housing construction right where we need them most. It is driving Australians towards the occupations that will help us build more homes and address housing supply challenges. I'm proud to say that my home state of Victoria is leading the nation in apprenticeship commencements under this program. In the first six months since the Housing Construction Apprenticeship stream launched on 1 July 2025, 11,407 apprentices commenced in housing construction trades across Australia. Of those, 3,415 were in Victoria, working with 2,598 Victorian employers. That is real progress and momentum. Almost half of Victorian apprentices are aged 19 and under. That tells us this program is opening doors for young Australians, giving them a pathway into secure, well-paid careers. These are careers that cannot be outsourced. These are careers that build communities. We are also seeing encouraging signs when it comes to women entering trades. Victoria has recorded 148 women apprentice commencements under the program. There is still much more work to do, but this is a movement in the right direction. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research data shows that the number of women in training and trade apprenticeships has increased by 46.8 per cent compared to pre-COVID levels. That is why we are backing this up with measures like the $60 million Building Women's Careers Program, because building Australia's future means ensuring everyone has the opportunity to be part of it. The Key Apprenticeship Program is structured to support apprentices from start to finish. Participants receive $2,000 at six months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, and another $2,000 on completion. Employers can claim up to $5,000 in the first year. For those who need to relocate, the living away from home allowance provides weekly support, and we have increased that allowance for the first time since 2003. We have also increased the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment for the first time since 1998. These are not symbolic changes. They are practical reforms that ease cost-of-living pressures and set Australians up with skills for life. Let me tell you about Sheldon from Melbourne. Sheldon is six months into his first year as a plumbing apprentice. He said that the $10,000 incentive is 'definitely a big help––$10,000 is a lot of money'. He told us it goes towards his tools and his car and that is a 'big incentive to keep going'. And that is what this is about—keeping people in apprenticeships, helping them complete their training and giving them confidence that their government backs them. The truth is in 2022 we inherited the worst skills shortage in 50 years. A decade of Liberal neglect hollowed out the apprenticeship system. Billions were ripped from TAFE and training. Seven billion dollars was spent on untargeted schemes with dropout rates as high as 60 per cent, while critical trades were ignored. Labor is taking a different approach. We are delivering targeted, direct support to apprentices in clean energy and housing construction. We are investing in TAFE. We are supporting employers who train the next generation, and we are rebuilding a skills system that works for workers, industry and the nation. Backing apprentices is not just about filling jobs; it is about building homes, powering our clean energy future and giving young Australians secure, well-paid careers. Labor backs apprentices. We back skills, and this Albanese Labor government backs Australia's future. 12:50 Ms LE 295676 Fowler I'd like to thank the member for Bennelong for this motion about the construction sector. Traineeships matter deeply to me, as does the construction sector, because they're one of the largest employers in my electorate. This matter really goes to the heart of the challenges facing my community in Fowler. The skill shortage is holding us back, and we heard the member for Fisher talking about the housing crisis that Australia is currently facing. Our national housing target is falling short by around 60,000 homes a year, even as our builders and tradies work tirelessly to speed up supply and delivery. Right now, builders are telling me we face a shortfall of more than 83,000 tradespeople. To put that into perspective, that's enough to fill every seat in Sydney's Olympic stadium, and we'd need each of these people on the tools just to meet today's demand. Those numbers break down to around 22,000 carpenters, 17,000 electricians, 12,000 plumbers, 4½ thousand bricklayers and around 3,000 concreters. Without them, slabs don't get poured, frames don't get built and bricks don't get laid. That means more young Australians stay locked out of homeownership. It's encouraging to see the government reporting 14,000 new commencements in housing trades under the KAP. But, I have to ask, are these genuinely new additions or simply the normal intake we'd expect in any given year? With an 83,000-person shortfall we need an additional 14,000 trainees on top of the baseline, not just an aggregate number that the government can put in a press release. The Housing Industry Association have told me constantly that they've been begging the government to make KAP permanent. Industry supports KAP schemes and so do I. But, as builders remind me, attracting people into trades is only half the story. Keeping them there is where the real challenges lie, with dropout rates hovering around 40 and 50 per cent. That's why the milestone payments under KAP are so critical. Supporting an apprentice through their full three or four years of training is what truly makes a difference. I'll be watching closely for the next set of data from the government, and I sincerely hope that those dropout rates start trending the other way. But here's where I'm especially concerned: how are we supporting small builders and the ones doing the heavy lifting when it comes to taking on apprentices and training the next generation? The HIA Small Business Conditions Survey, which I helped launch recently, paints a very troubling picture. Sixty-seven per cent of businesses are struggling to find or keep skilled workers. Seventy-three per cent do not expect to hire more staff in 2026. Sixty-eight per cent have considered scaling back or closing because of red tape, and 88 per cent say red tape has increased their stress and pressure. That's not just a red flag; it's a huge alarm bell. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and 85.5 per cent of construction apprentices are employed by small firms. Without their willingness to take apprentices on, the system simply collapses. There's no apprenticeship without an employer ready to create that opportunity. The Priority Hiring Incentive for housing and clean energy apprentices is a great initiative, but industry is telling me that they have no certainty about what happens after this year. We've already seen other sectors have their incentives halved. Businesses need predictability to make long-term hiring decisions. Industry is calling loudly for both KAP and priority-hiring-incentive programs to be made permanent, at least at current support levels. Too often, skills and workforce policy feels like a game of hokey-pokey. One minute, support is in, the next, it's out. That has to stop. Today, I call on the government—and, of course, the member for Bennelong, because of this motion—to make a clear, long-term funding commitment in the 2026-27 budget to keep both schemes going, and to announce the decision from the May budget this year. Don't leave employees and apprentices waiting until the eleventh hour again. If the government wants to boast about the success of KAP, then make it permanent. Make it a genuine, long-term investment in our workforce and our housing future. Our housing targets depend on it. Our small businesses depend on it and young Australians trying to buy their first home depend on it. Let's not cap KAP. 12:55 Ms ROBERTS 157125 Pearce The incorporated speech read as follows— I rise today to acknowledge and commend the Albanese Labor government's Key Apprenticeship Program—a flagship policy delivering real outcomes, real jobs, and real opportunities for hardworking Australians, including in my electorate of Pearce, WA. In just its first six months, this program has supported over 11,400 new housing apprenticeships across the nation. That figure represents more than 11,400 Australians taking their first steps into a trade career—and in Pearce, we are already seeing the benefits. From Butler to Eglinton, Yanchep, and Two Rocks, local apprentices are helping to build the homes, community infrastructure, and secure the future of our regions. Each of these apprentices represents real progress: a young person in Pearce gaining valuable skills, a local family building stability, and an industry strengthened for the years ahead. This program ensures we have the skilled workforce needed to tackle Australia's—and Western Australia's—housing shortage. For too long, our local builders and small businesses have struggled to find enough tradespeople to meet demand. The Key Apprenticeship Program addresses that challenge head-on. It's a targeted investment in people, ensuring our construction sector can keep pace with population growth especially important in fast-growing areas such as the Pearce electorate. Importantly, this initiative aligns with the National Housing Accord, which brings together all levels of government with industry to deliver 1.2 million well-located homes over the decade ahead. Apprentices—including those trained right here at the North Metropolitan TAFE in Clarkson, WA—will turn that ambition into bricks-and-mortar reality. When we train apprentices locally, we build both local jobs and the very homes our community needs. A key feature of the program is the $10,000 incentive payment for apprentices in housing and construction trades. Structured across the life of the apprenticeship, it supports both commencements and completions. Starting a trade is important—but completing it is where the true value lies. Skilled workers mean confidence, stability, and local businesses that can thrive. This is smart policy that supports apprentices every step of the way, while helping employers train and retain workers at a time when the construction industry needs them most. Builders can have confidence that a pipeline of skilled local tradespeople is being built for the future. I also want to acknowledge the increase in the living away from home allowance—the first in over 20 years. This is particularly meaningful for young people from regional and outer-metropolitan communities, such as parts of Pearce, who often face tough decisions between staying close to family or travelling for opportunities. This reform ensures geography doesn't decide opportunity. And something that is close to my heart, for apprentices with a disability, the Albanese Labor government has doubled support for the employers who take them on. This means more inclusive workplaces and more Australians contributing their talents to our shared future. These measures reflect a vision for an Australia where vocational education is respected as a genuine pathway to secure, meaningful work. Every apprentice, regardless of background, deserves that chance to succeed. The need could not be clearer: we are facing the worst national skills shortage in fifty years, a problem neglected for too long. The Key Apprenticeship Program is central to our plan to invest not just in projects, but in people—the very people who will build the homes, schools, and infrastructure that strengthen our communities. The results speak for themselves. Data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research shows that as of 30 June 2025, there were 22 per cent more apprentices in construction compared to June 2019—a clear sign that well-designed policy delivers lasting results. I commend the minister and the Albanese Labor government for their leadership. The Key Apprenticeship Program is not just building homes—it's creating careers, confidence, and stronger local communities, including in my home electorate of Pearce WA. Thank you. 12:56 Ms COKER 263547 Corangamite There are few more fundamental responsibilities of government than making sure Australians can get ahead and get a good job. The Albanese government understands that apprenticeships, vocational education and learning a trade matter. Backing apprentices and the businesses that take them on is how we build Australia's future in a way that supports workers, businesses, regions and the nation. It gives Australians meaningful work, a decent wage and, importantly, enables businesses to thrive and help grow our economy. That's why I'm pleased to speak in support of this motion, which recognises that the government's Key Apprenticeship Program is already delivering real outcomes. In just the first six months, more than 11,400 housing construction apprentices have commenced, helping to address acute skill shortages and supporting the delivery of more homes where Australians need them. Just last week, I met Jack from Corio, a second year apprentice plumber supported by gforce, a local group training organisation that helps apprentices rotate across host employers to build a broad range of skills. Jack, who is working on the federal and state funded Armstrong Creek Sports Centre, has already worked with several employers across different disciplines ranging from roofing through to major commercial plumbing. This has given him the experience he needs to build a long and secure career. Jack told me, 'It's a great time to be an apprentice heading into the workforce.' But Jack was also honest about the challenges apprentices face, particularly cost-of-living pressures and managing payments while starting out. That's exactly why the Key Apprenticeship Program matters. Since 1 July 2025, more than 11,400 apprentices have commenced in housing construction trades and are eligible to receive— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 12:58 to 13:21 Ms COKER 263547 Since 1 July 2025, more than 11,400 apprentices have commenced in housing construction trades and are eligible to receive $10,000 over the life of their apprenticeship. The payments help cover the real costs of starting out, including tools, equipment, fuel and travel. Right now the program is supporting over 4,000 carpenters and joiners, more than 2,300 plumbers and nearly 1,800 electricians across Australia. Importantly, employers also benefit with payments of up to $5,000 in the first year, which helps small businesses take on and retain apprentices. The motion today also recognises additional measures to support apprentices beyond direct incentive payments. The living-away-from-home allowance has been increased for the first time in more than 20 years, providing support to apprentices who need to relocate for work. Support for employers hiring apprentices with disability has also been doubled, making workplaces more inclusive and accessible. Industry has welcomed this targeted approach to skills and workplace development. The Housing Industry Association has said programs like the Key Apprenticeship Program are critical, particularly given that 85 per cent of apprentices are employed by small businesses. Master Builders Australia has confirmed these incentives are driving completions, with 95 per cent of trade apprentices finding work after finishing. Nationally, the data supports this approach. According to NCVER, there were 22 per cent more apprentices training in construction at 30 June 2025 compared to 2019. These gains follow years of decline under the former coalition government, which, after a decade in office, left behind the worst skills shortage in 50 years. Just over the weekend, the opposition vowed to scrap the Key Apprenticeship Program. The opposition must explain how more homes will be built without training and backing in the tradespeople and businesses needed to deliver them. Our view on this issue is crystal clear: the Key Apprenticeship Program delivers fairness, opportunity and a better future for Australians. I thank the member for Bennelong for moving this motion and commend it to the House. 13:24 Mr BIRRELL 288713 Nicholls Thank you, Deputy Speaker Wilkie, for the opportunity to discuss what is indeed a very important issue—apprenticeships in Australia. The member for Bennelong asked us to commend the government in relation to a number of things. I think the Albanese government wants to be commended on a number of things, including the state of the economy, but that's pretty hard to do at the moment. A cursory look at the numbers for which they are being asked to be commended compares the June 2025 data of apprenticeships with June 2019 data, and they say we've got a favourable outcome in those six years. Why would the Albanese government want to do that? It's quite simple, really. It's because, if you compare the building apprenticeship numbers for June 2025 with those of June 2024, you get a different trend. The numbers are going backwards. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research statistics for apprentices and trainees in the 2025 June quarter state that, compared with the 2024 June quarter, commencements declined by 29.2 per cent. The largest decreases were among the food trades workers, down by 58 per cent, and construction trade workers, down by 27.1 per cent. Completions increased by 26.9 per cent overall, which is pleasing, including construction workers, predominantly plumbers. Another number that I think is important for this debate is that, as at 30 June 2025, there were 307,080 active in-training apprentice and trainee contracts nationally. When the coalition government left office, there were 428,150 apprentices and trainees in training across the country. So, on that measure, we appear to be going backwards. But I think acknowledging that there's a problem and it's multifactorial is the first thing, so we need to accept that, and then we need to work out what to do about it. My experience from my electorate is that employers are finding it more difficult to take on apprentices, and they're finding that they're not incentivised enough to take on apprentices. They're also finding—and I'm hearing this a lot—that the TAFE system is failing industry. It's not working as well as it should. I think our approach to TAFE on our side of politics is to have better TAFE. The approach on the government's side is to have free TAFE. Free TAFE sounds good, but I think that better TAFE is what the industry is asking us for. It's an experience that I had when I travelled through Europe on a Churchill Fellowship, which I was very grateful to receive, to look at the integration of industry and education in comparable economies. I saw the German system of vocational education and just what a high quality of apprentice and worker that that delivers. What I found was that their vocational education and training schools were superior to our TAFEs, both in terms of the teachers and in terms of the facilities. The apprenticeship system and how coordinated it is with industry was very eye-opening. A typical apprentice in Germany will do three days of an apprenticeship with a company—for example, Mercedes-Benz, which I visited in Stuttgart—and then they'll do another two days of that week at a vocational education training school, which is their version of TAFE. The curriculum that was in TAFE was designed by the chamber of commerce, not by the government. So we have a very coordinated effort between these two sectors—the vocational education training sector and industry coming together to say, 'What do we need, and what does that look like?' I don't see that in Australia, and I see that trend getting a bit worse. So I think that there's a lot of work to do on apprenticeships. I will refrain from commending the government on what has happened so far. I think we are going backwards, and we need to look at ways that we can not only increase the number of apprentices but improve the overall education that apprentices get and make sure that they're ready to drive Australian industry into the future. The DEPUTY SPEAKER C2T The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Fraud 141 13:29 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein I move: That this House: (1) notes that small and family businesses are being harmed by a rise in e-shoplifting, or chargeback theft, where goods are delivered but the big banks are illegitimately processing refunds; (2) calls: (a) on the Government and the big banks to urgently examine chargeback theft and its impact on small businesses; (b) for the establishment of an urgent parliamentary inquiry into e-shoplifting through chargebacks; and (c) on the Minister for Small Business to demonstrate action the Government has taken to support small and family businesses; and (3) recognises the need for banks, card schemes and payment platforms to introduce fair, evidence-based chargeback processes that protect small businesses from chargeback theft. When there is shoplifting, Australians pay higher prices. Small businesses get hit; customers get hit, because somebody has to pick up the bill. It's no different from e-shoplifting. E-shoplifting through chargeback theft, where people buy products online and then try and reclaim the money, is just another form of theft. Samantha Kemp from the shop Sare is but one of thousands— The DEPUTY SPEAKER C2T It being 1.30 pm, the debate is interrupted. The member for Goldstein will have leave to continue speaking when the debate is resumed. Sitting suspended from 13:30 to 15:59 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 141 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Mardi Gras, Lifeguards for Life 141 15:59 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth I was delighted on the weekend to march in the Mardi Gras parade, one of the highlights of my year. I acknowledge several outstanding Wentworth organisations that work tirelessly to ensure that our LGBTQIA+ community feels safe, supported and celebrated, particularly Qtopia, the world's largest dedicated queer museum; Trans Housing Hub, who provide safe housing to support trans and gender diverse people; the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, who support those living with HIV; Emerald City Kickball, a community of LGBTQIA+ Australians and others connecting through kickball and other team sports; and Sydney Frontrunners, a community for LGBTQIA+ friends who are interested in running and walking. It was such a privilege to walk alongside you all. It was a privilege to see the 78ers out there today. It was a wonderful night for all Australians. I also want to acknowledge that last week I went to Clovelly Beach to support Wesley Mission's and Lifeline's 24-hour run-swim-run challenge, Lifeguards for Life. Lifeguards from across Sydney participated to raise vital funds for Lifeline Sydney and Sutherland's telephone counselling service. It wasn't a great day on Friday, I have to tell you, if you were out there in Sydney; there was a big surf, but they dived into the ocean and were incredible in their endurance. Thank you to all the lifeguards who participated and thank you to everyone in the community who sponsored them. It was a really important event and one that I hope to start again next year. Campbelltown Public School: 150th Anniversary 141 16:01 Dr FREELANDER 265979 Macarthur This Saturday night I'm going to Campbelltown Public School for their 150th anniversary. It's a great school. Campbelltown was named after the wife of Governor Macquarie and has been a longstanding farming community but is now very quickly changing into a commuter area. Campbelltown has a long history of education, and I'm very proud to represent Campbelltown Public School along with the over 80 other schools in the area. I strongly believe in the power of education to be transformative, and Campbelltown Public School has been a symbol of this for 150 years. It started on Wednesday 12 January 1876 and has been providing continuous education for the kids of Campbelltown since that time on the same site. It's a wonderful school. It's a tribute to the educators that have worked there, to the parents that have supported it and to all the kids that have gone on to flourishing careers since starting at Campbelltown Public School. The present principal, Ms Cathrine Flamos, is wonderful, as are the teachers and as have been the teachers that I've been associated with at that school for the last 40 years. It is a great school, and it is a great tribute to the school that it's been going for 150 years. May it continue to educate the kids of Campbelltown for another 150 years. Middle East 142 16:03 Ms WATSON-BROWN 300127 Ryan I rise to speak on the US's illegal war in Iran. Who wins from this latest illegal US led war in the Middle East? It's not the people of Australia. What do the people of Australia get out of this? Spiking oil prices and, with them, an increased cost on everything, an increased risk of terror attacks, global destabilisation and further forced migration impacting our whole region. Why are Labor and the Liberals so impatient to throw their support behind Trump and Netanyahu? It's not for the people of the Middle East, who get further destabilisation, further bloodshed and further radicalisation. Let's remember that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan produced decades of instability, ISIS and the return of the Taliban. This is how disconnected from reality, how spineless and how unthinking our political establishment has become. If I know one thing about Australians, it's that they want to live peaceful and comfortable lives. It's increasingly clear to me that Australia lining up in support of wars of aggression damages everyone's chance at that life—everyone except a tiny few, that is. Corporate profits soared under Russia's invasion of Ukraine and created massive inflation spikes. Watch this space. When do we stand up and say 'no' not just for the people overseas but for our own lives too? Danby, Mr Jake 142 16:04 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon Today I rise regarding the sentencing of a family member of the Northern Territory's Attorney-General for a fatal hit-and-run. An Aboriginal Australian, a Territorian, lost their life. Jake Danby left the scene, and, on appeal, the Northern Territory Supreme Court imposed two years home detention––not one day in jail. During earlier proceedings, the court heard Jake had described the man he killed as an 'oxygen thief' and said it was 'pretty funny watching them roll around on the road after going over my bonnet', and he texted: 'I ain't getting jail time. I'm a Danby. We don't go to jail.' Not one day in prison. Not a hint of remorse. Not even a statement of regret. As the Northern Territory's first Chief Minister and former Attorney-General, Paul Everingham, said over the weekend, 'It matters what messages are sent to the community.' I too believe this case raises serious issues that should be taken up by the NTDPP, the Director of Public Prosecutions, in seeking special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia. Territorians expect accountability, and where confidence is shaken every lawful avenue of appeal should be pursued. Milan Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games 142 16:06 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah I need to celebrate that we have had a record-breaking representation of the Australian team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Our winter Olympians have just done something extraordinary. As a nation that is not always associated with winter sports, we have nonetheless won six medals, including three gold, two silvers and a bronze. It was an incredible feat by so many. Obviously, from my perspective it was great to watch, but we need to be aware that pride alone doesn't buy lift passes or ice time, coaching time or world-class preparation, and winter sports still receive far less financial support than summer sports do, especially proportional, when we see those results. The gap should close. We can see that it is that representation of Australia on the world stage that is a benefit to all Australians when it comes to tourism and how the rest of the world thinks of Australia. You look at a country like Norway—such a small nation yet such incredible results, which shows what good programs and good government supports for that can do. We're about to start the Paralympic Games, and I have from Warringah two incredible athletes competing: Ben Tudhope, going to his fourth Paralympics, in the snowboard cross; and Dave Miln, who is debuting in the para biathlon. I wish them the best of luck. All of Warringah and Australia will be watching the whole team. Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games 142 16:07 Ms BERRY 23497 Whitlam I rise today to congratulate Ethan Jackson, who lives in Kanahooka in my electorate of Whitlam, for being selected to represent Australia at the upcoming 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. This weekend, Ethan will be making his Paralympics debut as a sighted guide for vision-impaired para alpine skier Georgia Gunew, who is also making her Paralympics debut. Georgia and Ethan will compete in the para alpine skiing, giant slalom and slalom events, which involves the pair skiing together at almost 100 kilometres per hour down a steep course. This requires not just great athletic ability but an extraordinary amount of courage and trust. Ethan began training as a skier when he was just 10 years old. He was a national-level slalom and giant slalom skier about a decade ago, however repeated injuries in this tough sport led to his early retirement. Ethan began coaching other skiers and then he heard that Paralympic skier Patrick Jensen needed a guide for the 2022-23 World Cup season. A year later, Ethan began guiding Georgia and their partnership has blossomed. Georgia and Ethan achieved their first podium result at a World Cup event in Switzerland in 2024 and repeated that result again in 2025. I wish Georgia and Ethan all the very best as they proudly represent Australia at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Longman Electorate: Volunteering 143 16:09 Mr YOUNG 201906 Longman Volunteers are the heart of our community in Longman. They're the ones coaching junior sport on Saturdays, helping out at the surf life saving club on Bribie Island, running our local shows and looking after those in need—people with disabilities, the elderly, and the homeless. Volunteers quietly get on with the job without expecting anything in return. Without volunteers, many local clubs and charities simply wouldn't operate. But volunteering does more than keep organisations running. It brings people together, strengthens connections and helps form the sense of belonging to something that makes our community such a special place to live. Put simply, volunteers play a vital role in ensuring no-one is left behind. Despite the steadfast support of volunteers, many local organisations are facing increasing financial pressures. Rising costs are making it harder to cover the expenses of day-to-day operations and properly support the volunteers they rely on. That's why I'm excited to share that expressions of interest are now open for the 2025-26 volunteer grants program. Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to support volunteers in our community. The funding can assist with equipment, training, insurance and fuel costs, reducing pressure on local organisations and ensuring volunteers have the support they need to continue their vital work. If your organisation depends on volunteers, I strongly encourage you to submit an expression of interest by 5 pm on 27 March. To all volunteers across Longman: thank you for what you do. PBS Co-payment Freeze 143 16:10 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt Last week, with Assistant Minister McBride, I visited the Windsor Village Pharmacy—located in the north-eastern part of my electorate of Sturt—to speak to pharmacist Farida about the Albanese Labor government's cheaper medicines initiative. The Windsor Village Pharmacy is a family-run pharmacy with a focus on community. Owners Farida and Rodaina purchased it in 2007 with the goal of providing easy, convenient and patient-focused pharmacy solutions for the local community and the patients of the neighbouring Paradise Medical Centre. Farida and Rodaina have decades of pharmacy experience. They know their community, and they are deeply committed to providing personal, tailored services to each patient who walks through their door. Farida told me that her pharmacy had experienced an overwhelming response to the $7.70 per script rate for concession card holders. With many of her patients needing multiple scripts, the half-decade long freeze on increases to the concessional PBS co-payment, which began on 1 January this year, has actually been a life saver. Farida's patients with concession cards will pay a maximum co-payment of $7.70 until 2030. This freeze provides certainty about the maximum cost of PBS medicines. Seven dollars seventy means that people do not decide to not fill a script; they fill it, getting the immediate health care they need and deserve. Farida, like the Albanese Labor government, knows $7.70 scripts for concession card holders are not only good for the hip pocket but good for the community. Casey Electorate: Clean Up Australia Day 143 16:12 Mr VIOLI 300147 Casey Last Sunday was Clean Up Australia Day and it was wonderful to join the Montrose scouts to clean up the Montrose township. Thanks to the Montrose Environmental Group and the Montrose Township Group for bringing this event together. Together, we removed over 500 kilograms of rubbish, including car tyres, old road signs, doors, boxes and fake grass. These events are a fantastic way to show younger generations the importance of protecting our environment and keeping our community safe and clean. It was wonderful to see so many young people there from the Montrose scouts. I want to also commend the Millgrove Residents Action Group, Seville Community House and the Friends of the Creek and Mt Toolebewong & District Landcare Group for organising Clean Up Australia Day events, as well as those who helped to clean up Melba Park in Lilydale, Brushy Creek Trail in Mooroolbark, Manchester Primary School in Mooroolbark, Brushy Creek in Chirnside Park, Elizabeth Bridge Reserve and Japara Neighbourhood House in Kilsyth, and many others I'm sure I missed. I'd also like to give a shout-out to Daniel and Jeremy from the Victoria Road Primary School. I visited the school last Friday and they were cleaning up on Friday at the school. The real message of Clean Up Australia Day isn't what we do on 1 March; it's what we do the remaining 364 days of the year. I encourage all locals to do their part and continue to look after our beautiful environment in Casey. Stockton Bight Disaster: 72nd Anniversary 144 16:14 Ms CLAYDON 248181 Newcastle I rise today to acknowledge a little-known but deeply significant chapter in our region's history: the 1954 Stockton Bight disaster. On 8 March 1954, during a routine national service training exercise, 184 young servicemen were involved in an operation that ended in tragedy. Three lives were lost. It was a moment that profoundly affected all who were there. A convoy of 20 amphibious vehicles was travelling from Camp Shortland to Morna Point for a routine landing exercise, but, as they crossed the Stockton Bight, conditions deteriorated rapidly. Heavy seas overwhelmed the convoy and eight vehicles sank. Three young men lost their lives. These were Australians who had answered their country's call to national service. They trained with courage and commitment and on that day, in dangerous and unpredictable conditions, endured an experience that stayed with them for the rest of their lives. Today, fewer than 10 of those surviving servicemen remain with us. Thanks to the work of local historian Jacob Ure, who documented the survivors' accounts, these stories will be preserved. On 8 March, the remaining survivors will gather to honour those who were lost and those who served alongside them. It is fitting that this parliament recognises the service, resilience and mateship of this unit. To the surviving national servicemen: we thank you, we see you and we honour your memory. Lest we forget. Grey Electorate: Bureau of Meteorology 144 16:15 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey The Eyre Peninsula is an economic powerhouse. With a gross domestic product of over $5 billion, a world-class farming sector and the Southern hemisphere's largest fishing fleet, the Lower EP doesn't just power South Australia; it powers the nation, yet it is the only region in Australia with a comparable economic output that lacks Doppler radar coverage. Minister Watt's office has advised me, in response to my question on Doppler radar, that the Bureau of Meteorology has no capacity to expand the network. In political speak 'no capacity' means no cash. Frankly, that excuse is insulting when put alongside the $96.5 million the BOM spent on a new website—a website that failed again on the weekend, during floods in South Australia. We could have built more than three Doppler radars for the cost of these upgrades, and that is why I've launched a public petition demanding the federal government deliver a Doppler radar for the people and industry of the Lower Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association are calling for this, and the Eyre and Far North RDAs are calling for this. My state colleague Sam Telfer and the SA Liberals have committed to put $5 million towards this project if they win at the next election, in March, but they cannot do it alone. I'm urging the Lower Eyre Peninsula community to sign this petition. Let's take the fight and force the federal government to step up, bridge the gap and deliver the critical weather data that the region deserves. Tangney Electorate: Lunar New Year 144 16:17 Mr LIM 300130 Tangney Over the last two weeks we have been celebrating the Year of the Horse across Perth and Tangney. I handed out lucky candies to students at the Chung Wah Chinese School in Rossmoyne and thanked the teachers and principal for all their great efforts. I also joined the Herald Avenue Senior Citizen Club and my Korean friends in their homes, and I celebrated Tet New Year with my daughter-in-law and her family. There have been dinners with constituents at Tangney restaurants and celebrations at fairs, galas and cultural performances across the whole of Perth. The Perth Chinese New Year Fair, organised by the Chung Wah Association, deserves a special mention for all the volunteers who bring tradition to life for the whole community in Perth. When I migrated to Australia, about 20 years ago, new year celebrations were much quieter and smaller, but this year, the Fire Horse new year, everyone came on board to run fast and furious in one unified direction—the direction of prosperity and multiculturalism. This togetherness really warms my heart. The enthusiasm for new year celebrations grows every year. Watching our community celebrate openly, warmly and with so much love and happiness really shows that Australia is a very successful multicultural nation. Fisher Electorate: Aged Care 144 16:18 Mr WALLACE 265967 Fisher I recently met with RangeCare in Maleny, a not-for-profit that's been caring for older Australians since 1986, when it began as the Montville Care Group. This year they turn 40. They support around 1,800 Sunshine Coast locals. They employ 260 staff and engage more than 300 contractors. They support reform in caring for older Australians, and they agree change is needed. But here's what they told me: the concept may be right, but the rollout from this government is all wrong. Providers are being forced to build the plane while it's rolling down the runway. Key rules are unsettled. Systems are not functioning smoothly. Pricing is unclear. They ask, 'How do we budget, how do we plan, and how do we reassure an 85-year-old client when we don't even know what next month looks like, especially in a cost-of-living crisis—not just for households, but for businesses and not-for-profits?' The government keeps saying older Australians will be no worse off, but RangeCare are telling me their clients are being left in the dark. They're seeing people hesitate on essential supports because of rising out-of-pocket costs. They're seeing assessment delays stretching towards 12 months. Reform without readiness is risk. Good policy, badly implemented, still harms people. Slow it down, fix the systems and clarify the pricing. Early Childhood Education and Care 145 16:20 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck Mole reflected: But it was good to think he had this to come back to, this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome. Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows is a children's story loved by generations. At Wind in the Willows Early Childhood Education in Bassendean and Ashfield, however, there is unrest. The Town of Bassendean, in the face of great community opposition, wishes to sell the service to a not for profit provider. I attended a community meeting held to protest this decision just last Friday, together with my state colleague, MLA Dave Kelly, who is also a champion of this centre. We strongly asked the Town of Bassendean to listen to the community and to defer the decision of the special council meeting on 31 March to allow further options to be explored. The community representatives there—people like Sarah Quinton—were very clear that they're open to looking for ways forward, be it selling it to a not-for-profit provider or having a community board set up that actually allows them to look at the governance and compliance. This is a centre which exceeds the standards and a threshold that is met by only 28 to 31 per cent of not-for-profits, and by only 13 to 16 per cent of for-profits. The community want to keep this as a community service, ideally. If it has to be sold, at least give consideration to other options being put by the community. Australian National Flag 145 16:22 Dr WEBSTER 281688 Mallee Daniel, from the Wimmera in my electorate of Mallee, wrote to me this week. He said: We have so much pride and joy within our country to protect our flag, but seeing people on the tv, burning our national flag is showing utmost disrespect to, every single man and woman who fought for us, who still continue to today, to help us live a safe and happy life … I wholeheartedly agree with Daniel's sentiments. The Australian flag represents the sacrifice of over 103,000 Australians who died in service to our country. Burning the Australian flag insults our fallen veterans, their service and their legacy. Daniel continued: It makes my blood boil, seeing these people do this to our flag. I don't understand why people do this? Why? When we give so many people the opportunity to come and live a better life here in Australia, to start fresh … I ask our Prime Minister to step up and take the lead in making this illegal to burn our national flag. I am pleased to say that the Nationals have already moved a private member's bill to do just that, and I encourage the House to support it. Carers 145 16:23 Ms WITTY 316660 Melbourne Recently I joined more than 500 mums and supporters walking in solidarity through the heart of Melbourne to shine a light on something that we do not talk enough about: motherhood loneliness. The walk, organised by Mum Walk, was simple and powerful—mums with prams; babies bundled up; and partners, friends and grandparents walking alongside them. Conversations began between strangers and, within minutes, turned into connections because the early months and years of motherhood can feel isolating. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. You can be constantly needed and still miss adult conversation. Shared understanding and real community—what I saw was connection being built in real time. I saw women swapping numbers. I saw laughter cutting through exhaustion, and I saw communities forming step by step. That is Melbourne at its best. We are a city that gathers, a city that creates spaces for people to belong, a city that knows community is not just a word; it is something we build through action. Motherhood is not meant to be done alone. It grows stronger when communities wrap around it. To every mum who walked and everyone who came in solidarity, thank you. You remind us that connection changes everything and that a child should be brought up by the community, not just by one person. Albanese Government 145 16:25 Mr WILLCOX 286535 Dawson Today is a day for a cat and a hat. A Labor tax grab—imagine that! Today is Dr Seuss Day—let's give him a cheer! A question time session where the answers aren't clear. The more that you read and the more that you'll know, the more that you learn and the further you'll go. But look at the forecast. It's easy to see your money is fleeing as fast as can be. Labor promised a cut to the bill for your lights—$275 was meant to be right. Instead, the prices have shot oh so sky high like a Grinch in the night. It was a big porky pie. Families go shopping for green eggs and ham, but the checkout is feeling more like a big scam. The Whos down in Whoville are clinging to hope while inflation is pulling the end of their rope. Labor talks about windmills and solar powered schemes while bankrupting businesses with green tinted dreams. A net zero fable that's empty and thin, where the power bills rise because the blades barely spin. As Dr Seuss would say with a frown, this Labor performance is letting us down. The cat has made chaos, and our wallets are flat, and no clever rhyme will ever fix that. Sunnybank Hills State School 146 16:26 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton On 16 February, I walked into a classroom. It was a classroom at Sunnybank Hills State School, and specifically it was class 3D. I was there with their principal, Geoff Mill, and the teacher of 3D, Jess Daly. Jess was teaching the students about analysing stimulus using examples. I told those students that I would talk about them today and about the great work that their school is doing, and that's why I'm up here right now. Sunnybank Hills State School is a fantastic school with 1,680 students and 54 different cultures represented, and so many students with multilingual households. They excel across the deck, whether it's sport with interschool premierships; music with choir, string orchestra, symphonic winds, concert band; or the arts with their school musical, dance and drama awards; and for being the highest performing primary school in Queensland NAPLAN for the last five years running. It is something that only this state school has achieved out of all the states and territories across this nation, and we are so incredibly proud of them for it. I want to leave you with a quote from their principal which sums up Sunnybank Hills State School: Our teachers drive a learning program with high expectations, a high level of engagement and importantly a healthy dose of fun. Laverton Training Centre 146 16:28 Mr RICK WILSON 198084 O'Connor I rise today to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Mac Jensen OAM and the transformative work of the Laverton Training Centre. Mac, a former NORFORCE major who recruited, trained and led remote Indigenous soldiers for many years, has dedicated over 35 years to the Indigenous communities of Western Australia. As the general manager of the Laverton Training Centre, Mac created a beacon of self-determination for young Indigenous men and women across the northern Goldfields and Western Desert. With the support of Australian Potash CEO Matt Shackleton and local gold mines, LTC has delivered nationally accredited vocational training in mining, civil construction and Indigenous ranger skills. Between 2022 and 2025, 300 remote students completed an incredible 1,200 training units, from heavy machinery operation to feral species control. Training was directly aligned with local employment opportunities, yielding a remarkable 85 per cent positive outcome rate. The success of the Laverton Training Centre is testament to Mac's tireless commitment and the strong partnerships he fostered with elders, industry and the community. I've visited the LTC many times, with former leader Peter Dutton, with Julian Leeser and with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who, without exception, were impressed by the achievements of the young trainees. The Laverton Training Centre has recently been sold to the local Wangkatja Tjungula Aboriginal Corporation, so I take this opportunity to acknowledge Mac's selfless dedication to remote Indigenous training and convey my best wishes for the future of the WTAC Training Centre. Energy 146 16:29 Ms MASCARENHAS 298800 Swan Bill-busting batteries—these have been helping households where it hurts the most, which is the hip pocket. Now, across Australia, we've hit a major milestone. Over a quarter of a million households and small businesses have installed these batteries. In fact, half of them have paired this with new or upgraded solar. This means lower bills and more control, energy that works for households and a step towards energy independence. This doesn't just reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it is fantastic for bills as well. They also cut exposure to peak electricity prices. It strengthens the grid and pushes costs down for everyone. Seventy-seven per cent of this uptake has actually been in outer suburban and rural and regional communities, not the inner-city suburbs. These are the suburbs and regions that are leading the way. In Swan, approximately 1,400 households are already benefiting. Households want results now, not in the distant future. The Albanese government is delivering. This is in contrast to the coalition's policy, which was offering seven nuclear reactors or, as I like to think, a nuclear fantasy somewhere in the distance in the next few decades. Households want to not just be consumers. They can be generators and maintainers of the grid as well. This is great for Australia. Fraud 147 16:31 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein E-shoplifting through chargeback theft hurts everybody. Consumers have to pay higher prices for the cost of e-shoplifting. Small businesses that are already struggling get punished because of e-shoplifting and chargeback theft. No-one wins except criminals. This is why e-shoplifting through chargeback theft is such a problem. Small businesses around the country are getting smashed. People order products online. They then receive the products and then contact their banks. They say it's been stolen and demand that they get a refund. The money is refunded by the banks, and the small business misses out. Consumers pay more, and the small business gets punished—all for doing what is decent and what is right. We already have 41,000 small businesses that have gone insolvent under the Albanese government and a record number last year, and we're on track to have another record more. Now is the time where we need change to stop e-shoplifting through chargeback theft. But we need Australians' help. We need them not just to not engage in the practice but to stand up and speak out against it. That can be done by going to standwithsmall.org and signing the petition against e-shoplifting and chargeback theft. Dickson Electorate: Housing 147 16:32 Ms FRANCE 270198 Dickson For too long, owning a home of your own has been out of reach for many people in my electorate of Dickson, a problem that has been decades in the making. We are now doing everything we can to catch up. That includes our five per cent deposit scheme for first-time homebuyers. I was at Warner Marketplace recently when a bloke named Matt called me over. He said: 'Thanks. You guys got us our house.' Matthew and his wife were paying $700 a week in rent while raising four kids and trying desperately to save enough for a deposit for a place of their own. They'd almost given up when they applied for Labor's five per cent deposit scheme, were approved and moved into their new home last month. Since we came to government, 1,713 people in Dickson have been able to buy their first home with a five per cent deposit. We're also investing in more social and affordable housing. Through the Housing Australia Future Fund, 153 new homes are being delivered in Joyner in my community. For renters, we've delivered real relief with back-to-back increases to Commonwealth rent assistance, nearly a 50 per cent boost, supporting 7,230 people in Dickson. Congratulations to Matthew and his family. Their story shows that our record investment in housing is making a real difference. La Trobe Electorate: Roads 147 16:34 Mr WOOD E0F La Trobe Being stuck in traffic is very annoying. In Clyde Road in Berwick, residents have had enough as roadworks continue on. I must say that, back under the Morrison government, we committed $70 million to put dual carriageways each way from the train line to over the Monash Freeway. State Labor said: 'You have to take it or leave it. It's going to be $298 million.' We all know the reason why. It came to the CFMEU taking their 30 per cent cut—and they were very proudly putting up their shameful CFMEU flags. The point I'd really like to make here is: why has it taken so long? That was funding committed under the Morrison government, and the final project still hasn't been delivered. It's driving residents nuts. It's a disgrace in the first place and an absolute rort how this project has blown out from $70 million. The $70 million was a figure put out by Casey council, a very large council which has teams of engineers. When I spoke to them, when all of a sudden it was going to be $250 million, they said simply, 'It's an absolute rort.' And that's what it is. Get on with it, Labor. Again, it's disgraceful behaviour. Cribb, Mr Ian 147 16:35 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter I want to acknowledge the retirement of a man who has made an enormous contribution to Australia's resources sector and communities right across the Hunter, Mr Ian Cribb. Last week, Ian officially hung up his hard hat after an incredible 13 years as CEO of Glencore Coal Australia and more than 30 years with Glencore operations. That's three decades of turning up each and every day to help build not just an industry but regional communities like ours across the Hunter. Ian has held senior leadership roles right across New South Wales and Queensland, before stepping into the role of CEO of Glencore Coal Assets Australia in 2013. Throughout his time, Ian has been known for his steady leadership, his deep operational knowledge and most importantly his unwavering commitment to safety, making sure workers got home safely to their families at the end of each and every shift. In places like Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and right across our mining communities that leadership really matters, because behind every mine site are local jobs, apprentices, local sporting clubs, small businesses and families who rely on the strength of this industry. Ian's contribution has left a lasting impact not only on Glencore's operations but the communities they support. Cribby, on behalf of the Hunter community thank you for all you've done, your dedication, your integrity and your leadership. We wish you and your family a very happy next chapter of your life, and I look forward to catching up for a beer soon, buddy. Tertiary Education and Training 148 16:37 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson I rise today to speak on Australia's need for skilled workers and this government's utter failure to deliver meaningful results. Skilled workers are needed in this country for many reasons. They support our local small businesses, facilitate major construction projects and touch every sector of our economy. In Labor's first term, Australia welcomed more than 1.2 million migrants. With numbers of that scale, there is no way we should be experiencing the chronic skill shortages that we are seeing right now across this nation. This points to a clear failure of this government to use our migration system in a manner that is strategic and effective in supporting our national interest. The desire to come to Australia, while admirable, should not be the sole qualification. Migration must be better aligned with genuine workforce needs: aligned to our national interest. But this alone is not the answer. We must rebuild domestic pathways into skilled work. Recently I visited the Gold Coast Trades College in Currumbin, where educators spoke frankly about emerging trends that young tradespeople are seeing. Too many students are deterred from taking up trades not because of a lack of ability or interest but because the system makes it too hard. Apprenticeships can be expensive and overly complex, and sectors themselves are burdened by layers of regulation that discourage both students and employers. Young Australians want clear, achievable pathways into secure work. Early Childhood Education and Care 148 16:39 Ms BRISKEY 263427 Maribyrnong Last week we saw a huge win for safety and quality in our early childhood sector. For too long, a dangerous loophole known as under-the-roof-ratios has allowed some providers to game the system. At its worst, they counted staff in the office or the kitchen rather than educators actively supervising children. It was unsafe. It was bad practice. And I'm thrilled to say it's coming to an end. This is a massive victory for children, for Australian parents and, most importantly, our early childhood educators. But this win didn't happen by accident. It happened because thousands of United Workers Union educators stood up and demanded better. These incredible educators shared their stories through the media, they exposed systemic risks through EarlyEd Quality Check and they sent over 2,000 messages to ACECQA demanding change. I want to thank them and I want to thank Minister Jess Walsh and Minister Clare and the state and territory education ministers for listening to our educators and standing shoulder to shoulder with them to ban this poor practice. This is a historic moment. It shows the power of collective action and the power that our educators have to hold providers accountable to ensure that every child gets the safe, quality education and care they deserve. Our educators fought for this and, under a Labor government, they won. Monash Electorate: Community Events 148 16:40 Ms ALDRED 11788 Monash Recently, it gave me great pleasure to give national prominence to the Korumburra agricultural show, and I was back in South Gippsland over the weekend for a number of really important community events. That's where I get my riding instructions from—our local community, where I'm able to listen and act on their concerns. On Saturday, I was at the South Gippsland Garlic Festival in Korumburra, where I joined Arawata Landcare members on gate duty, welcoming people from all over Victoria to our fantastic local garlic event. And I want to particularly acknowledge president Joel White, secretary Stephanie Anderton, treasurer Mark Aldren and committee member Melinda Griffith, as well as long-time community servants Andrew McEwen and Rowenna Ashley, who made the festival such a success. I was also at the Foster Agricultural Show, one of our great regional agricultural shows. From the dog high-jump and the show jumping event—which I enjoyed as a teenager—to the ferret racing and the whip cracking, it was a great showcase of country skill, tradition and family fun. I was also very pleased to attend the Mossvale music concert on Sunday before coming up to Canberra, where Jeremy and Julie Curtis, with the Leongatha Rotarians, Friends of Mossvale Park, the Mirboo North Community Bank and others, put in a huge effort to make this such a big success on behalf of the local community, where live music thrives and we're back to enjoying it again. Endometriosis Awareness Month 148 16:42 Ms TEMPLEMAN 181810 Macquarie Yesterday, I joined with dozens of women from across the electorate of Macquarie to eat scones, cake and sausage rolls as we marked the start of Endometriosis Awareness Month. As well as marking the start of a really important month for people to learn more about endometriosis, we also celebrated the start of the new endometriosis, pelvic pain and menopause clinic that is now operating at Winmalee Medical Centre. The general practice manager from Winmalee, Leanne Dale, joined me, as did Doctor Lakshmi Gribble and the nurse navigator Kaylene McDonald, to talk about how the service will work and what experiences women will have when they first reach out with a pelvic pain, endometriosis or menopause issue to investigate. Danielle Le Poidevin very kindly and graciously shared her personal experiences of trying to navigate this very challenging condition. I think we were all moved by her bravery as she talked about the efforts of self-advocacy that she had had to undertake, and we hope that this new service will make it much easier for women to get the help they need. Thank you to the Gourmet Trefoil Guild for feeding us so well for the afternoon. Fraser Coast Swim Club, Yarning Competition 149 16:43 Mr BATT 315478 Hinkler I rise to acknowledge some Hinkler heroes. The Fraser Coast Swim Club has been named the overall winner of the inaugural Queensland Country Championships, which were held in Rockhampton in January. This new initiative by Swimming Queensland brought together 45 regional clubs. The Hervey Bay based club was represented by 27 swimmers who competed in 170 swims. There were 88 finals appearances for 34 gold, 17 silver and 29 bronze medals won—and there were 106 personal best performances. I recently joined a training session at the Fraser Coast Swim Club to commend the members on their efforts and for doing Hinkler proud in the pool. I had the pleasure of recently joining two Hinkler based, world renowned and highly acclaimed Aboriginal artists, the Sutton sisters, to help spread the word about parliament's recently launched Yarning art competition. Chern'ee and Brooke are both wonderful role models in Hinkler and beyond. Their contemporary work is ever popular and the pair are often commissioned to complete special projects. It was a competition that propelled Chern'ee's illustrious career when, at just 13, she entered and won her first art competition. It ignited her passion and gave her confidence. Brooke has been inspired by her older sister and has an impressive resume in her own right. I want to encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students of Hinkler, no matter what medium they choose, to enter this possibly life-changing Yarning Competition, sharing stories and celebrating culture. Goodness Enterprises Ltd 149 16:45 Mr NEUMANN HVO Blair Like many Ipswich locals, I share fond memories of watching movies at the Tivoli Drive-In Theatre, so it was bittersweet last Friday to attend the final movie screening and to celebrate 50 years of the drive-in theatre before the big screen is dismantled and the Give Goodness Centre moves to a new location. With the closure of this iconic local institution in Ipswich, only a handful of drive-in theatres now remain in business across Australia. While it might have been the end of an era for the Tivoli drive-in, it's the beginning of a new chapter for Goodness Enterprises with the Give Goodness Centre food cooperative, which has provided up to 100,000 meals across the south-east Queensland region. It's relocating to its new premises on Tiger Street, West Ipswich, where it will continue to provide vital food and emergency relief, work skills training and a range of support services. Goodness Enterprises will continue to operate the Chuwar Koala and Native Fauna Conservation Park. Last year, I secured $1.2 million of federal money for this nature reserve for our region. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 264170 In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS 149 PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security 149 16:46 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon I move: That this House: (1) affirms the significance of the recent signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta Treaty 2026; (2) notes this treaty reflects: (a) the close friendship, partnership and deep trust between Australia and Indonesia and our leaders under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; and (b) a major extension of the cooperation between Australia and Indonesia, for the benefit of our shared security and that of the region; and (3) acknowledges Indonesia's strong economic growth represents an enormous opportunity for Australian businesses and investors, which the Government is working to realise including through Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 264170 Is there a seconder for this motion? Ms Clutterham 316101 Yes, I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. Mr GOSLING 245392 I move that this House affirms the significance of the recent signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta treaty 2026. I do so as the member representing one of the electorates physically closest to Indonesia and as someone who sees firsthand the immense potential of this relationship, particularly for Darwin and the Northern Territory. In fact, it was just Friday night that I was speaking about the treaty and acknowledged the Republic of Indonesia consul general, Consul Bagus, in Darwin. Australia and Indonesia are the closest of partners. Geography makes us neighbours, but decades of practical cooperation have made us trusted friends. There is no more important partner to Australia than Indonesia. Our futures are intertwined, and our stability and prosperity depend on that strong, steady relationship. In a time of heightened strategic competition and global uncertainty, this treaty sends a very clear message. We value this partnership and we are committed to strengthening it. We will not allow complacency or misunderstanding to erode what our countries have built together. The Northern Territory has made its own unique contribution to growing the relationship as well. The NT strengthened ties by signing a five-year memorandum of understanding with Indonesia in November 2024, the first of its kind between any Australian jurisdiction and Indonesia. We have an active and thriving chapter of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association. I have long advocated for finding ways to increase Indonesian language enrolments, and I see real potential for the establishment of an Indonesia institute or an Indonesia centre of excellence in Darwin that would build on our already strong and unique relationship by facilitating even closer ties across academia, industry and government. These are all ways we can build trust and mutual understanding. At its core, the Jakarta treaty is about consultation and solidarity. It commits our leaders and ministers to consult on matters affecting our common security. When challenges arise, whether to our sovereignty or the stability of our region, we will engage early, candidly and constructively. It also provides that in the face of adverse challenges we will consult and consider measures that we can take individually or jointly in response. That is a mature expression of partnership, one that respects sovereignty while recognising that our security is shared. This initiative, driven personally by the Prime Minister and the Republic of Indonesia President Prabowo, reflects the depth of trust between our governments and the strength of our comprehensive strategic partnership. We also acknowledge the legacy on which this treaty builds. Thirty years ago, Paul Keating and Gareth Evans, together with their counterparts, President Suharto and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Alatas, signed the agreement on maintaining security. That agreement was groundbreaking for its time. It marked a decisive step in finding our security in Asia, not from Asia. Today we continue that proud Labor tradition. This treaty continues that work for a new strategic era. The Albanese government has prioritised repairing and strengthening our regional relationships. After years in which the Liberals and the Nationals neglected our neighbourhood and left a vacuum for others to fill, we have been deliberate in rebuilding trust. We have listened, shown respect and re-engaged with seriousness of purpose. Indonesia's economic growth represents significant opportunities for Australian businesses that were captured in Invested: Australia's South East Asia economic strategy to 2040. We are working to realise that potential, deepening economic ties alongside our security cooperation. Prosperity and security go hand in hand. Concurrently with signing the Jakarta Treaty, we have also deepened Australia's economic engagement with Indonesia by agreeing a memorandum of understanding between the Australian government and the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, which will help identify opportunities for increased two-way investment between our nations. This is a historic moment. It marks a new chapter in a defining relationship and affirms a simple truth: Australia's future is strongest when we stand alongside Indonesia as partners and as neighbours. I commend the motion to the house. 16:51 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth I rise to speak on the motion moved by the member for Solomon, and I thank him for bringing this issue to the attention of the chamber. The signing of the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, known as the Jakarta Treaty, is an important moment. It is a signal, not just of the pragmatism about where Australia sits in the world but an important sign of who we are as a nation and the role that we aspire to play in our region. It reflects a maturing relationship between Australia and Indonesia, based on mutual respect, increased trust and a shared understanding that our security and our futures are inextricably linked. The Jakarta Treaty comes not a moment too soon. Many countries in our region are developing quickly, growing economically and playing a more active role in our global order more than ever before. Indonesia is an incredible and brilliant example of this. But the Indo-Pacific region is also being rapidly reshaped by economic competition, the shifting attention of great powers, and geopolitical and security challenges. This creates uncertainty that is unlikely to resolve in the near future. In this context, strong partnerships with our neighbours, particularly a neighbour such as Indonesia––one of the most strategic players in Asia and likely to only increase in that significance––it's not optional; this is essential. Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, home to nearly 280 million people. It is the largest economy in South East Asia, a democracy of remarkable diversity and a leader in ASEAN, in the Indo-Pacific and on the global scale. It is one of our closest neighbours, yet the relationship honestly just has not had the investment that it should have from this side. I'm glad to see that the Jakarta Treaty changes that. It recognises the central role Indonesia plays in our region's peace and security, now more than ever. It goes well beyond the frameworks of the past and reflects a genuine, comprehensive strategic partnership, one that can build on trust, not just transactions. This trust has been carefully cultivated at the highest level of both governments and must now be nurtured at every level: people to people, business to business, community to community. I want to acknowledge what this treaty represents for our shared security. The development of joint defence training facilities in Indonesia is a great step towards ensuring our militaries can coordinate and support one another on the ground, not just on paper. The expanded Junior Leaders' Forum Military Education Exchange will build connections between our forces, and the new embedded position of a senior Indonesian military officer in the Australian Defence Force will strengthen our partnership right up the chain of command. This treaty also helps to unlock the enormous economic opportunities of mutual interaction between Australia and Indonesia. Indonesia's economic trajectory is remarkable. It is projected to be one of the world's top five economies by the middle of this century. Its middle class is growing rapidly. Its digital economy is one of the most dynamic in the world. Australian businesses, particularly in agriculture, resources, education, financial services and clean energy, have so much to offer the booming Indonesian market and vice versa. I welcome the news that this treaty will facilitate closer cooperation between the Australian government and Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund to boost trade and investment links between our two countries. I will continue to press the government to ensure the promise of deeper economic engagement in Indonesia is matched by real action under its 2040 Invested strategy—cutting red tape, funding trade facilitation and investing in the people-to-people links that help drive more business. The Jakarta treaty 2026 is a significant achievement for both nations. As well as the strategic, defence and economic opportunities, I think it also represents an opportunity for our peoples to become closer and for there to be greater exchange—language exchange and people exchange—with more Indonesians in Australia and vice versa. I hope this is the start of a closer relationship with Indonesia, one that is incredibly important both to Australia and to Indonesia. This is a really positive investment in that relationship, and I couldn't be happier that it has been made. In the face of global challenges, our respective strengths mean that working together makes us stronger than the sum of our parts. I congratulate the government on this treaty. I thank the member for Solomon for bringing this motion, and I commend it wholeheartedly to the House. 16:56 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt The Jakarta treaty, a new bilateral treaty on common security, is now another critical element of Australia's relationship with Indonesia. As one of our closest regional partners, it's a relationship Australia deeply values. Entering the Jakarta treaty with our Indonesian friends is a demonstration of our desire to strengthen that friendship—the trust, the mutual respect and the unbreakable bond between us as regional neighbours and regional partners. Our long history of friendship and cooperation is confirmed to continue with the Jakarta treaty. The Jakarta treaty is balanced, strategic, sustainable and practical, and there are three substantive features. Firstly, there is consultation in relation to security, with Australia and Indonesia agreeing to regularly consult at leader and ministerial level about matters affecting their common security and to develop such cooperation as would benefit their own security and that of the region. Second is consultation in the event of adverse challenges to either party or to their common security interests. This includes, where appropriate, consideration of measures which might be taken either individually or jointly in accordance with each party's relevant processes. Thirdly, whilst reflecting the policies and priorities of each party, the treaty includes an agreement to promote mutually beneficial cooperative activities in the security field in areas to be identified by the two parties together. These significant features mean an extension of the existing security and defence cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating the strength of the partnership and the depth of the trust and cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. In signing the treaty, both Australia and Indonesia recognise that they, and indeed the region, benefit from stability and peace. When Australia is peaceful and stable and when Indonesia is peaceful and stable, both nations benefit. Having peace and stability across Australia and Indonesia, and meaningful cooperation between us, sends a strong message to the rest of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. That message is that, when collective responsibility is used to secure and maintain peace and stability, everybody benefits. Stability, resilience and a sense of security are singled out in the Jakarta treaty as imperative, and it is recognised that working together collectively is the most effective way to achieve and maintain that environment. In the words of the Prime Minister, the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by acting together. The need to continue to generate, maintain and then further build regional security is also keenly illustrated in the treaty, in that both Australia and Indonesia express a desire to contribute to regional security and stability in order to ensure circumstances in which their aspirations can be best realised for the economic development and prosperity of their own countries and the wider region. Stable regions have stable economic environments that enjoy the right settings to grow and thrive for the benefit of all citizens. Of course, deepening Australia's economic engagement with Indonesia has remained and will remain a key priority for the Albanese Labor government, evidenced by the agreement to strengthen two-way investment through a memorandum of understanding between the Australian government and the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, which will increase cooperation and information-sharing and help to identify opportunities for increased two-way investment, enhancing our shared economic security and resilience. This underpins work already in train to deepen Australia's economic engagement with Indonesia, which is not only of significant value to both countries but is a key part of Australia's strategic endeavours to diversify our economy through growing and emerging markets in South-East Asia. The treaty also quite rightly affirms the party's commitment to dialogue and to transparent, predictable and responsible conduct to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and to prevent conflict. Dialogue, communications and proactive discussions take away guesswork. They build relationships and build trust, which in turn operates to minimise the risk of conflict. We don't want conflict in our region. It is not welcome in our region. Peace, stability and regional resilience are what we strive for and what this treaty reinforces. This is what this treaty is—a deliberate decision of government to partner with our ally and friend, Indonesia, in order to continue to build relationships, increase understanding and promote stability. 17:01 Ms ALDRED 11788 Monash It's always a pleasure to follow the member for Sturt, and it is a pleasure to speak on this motion relating to the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta treaty, which was officially signed on 6 February to strengthen ties and to bring peace and stability to our region. As someone who has worked in the private sector across the Asia-Pacific region before coming to this place, particularly focusing on areas like national security and defence, I've got a strong interest on this topic. As someone who represents a regional community and who is proud to belong to a region that grows, makes and manufacturers green and clean produce that's known across our region, I'm also pleased to speak on this issue. The sustained prosperity of Indonesia holds immense importance and benefit to our region. Australia's got a deep connection to Indonesia as one of our nearest neighbours. Of course, Indonesia is the largest country in South-East Asia by population and geography. The deep ties that we're able to forge through cooperation on key issues across defence, security and trade are in the Australian national interest. I think it's also worth noting that today is the 30th anniversary of the election of the Howard government. Preceding this treaty, of course, there were a number of significant milestones in the Australia-Indonesia relationship, and they include the significant funding following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, a historic $1 billion in aid provided by the Howard government for reconstruction; counterterrorism cooperation, particularly in intelligence-sharing and law enforcement; and also the strong personal relationship between Prime Minister Howard and President Yudhoyono that formed lasting and binding ties between our two countries. I also want to reference the report by Nicholas Moore which was released not too long ago. Nicholas Moore is the Australian Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, and his landmark report is titled, Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia economic strategy to 2040. I commend the DFAT and Austrade officials who I know worked very hard on this report, which goes into some commendable goals, with 75 practical recommendations grouped into four pillars around raising awareness, addressing the lack of market knowledge and declining regional literacy; removing blockages, reducing trade barriers and harmonising standards; building capability, ensuring both regions have the skills to pursue those opportunities; and deepening investment to promote capital flow and economic growth. I think there have been a number of milestones put forward, including investment deal teams—specialists embedded in regional hubs like Jakarta, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City to identify and facilitate those investment opportunities—and the $2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility and the Australia Southeast Asia Business Exchange, a program to boost two-way trade and support for Australian exporters. Now that we're a year and a half to two years on from the release of that report, it is important that we see further progress pursued by this federal government, as this will also benefit regional communities like mine, particularly in the agribusiness and SME space. We have a great ecosystem of SME businesses in regional areas like mine in states like Victoria. They don't often do a whole lot of different things, but they can do one thing very well and specialise on that in components manufacturing and in new technology, and they are looking for improved and efficient markets to export those products—to export that expertise. Victoria is also a very large exporter of education. We've got some excellent education providers. It's important to our regional economy. For Federation University, just outside of my electorate of Monash, those linkages to South-East Asia are particularly important. So the South-East Asia economic strategy is a good start. There are some commendable ambitions linked in there, but I want to see those continued with action as well. 17:06 Mr WATTS 193430 Gellibrand There is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia, and under the Albanese government the relationship has never been stronger. The recently signed Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security marks a historic moment and signals a new era for the Australia-Indonesia relationship. As Prime Minister Albanese has said, this treaty is a watershed. It was a personal initiative of the Prime Minister and President Prabowo, a sign of the deep trust and close friendship between our leaders and governments. Australia and Indonesia are the closest of partners; we share an unbreakable bond. The Australia-Indonesia relationship is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and stability in our region. This new treaty builds on the achievements of Paul Keating and Gareth Evans and their counterparts, President Suharto and Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, in their agreement on maintaining security, signed 30 years ago in 1995. And, indeed, it goes further, instituting leader-level consultations. This treaty demonstrates the strength of the Australia-Indonesia partnership and the depth of our trust and cooperation. It's a depth and strength that are reflected in our shared history. Long before a word of English was ever spoken on Australian soil, members of the Yolngu language group in Arnhem Land were conversing with Malay- and Indonesian-speaking traders and fishermen from Makassar who had come to Australia in search of trepang—sea cucumber. This first exercise in Indonesian-Australian engagement resulted in the Yolngu language adopting a series of Malay loan words that are still in use to this very day. Australia is also proud to have been amongst the earliest and strongest supporters of Indonesian independence, both through the diplomatic actions of the Chifley government at the United Nations and through the actions of Australian mariners and dockworkers who blocked Dutch vessels with the boycott that began in Sydney Harbour through the trade union movement. Australia was a friend of Indonesia at its moment of birth, and we remain friends today. The signing of this treaty represents a high-water mark in our international engagement with Indonesia, but at home we face a complex challenge to make the most of this treaty. The institutions of Australia's Asia capability, our ability to understand and be effective in our region, are in decline, and the challenge is most acute when it comes to Indonesia. Asia capability is a vital sovereign capability for our nation. It must be a national priority, and it's why the Moore report—Australia's Southeast Asia economic strategy to 2040—recommended with its first recommendation: National Cabinet should consider developing a whole-of-nation plan to strengthen Southeast Asia literacy in Australian business, government, the education and training system, and the community. The Albanese government has lifted our diplomatic, defence, development and economic engagement with our region to unprecedented levels, using all of the tools of statecraft to maximise our influence in the region. But, to operationalise this treaty on common security, we need more Australians who know our neighbour, friend and strategic partner deeply, including its history, culture, society and, importantly, language. Today, unfortunately, Indonesian studies at our schools and universities are in crisis. In 2023, there were less than half as many high school students studying Indonesian in Australia than there were when the Garnaut review started our Asia capability journey in 1989. This is despite the fact that the number of Australian high school students today is around 40 per cent bigger than in 1989. Of the more than one million Australian domestic students at Australian universities in 2023, barely 500 students were enrolled in Bahasa Indonesia nationwide. Stakeholders say that Bahasa Indonesia teaching in Queensland is functionally extinct, with only two senior secondary schools in Queensland left teaching Indonesian at year 12 level in 2026. Some experts have warned that, without urgent intervention, we'll see the end of Bahasa Indonesia teaching in Australia nationwide by 2031. That's in the next term of government. Indonesian studies in Australia are facing an existential crisis. We need to do better. Australia's security and prosperity rely on our ability to make our own way in Asia. As the Prime Minister has said: No country is more important to Australia—or to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific—than Indonesia. Given this, there is no country that is more important for Australia to understand than Indonesia. We should be the best country in the world for understanding Indonesia, not fighting to save it. The treaty on common security recognises the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by acting together through engagement and dialogue, but dialogue and engagement are a two-way street. Indonesians have the phrase bertepuk sebelah tangan tidak akan berbunyi, or one side clapping will not make any sound. To get the most of this treaty, both Australia and Indonesia need to be the best partners they can be. We should make the signing of this landmark treaty the moment we start turning around Indonesian studies in Australia. 17:12 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon I seek leave to speak again. Leave granted. Mr GOSLING 245392 I have some short supplementary comments now that others have arrived in this chamber. I just want to back up the member for Gellibrand and acknowledge his deep work in this space. We are working to make sure that Bahasa Indonesia continues to be taught in Australian schools—in primary schools, following on to secondary schools and into university—so that we can really develop our expertise and our economic relationship with Indonesia. I also want to thank him for acknowledging the centuries old relationship between the First Peoples of north-east Arnhem Land, in particular, and the north of Australia with people from Makassar. Those Bahasa words are still used with reverence today. In north-east Arnhem Land, many people who speak Yolngu Matha substitute words like 'money' with words like 'rupiah'. Mr Watts 193430 Balanda. Mr GOSLING 245392 'Balanda' is another term for, essentially, white people, or non-Aboriginal people, and of course, that comes from the Dutch. After the Macassans first arrived in north-east Arnhem Land and in the north of Australia, that relationship developed over centuries. Then, when Europeans arrived, exploring and coming ashore, the question from the Yolngu people to the Macassans was, 'Who are these white people?' The Macassans answered with the word 'balanda', because their experience was of the Dutch on their trading routes through the Dutch East India Company, if I'm not mistaken. There are about 20 words that are still spoken commonly in north-east Arnhem Land and in the north of country which are from those centuries old trading relationship. I've never eaten a sea cucumber, the trepang, but they are still fished for in waters in the north. We always seek to strengthen those relationships that go back centuries. In the past, Charles Darwin University has held a symposium in Makassar to explore this relationship that goes back so many centuries. They've been very successful. But, as members from both sides have reflected, now that we have this treaty-level agreement, the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, with the Republic of Indonesia, it not only behoves us to develop the economic opportunity that'll come for Australia and Indonesia; we also need to continue to strengthen those academic and people-to-people—or orang ke orang—links. I know the power of being able to speak the Indonesian language, having studied it in the Australian Defence Force and then used it practically on the ground both in Indonesia and in Australia, conversing with members of our Indonesian community. There is nothing like language to break down those barriers and to show deep and genuine respect. Learning a language not only allows a level of cultural competency; it allows a level of communication and deep connection that is clearly evident. Anyone who speaks a language will tell you the well-known phrase 'when you speak to someone in a language that they understand, you speak to their head' because they're processing what you're saying; they understand that language because it might be their language. But when you speak to someone in their language you speak to their heart, because it is an example of respect. That respect is the basis of good communications and good dialogue between nations. That is the type of respect, good communications and partnership that we seek through this treaty with the people and the government of Indonesia. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299498 Well done, Member for Solomon. You filled the gap very nicely. 17:17 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck I thank the member for Solomon for raising this important matter. The Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, the Jakarta treaty, reflects serious regional leadership and a clear understanding of Australia's place in the world. At its heart, this agreement recognises a fundamental truth: Australia's security does not stop at our shoreline. It is shaped by the strength of our relationships with our neighbours, and none is more important than our relationship with Indonesia. As the Prime Minister said at the signing in Jakarta, no country is more important to Australia or to the prosperity, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific than Indonesia. This treaty reflects a close friendship, partnership and deep trust between our nations, and recognition that the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by acting together. The agreement itself gives practical expression to that principle. It commits our countries to regular consultation at a leader and ministerial level on matters affecting our common security. It provides that, in the face of adverse challenges, Australia and Indonesia will consult on and consider measures that may be taken individually or jointly. It promotes mutually beneficial cooperation in the security field consistent with each nation's policies and priorities. By way of example, this will include establishing a new embedded position for a senior Indonesian officer in the Australian Defence Force—a clear example of the trust between our nations. It will be the development of joint defence training facilities and education exchanges between our militaries to build relationships and increase our understanding about the next generation of military leaders. In a world that has become less stable than the international order, which is decidedly less predictable, we also need to be proactive in encouragement of a sturdy and lasting relationship with our nearest big neighbour. In fact, Indonesia is South-East Asia's largest economy, ranking seventh in the world for purchasing power parity, and is the world's fourth-most populous nation, with a median age of just 30.7 years compared to 38.4 in Australia. And it has an annual growth rate of over five per cent. Again, if I can just turn to the treaty, I was impressed that it also includes a very practical measure to have a memorandum of understanding between the Australian government and the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara. This intention is to increase the cooperation and information sharing between Australian agencies and Indonesia's newest sovereign wealth fund, and that will also then help for two-way investment between our nations. With over 100,000 Indonesian born people living in Australia, it's actually quite a small diaspora, but there are over 23,000 Indonesian students here, and it is a top destination for Indonesian students, particularly in higher ed and vocational studies. That said, as we heard from our previous speakers, there's much more we can be doing to ensure that that's reciprocated with Australian students embarking on studying Indonesian. Any increase in the uptake of that will be well received, I'm sure, because those cultural ties underpin the strength of our economic, political and military cooperation as well. Importantly, the treaty reaffirms respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and a commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes and a support for a rules based regional architecture grounded in international law and ASEAN centrality. It does emphasise dialogue, transparency and responsible conduct to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation. President Prabowo described the agreement as a reflection of the commitment of both countries to safeguard national security while making real contributions to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. He spoke of the principle of good neighbourliness and of two nations destined by geography to live side by side, building relations on mutual trust and good faith. That approach can stand at times in stark contrast to the way that relationship has been managed in the past, where it has been at times sporadic and reactive. For now, we're building on three decades of defence cooperation. This represents a significant extension of that partnership. It reflects growing strategic trust and ambition between our nations. To end on President Prabowo's words, he said it well when he stated that good neighbours will help each other in times of difficulties, and I look forward to supporting the government in furthering that relationship. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299498 The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Small Business 155 17:22 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey The small and family businesses of Australia are quite literally under siege. We must start by looking at the harsh economic reality that this Labor-Greens government has engineered. Headline inflation hit 3.8 per cent in January, but domestic inflation—the pain generated right here at home—is running even hotter at 4.9 per cent. Make no mistake; this is not just a cost-of-living crisis. This is a cost-of-government crisis, a cost-of-doing-business crisis, with inflation higher here than any other major economy. Government spending is now at its highest levels outside of a recession in 40 years, and Labor's debt is racing towards a staggering $1 trillion. Every single minute, the Australian government is paying around $50,000 just to service this debt. And if you're in South Australia, where I'm from, we're only second to Victoria, both with big Labor spending governments. If you live in South Australia and you combine the state Labor government debt and the federal Labor government debt, it has now reached over $100,000 per worker and rising. Governments don't pay down your debt. Taxpayers do, your children do, and your grandchildren will. This is money that is adding demand to the economy and keeping relentless pressure on prices. After nearly four years of Labor, the numbers are terrifying. Insurance is up 39 per cent, rent is up 22 per cent, and food is up 16 per cent. But perhaps the most devastating blow to our small and family businesses is energy. Labor have spent years papering over the crisis they unleashed on our energy system. Now that temporary rebates have expired, the truth is laid bare. Electricity prices have surged 37 per cent in the past year alone. Last week, I had the privilege to be at a SIMEC mine south of Whyalla. That's the hematite and magnetite mine that feeds Whyalla and the export port. They have a 50-megawatt line servicing that mine, and only a few weeks ago the price in South Australia––the wholesale price, which the energy minister likes to talk about all the time––reached over $20,000 a megawatt hour. That is $1 million an hour just to run that business. They employ people to monitor the weather patterns. In South Australia we're at 82 per cent renewables, and the price fluctuates so much. Prices go from negative $200 to, in this case, plus $20,000. This is the reality of Labor's energy systems. For the shops, the cafes, the local workforce and the family enterprises, these power bills are a death knell. Insolvencies have exploded since this government took office. Confidence is crushed. Instead of throwing a lifeline, what does this government do? It reaches for the handcuffs. That is exactly what this government is doing to small and family businesses. They are slapping handcuffs on our economic backbone. Through their draconian industrial relations changes, they've replaced flexibility and fairness with confusion and compliance. Our small and family businesses are being forced to work longer hours for less, bogged down by ever-increasing layers of red tape, and nowhere is this red tape felt more tightly than in our regional family businesses. In the broadacre cropping industry, the final regulatory decision from the APVMA on paraquat and diquat will be handed down in mid-2026, but there is no plan to assist farmers with this transition. If no viable and affordable replacement is available at scale, the impact on farmers will be significant. There needs to be support for growers for the transition away from these chemicals, including support for the inevitable increased costs, yield reductions and additional labour requirements. Not only are farmers competing against government subsidised sectors overseas and fighting the elements but they are also now fighting against their own government just to stay viable. The sheer volume of compliance regulation is punishing the very entrepreneurship we need to feed this country and grow agricultural exports. Small and family businesses are also suffering from a lack of commonsense support in the way of critical infrastructure. On the Eyre Peninsula, we are home to the Southern Hemisphere's largest fishing fleet and some of Australia's most fertile land, yet business owners still cannot access accurate weather forecasts via Doppler. That is why I've established a petition—and everyone should sign it—to get Doppler radar on the EP. 17:28 Mr GEORGANAS DZY Adelaide Australia's record 2.6 million small businesses are the backbone of this nation. We all know that. They employ people, they create the economy, and they work extremely hard as small-business people. I know this. I have relatives and friends who have small businesses, and I see the work that goes into it. This government is continually improving the operating environment for small businesses across the country, creating an environment that will help them to thrive, and that's what we should be doing as a government. We should be ensuring that small businesses have all the tools required to thrive. As I said, they are the backbone of our nation. They employ people and keep the economy going, and they work extremely hard. We know that 2.6 million small businesses contribute about $596 billion to our national economy. Australia's small businesses employ 5.16 million people right across the country. That's 39.1 per cent of our total workforce. Nearly 40 per cent of the total workforce in Australia is employed by small businesses. That is an incredible figure when you think about it. What has this government done to try and help and assist? We've created the National Small Business Strategy—the first of its kind to bring together governments across Australia to support our small businesses, creating efficiencies and reducing the duplication of effort; providing actionable policies and programs to support local small businesses across the nation; and elevating small businesses in the government decision-making process at each level of government. We've investing $33.4 million to improve payment times for small businesses doing business with government. There's nothing worse than having to wait for money that you're owed, especially by government departments. So there's been an improvement in that area, including $25.3 million in the 2024-25 budget to support the overhauled Payment Times Reporting Scheme, enhancing the regulator's ability to deliver better payment outcomes for small businesses. We legislated to extend the instant asset write-off measure to help small businesses manage their cash flow. This is about incentivising small businesses to invest in the equipment that they need to boost productivity, to create more jobs and to help them thrive. The threshold applies per asset, which means small businesses can claim multiple purchases—new tools for tradies; computers, tablets and office equipment; kitchen equipment and coffee machines for cafes et cetera. We know that energy costs are a big burden on all of us—on families and especially on small businesses. That's why the $56.7 million Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises program, which is now closed, provided up to $25,000 to eligible businesses to fund a range of energy upgrades. There's been more than $80 million in supports through the Digital Solutions program, the Cyber Wardens program, the Small Business Cyber Resilience Service and the Cyber Health Check. We know digital technology is key to productivity and a stronger, more resilient economy. There's the Buy Australian Plan, helping small and medium-sized businesses compete for and win more government contracts. We're updating the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to significantly increase the small and medium-sized business participation target and improving AusTender to make it easier to identify small and medium-sized businesses on government panels. There's much more that we've done. There's more than $30 million to help small businesses through the tough times, supporting the mental health and financial wellbeing of small-business owners through the NewAccess for Small Business Owners program and the Small Business Debt Helpline. This government understands the pressures facing small businesses. That's why we've put all these measures in place. There are many family owned cafes and small businesses that switch their lights on before dawn, tradies who keep our cities moving— (Time expired) 17:33 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina I'm in furious agreement with member for Adelaide when he says that we need to do all we can to help small businesses. Indeed, he is right. He talked about the instant asset write-off, but what the member for Adelaide didn't tell the chamber was how much the instant asset write-off is worth. I can tell you: it's $20,000. What was it worth under the coalition? It was unlimited. Admittedly, that was a COVID stimulus, but before that it was a lot higher than $20,000. They say it's a promise and that they've written it into the next budget. This is something that our small businesses look to to provide the investment that they need in their businesses, but Labor just trots it out each year. Why not just put it in as a permanent rate and make it unlimited? Yes, it's a cost to the economy. Yes, it's a cost to the government. But it gives small businesses the assurance that they can invest, knowing that this is something they are going to be able to bank on in the future. What they can't bank on at the moment is this government. What the 2.7 million small businesses of Australia can't bank on is reliability from this government. We ask ourselves, 'What is the definition of a small business?' Well, it was probably a medium sized business when we were in government. Deputy Speaker, as the member for the fine city of Gladstone in the fine electorate of Flynn, you would know full well the benefit of small business. You would also know full well—I'm not trying to badger you—the fact that small businesses are at the moment encountering a 32.2 per cent rise in electricity costs just in the last 12 months. How do they cope? How do they, as the member for Adelaide says, keep the doors of business open when they're paying more and more and more for their power bills? Energy is the economy. While Labor have got energy policies that are going to hurt small business by way of rising power bills, you're going to hurt those small businesses—small businesses, I might add, which are going out backwards at a rate of a thousand per day. That's an alarming figure. In four years we've actually seen 40,000 of them go bankrupt—not just close their doors but indeed go belly up. Labor come in here with talking points about how they're securing the prosperity of small businesses. Well, they are not. Labor members—most of them—have never seen a small business that they wouldn't like to run a picket line out the front of. Not many of them have actually ever run a small business. They've come up here through the staff or they've come up here through the union movement, but none of them have ever got their fingernails dirty owning and operating a small business, starting at dawn, finishing at midnight and doing it every day, day after day, and then taking home less pay than the workers themselves. I say shame on Labor because they should go into their own electorates, go into a small business and see what's driving them. See how hard they're hurting at the moment, because they are indeed hurting. They're really, really doing it tough. What they're going to be encountering next, particularly in regional Australia—I'm glad the member for Leichhardt is here—is a rising cost of fuel. Indeed, there's a price spike caused by what happened in Iran at the weekend. Following attacks on Iran, oil prices surged on 2 March, with Brent crude rising around 7.4 per cent to up to as much as $82 per barrel. It was $67 a barrel before this happened. Shane Wright, the economist from the Sydney Morning Herald, suggested yesterday on Insiders that it could get as high as $100 a barrel. I know Labor came in, and the Treasurer, the member for Rankin, was very fond of saying that the fuel price was caused by Ukraine. He'll use this as an excuse now. It's always, 'The dog ate my homework,' with the Treasurer. There's always that excuse. Labor, and the Treasurer in particular, have the levers available to them to fix the economy, to help small business, yet all they do is to come in here with their talking points and read them assiduously. Do something about actually genuinely helping small business. Go into a small business—not just a coffee maker but the little owner-operators, the bespoke stores, the unique stores in your own electorates—and talk to them. More importantly, listen to them. Then come back and explain to the parliament what you're genuinely doing to help those small business operators who are doing it really, really tough at the moment. They need our genuine help, not just as a parliament but as consumers ourselves. 17:38 Ms BRISKEY 263427 Maribyrnong What a motion! It's not surprising that this has come from the member for Goldstein. He's always on hand to complain about the issues that have come as a direct result of his party's failed decade in government. They're good at the rhetoric, and they're good at the manufactured outrage. The member talks about crushing confidence, but let's not forget where our economy was, where our energy grid was, and where our small businesses were when Labor came to government in 2022. Our economy was in freefall, our energy grid was neglected and small businesses were crying out for help. So those opposite shouldn't be talking about crushing confidence, because they left a trail of destruction on their way out the door. The motion claims our energy policies are driving up bills. That's rich coming from a former government that had 22 different energy policies and delivered exactly zero of them; a former government that watched energy bills skyrocket and, instead of trying to bring them down, passed legislation to hide the reporting from the very small businesses they are now claiming to care so much about. But the member for Goldstein need not worry, because Labor is cleaning up after their decade of delay and denial. Wholesale electricity prices fell by a third last quarter. We've delivered $56.7 million in energy efficiency grants and there's the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which has seen installations by more than 2,800 small businesses in the first six months of the program. It must be odd for the members opposite to see a government that isn't just talking about power bills, but is actually doing something—helping small businesses buy the kit to lower them permanently—because we know and the experts know that the lowest-cost form of energy is renewable. Now, to the 'confusion and compliance' claim regarding industrial relations—the member for Goldstein loves a good scare campaign. He isn't one who always deals in facts and—surprise, surprise—he has conveniently forgotten the carve-outs we negotiated with the sector. We didn't just barge in; we didn't force change. We listened to groups like COSBOA. That's why there is a 12-month delay for casual conversion in small business, a 12-month delay in the right to disconnect and a voluntary wage compliance code so honest employers aren't treated like criminals for administrative errors. We've invested over $20 million into the Fair Work Ombudsman's employer advisory service. We are giving small businesses the HR support that they can't afford on their own, support the previous government never bothered to provide. Just to be clear, when those opposite stand up and say they want to repeal our industrial relations reform—they use small-business owners to advance this position—what they're really doing is trying to screw over the working people, usually those on low incomes. The motion says we've abandoned small businesses. Really? We've legislated the instant asset write-off extension. We've delivered tax cuts that benefit 1.5 million sole traders. The former shadow treasurer, now Leader of the Opposition, called these tax cuts 'a cruel hoax'. I'd invite him to come to my electorate and tell the sole trader that more money in their pocket is a hoax. But, more importantly, he should tell them that it was under his direction the coalition voted against these very tax cuts. On the topic of tax cuts, a further tax cut is coming later this year and another one next year—all thanks to this Labor government. The opposition love to claim they are standing with small business, but, in reality, they're simply standing around complaining. How do we know this? You just have to look at their extensive plan on how they will stand with Australian small businesses—but you don't have to look too hard because you'll be wasting your time. They don't have a plan. We are the ones with a national small business strategy. We are the ones that have put the small business portfolio into cabinet. We are the ones helping small and medium businesses compete and win more government contracts through the Buy Australian Plan. We are the ones helping start-ups and small businesses through our Industry Growth Program. We don't just stand with small businesses; we invest in them, we consult with them and we respect them enough to provide actual policy instead of just complaining. This is a ridiculous motion, and I stand against it. 17:43 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina by leave—There's never been a more important time than right now to talk about small businesses because small businesses are facing the brunt of not just domestic shocks but, indeed, the reverberation of what is happening around the world. I spoke a little earlier about the Iranian situation, which will cause a spike in the price of energy, as in fuel—and fuel, like electricity, is the economy. Certainly, we know this in regional Australia. It might be all well and good for the energy minister to spruik about the 34 days of available diesel and fuel in Australia. We need to, in fact, increase that—we do—and we could well do it. I certainly know that, when we were in government, there were bids to have a fuel supply in Toowoomba, a fuel supply in Parkes—on the intersection of the east-west and north-south rail lines—and a fuel supply in Western Australia, to help not only the mining industry, which I know is so prevalent in Flynn and elsewhere in Queensland, but, indeed, agriculture. Agriculture provides food and fibre not just for our domestic use but also internationally. We grow far more food than we could ever hope to feed to our own nation; that's why it's such a huge export. More than that: when we talk about small business in this place, it often gets forgotten that farmers are small-business owners and operators. At the moment they are very much being cruelled by bad water policy. I know there will be a by-election in the electorate of Farrer, and I note the Prime Minister was in Albury a week or so ago. Interestingly, Albury was the birthplace of the modern Liberal Party in 1944, when Menzies talked about the forgotten people—and, indeed, they were being forgotten. The Liberal Party will contest that by-election, as will the National Party. It will be a contest for the ages. But I'll tell you who may well not be there—the Labor Party. Labor has already signalled it may not run a candidate. I think when you're the government of the day it's beholden upon you to run a candidate in a by-election, particularly a by-election in a seat such as Farrer, where the Labor Party—and I will say the true believers, because that particular seat, which was founded in 1949, has always been held by either the Liberals or the Nationals. Dr Ryan 297660 Not for long! Mr McCORMACK 219646 Don't let hubris take you over, Member for Kooyong! We had Tim Fischer, who was a former deputy prime minister. He loved small business, let me tell you. Tim Fischer understood, appreciated and valued small business, and whomever the Nationals put up will be of the same ilk as far as backing small business is concerned. National Party members always back small business—and you know why? Because most of us have run one. I ran my own small business for eight years and it was hard work; it was absolutely hard yakka running a small business. Quite often you work late, you always start work early and often you take home less pay than the workers you employ. But there's nothing more rewarding than knowing you are employing someone. There's no better feeling than knowing not only you are directly employing someone but also, through your perspiration and endeavours, you're often employing somebody indirectly. In my case, it was printing firms. I well remember that Active Print put out a new four-colour press and hired more people to churn through the work we were providing. We were just a small business, with just three directors, and we were proud of those years. To every small-business person out there, I say—and I think I speak on behalf of the parliament—a very big thankyou. They are doing the hard yards, and they're not getting the support they need. That's why so many businesses, sadly, are going to the wall as we speak, and that is such a shame. They deserve better policy because they are helping to grow the food. They are helping to grow the fibre. They are helping in so many areas of endeavour. Whether they're farmers—the world's best environmentalists—whether they're on the high streets or the main streets of country towns right across Australia, whether they're in the central business districts of our capital cities, we owe them a debt of gratitude. What we don't owe them is debt—and that's all they're getting from this Labor government. 17:48 Ms AMBIHAIPAHAR 315618 Barton I rise to respond to this motion from the member for Goldstein. Let me say this upfront: if there was an Olympic sport for talking down to small business while claiming to champion it, the member for Goldstein would be on that podium every single time. Here's the truth: while those opposite are busy delivering us lectures, this government is delivering outcomes—real support, real reform, real relief—for the 2.66 million small businesses which are the pillar of our economy and the beating heart of our communities. It's the cafe that opens very early, like The Little Cup and Saucer cafe in Canterbury. It's the tradie in Kingsgrove who backs himself to go out every day. It's the family run chicken shop, Hariri, in Kogarah, sponsoring the Banksia Tigers Football Club. Small businesses don't just operate in our communities; they hold them together. And what have we done? We've backed them. We've delivered tax cuts, some already in place and more coming out this year and the next, benefiting 1.5 million sole traders—the very tax cuts those opposite labelled a cruel hoax. Imagine telling Australian sole traders that their relief is imagined. That's not economic policy; that is political theatre, and we've seen it today. We've legislated the instant asset write-off so small businesses can invest in the tools, tech and equipment that they need to grow productivity and jobs. We're improving payment times with a $33.4 million investment, including an overhauled Payment Times Reporting Scheme and a fast payers list to shine a spotlight on small businesses that aren't paying on time and small businesses that are, because we know cash flow is very important for small businesses. We've rolled out more than $80 million in digital and cyber supports, from the Digital Solutions program to Cyber Wardens, because we know resilience in the modern economy isn't just about foot traffic; it's also about firewalls. We've backed energy efficiency grants, helping businesses cut bills and emissions, and we're reforming procurement rules through the Buy Australian Plan so small and medium enterprises get a fair crack at government contracts, not just the big end of town with the biggest lobbying budget. And yes, we're fixing franchising laws with a stronger code enforced by the ACCC because small operators deserve transparency and fairness, not fine print set-ups. And let's address the elephant in the room: interest rates. The independent Reserve Bank has increased the cash rate by 25 basis points. That is tough news. It will hurt households and small businesses, and we acknowledge that. Unlike those opposite, we don't pretend these pressures don't exist or come into this House complaining about problems; we actually respond to them. We're delivering responsible cost-of-living relief with further tax cuts this year and next, and we're strengthening the budget while tackling productivity—the real long-term driver of sustainable growth for small business. When it comes to fiscal credibility, let's compare records. We've turned two big Liberal deficits into two Labor surpluses. We more than halved the deficit in the third year. We found 114 billion bucks in savings, including $20 billion in the most recent update, while the coalition failed to deliver a single cent of savings in their last budget. Not a single cent—doughnuts. Yet we have to listen to lectures on economic management. Real spending growth averaged 4.1 per cent under the coalition compared to 1.7 per cent under us. So, when we hear crocodile tears about spending, forgive us if we have to check the receipts. Let's talk about energy, because small business owners don't pay their power bills on ideology. After a decade of delay, dysfunction and denial, we are rebuilding the grid with the lowest-cost form of energy, renewables. Wholesale electricity prices fell by a third last quarter, and our job is now to get that relief flowing to the retail bills of households and small businesses. We're reforming the default market offer to ensure small businesses pay a fair price. We've rolled out the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with thousands of installations already helping businesses take control of their energy bills rather than holding them hostage to price increases. We've invested in the Fair Work Ombudsman advisory services, in the Fair Work Commission and in tailored resources so small businesses can understand new laws without needing any in-house legal team, because we recognise that small businesses don't have HR departments; they have owners who do payroll on a dining table after closing shop. So when the member for Goldstein stands here, implying small businesses are somehow being ignored, I say this: small businesses don't need slogans; they need support. And that is exactly what we are delivering. Here's the bold truth: small business owners see through this. They know who's turning up with real solutions. (Time expired) 17:54 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey by leave—Small business is under siege. There's no doubting that. I like to think of a society like a home. To build a society, you need foundations, and unfortunately those foundations are not sound in regional Australia right now, where our small businesses are absolutely under siege. Those foundations are access to health services, access to housing, access to child care and, importantly, access to the skills and training which feed small businesses. This government talks about free TAFE. Well, come out to regional South Australia and look at what's happened to TAFE out there. You can get your boat licence at Coober Pedy, but you can't do anything in that local TAFE towards the local industry. It is absolutely ridiculous. It is all spin. We need to bring back technical skills to our regional TAFE centres to keep feeding in to our small businesses. Why is it that Labor does not care about small business? It's very clear: you cannot unionise small business. That is why small business is under siege and will always be under siege by this Labor Party. The Labor Party is run by unions and union bosses. You will not find that in small business. Whether you're a farmer, a publican, a fencing contractor, a fisherman, a truckie or any of the other small business owners and workers that live in the electorate of Grey, you are absolutely struggling. Whether it is increased inflation and goods or the lack of skills, we are all under pressure. Earlier this year I wrote directly to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about the absolute crisis facing our wineries. These are predominantly small family owner-operators who have poured generations of sweat into their vines, and right now they are drowning. They are drowning under immense commercial pressure. They are drowning under systematic regulatory failure, and they are drowning under the crushing weight of rising costs—pardon the pun! Where is this government support? It is completely absent. Labor has abandoned small and family business. They have ignored desperate calls for red tape relief. They've ignored the plea for simple regulation. They have failed entirely to provide a clear pathway to grow and employ Australians. The opposition stands firmly with small and family businesses, the farmers of which I am one, the fishers, the viticulturists who back themselves. We are losing that ability to innovate and think for ourselves in this nation, even in our regional communities. Look at all the small tool shops and the small tackle shops getting overrun by centralised corporates coming out of our cities and taking our regional jobs and innovation. We stand for lower inflation, lower interest rates, lower taxes and taking the handcuffs off Australian enterprise. In closing, small business is the backbone of Australia, and particularly regional Australia. If we support small businesses and family businesses, our society will prosper and grow once again. Right now, inflation is killing us. There is no real growth in our economy, particularly in our regional economies, and we need to focus on small business. 17:57 Mr HOLZBERGER 88411 Forde I rise to speak against the motion. It's a shame that I missed the member for Goldstein being able to make a speech here, because he usually provides enormous material to respond to that the member for Venning, unfortunately, in what was essentially a very sensible speech, wasn't able to provide. I'm somebody who has run a small business. I'm somebody who came into small business in my late 20s when I had a contract mustering business around my home town of Broken Hill, which essentially was a bike, a ute, a pack of dogs and the will to win, which is the most essential part of any small business. It did give me an experience to learn what it means to create something out of nothing. When I say that, it's not necessarily out of nothing; small business is about putting together all of those sort of disparate elements together into something where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. That gave me my first taste, and then I got right into business. I really was taken by the idea of what entrepreneurialism actually meant. I ended up running a construction company for many years. What I learnt from that is that it's a bit like that saying, you should run a country in the same way that you run a business. There are two ways to run a business. One is to strip all the profits out of it and run it into the ground. And the other is to invest in your plant and your people. And I think that we know what the Labor way is. It is to invest in your people and in your infrastructure in the country. Running a business in Australia is dependent on so many of those infrastructure things around it. That's why, in postwar Australia, Labor and the coalition really did work together on this idea that we would build public housing, not out of the goodness of our hearts and not necessarily just to look after the people that were really battling but for railway workers, for car workers and for teachers. The whole idea was that we would provide that public housing to keep the cost of living down, to keep those rents down and to take the pressure off wages, which, in turn, would help business. It's the same as it was with public energy. We used to provide public energy as a way of keeping that cost of living down and also keeping those costs down for business—which also helped business. And it's the same with something like Medicare. Before Medicare was introduced, paying medical bills was one of the biggest causes of bankruptcy. Medicare helps small business. In the United States it's up to small business to provide those health cover costs, but in Australia we're able to provide a direct service not only to keep the workforce healthy but also to take economic pressure off an individual or off a business having to provide that health insurance themselves. It's the same with training. It's the same with tax cuts and with superannuation. It's about taking a collective approach to these things which are effectively essential services in the economy, to help the economy grow and to help businesses to succeed. Unfortunately, as I said, we missed the member for Goldstein—now the shadow Treasurer—who I think would have been able to defend some of his statements on why he doesn't believe in superannuation, why he doesn't believe in Medicare and why he is probably the most radical person to ever take the position of shadow Treasurer in the coalition. It's a shame that he is not here to explain why he thinks stripping away all of those benefits is actually going to help small business. It's a shame that he's not here to explain why he thinks that privatising Medicare would actually help small business. It's up to him to explain why he thinks taking away superannuation would ultimately help small business. So it's a shame. This debate, which he moved, has been the poorer for it; it would have really exposed where the coalition is on this. The Labor Party is the one that's taking the sensible position of growing our economy, of investing in our people and of investing in our infrastructure for the benefit of the whole economy. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 282335 There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made in order of the day for the next sitting. Aviation Industry 161 18:03 Mr MATT SMITH 312393 Leichhardt I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the significant role of air travel and air freight in keeping regional communities connected; (2) commends the commitment of the Government to support air travel through regional Australia through: (a) supporting the conclusion and purchase of Rex Airlines through a commercial loan of $60 million and the restructuring of $108 million in existing debt to keep regional air routes running during the voluntary administration process; (b) an additional $50 million over three years in the 2024-25 budget to extend the Regional Airstrip Upgrade program; (c) the extension of the Regional Airports Program for three years with an additional $40 million for competitive grant funding in the 2024-25 budget; and (d) the establishment of the $5 million Regional and Remote Airport Support Program for local government and regional and remote airports impacted by the Rex Airlines voluntary administration; and (3) recognises the ongoing commitment of the Government to representing regional Australians and investing in the services they deserve. Love Actually is a 2003 film. It is a favourite at Christmas, and it starts in an airport with families happy to be reuniting, with hugs, kisses and all those great things. It shows the airport as the central hub of togetherness, a place where you go to leave for holidays and where you come back to your loved ones. But, for those of us in the regions, the airport is so much more. It is our lifeline. My electorate is huge. You cannot drive from one end to the other. You especially cannot drive from one end to the other in the wet, and, to be frank, the islands kind of make that a bit hard as well! The airports that service those communities—and there are 25 of them—matter. They take kids to school, they bring in the doctors, they bring in the food and they bring loved ones home when it is time for them to rest. This is a very important piece of infrastructure, often run by the local councils. Most councils aren't equipped for that sort of thing, but the people in the regions find a way to get it done. Our airports in our remote and regional communities are our connection to the rest of the world. They are our lifeblood. There is good news. The good news is that Labor is delivering an additional $50 million over three years, from the 2024-25 budget, to extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program, as well as an additional $40 million in competitive grant funding. What that means for where I'm from is $4 million to reseal the Boigu Island airstrip and $2 million to extend the aircraft parking space at Horn Island. We'll replace airport fencing at both the NPA and Cooktown Airport. In 2024, we delivered funding to improve the Lockhart River, Aurukun and Kowanyama airstrips, and in the first year of government, in 2022, we delivered funding for Aurukun, Cooktown, Horn Island and Mapoon to improve their airports. This matters. Often these communities feel left behind, feel left out and feel forgotten. When the central hub gets upgraded—the place where their food comes from, where the Christmas presents arrive from and where their health care and emergency services arrive from—that is them being told that we care. It is more than economic opportunity; it is an absolute moral obligation. It's more than that, though. We're also delivering the $5 million Regional and Remote Airport Support Program for local government and regional and remote airports that were impacted by the Rex Airlines voluntary administration. For many of us here today, our towns and communities were impacted by Rex going under. It's very, very difficult sometimes to find someone to take those small routes that might only have 50 or 60 people at a time. Like I said, it is the lifeblood. We've been supporting the purchase of Rex through a commercial loan of $60 million and the restructuring of $108 million in existing debt to keep regional air routes running during the voluntary administration. The airports that were impacted and lost money have the opportunity now to apply for funding to claw that back, and that will make such a difference in small communities that often have a big lot of space, a small number of people and not a huge rate base, and the rate bases carry the airports. This is giving back to our airports. This is giving back to our community. I'm very proud that Minister King has delivered this for our regions. It makes a difference; it really does. I have flown to just about all 25 of those airports in my electorate. I prefer to drive, but sometimes that isn't possible. Quite often I'm there with elders, sometimes accompanying a body back and sometimes bringing a newborn baby back—both ends of life, both ends of the spectrum. Our airports mean more to us than people in the cities can possibly imagine, and the continued support of them is essential to the growth and security of our regions. I love our regions. I love my region, and I'm so proud that we're taking notice and delivering the infrastructure that makes such a difference to the way our people get to live. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 282335 Does this motion have a seconder? Ms Urquhart 231199 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 18:08 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina The member for Leichhardt quoted Love Actually, and that's a favourite movie of mine too. I promise I won't show the chamber the little Love Actually clip I once shot whilst I was Deputy Prime Minister—maybe it might come out one day! But, to quote the airport scene, the Prime Minister, Hugh Grant, said this: Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. And indeed any prime minister these days would have enough reason to feel gloomy about the state of the world. We live in troubled times; we do. But, rather than just standing up here and giving brickbats, as sometimes opposition members do, I do want to say to the government that I acknowledge the support that it has provided Rex Airlines. Regional Express's home is very much in Wagga Wagga, and, indeed, 180 people at those hangars at the Wagga Wagga Airport can't be wrong. It's the maintenance base and the base for so much of Rex's activities, and they pump $12 million worth of wages into the local economy each and every year. It was important that Rex, when it did hit turbulent skies, got help from the government. I very much appreciate not only the Prime Minister ringing me whilst I was overseas at the time—returning my call—but also the minister for infrastructure and transport, the member for Ballarat, talking to me, because they knew how important Rex was not just to Wagga Wagga and the Riverina but, indeed, to the wider regional economy. I note with interest that Labor has a fund to help councils which have suffered losses through the Rex downturn, and I sincerely hope that Wagga Wagga is able to recoup some of the money that it lost when Rex hit troubled skies. I'm pleased that Rex has got a new owner, but I'm very disturbed by the fact that Qantas has dropped its flights from Albury and Wagga Wagga to Melbourne. Of course, when Rex decided to get too big and take on Qantas on the Melbourne-to-Sydney route and many, many other capital-city-to-capital-city routes, it took on a behemoth. It certainly did and it certainly found out the hard way that you don't get a future by doing that. Obviously, Qantas took on some of the Rex regional routes as well. One of those regional routes was Wagga Wagga to Melbourne—there was also Albury to Melbourne—and now Wagga Wagga people are disadvantaged by the fact that they only have limited access to Melbourne via the aviation route, and that is deeply disappointing. The former member for Farrer and I have both written to Qantas seeking explanation. I realise they're a business and I also appreciate that they have to operate according to shareholders, according to their margins et cetera. But I think Qantas is big enough to sustain more regular flights to Melbourne from both Wagga Wagga and Albury. Whilst I appreciate that they were operating with less than half of their passenger capacity, it's simply not good enough for the national carrier to just dump that route full stop. I know you would share that view, Member for Indi—although I won't verbal you, seeing as though you're in the chair—given your close proximity, obviously, in Wodonga to Albury. I heard the member for Leichhardt talking about the airport upgrades. There's nothing new there; the coalition had that as well. I'm proud of what we did during COVID, when we kept Virgin—which was on its knees—Qantas, Rex and other airlines in the skies, because I knew, and we knew, that planes in the air meant jobs on the ground. And I have to say that, when 26 airlines of a size comparable to Virgin at the time went belly up across the world, we were able to maintain all of our airlines across Australia, and that was very important. Not only that—we were able to, obviously, fly in vaccines and health professionals to regional and remote communities, including the member for Leichhardt's. So it's important. Aviation is a huge player in regional Australia. It shouldn't be that, when you are in pain, you have to catch a plane. Certainly, with today's limited air travel, we should have more health professionals in country areas, and we certainly work towards achieving that through the Murray-Darling rural medical school network et cetera. There are certainly a lot of issues confronting the government, and one of the most important of these is regional air travel. Anything the government can do to help that, I will support. 18:13 Ms URQUHART 231199 Braddon My electorate of Braddon is entirely regional, rural, remote and very remote. It is rich in resources, boasts agricultural produce that is in great demand because of its quality and freshness and has a spectacular natural environment unlike anywhere else in the world. Braddon is also an engine room for Tasmania. It delivers good, well-paid jobs and is a critical contributor to our state's economy. The economic, social and community wellbeing of communities and producers in my electorate is intrinsically linked to reliable, affordable and fit-for-purpose aviation transport and freight services. Air services are a critical lifeline for the beautiful and very remote King Island in my electorate, enabling access to health care, education, employment, business opportunities and social connections. We know aviation services outside major metropolitan centres face structural economic challenges, leading to higher costs, reduced competition and concerns about service reliability and equity. Uncertainty about the operation of Rex flights to and from King Island was more than an inconvenience for the island's 2,300 residents and the many visitors and FIFO workers who travel there. For King Island, air services are about the essentials of life and are a mainstay for the local economy. Federal Labor want regional airports to flourish because we know how important these services are to those local communities. We want regional aviation to remain strong, and that's why the Albanese Labor government has backed it right the way through Rex's administration until the sale of the airline to Air T. In agreement with us, the new owners have undertaken to keep operating Rex's regional routes and will over time bring more planes into service, have more flights on these routes and grow the business here in Australia—but it's important that they settle first. The importance of the Albanese Labor government's support of Rex Airlines cannot be understated. We delivered a commercial loan of $60 million and the restructuring of $108 million in existing debt to keep regional air routes running during the voluntary administration process. We are also grateful that the many councils who operate airports across our regions worked and stepped up to keep Rex flying. That's why we have established the $5 million Regional and Remote Airport Support Program for local government and regional and remote airports that were impacted by Rex Airlines' voluntary administration. We're happy that local governments have an opportunity to recoup some of the costs they incurred during the administration period. Many of these councils are small. They have lots of other expenses, and it's good that they're getting some of their money back. These measures are in addition to the additional $50 million over three years in the 2024-25 budget to extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program. There is also an extension of the Regional Airports Program, with an additional $40 million for competitive grant funding that was also announced in the 2024-25 budget. After the chaos we've seen from the Liberals and Nationals, regional Australia needs a government that it can rely on and that represents it more than ever. In my community I travel regularly right across the electorate—particularly to King Island, where I and many others who travel there for business, for pleasure and for tourism rely on air services. We have a large tourism industry there. Also, it's important that people have access to good air travel for health needs. I live on an island; I live in Tasmania. Without air services it's hard to quickly adapt to getting on and off islands. As the member for Leichhardt, the mover of this motion, outlined earlier, we have many islands that we represent as members of the government, and it's important that we look after the councils who manage the airports in those communities so they can rely on us to deliver—and it is Labor that is delivering for our regions. Labor members are out there every single day visiting these communities, making sure we're listening to the concerns they have. We've got over 24 of us sitting in the Labor caucus representing regions right across the country, and we're delivering for those regions, as we showed during the Rex administration. We will continue that into the future. 18:18 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey Imagine living in a capital city and waking up to find the train lines dismantled, the buses sold off and the major highway gates shut. That would be a national outrage. Yet this is exactly the kind of isolation being inflicted upon regional Australians by this government, which is flying blind when it comes to regional aviation routes. Clearly it costs more to run regional routes versus city routes—and that cost difference is 152 per cent and rising. Regional communities and regional councils like Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and Roxby Downs know how important regional airlines are not only to see a specialist doctor in Adelaide but also to bring a specialist from Adelaide to their local clinics and their hospitals. They know this because my councils, except for Olympic Dam, run every airport in regional South Australia—and nearly all run at a loss. Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Coober Pedy are run by the council, and all lose money. Something is clearly not right. Under this government's watch, the regional aviation sector has become a graveyard. First, Bonza collapsed, leaving a trail of stranded passengers and repossessed aircraft. Then came the agonising, slow-motion administration of Rex, a historic lifeline for bush communities in Ceduna to Coober Pedy and Whyalla to Port Lincoln. The government champions the AAT acquisition as a victory, but a closer inspection reveals that this so-called rescue could easily become a flight of fancy. Unfortunately, the true winners of this scenario are the administrators. EY walked away with $25 million in fees. Meanwhile, the ratepayers in the cities of Albany and the Shire of Esperance are left staring at nearly $1 million in unrecovered debt. Labor is forcing local councils and regional ratepayers to subsidise aviation failures, and it is because Labor and the Greens only care about cities. It's as simple as that. We're looking at the restructured and flimsy entity burdened with $168 million in debt with no timeline for it to be repaid. Labor's Minister King herself said, 'There is no timeframe.' So we are expected to believe that Air T, a company that recently reported adjusted earnings of US$6.7 million, is going to finance debt of $168 million while expanding an ageing fleet from 30 to 44 aircraft. I'd like to hope so, but it just does not stack up. The government has gambled over $160 million of taxpayer money to keep Rex breathing, yet they cannot guarantee that the smaller routes will not be slashed. Australians know what happens next. High-yield routes will be cherrypicked, and the rest will be forgotten, left on the runway. With the exception of the member for Leichhardt, find me one Labor, Greens or teal parliamentarian who needs to take a Rex flight regularly for work. None. And, because of Labor's mismanagement, we are now facing an unprecedented chokehold on our skies. The Qantas Group and Virgin Australia control an astonishing 98.3 per cent of the market. What is this government's fierce response to this suffocating duopoly? A productivity review. The regions do not need an 18-month academic exercise to tell them they are being gouged. Instead of endless reviews, we need practical, immediate reform. Take Whyalla as a prime example. Why does an airport receiving just two flights a day require eight staff for security screening? That mandate slaps a ridiculous $60 onto every single ticket. If we shared that cost across the entire national aviation network, regional ticket prices would drop instantly. This is being called for by the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association and its chair, my friend, Dean Johnson. Aviation is not a luxury in regional Australia; it is used for essential infrastructure. It is the only viable link for the workers in Anna Creek Station, the Indigenous communities in the APY Lands and the students studying in Port Lincoln. Labor has abandoned these people, withdrawing upgrade programs and watching passively as existing operations nosedive and new players falter. If we do not drastically change course, regional Australia will be permanently grounded. They deserve a government that builds bridges and connectivity, not one that manages terminal decline. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 282335 The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting. Government Spending 165 18:24 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton All that the member for Fairfax has demonstrated with this motion today is that he obviously has an incredibly short memory. He has forgotten that, when Labor came to office, inflation had a six in front of it and now it has got a three in front of it. He has forgotten that the former government left us with huge deficits, $1 trillion of Liberal debt, and he has forgotten that annual real wages fell for five consecutive quarters before Labor came to office. I suppose focusing on the economy takes a back seat to the coalition's self-made drama, to the on-again off-again relationship with the National Party and the unedifying jostling for leadership positions. The Australian people deserve more than that. They deserve a functional opposition. The Albanese Labor government, on the other hand and in comparison, has a clear and consistent focus, and that is supporting Australians with the cost of living. Every day, our focus is on delivering cost-of-living relief for those across our nation. The truth is that if the opposition seeks to change that approach, if the opposition thinks that that's not a good idea, then they have to come clean with the people of Australia and tell them what they intend to cut, because we know that the opposition has got form in this space. We've seen them try to destroy bulk-billing by introducing a co-payment. We've seen them send manufacturing jobs overseas. We've seen them rip billions of dollars out of the Public Service, and we have seen them cut from health and education over and over again. We understand that Australians remain under pressure, that families are continuing to do it tough. That's why we're continuing to roll out targeted cost-of-living relief. Australians are benefiting from cheaper medicines and from more bulk-billing GPs. In my electorate, that's risen from 11 to 23 under our investment for GPs. We have reduced student debt, provided fee-free TAFE and are supporting students on mandatory pracs. We've delivered cheaper child care and are holding the supermarkets to account. We've delivered tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. We've done this all in a responsible way. While providing this range of measures, we've paid down Liberal debt, delivered two budget surpluses and delivered the biggest budget turnaround in a parliamentary term ever. Debt is $176 billion lower in 2025-26, which is a saving of $60 billion in interest costs. The budget position has improved by more than $233 billion over the seven years to 2028-29, compared to what Labor inherited in May 2022. There are positive signs for our economy too. Growth in the economy is increasing, being driven by that private sector. The data shows that private investment recorded its fastest quarterly growth in almost five years. There's also been growth in dwelling investment. Under the coalition it was going backwards by 3.6 per cent in annual terms. Now, under the Albanese Labor government, it is growing 6.5 per cent and has risen for seven consecutive quarters. This is the longest consecutive period in 10 years. As I mentioned before, under the former coalition government, annual real wages fell. They went down, they went backwards. This was by deliberate design. It was a deliberate feature of the economic architecture. As a result, living standards, real per capita incomes, were going backwards too. I'm proud to be part of a Labor government that's turned that story around, a government that stands up for Australian workers, a government that said that wasn't good enough. Labor has the lowest average unemployment rate of any government in 50 years. Most recently, it was at a historically low 4.1 per cent. This is a result of Labor's economic policies; reducing inflation from its peak, wage and employment growth, and tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. While the coalition has spent its time infighting and consistently voting against Labor's cost-of-living supports, Labor has been getting on with the job of taking the pressure off Australians. Before the opposition gets to speak on this, the question that they need to ask is: if you want to change that approach, what are you going to cut? 18:29 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein The last speaker started with a question: 'What is it that you want to cut out of the federal budget?' No. 1: the $15 billion that the Labor Party gave to organised crime through the CFMEU-Labor cartel. I absolutely want to get rid of public money being given to organised crime. That should not be up for debate, but under the Albanese Labor government, they just keep doling out the cash to organise crime through the CFMEU-Labor cartel, and the reason they do it is that they actually get a little bit on the side. The second thing is NDIS corruption. That program is there to support the most vulnerable in the community, who in many cases cannot stand up for themselves. The NDIA themselves have identified that up to 10 per cent of the $50 billion program goes towards fraud. I absolutely want to cut out the heart of that corruption. That is not in dispute, so I'm happy to answer this question any day of the week. But this just goes to the rotten heart of the Albanese government's approach to managing the problems of inflation. Think about the reality of so many Australians: only a few years ago, they might have paid a couple of hundred bucks at the supermarket and walked out with a full trolley; now, increasingly, they're not even filling a red basket. Increasingly, when I speak to people, I hear how people go deliberately to the self-service checkouts because they know that, if they go to the self-service checkout and they can't afford everything, they can reverse the system without having to talk to a person. That's how challenging the lived reality of inflation in Australia is today—rising rents and rising bills, particularly at the supermarket checkout—and they have a tone-deaf government. When a small-business owner is struggling to make ends meet, what does the small-business minister say to that former small-business owner? 'Maybe you were dodgy.' This is the most despicable and arrogant government I've ever seen. They pull tricks left, right and centre. You just need to look at what they did with their trickster approach to energy subsidies before the last election, where they promised that they would cut electricity bills by $275. Nobody believes that anymore. They did then take money from the taxpayer and give it back to Australians, to the level of $300, so they could claim that electricity bills had gone down by $300 and they'd delivered on their promise, but what did they do? They borrowed from the future and fuelled inflation. They keep pouring debt petrol on the inflation fire in this country, and that's why Australians are paying higher costs and higher rents. And it's not just households; it's also small businesses. The jig is up. The Reserve Bank has made it clear that public expenditure is driving private demand. As a consequence, we now have a problem where inflation is letting rip through the Australian economy, and Australians are within its trajectory. You just need to look at some simple stats. After nearly four years of Labor's complete recklessness and mismanagement, pouring petrol on the inflation fire, Australians are paying more for almost everything. Insurance is up 39 per cent, energy is up 38 per cent, rents are up 22 per cent, health is up 18 per cent, education is up 17 per cent and food is up 16 per cent. But do you know what's really up? It's the return on investment that the CFMEU made to the Labor Party. They made a $1.5 million donation in Victoria and they got a 10,000-fold return through $15 billion of public money, which then went through to organised crime. Every single member on the Labor side is tainted by that legacy, and they should be ashamed of themselves. That's public money. That's taxpayers' money. More importantly, that money is borrowed from the future and is fuelling inflation today. Under Labor you pay multiple times over. You pay through higher costs and higher inflation, which means you live a lower standard of living. You pay because they're paying through debt, which means that that's tomorrow's taxes. And you pay because your children and your grandchildren are going to live with the legacy of this Labor government. With cockiness and hubris, the Treasurer struts around thinking he has all of this under control, and the gaggle of Labor members get up and spin their message in the hope that somehow their constituents will be fooled. Their constituents are now living the consequences of Labor's inflation agenda. It's an active inflation agenda to pour debt petrol on the inflation fire. Australians won't stand for it, and I can assure you at the next election we are going to show you the door. 18:34 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt The Treasurer has been repeatedly clear that he takes responsibility for his role in the fight against inflation. He's been clear that inflation is too high, and no member of this government has shied away from that. The Treasurer is fighting hard. We know that inflation is significantly lower than its peak and significantly lower than when we came to government, but that is history, and we know it is too high. The Treasurer has also been clear that the economy, including productivity, cost of living and growth, is central to the Albanese Labor government's agenda. Increases to productivity and growth are what this government's policy initiatives are directed at, as are help and assistance to Australians with the cost of living. Inflation and what drives it are not linear. It's not black or white, one thing or another. It's an oversimplification to blame government spending. Governments of the day have the privilege and responsibility to take measured and practical steps within their sphere of reference to tackle inflation, but condemning the Treasurer for this and that is an easy shot that does nothing to assist the Australian voter. Australians know that contributors to inflation are a mix of fluid and ever-changing factors that need to be constantly monitored and adapted to. Factors like the time of year, private demand, climate, the labour market, global challenges—more real than ever—and government policy all play a role in the ingredients that make up inflation. Sometimes one factor plays a bigger role, sometimes smaller. It's not linear, and it's not as simple as saying, 'Just cut this,' 'Just do that,' or, 'Just change this.' It is certainly not as simple as just alleging that the so-called out-of-control spending is the primary and only cause or saying that if you didn't spend on one thing, like the $25 billion spent on public hospitals in partnership with states and territories, inflation would be lower. Bare allegations of this nature do not assist the Australian voter. Slogans regarding petrol and fire do not assist the Australian voter. Facts do, and what also assists is an understanding that governments do actually need to spend at the same time as endeavouring to finding efficiencies and savings and undergoing departmental reform and budget restructure. That is what this government seeks to do. With respect to the facts, claims that government spending is now a very large share of the economy are exaggerated. Reserve Bank estimates that were published on the Reserve Bank of Australia website after the Reserve Bank of Australia met in February 2026 estimated that what we now know as public demand or spending by all governments, federal, state and local, expanded by 2.2 per cent during the course of 2025. Consumer spending expanded by 3.1 per cent. Home building expanded by 5.5 per cent, and business investment expanded by 2.5 per cent. Both public and private sector wages have been growing sustainably, around an average of 3.5 per cent in recent years, with no sign of the significant spike that occurred in the 1970s and which saw considerable upward pressure on inflation. This government has a deliberate mandate to get public and private sector wages growing after the decision of the previous government to deliberately keep them low by design. Wages have moved, but sustainably and not significantly, putting to rest the suggestion that the public sector wage bill is inflationary. On that basis, inflation is expected to peak in mid 2026, and, in quarterly terms, underlying inflation is forecast to start slowing from the June quarter of 2026. This peak is one of the factors as to why the May 2026 budget is being crafted through the lens of responsibility as a solid, future focused plan directed at productivity, spending restraint and tax reform. There is an ambitious agenda on tax, and the centrepiece of that is income tax cuts for all Australian workers. When it comes to tax policy, lower taxes are the policy of the Albanese Labor government. The Treasurer has been clear. The objective of the budget would be to lift the speed limit on the economy so that it can achieve higher growth with lower inflation and so that Australian workers can earn more and keep more of what they earn. 18:39 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson Today I rise to condemn this treasurer for refusing to take responsibility for the government's out-of-control spending—spending that's fuelling inflation and keeping interest rates higher for longer. In Senate estimates, we saw the finance minister proudly spruiking $114 billion in so-called savings, but when pressed it became clear that these were not savings at all. They were simply reallocations: money taken from one government program and shifted to another. That's not savings; that's reshuffling the deckchairs. At the same time, government spending is growing at four times the rate of the economy itself. That trajectory is simply not sustainable. In fact, the Treasurer's own budget papers show he's added $50 billion of new discretionary spending in this financial year alone. And who pays the price for this? It's Australian families, Australian individuals and Australian small businesses. Out-of-control spending is driving inflation, and higher inflation keeps interest rates higher than they otherwise would be. The average mortgage holder is now paying around $21,000 more per year in interest compared to under the previous government, and that burden could rise even further. This isn't abstract economics; this is real pressure on real household budgets. Let's look at where their money is going. Interest payments on Commonwealth debt alone are now one of the largest line items in the Commonwealth budget. That should alarm every member of this House. Under Labor, spending has blown out from 24 per cent of GDP to 27 per cent, the highest level outside a recession in nearly 40 years. Labor's taken a blowtorch to the fiscal guardrails that responsible governments of both persuasions have respected for decades. Treasury officials have confirmed that there are no quantifiable fiscal rules guiding Labor's budgets. What does that mean? It means no measurable spending cap, no debt anchor, no clear path back to balance, no speed limit and no seatbelt, just a foot on the accelerator. Since coming to office, Labor has added a $100 billion to the national debt. Debt is now on track to breach $1 trillion any day now and $1.2 trillion by the next election. Every single minute $50,000 of taxpayer money is burned just on paying interest on that debt. That's $72 million every day—$72 million that cannot go to hospitals, that cannot go to schools, that cannot go to essential services and that, at a time of increased threat, cannot go to Australia's defence. Instead, it goes to servicing the consequences of fiscal recklessness. Let me be clear: responsible government spending on essential services is necessary. Programs like the age pension, like Medicare and like aged care are vital, but spending must be targeted, efficient and effective. What we're seeing instead is spending driven by political convenience and short-term interest, piling up debt with no regard for the generations who will ultimately foot the bill. That's why we call on the Treasurer to adopt clear, measurable budget rules, rules that restore discipline to the management of our nation's finances so that the people who come after us, our kids and future generations, are not burdened by the choices of today. We call on the Treasurer to adopt rules that ensure spending growth is sustainable, rules that anchor debt and rules that bring transparency and accountability back to the budget process. Without discipline there is no stability. Australians are really hurting at the moment. They're hurting when they're running their businesses, they're hurting when they're paying the cost of groceries and they're hurting when they're paying the cost associated with raising a family. Without stability, Australian families across my electorate in McPherson, from Burleigh Heads to Currumbin to Coolangatta, will continue to pay the price for Labor's higher inflation, for higher interest rates and higher debt. It's time we reined in expenditure and put Australians and our future generations first. 18:44 Mr NG 316052 Menzies I rise today to speak against the motion moved by the member for Fairfax, a motion that, as is typical of the opposition, cherrypicks figures and ignores the advice of independent experts to gaslight the Australian people. If those opposite were so worried about interest rates, they must have been ready to tear up their membership to their party at the last election, because, when they left government, inflation was at six per cent and higher. Since we came to government we've been able to bring inflation down to a number with a three in front of it. The member for Fairfax knows that the governor of the independent Reserve Bank of Australia did not talk about public spending as a driver of the recent uptick in inflation. The member for Fairfax, like so many of those opposite, misrepresents the governor's words in an attempt to reclaim credibility on economic management. He knows that the governor has stated very clearly on numerous occasions that the recent uptick in inflation is due to a higher than expected increase in private demand. The Liberal Party claim to be the party of the private sector and entrepreneurialism, and you would think that this would be something that they would celebrate, but, instead, it is something that they talk down or ignore. We have seen the fastest growth in the private sector, the fastest quarterly growth in almost a decade. We've supported private sector investment in areas like renewables and data centres, investing in those parts of the economy that will be the future industries for Australia. And that's why we've been able to see that growth in the private sector and why growth has been better than expected. The coalition trashed their reputation for economic management when they were last in office, and they put the final nail in the coffin when they went to the last election promising higher taxes, bigger budget deficits and more tax. Now they've made the member for Hume, who was the architect of this plan, the Leader of the Opposition. They've also made Senator Jane Hume Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Senator Hume was the architect of their disastrous working-from-home policy, a policy that said to working Australians that working from home is not a legitimate way to balance work and family life and that sought to drag people back into the office. The senator also said that Chinese Australians who were participating in democratic process were 'Chinese spies'. We are the party of responsible economic management, the party of fiscal discipline and the party of surpluses and of paying down debt. In the last term, the Labor government delivered the biggest improvement in the budget in a single parliamentary term. The government delivered two surpluses, something the coalition weren't able to do for the nine years that they were last in government. We exercise fiscal discipline and we bank those savings to pay down debt. The budget is $233 billion better off than what it was when we inherited it. Debt in 2024-25 was $176 billion lower than that which was left to us, and that will mean $60 billion less in interest costs over the medium term. We've got peak gross debt down 45 per cent to 37 per cent, and we've done it all while keeping unemployment at historically low levels and while increasing wages. We've created jobs, and we've ensured that, during tough economic times, people have been able to keep their jobs. The new shadow treasurer recently did a bit of freelancing and said that we should question whether or not the Reserve Bank of Australia should have its dual mandate—to bring inflation down but also to have full employment. I think that's a case of saying the quiet bit out loud. We know that those opposite don't care about Australian jobs. We want to build an economy that works for people—not the other way around—and that means that we're making sure that people stay in or can get good, secure jobs with good conditions. Of course, we have made spending commitments, and those opposite have referred to some of those spending commitments. We stand by those because spending is about priorities. We've prioritised policies on health, education, housing, cost of living and tax cuts. These are policies that were endorsed by the Australian people at the last election. For that, we will be eternally grateful. We've been able to start implementing those policies and have seen an increase in the rates of Medicare bulk-billing. We'll prioritise these policies while better managing the budget, focusing on productivity and helping Australians with cost-of-living relief. 18:49 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey There is a crisis that everyday Australians are feeling right now. There's a crisis happening at the supermarket check-out, at the petrol pump and at the kitchen table, where the monthly bills stack up. To understand what Labor are doing to our economy, think of it as a balloon. Every time the government announce a new program, every time they borrow more money and every time they refuse to rein in their budget, Dr Jim Chalmers is blowing more hot air into this economic balloon. But here is the reality: if you keep pumping air into a balloon, eventually it pops. When this balloon finally bursts, it is not just going to blow up in Labor's face; it is going to hurt everyday Australians who are already stretched to their absolute limits. Labor's reckless spending is out of control. The Treasurer's own budget papers show that he has added $50 billion in new discretionary spending in this financial year alone. Government spending is at its highest level outside of a recession in nearly 40 years. Because of all this hot air, Labor's debt is racing towards a staggering $1 trillion. That's $1,000 billion. Just to pay the interest on that debt, Australians are shelling out $50,000 every single minute. That is money that adds demand and keeps pressure on prices. Last week, an article written by the greatest Australian treasurer, Peter Costello, stated that the long-term fiscal focus established by the 1998 Charter of Budget Honesty, which was designed to protect future generations from unsustainable policy, is now gone. Costello contends that, while Australia was in a strong debt-free position two decades ago, the nation's sovereign economic capital has since been severely run down—a wasted 20 years. From its position of zero net debt 20 years ago, the Australian government has come to carry a net debt of nearly $20,000 per citizen. But the better way to think of that—because not all people pay taxes—is this: if you combine the net debt of the South Australian state Labor government and the federal Labor government, over the South Australian workforce that's over $100,000 per worker. That debt will be paid off by their children and their grandchildren. Since 2007, tax per person has risen by approximately $16,000 in constant dollars. Yet the government continues to signal that further tax increases may be necessary. Government spending per person has grown by 32 per cent since 2007, double the rate of tax growth. Australia's best and longest serving treasurer is worth listening to, Dr Jim Chalmers, and you should take some notes. This never-ending cost-of-living crisis is homegrown. Domestic inflation is running hot at 4.9 per cent, and, because of this, our living standards have plummeted. In fact, under Labor, Australia has suffered the biggest fall in household disposable income in the entire developed world. For the first time in Australian history, Aussie kids will be worse off than their parents. That should be a national shame. Our inflation is now worse than any major advanced economy—higher than the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Japan. When inflation stays high, interest rates stay high. The average Australian with a mortgage is now paying around $21,000 a year more in interest than they were under the previous coalition government. After nearly four years of Labor, everyday Australians are paying more for absolutely everything: energy, 40 per cent; food, 16 per cent; rent, 22 per cent; insurance, 39 per cent. Labor claimed they would fix child care, yet out-of-pocket costs are up 11 per cent. Energy—the net zero ideology is failing. With temporary energy expiring, the truth is out. Electricity prices have jumped 32 per cent this year alone, and now, suddenly, Labor is whispering about spending cuts. Do we really trust Labor to cut spending after years of zero restraint? I certainly do not. I'll tell you what I would cut—the $15 billion of corrupt money given to the construction sector and CFMEU rorts, or the 10 per cent of identified corruption in the $50 billion a year we spend on the NDIS. As Liberals we stand for lower inflation, lower interest rates, lower taxes and lower spending. We must cut red tape to help businesses grow. As such, we have called on Labor to form a joint taskforce on spending restraint. If the Prime Minister is serious about our economy, he will back this proposal. We are running out of time and we must stop inflating the economy before it bursts. 18:54 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner The member for Fairfax and those opposite want to lecture this place about government spending with this private member's motion today. Let's talk about government spending. Under those opposite, spending ballooned, debt ballooned and deficits were entrenched. What did Australians have to show for it? Higher inflation, real wages falling and a trillion dollars of Liberal debt. On this side of the House we've done the hard work. Labor has paid down Liberal debt. Labor has delivered two budget surpluses. Labor has overseen the biggest budget turnaround in a parliamentary term. We've improved the budget position by more than $233 billion compared with what we inherited. Debt is $176 billion lower in 2025-26, saving $60 billion in interest costs alone. We've got the budget in much better nick than what we inherited from those opposite. While we've repaired the budget, we've also delivered for all Australians. It is Labor that has cut taxes for every taxpayer so Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn. If those opposite had won the last election, income taxes would be going up for more than 14 million Australians. They had plans for higher taxes. They had a plan for more debt. They had a plan for lower wages. If they had their way, Australians would be earning less and paying more. That is not economic responsibility; that is economic recklessness. Labor's spending is responsible, is targeted and is fixing years of neglect. Through our Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, we are delivering the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian government because every child deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We are delivering real, practical cost-of-living relief. In my community of Bonner over 6,000 families receive Commonwealth rent assistance. Those opposite failed to keep it in line with inflation. Labor has increased rent assistance by almost 50 per cent. We are strengthening Medicare. Thousands of residents in my community have already benefited from our brand-new Medicare urgent care clinics—the Carina-Carindale and Capalaba Medicare clinics—which are open seven days a week and are fully bulk-billed, with not a cent to pay. There are now 130 Medicare urgent care clinics right across our country. There are over 3,400 GP practices now fully bulk-billing right across the nation, including 13 in my electorate of Bonner. More than 95 per cent of Australians now live within 20 minutes of a bulk-billing practice. That is what responsible investment looks like. We are also delivering for people with disability. Labor has reduced waiting times for the disability support pension from an average of 96 days to 34 days—and that is because we invest in frontline services. We recognise Australians are under pressure. That is why we are delivering tax cuts, cheaper medicines, more bulk-billing, higher wages and housing support while still improving the budget. Those opposite talk about spending, but when they were in government low wages were a deliberate design feature of their economic architecture. Real wages fell for five consecutive quarters before we came to office, and inflation had a six in front of it. Real wages are now growing. Living standards are rising. More than 1.2 million jobs have been created since May 2022, with more than four in five in the private sector. The private sector is recovering. Growth is picking up. Investment is strengthening. We are focused on higher living standards, secure jobs and responsible economic management. Those opposite stand for higher taxes, lower wages, bigger deficits and more debt. Labor stands for stronger Medicare, better schools, housing security and cost-of-living relief. I hear those opposite sighing. If the member for Fairfax and those opposite want to see actual reckless spending, they don't need a private member's motion in this place; all they need is a mirror. 18:59 Mr KENNEDY 267506 Cook Those on the other side want to talk about reckless spending. Right now, under this Treasurer, public spending as a percentage of GDP is the highest it's been in 40 years outside the pandemic. It's easy to talk in abstractions—percentages of GDP, aggregate demand, fiscal settings. But what does it all mean? It means $21,000 a year more in interest to the average household on their mortgage. It means we're paying $50,000 a minute—every single minute. In the time I will take to do this speech, that's $250,000 to the government debt just on interest alone. The Treasurer's own budget papers show around $50 billion in additional discretionary spending this financial year alone. Economists are clear about what this means. KPMG's chief economist recently said: Government spending, which has been adding to aggregate demand … needs to … be reined in to help better balance the demand and supply pressures driving the current push up in inflation. EY's chief economist has warned that elevated government spending could contribute to more rate rises this year. The RBA's own forecasts are banking in at least another two rate rises. We've had 13 rate rises under this Labor government, and recently the Reserve Bank's own governor, Michele Bullock, acknowledged that government spending is adding to inflationary pressure and, when this inflationary pressure persists, the Reserve Bank must push up interest rates. The Treasurer tries to hide and obscure this fact with weasel words. He likes to talk about private and public demand and saying private demand has been stronger than public demand. But what do these weasel words obscure? He does not talk about government spending, because in private demand it contains mountains of government spending—NDIS payments, health payments, social security transfers, energy rebates and battery payments. All this government spending shows up in private demand. This is why we have the Treasurer obscuring the fact, talking about private demand, because he thinks he's fooling the Australian people that it is not about government spending. There are mountains of government spending in that private demand. That presentation of the facts obscures the fact we have the highest government spending in 40 years today, outside of the pandemic. Inflation was 3.8 per cent in January, but guess what? Domestic inflation, the homegrown inflation, is running at 4.9 per cent. This is the highest of any developed economy in the world. Why is Australia so different? Why are we different from the USA? Why are we different from the EU? Why are we different from Japan and all these other advanced economies? It's because of the government spending. It's because of Jim, 'Jimflation' and the government spending. Recently I sat down with a single mother in Sans Souci. After 13 interest rates, she could no longer afford to pay the mortgage in her unit in Sans Souci. She has lost the deposit. It's eaten away. She got a bargain basement loan in COVID, but after 13 interest rate rises, an average of $21,000 a year more, she's had to give it up in tears thinking about that money she's worked for and put away in the bank that is now evaporating away. When fiscal policy is expansionary while the economy is operating at near capacity, monetary policy—interest rates—must tighten further. The Reserve Bank recently said two per cent economic growth is the speed limit for our economy. Any economic growth above that just pushes inflation. Well, we are growing at two per cent, so every time this government increases government spending, you pay more at home. Your money becomes worth less. The prices of everything go up, and you get left footing the bill. And haven't the prices of everything gone up? Childcare costs have gone up 11 per cent in the past year. Energy prices have gone up 32 per cent alone in the last year and over 40 per cent since Labor came to office. Groceries remain elevated. Insurance remains going up as well. Even still, this treasurer is spending more and more and more. Government spending is not predicted to go down next year; it will continue to increase. So, if Australians are tightening their belts, if the mother in Sans Souci is tightening her belt, the Treasurer must do the same and start reducing government spending. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299150 I'll just remind the member for Cook, if you're going to make reference to members, to refer to them by their correct title, please. 19:04 Mr PASIN 240756 Barker I rise in support of this matter of public importance because this is a debate about accountability, discipline and a treasurer who refuses point blank to take responsibility for his out-of-control spending, which is fuelling inflation and keeping interest rates higher for longer. After nearly four years of this Labor government, Australians are paying more for literally everything. Insurance is up 39 per cent, energy is up 32 per cent, rents are up 22 per cent, housing is up 19 per cent and food is up 16 per cent—I think you get the drift. But these aren't abstract figures. They're not just something that's rattled off in this place. This is real life. There are mortgage repayments, there are power bills and there are grocery bills, and they all keep rising. While Australians have tightened their belts, this government hasn't. The Treasurer's own budget paper shows $50 billion—that's 'b' for 'billion'—in new discretionary spending in this financial year alone. Two-thirds of the increase in spending this year is the result of deliberate policy decisions taken by those opposite. Spending has risen from 24.3 per cent of GDP to 26.9 per cent. Debt is heading north of $1 trillion, and mortgage holders are paying around $21,000 a year more in interest repayments. That's the real-world cost of fiscal recklessness. And, when you look at where the money's going, the problem becomes even clearer. We've had a bit of weather recently, and a lot of people have turned to the Bureau of Meteorology. Let's leave aside the fact that the new website still doesn't work as well as the old one. This was a project that was meant to cost $4.1 million and is now slated to cost the taxpayer around $96 million. That's $96 million for a website that Australians can't even rely on! That's millions of dollars funnelled out the door to big consulting firms. At CSIRO, more than half a million dollars a year is going to grounds maintenance at their headquarters and—wait for it!—over $100,000 a year goes to indoor plants and flowers. That is while staff positions are under pressure—seriously! And now we learn that Australia and Australian taxpayers are helping to fund a fleet of electric buses and boats. That's okay, until I tell you that those buses and boats are in Wuhan, China, to attract tourists and boost the climate resilience in a Chinese city—spare me! While Australian families are struggling with power bills and mortgage repayments, their taxes are being used to subsidise transport fleets overseas. That is the priority of those opposite using Australian taxpayer dollars. That's not cost-of-living relief; that's waste. Billions have been committed to hydrogen and carbon capture experiments, while there's little to show for them in terms of reliable energy supply or lower power prices. Electricity prices, as I said, have surged over 32 per cent. Australians were promised, of course, $275 off their power bill, but that never happened. Instead, we've seen prices skyrocket, and, after all that spending, emissions reductions have flatlined. Billions have been spent. Power bills are up, and emissions are barely moving. That's not political success; that's waste laid on top of failure. And this is a pattern: spending up, debt up, power bills up, mortgage stress up, with accountability nowhere to be found. The Treasurer blames global conditions, but global conditions didn't force the injection of $50 billion of discretionary funding into the economy this year alone. Those were choices, and, when you add that level of spending into an already inflationary environment, the Reserve Bank is left to do the heavy lifting. Higher spending means higher inflation. Higher inflation means higher interest rates. Australian families are once again left to carry the cost of the decisions taken by those opposite. Real wages have gone backwards. Income tax has risen through bracket creep. Mortgage interest rates have surged. Australians are working harder for longer and getting less. That's why this motion matters. It condemns the Treasurer for refusing to take responsibility. It highlights $50 billion in discretionary spending. It recognises the burden that mortgage payers are under, and it calls for measurable budget rules, rules that will restore discipline, restrain spending growth and ensure windfall revenue is used to pay down debt, not fuel pet projects. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299150 There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next day of sitting. Consumer Protection 172 19:09 Mr HUSIC 91219 Chifley I move: That this House: (1) notes that the Government is taking strong action to protect Australian consumers and ensure fairer markets by: (a) banning unfair trading practices economy wide that cost Australians time and money; (b) ending dodgy subscription traps by ensuring that consumers get clear information upfront, timely reminders before free trials end, and a cancellation process that is just as easy as signing up; (c) ending drip pricing by requiring businesses to display the full transaction costs upfront ensuring consumers know exactly what they are paying for; (d) strengthening consumer guarantees so Australians get products that work, repairs that are fair, and refunds they are entitled to; (e) banning supermarket price gouging from l July 2026 to prohibit very large retailers from charging excessive prices; (f) cracking down on shrinkflation, so companies cannot disguise price increases by reducing package sizes while charging the same, or more; (g) making unit pricing clearer and more consistent, backed by penalties for non-compliance, so consumers can spot real value at a glance and are not misled by tricky labels; and (h) consulting on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's recommendations to boost transparency on prices, promotions and loyalty programs at supermarkets, making it easier for Australians to assess value for money; and (2) supports this comprehensive consumer protection agenda designed to deliver fairer prices, more competition, and a better deal for Australians. Strong markets rely on trust. They rely on clear information, genuine competition and the confidence of the people who participate in them every day. Strong consumer laws are a foundation stone of that trust. They ensure Australians are treated fairly, protected from misleading conduct and able to participate in markets with confidence. When consumers have that confidence, competition improves, prices fall, quality rises and innovation should follow. That's why the government has placed consumer protection at the centre of its cost-of-living agenda. Cost-of-living pressure is not only driven by wages and interest rates but also shaped by whether markets are transparent, contracts are clear and consumers can make informed choices. It's about whether the price displayed is the price actually paid; whether a household can manage its budget by cancelling, for example, subscriptions that it doesn't need—and can do so without the hassle—and whether the weekly shopping reflects genuine competition rather than concentrated market power in the terms that are dictated by it. The government is committed to taking on dodgy business tactics by banning unfair trading practices that cost Australians time and money. We're ending, for example, subscription traps by requiring the clear disclosure of key terms before signing up, reminders before free trial periods end and cancellation processes that are just as easy as signing up. We're ending drip pricing by requiring unavoidable transaction fees to be displayed prominently and upfront so Australians know the real price before they buy. We're strengthening consumer guarantees so that, when products fail, Australians get the repair, replacement or refund that they're entitled to, backed by civil penalties and stronger enforcement powers. Manufacturers will be required to reimburse suppliers for the cost of providing those remedies, ensuring small businesses aren't left bearing the financial burden of faults they didn't create. These changes protect consumers while also supporting the many businesses that already compete fairly and transparently. Nowhere is the need for fairness more visible than at the supermarket check-out. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's supermarkets inquiry provided clear evidence of structural issues confronting the sector, and here's what the ACCC told us: … Coles and Woolworths account for a large share of supply (approximately 67% combined) in Australia's supermarket retailing oligopoly. Due to the oligopoly structure of the Australian supermarket industry, Coles and Woolworths have limited incentive to compete vigorously on price. We have not observed Coles and Woolworths seeking to substantially discount prices below each other in aggregate. That's pretty damning. Australians feel cost-of-living pressures most acutely when they buy food for their family. So, when the regulator tells us that anticompetitive behaviour is set to continue for the foreseeable future, we've got to be able to step in, and we've done so. We made the food and grocery code mandatory, for example, and we've increased the ACCC's funding—more than $30 million—to help it investigate misleading pricing and bad-faith conduct. We've backed in CHOICE to publish quarterly price-monitoring reports so shoppers can compare baskets of goods, and from 1 July 2026 we'll ban price gouging by supermarkets, prohibiting them from charging prices that are excessive when compared to the cost of supply plus a reasonable margin. Further work is underway to improve transparency around promotions, loyalty programs and price trends, reflecting concerns raised through the ACCC inquiry. Reforms to merger notification and planning barriers are aimed at making it easier for new competitors to enter the market, strengthening long-term competitive pressure. Australians shouldn't be treated like mugs at the check-out. They deserve transparency. Work is also progressing on extending unfair-trading protections to small businesses and franchisees and on removing non-compete clauses for lower income workers, supporting mobility, competition and productivity. All these reflect a consistent principle that well-functioning markets require strong competition and strong consumer protection. All in all, this is a government that backs everyday consumers, with a track record to prove it. I commend the motion to the House. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299150 Is there a seconder for the motion? Ms Campbell 312823 I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 19:14 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong (): I thank the member for Chifley for bringing this motion to the House. For five challenging years, Australian families have weathered high prices to keep the lights on, put a roof over their heads and put food on the family table. In times like these, strong consumer protections are essential. There's no good time to get ripped off. But, in a prolonged cost-of-living crisis, Australian consumers need fairness, transparency and accountability more than ever. Demanding strong protections for Australian consumers means drawing a line between profit and profiteering. It does not begrudge businesses from turning a profit. But, when families are standing in the aisle of a supermarket wondering whether they can afford a block of cheese, something has gone wrong. We can't talk about consumer vulnerability without taking a good, hard look at the premier duopoly of Australian corporations: Coles and Woolies. The ACCC has found that our grocery giants are among the most profitable in the world, that their product margins have grown over the last five years and that they have limited incentive to compete with each other on price. When our biggest providers of household essentials are posting billion-dollar profits in a cost-of-living crisis, we are entitled to feel that the only thing that is going 'down, down' is trust in Coles and Woolies. Prices are certainly not 'down, down'. A block of cheese will set you back almost $15. Two litres of milk is pushing $7, and you won't get much change out of $20 for a litre of olive oil. It's $20 for a chocolate bunny. It's no wonder that some people are saying that Easter has been cancelled. In recent years, we've also seen the damage done by Qantas, another flagship Australian business, selling tickets on cancelled flights, accumulating enormous profits while receiving COVID related taxpayer subsidies and slot hoarding to block its competitors. Qantas has been on the nose, and Australians have demanded better. They've wanted to know why this government has not legislated mandatory compensation for delayed and cancelled flights and why it has failed to address the airline duopoly. When a flight is significantly delayed in Canada, every passenger receives $400. In the US, it's $100. In the EU, it's a full refund and 250 Euros. Those payments are made within days of a delayed or cancelled flight. In Australia, we're lucky to get a $20 meal voucher. Airlines would be much less likely to cancel or delay flights or engage in slot hoarding if they had to pay up to $100,000 in compensation per flight. The Albanese government has failed to put in place the one measure which could have transformed how airlines deal with delays at domestic airports and to provide Australian consumers with the protections that they deserve. Progress has also been slow on banking protections. The Hayne royal commission exposed the massive harms that unregulated banking activity and other poor banking practices have caused for ordinary Australians, but it has taken years to achieve adequate protection against scams, and banks are still often placing the burden of fraud on customers. Australian consumers are still struggling to trust our banks. They feel that the big four, in particular, prioritise profits over customer outcomes. They cite excessive fees, unfair charges, poor service and unethical lending practices. Nearly three-quarters of Australians have lost trust in banks, with younger consumers aged between 18 and 54 and those under financial pressure being the most sceptical about their actions. ASIC has also highlighted poor practices for customers experiencing financial hardship, and the Commonwealth and the NAB have both recently been involved in fraudulent home-loan activities involving AI forgeries, an issue which is likely to cause further loss of trust in our banking processes. Australians know that rising living costs are squeezing household budgets and increasing hardship in our communities. At times like these, strong consumer protections aren't just desirable; they're essential. All Australians deserve fairness, transparency and accountability at the supermarket, at the bank and at the airport. And all Australians need their government to ensure adequate consumer protection and fair trading practices. 19:19 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton Every kid growing up in Queensland knows what it feels like to get out of the pool on a hot summer's day, to finish your swimming lesson and to jump up to the canteen to get the big python—to eat a python, which is the Queensland way! When you eat that python, it's so big that you could stretch it and it'd almost be as big as yourself. I went to the Dunlop pool in my local electorate with my daughter, Margaret, and we bought her first python, but it wasn't big enough to stretch. It was much smaller than that. It looked like a tiny version of what I remember growing up. This is shrinkflation. Today's marketplace can be a difficult landscape, full of hard-to-spot risks and traps for consumers. We have to be on guard against practices like scams, supermarket price-gouging and shrinkflation. This is particularly important when one of the places Australians most feel the sting of cost-of-living pressures is at the checkout. It's not just at the checkout but at the bowser, at the ATM and at so many places. People and families are doing it tough. That's why the Labor Albanese government is focused on making sure that Australians have strong and reliable consumer protections that actually work in the real world. These protections help people steer clear of misleading behaviour, of dodgy products and of unfair treatment. It gives everyone more confidence that when they shop or when they sign up for services they will be protected and they will be treated fairly. Fair, modern consumer rules don't just help households. They also lift the whole economy up. When businesses play by the same rules, it creates a fair, competitive marketplace where small businesses can thrive and customers can enjoy better quality, lower prices and, critically, more innovation. Let's talk about supermarkets. Labor is holding supermarkets to account to make sure that consumers get a fair deal. It's all part of our commitment to help with the cost of living, our No. 1 priority. We're making price-gouging illegal. A new rule banning supermarkets from charging excessive prices for groceries will officially kick in from 1 July 2026. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's supermarkets inquiry found that Coles and Woolies do not have strong incentives to seriously compete on price and that their dominance in the grocery sector is unlikely to shift any time soon. This new ban is designed to act as a safeguard for consumers in a market where genuine competition can be limited. The new law amends the food and grocery code of conduct from pricing products well over what they should be when the cost of supply and a reasonable margin is considered. This builds on Labor's other work to protect Australian consumers, such as making the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory from 1 April 2025. These changes put real safeguards in place for farmers and suppliers, with tough penalties to keep the big supermarkets in line when they break the rules. It also tackles the longstanding power imbalance between major grocery retailers and the people who supply them. The updated rules introduce stronger protections against retaliation, along with improved dispute resolution processes so suppliers have clearer pathways to raise concerns and to get fair treatment. We've strengthened unit pricing so shoppers can compare prices quickly and confidently. This means clearer, more consistent unit pricing on supermarket shelves, helping Australians spot genuine value and avoid being ripped off. Labor is also taking aim at unfair trading practices. We're focusing on protecting consumers from free trials and subscriptions that are hiding surprise charges. Businesses will be required to outline all the information before a customer signs up. This includes clear and upfront information about mandatory transaction fees. They will also have to provide alerts when free trials are ending and make cancelling a subscription easier. The Albanese Labor government is committed to ensuring strong protections for Australian consumers. Australians deserve a fair go. It's one of the principles that underpin who we are. They deserve to be shielded from misleading behaviour, unsafe products and unfair practices. 19:24 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey I rise today to address the consumer protection measures laid out by the government. At the outset, I want to acknowledge that much of what is contained in this agenda is, frankly, the right thing to do. Whether it's banning unfair trading practices, ending the cynical trap of dodgy subscriptions or finally cracking down on the sneaky practice of shrinkflation, these are commonsense wins. Common sense is not something you typically associate with Labor, the Greens and the teals. However, it is one thing to tinker with the fine print in a comfortable Canberra office; it is quite another to provide regional customers with anything like the same level of protections as those in the cities. While the government pats itself on the back for protecting the suburban shopper, it is presiding over a systematic failure of consumer protections for regional Australians who are paying for services they simply do not receive. Let's talk about telecommunications. Labor talk about 'strengthening' consumer guarantees, yet they have overseen the most botched consumer transition in our history: the 3G shutdown. The minister promised equivalent coverage. I invite the minister to come to Weetulta or come to Tarcowie and tell them that the silence on their phones is equivalent. The 4G rollout wasn't finished before the 3G plug was pulled. Families are forking out thousands for Starlink or expensive boosters just to get the basic signal they used to have for free. Where is the consumer protection for them? In Tarcowie this isn't just an inconvenience; it's a threat to life. In 2004, three residents died while alone. In those instances, limited reception was a major concern for emergency response. This doesn't sound like consumer protection. If a supermarket drip-feeds a $2 fee or Netflix increases their cost, this government pounces. But, when a telco takes money from a farmer and leaves them unable to make calls to an ambulance, the government looks the other way and has nothing to say. This brings me to the second half of this crisis: the total failure of our regional power grid. While the state and federal governments obsess over a reckless push towards net zero, the basics of grid stability in South Australia have been left to rot. In the Yorke Peninsula and the mid-north, we aren't just worried about unfair trading practices; we are worried about the lights staying on. Early this year, the wholesale electricity price in SA spiked to over $20,000 per megawatt hour. That is the highest spot price ever recorded. Last week I was with Senator Kerrynne Liddle at the SIMEC mining operations near Whyalla. This is where the hematite and magnetite is coming from to feed the steelworks. At full noise, this mine consumes 50 megawatt hours. At over $20,000 per hour, that is a million dollars an hour, removing any chance they have of making any money that month. So SIMEC employs engineers to predict the weather, hence they shut down the operations when there is no wind and no solar in the grid. That is the reality of a wind-and-solar-only grid. Intermittent renewables cannot be compared with base-load energy supply. My constituents are paying premium prices for a Third World service. We are seeing constant outages caused by insulator pollution—dust and salt build-up on the lines—because of a lack of maintenance. Last month I was in Minlaton to hear concerns of Yorke Peninsula locals. I can tell you the emotions were high. People are fed up. They are tired of paying for something that keeps on failing them. While some of these are state and supplier issues, the federal government needs to look at strengthening the consumer protections for power outages. Think of Lisa Martin, who runs the Minlaton Bakery—she lost $5,000 in a single day not just in trade but because of dumped stock—or Terri Thiel in Edithburgh, who lost her home to a power network fault fire in 2019 and now has to watch the lights flicker again. These small businesses are customers too. They pay their bills. They suffer the loss of food, loss of stock and the threat of fire from flashovers. The SA Power Networks taskforce says it may take several years to fix these hotspots. I ask the minister: If Harvey Norman sold a consumer a fridge that only worked half the time and spoilt their food, would you protect them? Would they get a refund? While this isn't—well, that'll do, Deputy Speaker. I'm not going to get the next sentence in. Thanks. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 299150 Thank you. The time allotted for this debate has expired. The debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made in order of the day for the next sitting. Federation Chamber adjourned 19: 30