2026-03-05 3 1 0 House of Reps 0 1

Thursday, 5 March 2026

The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 10:32, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA 1 PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA Address to Parliament 1 10:33 The SPEAKER 53517 On behalf of the House I welcome, as guests, the President of the Senate and honourable senators to this sitting of the House of Representatives to hear an address by the Rt Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. Serjeant-at-Arms, please escort our guest to the chamber. The Rt Hon. Mark Carney having been announced and escorted into the chamber— The SPEAKER 53517 Prime Minister, I welcome you to the House of Representatives. Your address today is a significant occasion in the history of this House. 10:35 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler My friend, Prime Minister Carney, and Madame Fox Carney, it is my great honour and an absolute pleasure to welcome you and all the members of your delegation to our parliament on behalf of the people of Australia. I know that I speak for every member of this place when I say we are very much looking forward to your address. It may help you to know that, back in 1839, Britain sentenced 58 French Canadians involved in the rebellion in Quebec to be transported to New South Wales and put to work widening Parramatta Road, which goes through my local electorate in Sydney and past Canada Bay in the electorate of the member for Reid. In 1854, it was a Canadian, Henry Ross, who stood in the centre of the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat and raised a new flag—the iconic Southern Cross, a symbol of the miners' struggle for justice. In other words, Prime Minister, Canadian rebels with bold ideas have always been welcome here in Australia—there's always a context—and that is because our countries have always recognised something of ourselves in each other. We are two societies enriched by indigenous cultures and their love of and connection to the beauty of our lands and our waters; Commonwealth countries that have forged unique, proud and independent identities; democracies that did not just adopt the Westminster system—we made it fairer, stronger and our own; and two nations that are at our very best when we look over our wide horizons, when we look out to the world and bring our values with us as we engage with it. The first Australian prime minister to address a joint sitting of the Canadian parliament was our great, wartime Labor leader John Curtin, standing in your House of Commons on 1 June 1944, just five days before Australians would help Canadians take and hold Juno Beach. Curtin looked to the future those brave men were fighting for, to how to secure a lasting peace worth the winning, to how to build an economy and society worthy of the service, sacrifice and suffering of those who had kept it free and to the role that Australia and Canada had to play in this. Curtin said this: In a world where none of us is strong enough to stand alone, we shall discover how—and by what means—we can best stand with and for each other. More than eight decades on, even in a new world order, that old test endures. Technology is changing the nature of conflict and heightening the risk and cost of escalation. And, if ever nations such as ours had the luxury of imagining that distance alone kept us safe, those days are certainly gone. The same Iranian regime launching indiscriminate attacks on nations across the Middle East orchestrated antisemitic terrorist attacks on a synagogue and a small business here in Australia in 2024. For us, as two democracies in an age of polarisation, as two dynamic trading nations in a time of disrupted supply chains and as two middle powers in an era of strategic competition, Australia and Canada must seek and create new ways to stand with and for each other. Prime Minister, for all the comfortable ties of old affection, what makes the friendship between Australia and Canada noteworthy is what we do not share. We do not share a border, a region, a hemisphere or any market smaller than the global one. Yet this makes the connection between our countries more meaningful, not less, because our cooperation, our partnership, is a positive choice, not a necessity. When we work together, it is on the basis of our shared convictions, not mutual convenience. When we do, when we stand in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine, when we work together to seize the economic opportunities of clean energy, when we strengthen our defence industry cooperation—including through Australia's biggest ever defence export, the world leading over-the-horizon radar technology—and when we face up to the urgent global challenge of climate change—because we know what it means for our unique environments, for our farmers, growers and producers and for our firefighters, who, for decades, have travelled between our nations to help each other in the toughest of times and now face the prospect of their fire seasons overlapping because of climate change—when we act together, we demonstrate to our citizens that government is not a passive institution; it is an instrument for positive change. What's more, when we send a message to all those nations that look to us as equals, as peers, as neighbours and as leaders, they too have a choice, agency and a part to play because peace, security and prosperity are not the preserve of the great powers alone; they are our common cause and our collective responsibility. Prime Minister, Australia and Canada are middle powers in a world that is changing. We cannot change it back, but we can back ourselves, back our citizens and back each other. Your visit reflects our shared ambition for Australia and Canada to do more together at a deeper level and to build on our shared strengths, from our resources and critical minerals to defence technology and the investing power of our superannuation and pension funds. Prime Minister, in this decade, where nearly every single challenge is indeed a global one, the distance between our two nations has never mattered less and the closeness of our values has never mattered more. Together, let us seize the opportunities that the world holds for us. You are very welcome here in our parliament today. I thank you for your ongoing friendship and our regular dialogue. You'll be welcome in Australia always. 10:42 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume I commend Prime Minister Albanese for his warm welcome for our guest of honour and his wife, Diana. Mr Speaker, I have a confession. I knew our guest of honour long before he became the Prime Minister of Canada. It was 1991. The Berlin Wall had fallen. The Cold War was all but over. In that atmosphere, two young, somewhat idealistic students met in an economics post-graduate course at Oxford. The bond was immediate. Both were from provincial backgrounds—Alberta, famous for its cattle, and southern New South Wales, famous for its sheep. Both were from families who cherished the value of education. Both were quietly cynical about the pompous Poms and the boisterous Yanks sauntering around Oxford. And, despite our different politics today, we both shared a healthy distaste for Soviet sympathisers. There we were, a Canadian and an Australian, regularly sitting next to each other in class, you sporting black eyes from ice hockey and me sporting bruises and cuts from rugby. But Mark's thesis was of great interest to the professors, whereas I wrote mine on the price of beer—of far greater interest to our student friends. Back then, I don't think either of us imagined a life like this in politics. One of life's great joys is seeing old friends do well. So it gives me immense joy to see Canada led by an old friend, a man of the highest calibre, utterly devoted to his country. Prime Minister Carney, with your presence here today we celebrate a remarkable bilateral relationship. While our eyes are on the horizon, we also take this moment to look behind us. Our democracies are the gift of British inheritance. It was the pragmatic, enlightened and accommodating nature of British stewardship that nurtured within our colonies self-identity, self-government and, ultimately, sovereign nationhood. With your presence here today, we acknowledge Canada's and Australia's mutual inheritance and two great constitutional monarchies. Australia was fortunate to look to the example of the Canadian Confederation as we forged our own federation. Our federation debates were robust. One of our founding fathers said: … we shall find the Canadian Constitution is about the best basis that we can select. Another founding father had a very different view, saying: … in no regard can we look upon the example of Canada as one to be imitated. But, whether Australia's founding fathers praised or criticised the Canadian model, they learned from Canada and yearned for what Canadians had achieved. Prime Minister Carney, with your presence here today we say with gratitude that Canada helped shape the Australian nation. We are two great democracies that have successfully woven together the Indigenous, colonial and migrant threads of our societies. Over the course of 125 years, our two nations have known a steadfast, stable and mutually supportive partnership. In peacetime and in wartime, in good times and in tough times, as we've just heard, our two peoples have known a deep and abiding friendship. Our partnership and friendship are testimony to the many achievements over many generations in trade and in business, in sharing intelligence and in sharing industriousness, in fighting our enemies and in fighting bushfires. Since you've become Prime Minister of Canada, I've admired many of the decisions you've taken that are grounded in economic realism: removing the consumer carbon tax, getting immigration under control and ensuring it's conducive to social cohesion, and a deregulation agenda that supports business and industry. Your speech in Switzerland in January was a much-needed wake-up call for middle powers of the West. You, Prime Minister Carney, said we're at a turning point, and we must indeed 'stop invoking rules-based international order as though it functions as advertised'. I'd go further. The rules-based international order has been exposed as wishful thinking of a bygone and benign era, especially in these times when autocratic regimes act with impunity. I wholeheartedly agree with you; in this brave new world, middle powers cannot simply build higher walls and retreat behind them. We must work together. We must act together, closer than ever, on defence, on secure supply chains and sovereign capabilities, on maintaining free trade. As you said, the strength of our values matter and the value of our strength matters. It's that moral clarity that must guide us and protect our way of life. Prime Minister Carney, on behalf of the coalition and the federal opposition, it's a privilege and a pleasure to welcome you to the Australian parliament—and, from one old friend to another, it's great to see you, mate. The SPEAKER 53517 Prime Minister Carney, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to address the House of Representatives. Rt Hon. MARK CARNEY (Prime Minister of Canada) (10:48): Prime Minister Albanese, thank you—and to Jodie—for this warm welcome and for this great honour. Leader of the Opposition Taylor, thank you for reminding me of the importance of beer and competition! In terms of 'deflating the palms', I would recall our meeting with Prime Minister Starmer, our trilateral, at a time of great consequence, where it was around drinks, and Prime Minister Albanese brought four of Australia's finest tins—which just happened to bear his name. Mr Speaker, President, honourable members and senators, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for this warm welcome of me, my wife and my colleagues to Australia. Let me also thank the Australian firefighters who are here in this chamber today. They came to my home province of Alberta when we faced record wildfires last summer. It is all too common, but what is also common is that action, that heroism. It is just as Australian firefighters have done for Canadians over the years. This is just one of the many testaments to the profound and practical friendship between our two nations. Friends, it is a distinct honour and privilege to address this parliament, one of the world's great chambers of democracy and a testament, as both previous speakers indicated, to our shared Commonwealth heritage. Allow me a few words in Canada's other official language. The Prime Minister of Canada then spoke French— Canada and Australia are great friends, and have been for a very long time. Trust is the central cornerstone of our relationship. When Canada and Australia act in unison, we make a big difference. In these times of rupture, our collaboration is even more strategic. We can each reinforce our sovereignty and, in doing so, deliver tangible results for our citizens, all of them, as well as for our economies [end translation]. Mr Speaker, the last time a Canadian prime minister stood here, it was a different era with different challenges. It was 2007, the eve the global financial crisis—a crisis through which Australia and Canada sailed. We sailed through that storm because of the soundness of our banks, the probity of our public finances and the resourcefulness of our people. While much has changed since then, these qualities endure, as does the friendship between our nations. Although we could not be further physically apart, Canada and Australia are strategic cousins. We may look to different skies—the North Star in our hemisphere, the Southern Cross in yours—but we have the same orientation. We share a common heritage, have developed a common perspective and can build a common future together—two sovereign nations, two proud democracies: the true north and land down under—navigating with the same values. As the Prime Minister indicated, what makes our relationship rare is that it was not built by geography or by great-power design. It was chosen repeatedly over centuries. In the mud of Flanders, on the shores of Normandy, in the hills of Korea and the valleys of Kandahar, Canadians and Australians have stood by each other when the hour was darkest and victory most in doubt. We have done so because we believe that people everywhere deserve to live freely, to govern themselves and to determine their own futures and that these values are worth defending, even at great cost. Together, we helped to build the post-war international system, to draft the UN charter and to create a global economic order that brought prosperity to our peoples. We helped write its rules, from Basile to Brisbane. We were at the table when the G20 was formed, when the Trans-Pacific Partnership was negotiated and when the standards governing trade, finance and security were all set. Yes, that system wasn't perfect, but it functioned—keeping sea lanes open, resolving disputes, growing trade and investment and narrowing the gaps between rich and poor across the world. With that global architecture now breaking down from consecutive crises I've come to Australia, at your invitation, to reaffirm our alliance and to suggest where it can go next, because it's my fundamental belief as a result of optimism I've picked up from people from this great country that from this rupture we can build something better, more prosperous, more resilient and more just. It's often observed that we have much in common: the Westminster system, federalism, common law, the Crown. Yet the foundations of our relationship go much deeper. We intuitively understand how each other's systems work, how power is constrained, how our institutions function and the values that underpin them. This is the product of decades, centuries, of parallel development, common inheritance and continuous exchange between our peoples. It's not something that can be replicated by a treaty or sustained by rhetoric. On this common foundation, we have built civic nations and societies held together not by blood or soil and not by a single faith or culture but by something more demanding and durable: a shared commitment to live together, to accommodate our differences and to pursue the common good. Canada's founding insight is that unity does not require uniformity, that we can share a country without conforming to a single identity and that our differences, honestly acknowledged and respectfully navigated, are a source of strength. Australia arrived at the same destination by its own path. Let us remember that Australia was the first nation in the world to give women the right to vote and to stand for parliament. Your example has inspired the world ever since, and that act of democratic extension—choosing to widen the circle rather than guard its edges—is the fundamental instinct that drives our common civic nationalism. Our two nations were built by risk-takers, by voyageurs, by drovers, by adventurers and by people whose families left everything behind to start again. They crossed oceans with uncertain prospects to bet on themselves and bet on each other. That commitment to building something together rather than resting on something inherited is bred in the bone of our national characters. Of course, we are both nations still in the making. The important work of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is ongoing. We continue to strive so that everyone has equal opportunities regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or starting point in their lives. This work is not the sign of weakness; rather, it is the product of a confidence and honesty that acknowledges when we fall short and relentlessly strives to do better. The institutional depth we share, our friendship forged by shared values and common battles, creates a trust. It is also a strategic asset. It is a source of power, and the question today for middle powers like us is whether we establish the conventions and help write the new rules that will determine our security and prosperity or let the hegemons dictate outcomes. In the new global environment, the ability to form effective coalitions is becoming a central strategic capability. Great powers can compel, but compulsion comes with costs, both reputational and financial. Middle powers can convene, but not everyone can. In the post-rupture world, the nations that are trusted and can work together will be quicker to the punch, more effective in their responses and more proactive in shaping outcomes, and ultimately those countries will be more secure and prosperous. Middle powers like Australia and Canada hold this rare convening power because others know we mean what we say and we will match our values with our actions. This has been earned by those before us throughout our history. The question is now: what do we do with it? Canada is choosing to create a dense web of connections to build our resilience. We've adopted a new framework for engaging the world—variable geometry, creating different coalitions for different issues based on common values and interests for those issues. This is not a retreat from multilateralism; it is its evolution. To be clear, Canada's support for the United Nations, Bretton Woods institutions and the multilateral system is, like Australia's, unwavering. But, while we are committed to reforms of these institutions in order to better reflect today's world, we need coalitions now to address immediate challenges. As those coalitions work, they will help demonstrate the power of multilateralism and reinvigorate it. The fact is, right now, many countries are concluding that they must develop greater strategic autonomy. This impulse is understandable. When the rules no longer protect you, you must defend yourself. A country that can't feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options. But, in the 21st century, the requirements for the economic security and prosperity of our countries extend far beyond food, conventional energy and defence, as important as these are. Today, sovereignty requires reliable access to space based communications and storage, vaccines, semiconductors, payment systems and capital. Because governments and businesses went for decades prioritising efficiency over resilience, we've developed supply chains and trading relationships that create dependencies on the great powers, sometimes even individual corporations, all of these affecting essential elements of our sovereignty. As that integration is weaponised, this creates fundamental vulnerabilities. In response, Canada's strategic imperative is to build sovereign capabilities in these critical sectors at home and in coalition with trusted, reliable partners, like Australia, to ensure that integration is never again the source of our subordination. Let me, in the spirit of the Leader of the Opposition, move from the theoretical to the practical. I'll give five examples of this variable geometry in practice. The first is in critical minerals. Canada and Australia are the world's two most reliable and like-minded mining giants. We are both committed to sustainability. We have each developed the most advanced extractive ecosystems, all of which range from prospecting to engineering, logistics and capital markets. We're blessed with abundance of foundational metals that power the batteries, the EVs, the smartphones and the AI systems of this century. Together, we produce one-third of global lithium, one-third of global uranium and 40 per cent of iron ore. In fairness, that's largely you—but we'll take credit for it! We have a combined war chest right now of $25 billion to fast-track global projects. Globally, we're 1 and 2 as the most attractive mining investment jurisdictions in the world. We are the world's critical mineral superpowers. In the old world—and even, to a degree, today—the temptation would be to see each other as competitors. In the New World, we should, as Prime Minister Albanese has suggested, be strategic collaborators to boost investments, accelerate technological cooperation, enhance supply chain resilience, expand our domestic processing abilities and reinforce each of our strategic autonomies, which is why, earlier today, we signed a series of new agreements on critical minerals, including with respect to the G7 critical minerals alliance—an alliance Prime Minister Albanese helped to launch in Kananaskis in June. This is the largest group of trusted democracies with critical minerals reserves in the world. The second area is in defence. Both our countries are building up our capabilities so the next generation of drones, surveillance aircraft, cyber and artificial intelligence is created in Adelaide and Alberta. Canada has just announced our first ever defence industrial strategy. It will catalyse half a trillion dollars of investment in our security and resilience over the course of the next decade. This creates enormous opportunities for cooperation between our countries. As the Prime Minister rightly referenced, we are already cooperating with Australia on your world-leading over-the-horizon radar. We're actively exploring new opportunities to protect our vast territories together. Australia and Canada are core members of the coalition of the willing, which provides vital military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in response to Russia's illegal, horrific war. The outcome of this war is not in doubt, although its duration is still uncertain. When peace comes—and it will come—the coalition, including Canada and Australia, will provide robust security guarantees to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe. As we have seen in this war in Ukraine, satellite communications are now a fundamental requirement for security. A Canadian based constellation of LEO satellites will launch next year, providing reliable and secure global communications. We're working with other like-minded partners, who possess similar capabilities, to build out a deep, resilient sovereign system that we can all share and we can each control in our territories. Artificial intelligence is my third example. As AI begins to transform our economies and our lives, strategic autonomy will require sovereign intelligence infrastructure, including secure clouds, data, LLMs and enterprise applications. Canada can contribute here as well, in partnership. We're the No. 1 global destination for master's and doctoral students. We produce some of the world's most renowned AI developers in our home for the leading AI institutes and many of the startups. But we know that is not sufficient. We know we must work with others who share our values to build sovereign AI capabilities so we are not caught between the hyperscalers and the hegemons. We're partnering with like-minded nations in Europe, and we look forward to today's agreements to work more closely in partnership with Australia, and, as well, building on the announcement at the APEC summit in our trilateral AI initiative, with India. Fourth, on trade, our two nations are championing efforts to build a bridge between the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union. Canada is already a member of both trading blocs. I hope, soon, you will be as well. Both of us know that the value of this is a global public good. Yes, it's market access, but it's a global public good because this is a bloc of 1½ billion people grounded in common standards and shared values and is capable of anchoring a new rules based trading system, even as the old one falters. To be clear, this is an ad hoc coalition, a variable geometry of middle powers that has a larger GDP than the United States, three times the trade flow of China, the largest combined financial balance sheets in the world, over 60 of the world's top universities and the largest source of cultural exports globally. It might not surprise you, given my background, that my final example is capital. Over the past two decades, access to capital has become increasingly weaponised, and in the coming period of global volatility our financial systems will likely be tested once again. Canada and Australia retain the advantages of sound banking systems, the most sophisticated and reliable financial structure. We have the ability that others might think they have but don't. We have the ability to sustain openness to cross-border capital flows. Our pension funds and your supers constitute one of the largest pools, soon to be the largest pools, of capital in the world. At present, there is nearly $7 trillion under management. This is a strategic asset for our citizens and future generations, particularly in a riskier world where it will increasingly matter who owes whom and who owns what. The fact is that we are currently underinvested in each other's economies, and it's high time to modernise our bilateral tax and investment treaty, and I welcome today's agreement to do exactly that. These new connections between Australia and Canada are greater than the sum of their parts. This is an alliance reaffirmed, a friendship strengthened and a partnership to build greater prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The fact is Australia and Canada have never waited for others to write our futures. We've written it ourselves through a century of choices, standing together in the darkest hours, building the post-war order with optimism and purpose and now helping to create what comes next. Yes, the world will always be driven by great powers, but it can also be shaped by middle powers that trust each other and act with speed and purpose. Australia and Canada have demonstrated that trust again this week. Every agreement signed, every coalition deepened and every commitment made is variable geometry in practice, and we do so because we both understand the scale of the task ahead and because we have travelled together on this road before. Canada could not have a better partner than Australia, and as one of my predecessors Pierre Trudeau said in the seventies, 'Australia is a self-possessed and confident nation that believes in the future of mankind.' We are two nations under different skies with the same orientation, a friendship built over a century that is ready to build the century that awaits. Thank you very much for this honour. Members and senators rising and applauding . The SPEAKER 53517 Prime Minister, on behalf of the House. I wish you and Madame Fox Carney a successful and enjoyable stay in Australia. I thank the President of the Senate and senators for their attendance. I now invite the Prime Minister to escort our guests from the chamber. Sittings suspended 11: 28 to 12 : 30 BILLS 6 BILLS Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026 6

Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026

Second Reading 6 12:30 The SPEAKER 53517 In accordance with standing order 133, I shall now proceed to put the question on the motion moved on the second reading of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, on which a division was called for and deferred in accordance with the standing order. No further debate is allowed. The question before the House is that this bill be now read a second time.  

The House divided. [12:34]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

95 AYES Abdo, B. J. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Boele, N. 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. 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. 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. 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) 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. 35 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. Gee, A. R. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Hogan, K. J. Joyce, B. T. G. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) McCormack, M. F. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. O'Brien, L. S. 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.

 Consideration in Detail 7 12:39 Mr YOUNG 201906 Longman by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) and (2) as circulated in my name: (1) Schedule 1, item 14, page 11 (line 5), after "that you", insert "acquired after the commencement of this section and that you". (2) Schedule 1, item 14, page 11 (line 7), after "superannuation interest", insert "acquired after the commencement of this section". Like everyone, I was pleased to see that the government bowed to coalition pressure to remove the unrealised gains measure in this bill, along with introducing indexing of the $3 million threshold. Australians rightly raised serious concerns about the proposal to tax unrealised gains—in other words, taxing people on money before it was even earned. The title of this bill speaks of a stronger and fairer super system, but the key questions Australians will ask is: what exactly is fair about changing the rules after people have already made long-term decisions based on the rules that existed at the time? Australians plan their financial futures over decades. They work hard, save diligently and structure their retirement based on the frameworks set by the government. When governments change those rules after the fact, it undermines confidence in the system. Let me be clear about one thing. Most Australians will never have $3 million in superannuation. Sadly, that includes me. That is not really the point of this debate. The point is whether Australians can trust that the rules they plan their lives around will remain stable. Stability creates certainty for investors which inspires confidence. Ask any fair dinkum Australian how fair it is to move the goal posts after people have structured their entire financial future under one set of rules only to have those rules changed later on. We have a bill here that penalises hard-working and aspirational Australians—farmers, small-business owners and others who have worked for decades to build their retirement savings. Many of these people have made financial decisions— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Sorry to interrupt the member. There's far too much noise. The conversation level is too high. I ask people that, if they want to have conversations, to leave the chamber, or sit quietly and listen to the member for Longman. Mr YOUNG 201906 based on the rules that existed at the time. For some, those goal posts have been shifted right as they approach retirement. Another concern is the precedent this sets. If a government begins changing the rules after people already have made long-term financial decisions, it creates uncertainty across an entire system. Today it might be superannuation. Tomorrow it could be investment properties. One day it could even be the family home. If we're going to change the goal posts for people during their working career, then maybe we should change the rules for members in this place elected before 2004 on the defined benefit scheme. If it's about fairness, this shouldn't happen, but, if it's about revenue raising and saving taxpayers money, then it should be done even though it would be unfair to those affected. Australians expect that when they make decisions set by government that those rules will not be simply changed after the fact. Regardless of the amounts involved the principle must remain. The government should not change the rules halfway through the game. There are also economic consequences to consider. If people believe the rules around superannuation can be changed at any time, confidence in the system will erode. Many will choose to move their money elsewhere, including offshore, rather than invest in super. If that occurs the policy may well have the opposite effect to what it intended to achieve which is higher tax revenue created by a higher tax rate percentage. If investment shrinks the net result will be worse. A higher percentage of a lower number is worse, not a better outcome. Last time I checked, 40 per cent of zero is zero. If we are talking about fairness, then fairness must apply in practice. That is why I've moved this amendment. My amendment will simply ensure that existing superannuation balances are grandfathered. Australians who make long-term financial decisions under the current rules will not have those rules changed on them retrospectively. Under my amendment, the legislation would apply only to new superannuation arrangements created after the law comes into effect. This amendment is a litmus test on whether this legislation is actually about fairness or whether it's simply a revenue grab to repair the economic damage created by this government. If the legislation is really about fairness, then protecting those who made decisions under existing rules should not be controversial and my amendment would be agreed to. If, however, this measure is simply about raising additional revenue, then this amendment will not pass. Sadly, I suspect it'll be the latter because at its core this proposal is not really about fairness at all. It's about raising revenue to deal with the consequences of out-of-control government spending. I note that this amendment does not remove the suggested low-income superannuation tax offset which I, of course, support as anything that assists low-income workers in this cost-of-living crisis is welcome even though they will not see the benefits now when it is needed but in the years to come. Anyone who votes against this amendment will show by doing so that this bill is not really about fairness and is instead about revenue raising. Australians expect fairness. They expect stability in the rules that government their financial future. I therefore commend this amendment to the House. 12:44 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser The government opposes the proposed amendment. The legislation is about making the superannuation system fairer from top to bottom. The amendment would effectively mean that pre-existing interests would not be subject to the policy, which is inconsistent with the policy intent. This bill is already designed to apply only to future earnings, including by providing capital gains tax adjustments for APRA funds and self-managed super funds, or SMSFs, for pre-commencement capital gains. This is just another attempt by the opposition to undermine a stronger and fairer superannuation system. The SPEAKER 53517 The question is the amendments moved by the honourable member for Longman be agreed to.  

The House divided. [12:49]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

 37 AYES Aldred, M. R. (Teller) Batt, D. J. Bell, A. M. Birrell, S. J. Boyce, C. E. Buchholz, S. Caldwell, C. M. Chaffey, J. L. Gee, A. R. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Hogan, K. J. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) Le, D. T. McCormack, M. F. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. O'Brien, L. S. Pasin, A. Penfold, A. L. Pike, H. J. Price, M. L. Rebello, L. S. Sharkie, R. C. C. 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. 92 NOES Abdo, B. J. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Boele, N. 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. 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. 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. Leigh, A. K. Lim, S. B. C. 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. Scrymgour, M. R. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) 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. Wilson, J. H. Witty, S. J. Zappia, A. 0 PAIRS

Question negatived.

12:53 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth I move: (1) Schedule 1, item 14, page 8 (after line 19), after section 296-25, insert: 296-26 Exemption — one-off amnesty If your superannuation balance for the 2026-27 income year exceeds the *large superannuation balance threshold and you are in the accumulation phase, you may make a one-off withdrawal from the account up to the *large superannuation balance threshold. I want to acknowledge the government's piece of legislation, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026, which I support. I particularly want to acknowledge the changes to the legislation which I think have made it a very positive piece of legislation that is appropriately addressing intergenerational inequity at the same time as being, on balance, fair to existing super holders. However, in the current piece of legislation, there are people with high balances who are under 60, so they cannot remove their super from their current accounts. I think that is of concern. The great challenge of changing super laws is that the money is locked up. You can't touch it unless you're at least over 60 and retired. If you made decisions based on previous conditions in terms of a tax statement and then it is changed materially, I think it is fair to give people the chance to say: 'I wouldn't have made that decision. I'd like to now withdraw these funds.' It doesn't affect a lot of people, but I think, on principle, giving people that choice is important. I do think it's worth noting that the government has doubled the tax rate, and in some cases it has gone from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. That is a material change in the taxation arrangements of superannuation with these high balances. I think that it is appropriate in that case to offer options for removing this. I know that the government has in previous conversations with the Assistant Treasurer noted that there may be constitutional issues in relation to pensions. My question to the government then would be: were there any other options considered for people who might be in their 30s, their 40s or their 50s who would like to take this money out of super because they no longer see the benefit of having it in that arrangement? Were other options that would have been appropriate considered in the legislation? I think it's not an unreasonable request that, if your money is locked up for perhaps 10 or 20 years and the rules for it substantially change, you have a chance to remove that money and deploy it as you wish elsewhere. 12:55 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser The government opposes the proposed amendment. I'm advised by my department that the amendment would raise significant constitutional issues, as it seeks to introduce a new condition of release before retirement, allowing withdrawals for amounts exceeding the large-balance cap. Such a condition of release would be inconsistent with the constitutional support for the Commonwealth regulation of superannuation, as the condition of release would compel or authorise a trustee to provide benefits unconnected with purposes for superannuation regulation. Importantly, the proposed reforms will maintain concessional tax treatment of superannuation for all individuals but make the concessions more sustainable. These are sensible, important reforms that will mean super tax concessions are better targeted for large balances. 12:56 Ms SPENDER 286042 Wentworth Thank you very much for the response from the government on this. Really, my question to the government is: did you consider options—because it isn't an unreasonable request. I support the principle of where the government is going on this, and I support the legislation. But, if you take someone's tax rate from 15 per cent to 40 per cent and they cannot touch that money perhaps for a decade or more, it's not unreasonable to ask: in the legislation, could you have looked for ways to give options, at least, to the people who are affected by this? 12:57 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser I indicate to the House that the government undertook extensive consultation over a long period of time—multiple rounds of consultation with many stakeholders across the industry and experts—and we believe that the design of this bill best reflects all of that consultation in achieving the outlined policy goals. The SPEAKER 53517 The question before the House is that the amendment moved by the honourable member for Wentworth be agreed to.  

The House divided. [13:01]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)

9 AYES Boele, N. Chaney, K. E. Gee, A. R. Le, D. T. O'Brien, L. S. Scamps, S. A. (Teller) Sharkie, R. C. C. Spender, A. M. (Teller) Steggall, Z. 83 NOES Abdo, B. J. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Briskey, J. L. Burke, A. S. Burnell, M. P. Butler, M. C. Byrnes, A. J. Caldwell, C. M. Campbell, J. P. Chalmers, J. E. Chesters, L. M. Clare, J. D. Claydon, S. C. Clutterham, C. L. Coffey, R. K. Coker, E. A. Comer, E. L. 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. Hill, J. C. Holzberger, R. A. V. Husic, E. N. Jarrett, M. L. Jordan-Baird, M. A. M. Kearney, G. M. Kennedy, S. P. Khalil, P. Lawrence, T. N. Laxale, J. A. A. Leeser, J. Leigh, A. K. Lim, S. B. C. Mascarenhas, Z. F. A. McBride, E. M. Miller-Frost, L. J. Mitchell, R. G. Moncrieff, D. S. Mulino, D. Neumann, S. K. Ng, G. J. Pasin, A. Phillips, F. E. Repacholi, D. P. Rishworth, A. L. Roberts, T. G. Rowland, M. A. Ryan, J. C. Ryan, M. M. Scrymgour, M. R. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) Soon, X. Stanley, A. M. (Teller) Swanson, M. J. Teesdale, J. A. Templeman, S. R. Thistlethwaite, M. J. Thwaites, K. L. Urquhart, A. E. Violi, A. A. Watson-Brown, E. Watts, T. G. White, R. P. Wilkie, A. D. Wilson, J. H. Witty, S. J. Zappia, A. 0 PAIRS

Question negatived.
Bill agreed to.

 Third Reading 11 13:07 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. Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026 11

Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026

Second Reading 11 13:13 The DEPUTY SPEAKER 248181 The question is that this bill be read a second time.  

The House divided. [13:13]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms Claydon)

95 AYES Abdo, B. J. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Boele, N. 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. Clutterham, C. L. Coffey, R. K. Coker, E. A. Collins, J. M. Comer, E. L. 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. 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. 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) 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. 35 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. Gee, A. R. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Joyce, B. T. G. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) Leeser, J. McCormack, M. F. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. 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.

 Third Reading 12 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. Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026 12

Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026

Report from Federation Chamber 12

The House divided. [13:24]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms Claydon)

 95 AYES Abdo, B. J. Aly, A. Ambihaipahar, A. Belyea, J. A. Berry, C. G. Boele, N. 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. Clutterham, C. L. Coffey, R. K. Coker, E. A. Collins, J. M. Comer, E. L. 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. 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. 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. Sitou, S. Smith, D. P. B. (Teller) 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. 33 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. Hamilton, G. R. Hawke, A. G. Kennedy, S. P. Landry, M. L. (Teller) Leeser, J. McCormack, M. F. McIntosh, M. I. McKenzie, Z. A. O'Brien, L. S. Pasin, A. Penfold, A. L. Pike, H. J. Price, M. L. Rebello, L. S. 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 13 13:28 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. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS 13 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Cost of Living 13 13:29 Mr LEESER 109556 Berowra Under Labor, Australia has experienced the largest decline in living standards in the developed world. Insurance premiums are up 39 per cent, rent is up 22 per cent, health insurance is up 18 per cent, food costs are up 16 per cent, childcare costs are up 11½ per cent and education is up 17 per cent. Electricity costs rose 32.2 per cent in the 12 months to January. Since the Albanese Labor government was elected, inflation has almost doubled compared to what it was under the former coalition government. Labor's cost-of-living crisis is hurting families in my community as they just try to pay for the basics. The most recent interest rate rise—Labor's 13th since being in government—is squeezing families and small businesses in the Berowra electorate. Families are now reconsidering whether they can sign their kids up for soccer or whether they can afford to run their air conditioner. Australian households are now poorer than they were when Labor came to power. Small businesses are doing it tough in Berowra. They're asking whether they can afford to keep staff employed or even stay open. In the Hornsby LGA, six local businesses went into liquidation in February alone, including a plumber, a smash repairer and a dried fruit exporter. Those small businesses employed hardworking people from my community. What happened to Labor's promise to ease the cost of living, to cut power bills by $275? What does my community get? Not lower power bills, not cheaper food or child care—nothing. Australia needs a coalition government to restore our standard of living and improve our way of life. Women in Sport, Middle East 14 13:31 Mr LAXALE 299174 Bennelong Tonight the Matildas play Iran at the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Whilst I will be wholeheartedly supporting the Aussies to get the win, I would like to use this time in this House to acknowledge the Iranian women's football team. They're known as Shirzanan—the Iranian Lionesses—a fitting name for these women who exhibit strength and resilience. Sport has long been a powerful platform for courage, dignity and freedom. Yet, for many athletes around the world, it brings immense pressure and personal risk. This is particularly true for the Lionesses. The regime that governs Iran today is an inhumane dictatorship that systematically denies women basic freedoms, from how they dress to how they speak and how they participate in public life. Around the world we have witnessed the courage of Iranian women who continue to demand equal rights for women, life and freedom. I see these footballers not as representatives of that regime but as symbols of the history of strong Iranian women, their values and their resilience. From Doncaster in the seat of Menzies to Ryde in the seat of Bennelong, no matter the result tonight I'm sure Iranian Australians will be beaming with pride. Football is the only true world game. Australia is proud to host this tournament and, at this pivotal point in history, we welcome the Lionesses and host them with the dignity and respect they deserve. World Heritage Areas 14 13:33 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah Recently I ran 37 kilometres through the forest in Takayna to experience firsthand its beauty, with massive trees spanning like sentinels of time. It made one thing very clear: some places are too important to gamble with, because once you fragment them you can't simply rebuild what took thousands of years to form. I call on the government to accelerate and support the World Heritage listing of the Takayna forest to ensure enduring protection of this incredible area. It's an ancient environment doing the quiet work for our planet, acting as a carbon sink that's absorbing the excesses of our modern economies. It's a nationally significant Aboriginal cultural landscape with an exceptional concentration of cultural heritage sites. The old debate, jobs versus environment, is outdated when we have the choice of stewardship that supports biodiversity, cultural heritage, climate resilience and sustainable regional economies. Protecting the Takayna forest is a serious climate policy. Old forests and peat-rich soils lock away carbon built up over long timescales. Once disturbed, emissions are released and recovery takes decades to centuries. Credible analysis suggests that, in this forest, over 100 billion tonnes of carbon are sequestered, which equates to $15 billion in offsets. Rather than wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on carbon capture and storage, let's lock in high-integrity natural carbon stores by protecting the Takayna forest. The Big Issue 14 13:34 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner Most Sundays, locals in Manly in my electorate of Bonner are welcomed by the kindness and big smile of Grant, who is one of our Big Issue sellers. Grant is also known as 'Polite Grant', and has worked with the magazine now for the second time in his life when he has fallen on harder times. Grant has also made a difference in helping others in need. He was asked to give clothes to those sleeping rough on the street and turned that into a charity called Signal Flare in Brisbane which is still going today. The Big Issue is more than a magazine; it is a key to opening new doors through creating work opportunities for those experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. It is helping people like Grant earn a meaningful income, build their confidence and connect with their community and support networks. There have been almost 8½ thousand vendors since the Big Issue started in 1996. When they visited parliament this week, they shared with me some really wonderful statistics. Seventy-one per cent of their vendors have found more stable housing, 48 per cent participated in education or training and 88 per cent have maintained stable work at the Big Issue for three or more years. I encourage all people in this place and certainly back in my community of Bonner to support the Big Issue. There are over 600 vendors right across our country. Thank you to the Big Issue for all of the work that you do, and thank you to Grant for the joy you bring to our community. South Australia: Roads, Cost of Living 15 13:36 Mr VENNING 315434 Grey Recent torrential rains brought devastating flooding to outback South Australia. Remote communities like Oodnadatta are cut off and roads, like Kemp Road, between some of Australia's largest and most important agricultural centres and livestock stations have been destroyed. The roads have collapsed, and these regions now require urgent assistance to have vital freight and general transport routes repaired. The state government is in caretaker mode, and local councils cannot do this alone. I urge the minister to focus on this before things get worse. The collapse of these roads, perhaps somewhat ironically, mirrors the broader collapse in living standards faced by the very rural and regional South Australians who use these roads. Under this government, Australians are enduring a cost-of-living crisis. The OECD confirms Australia has suffered the largest collapse in living standards in the developed world. Prices are up, real wages are down, and farmers, small businesses and people living outside our city centres are working harder for less. This Labor government is expanding, but wallets and family budgets are contracting fast. This government must stop its futile spending and focus on support for all Australians, including rural and remote South Australians who feed and power this very nation. The only things increasing are taxes, debt, inflation and interest rates. Australian households remain poorer than when Labor came to power. Domestic and Family Violence 15 13:37 Ms BELYEA 309484 Dunkley Today I join Minister Mulino, Minister Plibersek and Assistant Minister Kearney to announce our commitment to ensuring that superannuation delivers financial security and dignity, not outcomes that entrench harm or reward abuse by those who perpetrate domestic and family violence. Today we are beginning public consultation on reforms to prevent perpetrators of family violence from receiving the superannuation death benefits of victims. In some cases, current laws allow this to happen, and that is simply not acceptable. Our goal is to strengthen protections for victims-survivors while maintaining fairness, legal certainty and confidence in the superannuation system. We want these reforms to be practical, balanced and informed by experts, frontline services, the superannuation sector and, most importantly, the voices of victims-survivors and their families. This builds on yesterday's announcement. It's yet another milestone for this government, delivering a 72 per cent boost to our frontline family, domestic and sexual violence workforce. It's an additional $291 million for the next phase of the 500 Workers Initiative. This funding will ensure the sustainability and security of a critical workforce and recognises the specialist skills of the staff and organisations working for our women and men experiencing domestic and family violence. Kooyong Electorate: Roads 15 13:39 Dr RYAN 297660 Kooyong Last week I met with Kooyong residents whose homes backed directly onto the Eastern Freeway. While I was standing with them, a work crew arrived unannounced to cut down trees next to their homes. For more than a year, residents in Kew, East Kew and North Balwyn have raised concerns repeatedly about poor communication and lack of transparency from the Victorian government on the North East Link project and the Eastern Freeway expansion. Communities promised modern, effective noise walls have instead been left with decades-old plywood barriers, which will leave those residents exposed to higher noise and pollution levels, impacting their physical and potentially their mental health. This is a multibillion dollar project. These communities deserve adequate remediation of the dust, noise and pollution associated with those road projects now and into the future. The Allan state government promised it; they are not planning to deliver it. At a time when Victoria's Big Build is under intense scrutiny, with multiple public reports outlining serious misconduct and widespread corruption linked to the CFMEU, it is no wonder that residents have lost trust in this project. I call on the Victorian government to honour its commitments, to provide transparency to residents and to ensure that their health and amenities are not sacrificed for cost saving and convenience. Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme 15 13:40 Ms URQUHART 231199 Braddon Last Saturday I was pleased to attend the official commencement of construction of the Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme augmentation, a significant milestone for Braddon farming communities. This project is an important step forward in securing the future of agriculture across Braddon. Once completed, the augmentation will deliver up to an additional 9.2 gigalitres of water each year. This will almost triple the current water supply, greatly improving irrigation reliability, particularly during the crucial summer season. This summer demonstrated, with the dry, hot conditions across Tasmania, that secure and dependable water access is essential for our farming communities. The benefits of this expanded water delivery will reach right across Sassafras through to East Devonport in that 100 kilometres of pipeline. With improved reliability and increased volume of water, farmers in these areas will have greater confidence to invest, diversify, expand and value-add to their operations. The Albanese Labor government committed $62.1 million to this irrigation scheme augmentation, through the National Water Grid Fund. When finished, the scheme will stand as a testament to the power of partnership, vision and strategic investment. This is more than an infrastructure project. It is a commitment to the future of our regional communities, our farmers and the prosperity of north-west Tasmania. It's a tangible outcome in our region from the Albanese Labor government Energy 16 13:42 Mr KENNEDY 267506 Cook Nowhere more than in our energy markets is the decline in living standards and the cost-of-living crisis demonstrated. This recently was driven home for me by Steve, from Caringbah South. After 30 years—three decades—with the same provider, suddenly Steve found his electricity bill doubling. Without consultation, his network, Ausgrid, moved him from a flat rate to a time-of-use plan. Energy Australia blamed Ausgrid. Ausgrid blamed Energy Australia. But Steve, like so many others, was left trapped in a plan he never chose, paying double. He's tried to change retailers. He can't. His meter is too old to be new, too new to be old and too old to be smart—a so-called dummy meter. Even after installing one of Mr Bowen's famed home batteries, he is still locked out of cheaper energy and still paying double. For older Australians on fixed incomes, this isn't an inconvenience; it's system failure. It punishes loyalties and confuses customers. Steve and other people in my electorate are seeing their living standards erode, are seeing their money go less far and are struggling to get by week to week. Well, I'm here to fight for Steve. We're here to fight to keep this Labor government accountable. Solomon Electorate: Infrastructure 16 13:43 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon We had some major announcements in Solomon, my electorate, in Darwin and Palmerston last month. The location of the Darwin Medicare urgent care clinic was announced, as well as the successful tenderer for the aged-care facility with up to 150 beds to serve senior Territorians in the greater Darwin area. I was also pleased to open a more community focused piece of infrastructure last month in Palmerston. We've upgraded public amenities at Hobart Park in Johnston, delivering a $450,000 investment from the Australian government's Investing in Our Communities Program. I really want to thank Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell and the fantastic team at the City of Palmerston. Well done. These sorts of practical improvements to this social infrastructure make it easier for Palmerston families to spend time at the park. Palmerston is growing fast these days, and upgrades like this really have mattered, which was why I was really pleased to secure the funding and get it done. I want to give a particular shout out to Evelyn Small, a student from MacKillop Catholic College in Palmerston. Her artwork adorns the walls of this facility. It's fantastic. It's native flora and fauna of Darwin—the beautiful bush stone-curlews. Well done to Evelyn Small and her wonderful family. Cost of Living 16 13:45 Ms LANDRY 249764 Capricornia Australians are currently struggling through a cost-of-living crisis where living standards have gone backwards. We have seen the worst collapse in living standards in the developed world, with real wages falling and families working harder for less. Life is getting harder for the average person. Our plan to fix this starts with access to affordable, reliable energy. We must boost energy supply and unlock more Australian gas to bring down prices for households and businesses. The coalition's plan is keeping all options on the table, including nuclear, to ensure our industry remains competitive. The coal sector is an important part of this equation. Australia must reclaim its industrial independence to safeguard our economic future. When it comes to homeownership, the dream is slipping away for too many. We will relentlessly fight to increase the number of houses being built. Our goal is simple: we want more homes built and more homes owned by Australians so they can have a real stake in our country's future. However, we cannot fix housing without restoring control of our migration program. Since Labor took office, the population has boomed by 1.9 million people, putting immense pressure on our infrastructure. We need an Australians-first approach to homeownership. Our migration settings must match our capacity to house, employ and support people. It is time to restore hope, reward hard work and protect the Australian way of life. Australia is worth fighting for. Australian Defence Force: Space 17 13:46 Ms CLUTTERHAM 316101 Sturt The space domain is critical to defence operations and is recognised as an operational domain alongside air, land and maritime. The Australian Defence Force relies on access to space systems and information, and this reliance will only continue to grow. The military consequences of losing access to space are significant because our forces rely on space based meteorology, communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, positioning, navigation and timing. That is why the recent announcement by the Albanese Labor government of a purpose-built space workforce is so important. Australians passionate about a career in the ADF can now apply for a job in the space domain, with direct entry now open for two new roles: space operations officer and space operations specialist. Growing the ADF's capabilities in space operations is not a nice-to-have; it is essential. Australia needs a sovereign space capability, and that means a highly skilled sovereign space workforce to contribute to satellite communications and operations, missile warning, ISR, environmental monitoring and space control. This is needed to ensure access to and control of space, to counter emerging space threats and to enhance space domain awareness. This announcement is a significant step in building Australia's sovereign space workforce and strengthening Australia's sovereign space capability. Cost of Living 17 13:48 Ms PENFOLD 248895 Lyne Yesterday the Prime Minister stood in this chamber and told Australians that Australia's economy is performing better than that of any other OECD nation in the world—a tone-deaf assertion, to say the very least, when Australians are seriously struggling. Under this government, Australians are experiencing the largest collapse in living standards in the developed world. The Prime Minister and the Treasurer do not seem to understand that they are not running their uni SRC; they're running the nation. Statistics can't hide the mess, because everyday Australians are living the consequences. Productivity has tanked, and without sustained, long-term improvement there is no chance that the living standards of Australians will recover. Their pursuit of a reckless net zero energy policy has caused prices to soar. Households grapple with what to go without simply to pay their bills, and businesses grapple with whether they can afford to stay open and compete against their offshore competitors whose governments actually want them to have reliable and affordable energy. The government's record spending, which is at the highest level outside of recession in 40 years, not only has caused inflation to reach new heights but also means that Australians are paying $50,000 every minute on the interest alone. Under their policies, this country will never have economic sovereignty again. The government's irresponsible attitude towards immigration has made the dream of homeownership exactly that—just a dream. Australians are not doing well under this Prime Minister and the Treasurer. Holt Electorate: Holi 17 13:49 Ms FERNANDO 299964 Holt I want to begin by wishing all Australians of Indian heritage in Holt and across Australia a very happy Holi. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil, and people coming together in a burst of colour and joy. Over the weekend in Holt, thousands of families came together to celebrate this beautiful festival. I had the pleasure of attending two fantastic Holi celebrations with our local community—one organised by Lynbrook Residents Association and the other by the Bright Events. Both events were filled with colour, music and an incredible sense of community spirit. Families, friends and neighbours came together to celebrate culture, share food, enjoy performances and, of course, take part in the tradition of throwing colours. I have to say I absolutely loved joining in and playing with colours. Moments like this showcase the very best of our community. In Holt, we are proudly diverse, with people from many cultures, languages and traditions calling our community home. I say a huge thankyou to the organisers, volunteers, performers and stallholders who worked so hard to make these celebrations possible. Happy Holi. Cost of Living 17 13:51 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina Under Labor, living standards have not only gone backwards; they are in such a poor and parlous state at the moment that ordinary, everyday Australians are wondering when they're going to make ends meet. We heard yesterday in question time the Prime Minister and particularly the Treasurer going on about the fact that they believe that living standards are on the improve. They talked about the OECD. They talked about everything that just happens in this place. Don't worry about what happens within this chamber. Go out and ask Mr and Mrs Average how they're faring. They're doing it tough. That's if they've got a roof over their heads. That's if they're able to find the rent to pay each week or each fortnight. People are doing it tough. They can't afford their energy bills. They can't afford their rent. Petrol prices in Cowra are now well and truly over $2 a litre. In every way, whether it's at the browser or whether it's at the check-out, people are paying through the nose, and it's on Labor's watch. People need their living standards secure. Real wages have just gone completely backwards, and no amount of saying the opposite will make it otherwise for ordinary, everyday Australians. It's time Labor members went into their electorates and stopped talking at people and instead started listening to people and started acting on behalf of those people who are really hurting at the moment. Gilmore Electorate: Health Care 18 13:52 Mrs PHILLIPS 147140 Gilmore Today is a fantastic day because today the doors of the brand-new Nowra Medicare urgent care clinic opened. The clinic is a huge win for my community and will take pressure off the busy emergency department at Shoalhaven hospital. During the election campaign I knocked on hundreds of doors in Nowra, and the message was loud and clear. A local Medicare urgent care clinic was desperately needed. I promised to deliver this important service for our community and I'm so thrilled the doors are now open. The clinic will make a real difference for locals and visitors by providing convenient, bulk-billed urgent care in the heart of Nowra. Located at 107 Scenic Drive, Nowra, the Medicare urgent care clinic will operate from 8 am until 10 pm seven days a week, making sure patients can get the care they need when they need it. The highly trained doctors and nurses are equipped to treat a range of conditions and injuries that need urgent attention but aren't life threatening, like cuts, viral infections or a sprained ankle. No appointment is needed. Patients can walk in, and, most importantly, all services are bulk-billed, needing just their Medicare card. I know the people of Nowra and surrounds have been eagerly awaiting their Medicare urgent care clinic, and I'm extremely proud to have delivered it. Cost of Living 18 13:54 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay The Prime Minister keeps telling Australians he's very positive about the economy and that his government is doing the lot on the cost of living. If doing the lot means delivering lower living standards, more debt and higher inflation then Labor would be telling the truth, but they aren't even doing that. It's all smoke and mirrors from this 'nothing to see here' Labor government—nothing to see in Australian families not being able to afford a home, nothing to see in Australian families being forced to the financial brink. This is a government that sees no evil. People are afraid. They are telling us they have nothing left and they feel trapped, but Labor hears no evil. When the Prime Minister stands here and says he's very positive when he insists his government is doing the lot while Australians endure the worst collapse in living standards in the developed world, that is speak no evil—refusing to speak the truth. This is not just a cost-of-living crisis; it is a crisis of confidence, of aspiration, of the Australian dream, and still nothing to see here. Edmund Burke warned that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The opposition will not do nothing. We will not look away. We will not pretend Australians have never had it so good when they are going backwards. We see the pressure, we hear the warnings and we are standing up for Australians while the government does the lot in sending our great nation backwards. Ukraine 18 13:56 Ms COFFEY 312323 Griffith Recently, I was honoured to join with our local Ukrainian community at Kangaroo Point in my electorate of Griffith for a solemn vigil in remembrance and solidarity. It was an emotional evening as we stood together to mark four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and 12 years since the illegal occupation of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine began. The Australian government stands firmly with Ukraine against Russia's aggression. Since February 2022 we have provided more than $1.7 billion in humanitarian and energy assistance, and military assistance also. We stand with Ukraine in defence of its sovereignty and its right to live in peace. We reiterate our call on Russia to end this unprovoked and unjustified war, and comply with its obligations under international law. We stand with Ukraine because borders cannot be redrawn by force. We stand with Ukraine because we stand for freedom and for the right of all nations to live in security, to raise their families in safety, to speak their language and to determine their own future. We may be half a world away, but we recognise what Ukrainians are defending: a home, a democracy, a people's right to exist and to choose their own path. Meeting with Ukrainian parliamentarians yesterday reinforced that this is a fight not only for Ukraine's territory but also for freedom, sovereignty and the right of a people to choose their own future. Slava Ukraini! Economy 18 13:57 Mr HOGAN 218019 Page At the moment in the United States, their inflation rate is 2.4 per cent. Inflation in the euro bloc is 1.9 per cent. Inflation in Australia, as we in this chamber all know, is 3.8 per cent. Why has inflation stayed higher for longer in Australia than most other Western economies? I can tell you the answer. The answer is that side of the chamber. The Prime Minister and the Treasurer cannot blame Ukraine, they can't blame the government from four or five years ago for the way inflation is higher here in Australia than it is in a lot of other countries. What do you say to your children when they make a mistake or they get things wrong? When they make a mistake, you get them to admit—they have to admit—that they've made a mistake. They have to admit that they've done something wrong. Then, if it has upset people or affected people, you might even apologise for the fact that you've got something wrong. Then, when you do that, you can correct it. I could go into suggestions on energy policy, which I was going to, but this government has to admit and apologise to the Australian public that inflation has stayed here for higher and longer. Cost of Living 19 13:59 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton Yesterday we heard that the shadow Treasurer tried to short Australia. He tried to short Billy Joel as well, but that's another story. He tried to bet against us and he hoped for our nation to fail. It shouldn't surprise anyone here, because we know that the shadow Treasurer is part of a coalition that has a track record of shorting Australians. They shorted Australians when they voted against 20 per cent off student debt, they shorted Australians when they voted against free TAFE, and they shorted Australians when they tried to dismantle bulk-billing. That stands in stark contrast to what the Albanese Labor government is delivering on. That delivery has a face—the face of people who are assisted every day by what we are doing for what Australians care about the most. It's Ken, who saves money every month because we've made medicines cheaper; it's Lynn, who now has an urgent care clinic right next door, giving her easy access to health care; and it's Helena, a third-year Griffith Uni student who has benefited from 20 per cent off student debt. They can't vote against these core delivery things without voting against Australians. When you short Australia, you short Helena, you short Ken, you short Lynn, and you short every single Australian in this nation. The SPEAKER 53517 In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded. CONDOLENCES 19 CONDOLENCES Cometti, Mr Dennis John, AM 19 14:00 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler on indulgence—Today Australians right across this great sport-loving nation of ours will be mourning the passing of one of our best loved commentators. Dennis Cometti was a proud son of Western Australia, who played for West Perth in the WAFL. Yet he is much better known by being the voice, or one of the voices, of Australian sport. For five decades, he broadcast footy, three Olympics and virtually every other sport on TV and radio. We were very familiar with that velvet voice of his. He was elevated for us by having an eagle eye, a brilliant insight and a distinctive humour, which was the product of both meticulous preparation and spontaneous genius. No tribute would be complete without giving a few quotes—not just the iconic 'centimetre perfect' or 'like a cork in the ocean' but those brilliant, offbeat observations that he made. He said: The Magpies ought to be kicking themselves right now. But with their luck, they'd probably miss. He said: Barlow to Bateman … the Hawks are attacking alphabetically. And he said: Liberatore went into that last pack optimistically and came out misty optically. He described the then young Melbourne Demons player, now Richmond Tigers coach, Adam Yze as a 'lousy Scrabble hand' but a 'very good young player'. He had a particular focus on people's names. He said at one stage: There's Anthony Koutoufides, more vowels than possessions today. Dennis inspired countless imitators, but he remained the best. A true original, he had a brilliant partnership and true friendship with the legendary Bruce McAvaney, and this was because Dennis's sense of humour was matched by a powerful sense of occasion, an ability to recognise the defining moment and rise to it. Dennis Cometti will be sadly missed by his family, by his loved ones, by so many colleagues who learned so much from his generosity and skill, but also, importantly, by Australians who've never met him but who loved him and enjoyed his contribution. He'll live forever in some of the happiest sporting memories of Australians everywhere. May he rest in peace. 14:03 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume on indulgence—I rise to join the Prime Minister in honouring the life of Dennis Cometti. Dennis Cometti didn't just have a voice that resonated; he had a voice that was instantly recognisable, a voice that energised AFL games and energised the Olympics. Through his voice, we felt the anticipation of a centre bounce, the exhilaration of a soaring mark, the elation of a spectacular goal that was—as we heard from the Prime Minister—so often 'centimetre perfect', one of his many quotes that were so well known. As someone who comes from a state where there's a little less AFL, the one I remember best was Kieren Perkins's absolutely extraordinary triumph in the 1,500-metre freestyle final back in the 1996 Olympics 30 years ago. He served, for decades, the great game of Australian rules football. He was more than a commentator; he was an AFL storyteller. In many ways his voice became an embodiment of the crowd's sentiments. On behalf of many Australians who grew up listening to him call the game, I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends and to the wider football and sporting community. May he rest in peace. PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION 20 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION Farrer Electorate 20 Issue of Writ 20 14:05 The SPEAKER 53517 I inform the House that it is my intention to issue a writ on Wednesday 1 April 2026 for the election of a member to serve for the electoral division of Farrer in the state of New South Wales to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Hon. Sussan Ley. The dates in connection with the by-election will be fixed as follows: close of rolls—Wednesday 8 April 2026; close of nominations—Monday 13 April 2026; polling day—Saturday 9 May 2026; return of writ—on or before Friday 10 July 2026. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 20 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Economy 20 14:05 Mr TAYLOR 231027 Hume My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, according to yesterday's data, since 2022 the only growth in the economy has been due to immigration and Australians working harder for less? Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! We don't need commentary before someone begins an answer. 14:06 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for his question. Yesterday the national accounts showed that the Australian economy was growing at its fastest rate in almost three years, faster than every member of the G7. On a day when the national accounts showed household incomes and living standards are going up, the opposition was talking Australia down, as they do. They only have two settings—tearing each other down or talking Australia down. Those are their two settings. When the gender pay gap reached a record low, none of the blokes over there gave it a mention. When the bulk-billing rate saw its biggest jump in 20 years—crickets, nothing whatsoever. When we passed 200— Mr Littleproud 265585 What about your record? Mr ALBANESE R36 This is our record. If you yelled less and listened more— The SPEAKER 53517 The shadow minister will state his point of order. Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to relevance— The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. The SPEAKER 53517 I'm not going to entertain long debates when it comes to relevance. You simply state the point of order on relevance without extra commentary. The Prime Minister was asked directly by the person two seats down from you—'talk about your record'—as an interjection. If he's talking about his record because the Leader of the Nationals just asked him to talk about his record— The SPEAKER 53517 Well, you didn't say that either. Anyway, we're going to do this to make sure the Prime Minister is being directly relevant to the question that he was asked. The temperature is way too hot already. Things are going to be different today. The question was asked, and now the Prime Minister is answering the question. Mr ALBANESE R36 I was talking about the national accounts, and I was also talking about our record, things that I was asked about. The truth is that yesterday's national accounts did show that the economy was growing at its fastest rate in almost three years. It did show that it was growing faster than every single member of the G7, all those advanced economies. Those opposite have never been more upset than when Australia is going forward. They think they get to go forward if Australia goes backwards, which is why the shadow Treasurer even puts money on it. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Herbert will leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Herbert then left the chamber. The SPEAKER 53517 Interjecting seven times in one question is unacceptable. We're not having a wall of noise today. I want to set the rules crystal clear so everybody knows how the chamber will be operating today and every other day. International Relations: Australia and Canada 21 14:09 Mr DAVID SMITH 276714 Bean My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister outline the significance and outcomes of Canadian prime minister Mark Carney's visit to Australia? How is the Albanese Labor government working with our partners to build a more peaceful and prosperous world? 14:10 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Bean for his question. The welcoming of Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, to this parliament was indeed an auspicious and a good occasion. This is a good relationship between two friendly nations and a good relationship that I have with the Prime Minister of Canada. Our common values and our common purpose underpin the cooperation between our two nations, and cooperation is indeed our clear objective, together announcing new measures to uphold and defend peace and prosperity for our peoples. Today we've done a number of upgrades of that relationship as well, enhancing collaboration—our shared advantages in critical minerals to shape emerging markets and Australia joining the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance. We're backing our shared economic security with a new clean-energy partnership, updating the Australia Canada tax treaty and, importantly, deepening our cooperation on artificial intelligence as we go forward. Our cooperation in defence is strengthening through defence ministers meetings, and I welcome the defence minister to the floor today. Our Arctic Over the Horizon Radar system will be Australia's largest ever defence export, benefiting both of our nations. As two nations impacted by more frequent and severe natural disasters, together we're boosting cooperation across emergency management, and I thank Prime Minister Carney for the meeting that we had with many of the emergency service workers, the firefighters who we were able to meet with after his address here in my courtyard in Parliament House. I reflected on the deep gratitude that the Australian people have for the support that Canadian firefighters have given to Australia almost every year but particularly during the Black Summer bushfires. The relationship between our firefighters is a true testament of Australians and Canadians having each other's back. Mr Speaker, we do live in a changing and more challenging world. As middle powers, we need to do more together in order to shape positive change in the world together. That is Australia's pursuit—investing in our relationships, finding new opportunities from within complexity, and building the economic potential of our nation, our region in the world, always acting in the national interest, always focused on the positive difference we can make to those that we serve and represent: the Australian people. Prime Minister Carney and Mrs Fox Carney are welcome guests in this country. I look forward to hosting them at the Lodge, together with Jody, tonight, together with their delegation. It has been a really successful visit. I look forward to building on this relationship. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 21 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Acknowledgement 21 14:13 The SPEAKER 53517 I'm pleased to inform the House that, as the Prime Minister indicated, the Hon. David J McGuinty, the Canadian minister of national defence, is in the distinguished visitors gallery today. I'm also welcoming, for the first time, His Excellency Dr Hillel Newman, the Ambassador of Israel to Australia. I'm pleased to inform the House that present in the gallery today are the 2026 recipients of the Nuffield Australia scholarships, awarded each year to Australian farmers to increase practical farming knowledge and management skills, as guests of the Hon. Bruce Scott, the former member for Maranoa. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 21 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Migration 21 14:14 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, according to yesterday's data, population growth driven by immigration has grown by 1.9 million since 2022? At the same time, Labor has missed its housing targets by tens of thousands of homes. 14:14 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I'm asked about numbers. I can tell them what their housing figures, their target, was. It was zero. It was zero because they didn't even have a housing minister. They didn't even have a housing minister. When it comes to migration numbers, we have cut the net migration figures by over 40 per cent in a year. The number of people arriving now is lower than it was under the coalition. The latest population statement released in early January confirmed that population growth is expected to slow to 1.3 per cent in the current financial year and 1.2 per cent from 2026-27 and that this is lower than the average of 1.4 per cent experienced during the 2010s. They are just the facts, and the fact is also that after COVID, when the borders were closed—see if you can think about this—and Australians weren't allowed to come home, when the borders opened there were more people coming here than when the borders were closed. The figures show—I'm asked about them, but they don't want to hear them—that by 2030-31 Australia's population is expected to be 754,000 smaller than what the former coalition government forecasted prior to the pandemic. That's the fact. But I'm asked about numbers. Here are some numbers for you: 1.2 million more jobs, three out of five of them full time and four out of five in the private sector, and 14 million—there's a number for you—is the number of Australians who get tax cuts under us and would have got tax increases under them. Here's another figure for you: $233 billion better budget bottom line accumulatively over the seven years to 2028-29. There are 1,300 extra GP practices that are now bulk-billing—1,300! There are 130 urgent care clinics up and running. It would have been zero under them. There are 3 million Australians who got a cut in the student debt. The average relief is $5½ thousand. And there have been 18 gigawatts added, unlike what happened under them. The SPEAKER 53517 Once again, there was far too much noise in that answer. The member for Goldstein was continually interjecting. We need to have the MPI today, so for the MPI to succeed he needs to cease interjecting. If the member for Goldstein keeps interjecting, we won't have the MPI today. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Well, I'd like there to be an MPI, and I hope every other member does to. I'm sure the member for Goldstein does. So I hope everyone is clear that that is the course of action. If you interject, we won't be having an MPI today. The SPEAKER 53517 Great. The member for Forrest is now warned for his interjections. Critical and Strategic Minerals Industry 22 14:18 Ms LAWRENCE 299150 Hasluck My question is the Minister for Resources. How is the Albanese Labor government working with international partners like Canada to strengthen the global supply chain of critical minerals and create secure jobs here in Australia? Are there any threats to Australia's critical minerals industry? 14:18 Ms MADELEINE KING 102376 Brand I thank the member for Hasluck for her fine question. Like all members on this side of the House, she knows that Labor is the only party that truly supports the resources sector of this nation. From day 1 the Albanese Labor government has supported the resources industry and the over 300,000 resources workers right across this country—every single one of these members behind me. Australia and Canada are natural partners in critical minerals. Both of our countries are major resources producers. We have a stellar opportunity for Australia and Canada to work together to play a powerful role in shaping how global markets develop while creating secure jobs at home. Earlier today, we heard from Prime Minister Carney, who said what we know to be true: that Canada and Australia are the world's two most reliable and like minded mining giants. We have each developed the most advanced extractive ecosystems in the world, and we are the world's critical minerals superpowers. Australia and Canada both know that we need to process and refine these critical minerals and rare earths in our own countries. Today, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Carney committed to deepening our collaboration in critical minerals with regard to standards based markets, capital investment, having our strategic reserves work together and sharing our technical expertise on geoscience, mapping and the science of extraction and processing. I want to thank Canada for inviting Australia to participate in the g7+ ministers meeting, which I was able to attend in Toronto last year. Following that work, Canada has backed us in, supporting us in being an integral part of the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance. I want to thank—and I hope the minister for defence is in the distinguished visitors space there to pass on my thanks—my Canadian counterpart, Minister Tim Hodgson. He and I signed a joint declaration of intent between us at the meeting in Toronto last year. I'm asked about threats to this nation's success. Well, I'll turn to the record. If I think of what we've announced for this space, there is $1 billion for critical minerals investments through the National Reconstruction Fund. We legislated for this. What did those opposite do? They voted against it. Then we committed, as a government, $1.2 billion to establish the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, which is now integral to our cooperation with Canada and with other nations as well. What did they do? They opposed it. Then there's the Resourcing Australia's Prosperity project—$3.4 billion. There was radio silence on that, but then they reannounced it for themselves! I checked today, and it's still on their website, so I guess I'll take the win in that respect. Then there are the production tax incentives, which they also voted against. (Time expired) Political Advertising 23 14:21 Ms STEGGALL 175696 Warringah To the Prime Minister: a far-right activist group—the organisation to which, incredibly, the husband of the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism donated—recently platformed abhorrent claims that Angela Merkel's politics did more damage to Germany than Nazis and Adolf Hitler. Shockingly, also in attendance was former prime minister and director of Fox Corporation Tony Abbott and current sitting Liberal senators. ADVANCE astroturfs and spreads misinformation to gain support for a dangerous far-right agenda. Will the government urgently guardrail against this with truth-in-political-advertising laws and ban the use of generative AI and deepfakes in political advertising? The SPEAKER 53517 The Prime Minister is not really responsible for the first part of the question—the people that you mentioned there—but the end part of the question, just to make sure we're within standing orders, is allowable. I'll guide the Prime Minister that way so he understands his part of these responsibilities. 14:23 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the member for Warringah for her question. It is certainly the case that some of the so-called political advocacy that we've seen increasingly being used in recent years has caused division, is aimed at distressing people and is aimed at spreading what is a hateful culture. The example that the member has used compares Angela Merkel, who I think is a highly respected former chancellor of Germany. She is entitled to be treated with respect, and I certainly would do that, notwithstanding the fact that she certainly isn't from my side of politics in terms of the Social Democrats in Germany. But we are seeing a rise of hard-right politics that sometimes needs to be called out. On the matters that the member has raised, I'd be happy to have a discussion with her about whether the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters could give consideration to some of those issues. We do need to always ensure that people have freedom of expression, including freedom of political expression. We also need to make sure, of course, that, on the full range of issues, we ensure that disinformation and things that are simply not right are able to be called out. The Minister for Communications might like to add to that as well. 14:25 Ms WELLS 264121 Lilley One of the reasons the Albanese government is committed to implementing a digital duty of care, which we intend to do through the parliament this year, is to address online harms that are affecting Australians. That includes preventing nudify apps and deepfakes generated by AI and also hate online. We just closed the consultation process for that at the end of last year. We are now working through the consultation responses. We intend to work collaboratively with our parliamentarians to try and get this through the parliament by the end of the year to ensure that the digital duty of care— The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Warringah on a point of order. Ms Steggall 175696 It's on relevance. I'm talking about political advertising. The SPEAKER 53517 The minister was directly answering your question. I did hear her mention AI and deepfakes, which you were asking about. She was midsentence regarding that part of the answer. I can appreciate that maybe you want a certain answer, but I've got to make sure she's been directly relevant, and she is being, absolutely, directly relevant. Ms WELLS 264121 The digital duty of care is designed to change the power balance so that the onus is on big tech to prevent harm from occurring to Australians through their own systems and policies before the harm occurs. Currently, it's like an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. The harm occurs and then someone goes and reports something like misinformation in political advertising. A digital duty of care will put the onus on big tech to be responsible towards Australians from the get-go. (Time expired) Middle East 23 14:26 Ms CAMPBELL 312823 Moreton My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister update the House on Australian government assistance and advice to Australian nationals impacted by conflict in the Middle East? 14:26 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Moreton for her question. Late last night, the first flight in recent days arrived in Sydney from Dubai. That was a good thing. I'm sure the Australians who were able to touch down on their home soil felt very relieved to be home. I confirm that, right now, another flight, EK414, is in the air with over 200 Australians on board. It departed Dubai at 9.16 am today, Canberra time, bound for Sydney. We are hopeful of more flights being in the air today, which is what we want to see. The most recent advice is that another two flights are scheduled to depart to Australia today. We know that there are many Australians who are waiting for an opportunity to get home. The Australian government, the UAE and airlines in the gulf states are working hard to secure more flights to get Australians home as soon as possible. Commercial flights remain the quickest way for Australians impacted by the conflict to get home. The situation in the region remains volatile, as we know. It's dangerous and it's fast moving. Ten countries are now under attack by the Iranian regime. I, again, reiterate the Australian government's call for Iran to cease all attacks. The government's first priority is keeping Australians safe. We are working with our agencies and our partners to get help to Australians who need it. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are working around the clock and engaging surge consular capacity. The government is deploying six crisis response teams to the region, and we've already deployed military assets as part of our contingency planning earlier this week. I thank those Australians who are going into a dangerous situation in order to help their fellow Australians caught up in this conflict. We want to see Australians get home safely. 'Do not travel' advice remains in place, and DFAT has activated the crisis centre to provide consular support to Australians who are impacted. We'll continue to monitor the situation. We're having all of the appropriate meetings on a daily basis. We'll continue to act, where it's safe to do so, to support Australians in every way that we can. Economy 24 14:29 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein My question is to the Treasurer. Yesterday's data confirms that, in the final quarter of 2025, public demand grew faster than private demand. At the same time, inflation started resurging. Does the Treasurer still deny the link between government spending and driving inflation higher? 14:29 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin Thanks to the honourable member for his question. First of all, for public demand in the December quarter, the key driver was defence spending. Those opposite have called for more of that, not less of that. That's the first point. The second point is, when you look at the story of 2025, the big story was the private sector driving growth and the public sector taking a step back. Private demand grew faster and contributed over three times more to economic growth than public demand in annual terms. Within a year, annual private demand growth more than tripled, but annual public demand growth more than halved compared with 2024. Those are the facts of the matter. When it comes to the link between spending and inflation, I have said on a number of occasions that we take our responsibility seriously in the budget. That's why we found savings, delivered surpluses and got your debt down by $176 billion, because we manage the budget and we manage the economy in the most responsible way that we can. Yesterday's national accounts were overwhelmingly good news for our economy: stronger growth than any major advanced economy, the strongest growth in almost three years, and stronger per capita growth, the strongest per capita growth in more than three years. But those opposite always want to talk the economy down. One of the reasons they always want to talk the economy down, as was revealed yesterday, is that the shadow Treasurer has held shares— The SPEAKER 53517 The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order? Mr Tehan 210911 It goes to standing order 104(a), which says that a question must be directly relevant to the answer. You are not being in any way— Government members interjecting— Mr Tehan 210911 Sorry, the Treasurer—sorry, but the noise coming from there, Speaker, is making it very hard. The SPEAKER 53517 You've definitely made the point and have read the standing order, and I appreciate that. A government member: He incorrectly read it. Mr Tehan 210911 If you could just bring the Treasurer back, that would be wonderful. The SPEAKER 53517 Yes, we'll get there. The Leader of the House on a point of order? Mr Burke DYW What he just read out is not the standing order. I think he read it backwards. The SPEAKER 53517 The manager is entitled to raise his point of order, and he's done so. The Treasurer wasn't asked about alternative policies. I know the line that he's going down, but, on this occasion, he won't be able to go too far into opposition policies or opposition persons, because he wasn't asked about that. He was asked about the link between government spending and inflation and also the data that was released yesterday. So, to make sure that he is directly relevant, he won't be able to go down that line that he's trying to probably get into the record. Dr CHALMERS 37998 I was asked about yesterday's numbers. I was asked about public spending. I've dealt with that in detail. I've explained the defence spending in the last quarter that those opposite have called for more of, not for less of. I've explained what's happened through the course of 2025. But what I'm trying to establish is that, when it comes to yesterday's national accounts, they were a good story—not a negative story, as those opposite are trying to paint for the people. We know that one of the reasons for that is that the shadow Treasurer has bet against Australia and has bet against Australians. There's an important part of this that the House needs to know about. Mr Tehan 210911 Point of order! Dr CHALMERS 37998 You don't have to shout at me, mate. I'm right here. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives doesn't need to assist anyone at this moment. He's welcome to take a point of order, but, at this stage, I'll deal with the Manager of— Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order, members on my right. The manager is on his feet. He's going to be heard in silence. Mr Tehan 210911 Speaker, I don't know whether it was a ruling you gave the Treasurer, but your instructions were very clear that he had to be directly relevant to the question. He was trying to defy the advice that you gave him, and I think he should listen to the Speaker, like all of us do. The SPEAKER 53517 I appreciate that endorsement, Manager of Opposition Business. If the Treasurer can conclude his answer by not going down that path and by being directly relevant, that'll help the House. Dr CHALMERS 37998 This side of the House has been managing the budget in a responsible way. That's how we delivered two surpluses that those opposite were incapable of. They said they'd deliver a surplus every year. They went none for nine. We've delivered two already. We found $114 billion in savings. We've got the debt down by— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. I'm moving to the next question. We're not turning this into some sort of yelling match. Economy 25 14:35 Mr REPACHOLI 298840 Hunter My question is to the Treasurer. What do the recent economic figures mean for the upcoming budget and the Albanese Labor government's economic plan? How does this compare to other approaches? 14:35 Dr CHALMERS 37998 Rankin Yesterday's national accounts were really encouraging for Australia because they showed that we have growth which is stronger and broader, and that growth is very welcome in our economy. It's the strongest growth for almost three years, and it's stronger growth than in any other major advanced economy. It's strong growth in business investment and dwelling investment and there's a welcome uptick in market sector productivity as well. One of the reasons why these numbers were so welcome is that this provides a very strong foundation to work from as we now navigate this heightened sense of global economic uncertainty. A number of our challenges existed in the economy before the escalation of the conflict on the weekend, but, whether it's global uncertainty or our inflation challenge, we know that these international events put additional pressure on Australians. We're very focused on that as we continue to put the budget together for May. That budget in May will be all about inflation, productivity and global economic uncertainty. It will be all about rolling out the tax cuts that those opposite opposed and all about making the superannuation system stronger and fairer. Today we passed legislation to make super fairer from top to bottom. That's a very good thing. We know that there are challenges in our economy, but we face these challenges from a position of genuine economic strength. We prefer to work from that position of strength than to talk the economy down, which is all we get from those opposite. Yesterday we learned why that has been the case. Every time the shadow Treasurer talks down the Australian economy, he's been talking up his own investments. That's what was revealed yesterday in the House. I've got some additional information on this. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! We'll get to it. The Treasurer is just going to pause. We're going to do this in a really ordered manner. The Manager of Opposition Business is now going to be heard. Mr Tehan 210911 The point of order goes to standing order 90, which is on reflections on members. We do not want to head down this path— Government members interjecting— Mr Tehan 210911 No, we don't, because two can play this game. You want to be very, very careful. The SPEAKER 53517 I'll just remind the Treasurer of that standing order. But he is entitled to answer the question any way he wishes regarding it. When he was asked about how this compares to other approaches, he'll need to refer to other answers or perhaps there are articles which he was reading yesterday about this topic. He just can't get up and give an opinion about another member, because that would be imputing motive. So I'm just going to draw the Treasurer to that part of the standing orders. We'll listen carefully to how he answers. Dr CHALMERS 37998 Thank you, Mr Speaker. You're quite right that this was reported in the Guardian and the Australian Financial Review. The SPEAKER 53517 Order! The member for Berowra is on his feet. People can take points of order in the moment when it's occurring, but we're just not going to have a free-for-all on this. Mr Leeser 109556 Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to standing order 68. The member for Goldstein has given a personal explanation on this matter to correct the misrepresentation, and I ask you to draw the member's attention to that because they're repeating the matter contained. I ask you to intervene on that. The SPEAKER 53517 I did give guidance to the Treasurer beforehand, and he will take that into consideration. The matter was dealt with yesterday at the conclusion of question time—not in the most appropriate way, but we did deal with it. So I want the Treasurer to be very specific, rather than giving any opinions about this matter. Dr CHALMERS 37998 Thank you, Mr Speaker. Actually, what I'm about to say refers to the personal explanation that was given yesterday, so I appreciate the prompt from the shadow minister. What the shadow Treasurer said yesterday was: I can inform the House that on Monday I submitted a statement of declaration that I had removed those shares, but it has not been published. I have here the shadow Treasurer's Register of Members' Interests, which shows that that was not submitted until today, 5 March 2026. Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 We'll hear the point of order. The Treasurer will pause. Order, members on my right! Mr Hastie 260805 This point of order is on relevance. The member for Hunter asked about the recent economic figures and what they mean for the budget. He then asked the Treasurer to compare their economic plan with other approaches, not delve into people's financial arrangements. The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. For the benefit of the House, the question did contain the question, 'How does this compare to other approaches?' so that is why the Treasurer is being directly relevant. Dr CHALMERS 37998 Thank you, Mr Speaker. The contrast I'm drawing is this: we are working hard on the economic challenges that we confront together, but we also recognise Australia's economic strengths; those opposite keep talking the Australian economy down. We are optimistic about the future, even if they are not. To paraphrase the late, great Dennis Cometti, the shadow Treasurer came into the week optimistically; he finishes the week misty-optically. That's what we're seeing with the shadow Treasurer. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS 26 DISTINGUISHED VISITORS Acknowledgement 26 14:41 The SPEAKER 53517 I'm pleased to inform the House that we've now been joined on the floor of the chamber by an important parliamentary delegation from the parliament of Ukraine, led by Dr Galyna Mykhailiuk. On behalf of all members, I welcome you and, of course, our good friend the ambassador. Honourable members: Hear, hear! QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 26 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Cost of Living 26 14:42 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay My question is to the Prime Minister. On Labor's cost-of-living crisis, my constituent Brett told me, 'There is no money left after our mortgage, bills and groceries are paid for,' while Russell told me: 'Things are out of control. Power, insurance and food have doubled. I can't keep up.' Does the Prime Minister accept responsibility for the impact his decisions are having on lowering the living standards of Australians? 14:42 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler Another tight question from those opposite! I'm asked about Brett and Russell. Well, I hope that Brett and Russell got told by the member for Lindsay that more than 1.2 million jobs have been created since we've been in government. I hope that they have been told, when it comes to the cost of living, that we have given them, if they work, a substantial tax cut already, as a result of the changes that we made to the coalition's unfair stage 3 tax cuts. I hope that the member for Lindsay said those opposite were opposed to that. Opposition members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE R36 I note that some of them are still opposed to that tax cut, through the interjection helpfully put forward by one of the new shadow ministers down the end there—the revolving door that is their entry forward and back from the frontbench. But I hope that the member for Lindsay has also told Brett and Russell that those opposite were going to reverse the tax cuts that they're going to get in July and that the coalition were also opposed to the tax cut they're going to get next July. I hope as well that the member for Lindsay has told Brett and Russell that she, along with other members of the coalition, has opposed every one of our submissions that have gone forward to the Fair Work Commission arguing for pay rises. Indeed, I hope as well that they have been told that those opposite were opposed to the 2.6 million Australians who work public holidays, weekends, late nights and early mornings—we protected their penalty rates. Those opposite want to get rid of them. I hope as well that they've been told that the member for Lindsay opposed the measures that we've put in place to assist with bulk-billing and the 130 urgent care clinics. If Brett and Russell have got a student debt, if they studied at TAFE or university, I hope they've been told that she opposed those measures as well. And, if Brett and Russell have children, then they're like the more than one million families who have paid thousands of dollars less each year with cheaper child care. That makes a difference as well. The SPEAKER 53517 The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Barker has had a good go today. He's going to leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Barker then left the chamber . Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! It's far too disorderly. Members can't just be yelling and saying what they want. It is the Parliament of Australia. Mr ALBANESE R36 Thanks, Mr Speaker, it's a popular decision on both sides of the House, and I congratulate you on it! Fuel Security 27 14:46 Mr ABDO 316915 Calwell My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What steps has the Albanese Labor government taken to improve Australia's fuel security and sovereign capability? Why did the failures of the past make this work essential? 14:46 Mr BOWEN DZS McMahon I thank the member for Calwell for his question and congratulate him on the role he's been playing since his election last year. As the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, Australians can be reassured that we enter this crisis well prepared. We have 1½ billion litres of petrol and three billion litres of diesel in our national stockpile, held in Geelong and in Lytton, which is a stockpile that was brought into force by law in 2023 as one of the first acts of this government. It is the case that we hold that stockpile of petrol and diesel in our two refineries. We would be better prepared if we had six refineries. When Labor lost office in 2013, there were six refineries operating in Australia; when we came back to office in 2022, there were just two refineries operating in Australia. When the Altona refinery was shut in 2020, the member for Hume said, 'This will not negatively impact Australian fuel stockholdings.' Well, it's fair to say the closure of Altona and the closure of Kwinana and the others didn't help. In relation to urea, I'm also pleased to advise Australia's truckies that we have a stockpile of five weeks worth of technical grade urea, which adds to 12 weeks of privately held supplies, which means that we have very good supplies and backups for urea. Yet again, the reason that stockpile is necessary is that we saw the closure of Australia's only urea manufacturer, on Gibson Island, announced in 2021. Senator Canavan was out this morning—as you know, I'm always looking for bipartisanship—and he said: 'We used to produce urea in Australia. It's another sad story.' Well, he's right. We did produce urea in Australia and it is a sad story that urea manufacturing closed while the member for Hume was the minister for energy. But I have good news. Urea manufacturing is coming back under the Albanese Labor government. Perdaman, in Karratha, is seeing 2½ thousand construction workers, as we speak, making a manufacturing facility which will produce 2.3 million tonnes of urea. I congratulate the Minister for Resources for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, which has helped construct and fund this facility. Mr BOWEN DZS I was unaware that the member for Maranoa was working with the Minister for Resources to support this program—claiming credit for construction work underway in 2026. Sovereign capability is not about an Instagram video next to old cars. It is not about spreading misinformation about net zero. Building sovereign capability is hard work, working with industry, and that's what the Albanese government is doing, correcting the deindustrialisation of the last 10 years. Cost of Living 28 14:49 Mr BATT 315478 Hinkler My question is to the Prime Minister. In my electorate of Hinkler, demand for emergency relief is skyrocketing. The Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre usually serves 80 meals to those in need every Wednesday night. That has now increased to 120. Most of those meals are for children. Does the Prime Minister accept responsibility for the impacts his decisions are having on Australia's lower living standards? 14:50 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I thank the member for Hinkler for his question. What I of course accept responsibility for are the policies of this government. I accept responsibility for the fact that, since 1 July, we've delivered a pay rise for all minimum- and award-wage workers, taking the total increase to over $9,000 since Labor were elected. I accept responsibility for the fact that we've increased the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent. I accept responsibility for the fact that paid parental leave has been expanded from 24 weeks—it'll be coming to 26 weeks—and that super is now being paid on paid parental leave, something that the shadow Treasurer has had some really interesting things to say about. I take responsibility for the fact that those constituents would have received energy bill relief and that, if they are studying, they would have got the cut to student debt—an average of $5,500. If they're going to TAFE or their children are going to TAFE, they could be one of the 725,000 Australians who've done that. There's the $10,000 bonus for housing apprentices as well. They would have benefited from the fact that, if they or someone in their family has a health issue— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! Sorry, I was talking to the member for Goldstein. The Prime Minister will just pause. He was asked a question. Order! I don't need to be pointed at. I don't know who you're pointing to. The Prime Minister is going to pause so I can hear the member for Page on a point of order. Mr Hogan 218019 The point of order is on 104(a). The question was directly related to the demand for emergency relief skyrocketing. The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat. That is not a point of order. The Prime Minister was asked whether he accepts responsibility for the impact of his government, and he's using the words 'what I take responsibility for' and outlining the impact of his government. So, if you ask a question about that—about the impact of his government—he's obviously going to talk about the impact that he believes that the government has had. So no more frivolous points of order. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! We've had one point of order. I'll hear from the Manager of the Opposition because of his position. Mr Tehan 210911 I'll just wait for the Prime Minister. The SPEAKER 53517 State the point of order or resume your seat. Let's get through this. Mr Tehan 210911 The member for Gippsland raised a very good point of order yesterday about— The SPEAKER 53517 What's the point of order? Mr Tehan 210911 how, when we take a point of order, the speaker should be sitting down so we can make the point of order. The SPEAKER 53517 I explained to the House that the member for Goldstein had my attention. That's why I was missing things. So if everyone could just do things in an orderly way—and I apologise to the member for Page that I didn't see him, but I was dealing with another matter for the member for Goldstein. The point of order has been made. I will remind all members to follow the standing orders. The member for Hinkler has asked his question. We've had the point of order. The Prime Minister's being directly relevant. Mr ALBANESE R36 They've also got to be on the TV, and I congratulate them for that—small mercies! What the member mightn't know because he's new here is that those opposite cut $20 million from emergency relief that we had to put back. So we put it back. We put back the $20 million they took out. That's typical of what's occurred. If they continue to ask questions like that, then we'll continue to take advantage in answering them. On emergency relief, you cut and we put money back. It's as simple as that. It's not that hard to get on top of. But the truth, as well, is that the range of measures that we have put in place—including 1800MEDICARE, including the education measures, including all of this support—make a difference for people, and all of them are opposed by those opposite, who just want to tear each other down and talk Australia down. Housing 29 14:55 Ms FRANCE 270198 Dickson My question is to the Minister for Housing, the Minister for Homelessness and the Minister for Cities. What is the Albanese Labor government doing to help Australians get into their first home, and how does this compare to alternative approaches? 14:55 Ms O'NEIL 140590 Hotham I thank the member for Dickson for her question. As Labor people, we share a really simple belief, and that is that homeownership should be available to ordinary Australians. Our government has now backed 1,700 people in the member for Dickson's electorate into their first home, and we're proud to have done it. The member for Dickson recently talked to me about Matthew, a local teacher she met at a street stall. He came over to thank her. He's a middle-income earner, and he and his family have been able to buy their first home under our five per cent deposit program. Now, Matthew is far from alone. He is one of 230,000 Australians right around this country who have got into homeownership with our government's backing. This is a massive number of people. In fact, for the first time in Australian history, more than half of the first home buyers in the market are in the market with the support and the backing of their government. The five per cent deposit program is hugely popular with the people who desperately need that support. But what is really extraordinary is that those opposite oppose this support— Mr Chaffey 316312 You better stop interest rates from going up then! The SPEAKER 53517   The minister will pause. The member for Parkes has interjected 15 times. He will leave the chamber under 94(a). You may sit a long way away, but that's no excuse to be continually interjecting non-stop through every single answer. The member for Parkes then left the chamber . The SPEAKER 53517 The minister will now continue. Ms O'NEIL 140590 Two hundred and thirty thousand people across the country were helped into first homeownership. Inexplicably, those opposite opposed this incredibly popular program. Why would this be? They have said that the five per cent deposit program will be used by the children of billionaires. Like Gina Rinehart's children are going to be buying an affordable home with a 95 per cent mortgage in the member for Dickson's electorate—yeah, right! They also call this a 'gimmick', and this is the one that really gets me. Let's call this for exactly what it is, and that is pure snobbery. How do you think it feels for someone like Matthew or the 230,000 other people who have needed this program to get into the market to be told that this is somehow a gimmick? This program is one that helps the average first home buyer in our country go from having to save for 10 or 11 years to get into their first home all the way down to two or three years. Those are eight years that that young person is paying off their own mortgage rather than someone else's, and those opposite call it a gimmick. I want every one of the 1,660 Australians in the electorate of Farrer to know that we have helped them get into homeownership through a program that those opposite want to shut down. I want the 5,612 Australians supported in the member for La Trobe's electorate to know that he thinks that they must be the children of billionaires. And I want the 1,224 Australians in the member for Hume's electorate to know that, if it were up to him, then they would still be renting. The SPEAKER 53517 Resume your seat—I know where you're going to go. Can the minister refer to people by their correct titles? It's a relatively new thing that has been taken up, I might add to those opposite. Ms O'NEIL 140590 As we've seen today, those opposite are an absolute rabble who, as usual, are focused on creating chaos and fighting against each other. But there's one group of people that our government is here for every single day, and that's the Australian people. Gas Industry 29 14:59 Ms WATSON-BROWN 300127 Ryan My question is to the Prime Minister. Corporate profiteering by big gas corporations skyrocketed after the invasion of Ukraine, causing rising power bills, and it's about to happen again, thanks to Trump and Netanyahu's attack on Iran, which you support. These corporations literally take Australian gas for free and make obscene profits from it. Will you put a 25 per cent tax on gas exports as advocated for by the ACTU? 14:59 Ms MADELEINE KING 102376 Brand I thank the member for her question. I'd like to let the member know that imposing new costs on the gas industry would freeze gas production in this country, and a tax on gas exports, as has been proposed by those opposite in the last election, would discourage investment in the new supply we need to back up our transition to net zero. We need gas as a firming capacity for renewables, whether they be solar or wind. This is what the International Energy Agency says and it's what AEMO says, as well as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Many, many highly reputable global institutions that look at these matters agree there is a role for gas in net zero. But, really importantly, we have worked and we have legislated— The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Fisher is now warned. Ms MADELEINE KING 102376 the net zero target, and gas will support it. But, in relation to putting more costs onto the gas industry, they, in fact do pay a significant amount of tax into our system. I would also add that they employ many, many Australians right around the country, whether that be in north-western Western Australia or in Darwin—also in the north of Queensland, as well as even in Victoria, as it turns out, and also in South Australia. It's a very important industry. Thank you for the question. The SPEAKER 53517 The member for Ryan on a point of order. Ms Watson-Brown 300127 On relevance, the question was about taxing gas supply, not the— The SPEAKER 53517 The minister has completed her answer. Schools 30 15:01 Ms URQUHART 231199 Braddon My question is to the Minister for Education. What progress is being made to boost high school completion rates and student attendance? What are the risks? 15:01 Mr CLARE HWL Blaxland I thank my friend the brilliant member for Braddon for her question. Her question prompts me to inform the House of some very good news, because information out this morning shows that the number of kids finishing high school is going back up. The number of boys finishing high school is going up, the number of girls finishing high school is going up, the number of kids at Catholic and independent schools finishing high school is going up, and the number of kids at public schools finishing high school is going up. This is a big deal because, basically, for the last decade it's been going in the opposite direction. It's been going down and down, and now it's starting to turn around. This is good news because, as most of us will know, it's more important to finish high school today than it was when we went to school. Now it's your ticket to the show because so many jobs require you to finish school and then go on to TAFE or to university. I'm asked about risks, and I think everyone here will remember what happened last time the Liberals were in power—how they ripped the guts out of our public schools; how they ripped $30 billion out of our public schools. That's when all of this started. We're still dealing with the consequences of it, because it wasn't just the number of kids finishing school that went down; it was the number of kids going to school that went down as well. School attendance rates under the Liberals dropped from 93 per cent down to 86 per cent. The good news is that that's going back up now too, for the first time in a decade. What else happened under the Liberal Party? Teacher shortages went through the roof. I can now tell the House some good news: that's turning around as well. There are now more schoolteachers than ever before and more people enrolling to become a teacher as well. That's up six per cent this year, but it's just the start. There is so much more that we need to do. That's why we're fixing the funding of our public schools. It's the biggest new investment in our schools by an Australian government ever. That's not a blank cheque; that's funding tied to reform—the sort of reform we need to make to make sure that kids learn to read, to write and to count. It's things like evidence based teaching, things like phonics checks for kids when they're little to identify kids who need more help, and things like small-group tutoring to give them the help that they need so that we make sure that kids who fall behind catch up and keep up and even more kids finish high school. Middle East 30 15:04 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Has the minister investigated all funding commitments, both secret and public, made by the Albanese Labor government to extremist Islamic organisations which have mourned the death of the evil Ayatollah Khomeini? 15:05 Dr ALY 13050 Cowan I thank the member opposite for his question, though I do take some issue with the inference there about secret funding. The funding that was spoken about earlier this week was very much publicly made. The commitment was very publicly made. And, as I said in this House in response to questions from the shadow minister at the time of finding out about the incident that happened, I asked the department to stop what was an active process. That has now been stopped. In relation to further matters, I will reiterate what I said last time in this House, which is that this government takes very seriously the fact that all public funding that goes to any organisations, whether they are religious organisations, whether they are cultural organisations or sporting organisations—we take very seriously the role that they play in ensuring that their activities are in line with the standards that Australian taxpayers expect. Aged Care 31 15:06 Mr GOSLING 245392 Solomon My question is to the minister for aged care. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering for aged-care workers and the people that they care for? Why is this necessary and how does it differ from other approaches? 15:07 Mr RAE 300122 Hawke I thank the member for Solomon for his question. He and the member for Lingiari have been tireless advocates for better aged-care services for older Territorians, and that's why our government is investing $60 million to build a new aged-care facility in Palmerston. It takes a very special person to work in the aged-care sector. They are dedicated and highly skilled. They show up every single day, and they afford our loved ones the dignity and the safety that they deserve. That's why this Labor government, since coming to office, has delivered the biggest pay increase in the history of aged care. So far, that's four rounds of fully funded pay rises recognising aged-care work as the professional essential work that it is. Today, the average registered nurse in aged care is making $28,000 more a year than they did before, meaning the award has increased by about $550 a week. These are life-changing numbers delivered by this government and by this Prime Minister. We've mandated registered nurses in aged-care homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We've implemented mandatory care minutes because we know that care isn't just a task to be completed; it's a relationship between two human beings. When it's done right, both workers and older people benefit alike. The contrast with those opposite could not be starker. When they were in government, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety handed them a roadmap for reform—a roadmap built on the testimony of older Australians, their families and the workers who saw firsthand what neglect truly looked like. And what did they do? They sat on it. They delayed. They watered down and then, ultimately, they walked away. This isn't ancient history. We're still working today to address the consequences of choices that those opposite made and that they have never properly accounted for. We shouldn't be surprised that the Leader of the Opposition hates workers. He made that very, very clear as shadow Treasurer. He opposed tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. He planned to cut 36,000 public servants, which would have hollowed out aged care. He planned to strip protections from casual workers—that's tens of thousands of aged-care workers around Australia. This is a man who couldn't be trusted when he was auditioning for the top job. Aged-care workers and the people they care for should be very nervous about ever letting him near the budget again. This government came to office with a clear commitment to fix what was broken, to resource what had been starved and to treat aged-care workers with the respect that they deserve while they care for the people that we love. Gambling Advertising 31 15:10 Mr WILKIE C2T Clark My question is to the Minister for Communications. It's almost three years since the Murphy report unanimously recommended a phase-out of gambling advertising. When will you be tabling the government's response to that report, and by what date will you actually legislate a ban on gambling advertising? Or is the Prime Minister continuing to block this sensible and popular reform? 15:10 Ms WELLS 264121 Lilley Thank you for the question. The Albanese government has delivered the most significant online-wagering harm reduction initiatives of the past decade, including launching BetStop and banning the use of credit cards for online wagering. BetStop is the most significant gambling reform of the past decade. It was this government that delivered those reforms, and we're really proud of the positive impact that it's having. Just last week we released the review of BetStop, which found that BetStop is a successful policy and is delivering on its objectives. That review, which we released for media and for the public last week, suggested several changes to maximise BetStop's reach and impact in addressing gambling harms, including improving community awareness through increased marketing and promotion. I've written to state and territory ministers and to peak bodies to help promote this vital service to frontline workers, who are often the first point of contact for people experiencing gambling harm. I will continue to work with harm reduction advocates— The SPEAKER 53517 The minister will pause. The member for Clark on a point of order. Mr Wilkie C2T Point of order on relevance. The question goes to the fundamental issue of the Prime Minister personally blocking reform. The SPEAKER 53517 Well, no, it doesn't. The question contained a number of parts, including the timeline for the Murphy report about the impact of this issue on community. You were specific about when the government will be responding to the report and on what date. That was the last part of the question, and it was borderline because you're imputing a motive by the Prime Minister there. The minister is being directly relevant. I'm listening to her carefully about what the government is doing on that topic. If she were talking about something else, she would not be directly relevant. If she were talking about another policy topic I'd pull her into line, but I'm listening to her carefully and making sure that she's being directly relevant to the question she was asked. I'll ask her to remain directly relevant. Ms WELLS 264121 Under the leadership of Prime Minister Albanese, this government has undertaken some of the most significant harm reduction measures that we have seen in the federation. We have banned the use of credit cards for online wagering. We have launched BetStop. We have forced online-wagering companies to send their customers monthly activity statements outlining their wins and their losses. We have provided direct funding for specialist financial counselling to support people affected by problem gambling. We have introduced new minimum classifications for video games with gambling-like content. We have introduced new evidence based taglines in wagering advertising. We have introduced nationally consistent staff training in this space. And we have established mandatory customer ID verification for online wagering. We have done all of this work since we were elected to government. I will continue to meet with harm reduction advocates, some of whom were in my office earlier this week, with broadcasters and with sporting codes as we seek to look at further ways that we can minimise the harms of gambling. Veterans 32 15:13 Mrs ELLIOT DZW Richmond My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting our veteran community, and how does this compare to what the government inherited? 15:14 Mr KEOGH 249147 Burt I thank the member for Richmond for her important question. The Albanese government is focused on delivering for Australia's defence forces, those who are serving and those who have served, and that's including by delivering a veterans and families hub in the Tweed. We've transformed how veterans can access a wide range of support not only to speed up claims processing so they can get that assistance that they need sooner but also to make sure that that assistance is best practice—be it cutting-edge medical treatment, psychosocial supports or community connection. I'm proud that we've been working to better support our Defence people from the day they sign up and throughout their career by making sure that they can better access health care, education and services to set them up for success. Now, Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs are working more closely together to mitigate and ideally prevent illness and injury of all kinds. We want to see that our veteran community is well for longer. When we came into government, though, in 2022, DVA was chronically underfunded and underresourced. This had serious negative real-world consequences for veterans and their families. It meant that, for too long, veterans were not able to access the supports that they needed due to a lack of staffing and a lack of investment into DVA. There had been a revolving door of ministers—six in nine years. This meant that veterans were not getting a fair go from the previous government. They didn't have a true champion in the coalition government. But I do want to give credit to my immediate predecessor, because the member for Calare, who now sits on the crossbench, did try to turn it around. He called it out, even when he was a member of the coalition government. He said it was a dire situation. He even threatened to resign. He threatened to resign from the same ministry that featured the now leader of the opposition. He pointed out that the former government was only prioritising funding that had a political advantage, and that 'they didn't feel there was a political advantage in funding veterans issues'. While some things change, some things stay the same. The Liberals may change their leader, but they won't change the way that they are. The Albanese government is focused on delivering for our veterans; they are the same old Liberals. They have learned nothing. Middle East 32 15:16 Mr REBELLO 316547 McPherson My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Has the minister investigated all funding commitments made to organisations who have mourned the death of the evil Ayatollah Khomeini? 15:17 Dr ALY 13050 Cowan I do thank the member for his question. I'm not quite sure how else I can articulate this other than to repeat that there is an expectation from this government that all organisations that receive funding conduct themselves within the expectations of Australian taxpayers. For the situation in question, I have spoken about it before in parliament, in question time, and have answered questions with regard to that particular situation. I have informed the House of a situation where there was an active submission in place, which was later stopped after that particular organisation was found to have— Dr ALY 13050 I am getting there. The SPEAKER 53517 Manager, if you're going to raise a point of order, you can, but I don't want banter. We just had that debate yesterday with the member for Gippsland. The minister can direct her comments through the chair and, if the manager jumps up, he'll get a point of order. But he's not to come up to a minister who's at the dispatch box to just have a chat. Dr ALY 13050 To clarify, on the situation that was raised in question time earlier this week, that matter was an active submission that was stopped because we were concerned about social cohesion, and I took the decision to stop it there. As I've said before, there is that expectation that exists for organisations and funding— Mr Albanese R36 If they don't want to hear it, just sit down. Just finish. Dr ALY 13050 I'm done. Thank you. Health Care 33 15:19 Ms SCRYMGOUR F2S Lingiari My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Minister, how is the Albanese Labor government making medicines cheaper for all Australians after a decade of cuts and neglect, and how are patients benefiting from new treatments listed on the PBS? 15:19 Mr BUTLER HWK Hindmarsh Thank you to the member for Lingiari. Like everyone on this side, I am so enormously proud of that great Labor legacy, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, that was achieved by a Labor government decades and decades ago against the opposition of the Liberal Party at the time and against the opposition of groups like the then British Medical Association. But we stuck to the fight, and it's delivered one of the best medicine systems in the world. Since we came to government, we've added 400 new or amended listings to the PBS, terrific listings like reproductive health medicines, menopause treatments, cancer treatments and so many others. All of them are fantastic additions to the therapies available to Australian patients. But, I have to say, none of them are more exciting than the listing I announced on Sunday for whole-of-cancer eligibility for an immunotherapy called Opdivo and Yervoy. This has been saving thousands of lives here in Australia and hundreds of thousands across the world for several years now, and we've been struggling to get a listing that would allow clinicians to make that drug available to everyone with any type of cancer. This is going to be particularly important for those rarer cancers where it's very difficult to put together a clinical trials case for a specific listing. I joined a constituent of mine, Josh Galpin, in the western suburbs of Adelaide. He'd had a relatively minor melanoma. It had been treated. He thought he was all fine. Then he went into hospital in his late 30s to discover he was riddled with tumours through a range of different organs. He could have had chemotherapy but with very little chance of survival. He could have had some inhibitors that are on the PBS and maybe would have survived for two years. But his clinician Professor Roberts-Thomson recommended Opdivo and Yervoy which has largely cured all of these tumours. He's seen his oldest child graduate high school and his other two children get into adolescence, but he had to pay $100,000 for that. His parents deferred their retirement. His nan lent him some money. His workmates did a crowdfunding campaign to get that money together. When he joined us at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Sunday, he said this PBS listing would mean thousands and thousands of Australians from now on won't have to go through that. They won't have to deal with the financial pressure in addition to the trauma of potentially not surviving your children's schooling years. This will benefit about 5,000 Australians every single year. It is the first listing of its kind anywhere in the world. These immunotherapies are life-changing and life-saving. Not only will it now mean that no-one pays $100,000, but they'll be paying cheaper scripts thanks to this government. Elder Abuse 33 15:22 Ms SHARKIE 265980 Mayo My question is to the Attorney-General. At least one in six older people report experiencing elder abuse and neglect—financial, familial, psychological and physical. There has been no national plan to address this since 2023. When will the government release the new national plan to respond to the abuse of older Australians to deal with this crisis? 15:23 Ms ROWLAND 159771 Greenway I thank the member for her question on a topic that is not discussed enough in our society and, I think, in our political discourse. I thank her particularly for going to the issue of the national plan for elder abuse. I can assure the member that work on that is underway. I will be in a position to make announcements on how that is progressing in the near future, but I will say two things. Firstly, elder abuse needs to be understood for what it is. It is insidious, it is often unseen and, unfortunately, it too often happens at the hands of relatives. We are now in a position where we understand the data much more fully, and that is a role that this government and this portfolio have been fulfilling, and it is one that is informing our policy processes going forward. Secondly, as the member will be well aware, elder abuse is also addressed at a state level, and the need to have coordination in that context is vitally important. I can assure the member that this is an item that is being discussed at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General, which I chair, and we had our meeting only a few weeks ago. I thank the member very sincerely for her interest. I will engage with the member as we lead up in this process, and, of course, my door is always open for other members who wish to engage as well. Workplace Relations 34 15:24 Ms JORDAN-BAIRD 316021 Gorton My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. How is the Albanese Labor government improving outcomes for Australian workers, and what has been the response? 15:24 Ms RISHWORTH HWA Kingston I'd like to thank the member for Gorton for her question. It was wonderful to join her with workers that keep Melbourne Airport going just recently. Now, two years ago our government introduced historic reforms to improve pay, job security and working conditions for Australians. These reforms included the right to disconnect, allowing Australians to unplug after hours guilt free. Jacob, a science teacher, said that this change helped him rediscover his passion for education and said, 'It eased our workload pressure so that we can better focus our energies on what we do best: teaching.' This reform is being embraced by both workers and employers, with more than half of businesses surveyed by the HR Institute indicating the right to disconnect improved employee engagement and productivity. It was therefore very, very disappointing that the Leader of the Opposition jumped to reject this proposal on ABC Insiders, where he said, well, obviously, he would undo the right to disconnect. Now, of course, the government also introduced same job, same pay laws which legislated a very, very simple principle: two people doing the same job should be paid the same. This reform is delivering pay increases to more than 8,000 workers right across Australia—workers like Alicia, a flight attendant who is now getting a 20 per cent pay increase. Alicia said, 'I feel like I'm an equal; I feel like I'm valued now.' While our government is delivering for people like Alicia, the Leader of the Opposition slammed this change, claiming it was dangerous, and characterised it as un-Australian. Well, Mr Speaker, do you know what is un-Australian? Telling people like Alicia she isn't equal and she doesn't deserve the same pay as her colleagues. Our government is ensuring workers on digital platforms have access to a decent standard of living that other workers enjoy—workers like Melbourne delivery driver Eric, who told the ABC in November that our changes are going to make a huge difference to easing cost-of-living pressures. What did the Leader of the Opposition do when these laws were proposed? Well, he went to the HR Nicholls Society and said that gig workers having minimum standards of pay would be disastrous. The Leader of the Opposition has consistently championed repealing our fairer laws and consistently tried to make life harder for Alicia, Jacob and Eric and workers right across Australia. The Liberals might have changed their leader, but the same old Liberals haven't seen a pay increase they won't deny. Mr Albanese R36 Can I give a shout-out to John Paul College from Daisy Hill in the Treasurer's electorate up there. They're very pleased with that little shout out! Well done. In their interests and everyone else's, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. STATEMENTS 34 STATEMENTS Personal Explanation 34 15:28 The SPEAKER 53517 Before I get to the member for Goldstein—it's in an order of precedence, how I'm approached—we'll deal with the member for Clark, who is claiming a misrepresentation. Do you claim to be misrepresented? 15:28 Mr WILKIE C2T Clark I do claim to be misrepresented. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Mr WILKIE C2T Thank you. In fact, I was misrepresented egregiously. Yesterday, on Afternoon Briefing, the shadow minister for defence, Senator Paterson, claimed in an interview with Radio National Breakfast that I made—and I'll quote Senator Paterson—'strange and factually incorrect observations'. He said: For example, he said that the Iraq war was launched in the lead-up to midterm elections in the United States, as this was. Well, actually, the Iraq War commenced in 2003 after the midterm elections, in the lead up to a presidential election … I'm sorry that wasn't grammatically very good, but that's what he said. Senator Paterson may not have been listening closely enough because, if he listens back, he'll find that I clarified. I'll quote myself now: Back in 2003, that was just after the 2002 congressional midterm elections when the Republicans had really beaten the drums of war and they did well in those congressional midterms. But by that stage they were on an inevitable course to have the conflict. Now, given that Senator Paterson was a minor at the time, he may not have been paying as close— The SPEAKER 53517 Order! We don't need explanations, as I explained to the House when the member for Goldstein tried this yesterday with his commentary. I just need you to say where you've been misrepresented, not to give further commentary. Mr WILKIE C2T I'll leave it there, then, but I think it's pretty straightforward. Personal Explanation 35 15:30 The SPEAKER 53517 Does the member for Goldstein claim to have been misrepresented? 15:30 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein I do, Speaker. The SPEAKER 53517 You may proceed. Mr TIM WILSON IMW During question time today, the Treasurer continued a campaign of misinformation against me. I guess you only hurt the ones you love. I'm a married man, Treasurer! On Monday I submitted— The SPEAKER 53517 Member for Goldstein, I just explained to the House—if you're going to continue with this, you will not get the chance to use this as a procedure of the House. It's an indulgence I'm granting you. You're currently abusing it, which the member for Clark did as well. The rules apply to everyone. I need you to state where you've been misrepresented—no more, no less. Mr TIM WILSON IMW During question time today, the Treasurer misrepresented me in claiming that I had updated my register of interests today. This is not correct. As this document will show, on Monday I submitted an alteration of interests to the registrar. This is the receipt, and I seek leave to table it as it was only published today. I seek leave to table it. All you need to do is accept it. Leave not granted. The SPEAKER 53517 I thank the member. Before I move on, we'll deal with the member for Chifley, who raised this issue with me regarding the members' register of interests and regarding an individual's alteration. The issue that the member raised was about the timing and whether there had been any changes with the approach. When alterations occur, as one did occur this week—the issue was that it contained extraneous material which was not published. When a new alteration was allocated—which was today—regarding the same matter, without the extra commentary, which was published today, it has today's date on it, being a new submission. Ergo, the procedures have not changed. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS 35 PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE HOLDERS Speaker's Panel 35 15:32 The SPEAKER 53517 Pursuant to standing order 17, I lay on the table my warrant revoking the nomination of the honourable member for Forrest and nominating the honourable member for Wright to be a member of the speaker's panel to assist the chair when requested to do so by the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS 35 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS Report No. 23 of 2025-26 35 15:32 The SPEAKER 53517 I present the Auditor-General's Performance Audit Report No. 23 of 2025-26 entitled Suicide prevention policy development and monitoring—Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Document made a parliamentary paper. DOCUMENTS 35 DOCUMENTS Presentation 35 15:33 Mr BURKE DYW Watson 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. MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE 36 MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE Cost of Living 36 15:33 The SPEAKER 53517 I have received a letter from the honourable member for Goldstein proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely: "The decline of Australia's living standards during the Government's cost of living crisis". I call upon those honourable members who approve of the proposed discussion to rise in their places. More than the number of members required by the standing orders having risen in their places— 15:33 Mr TIM WILSON IMW Goldstein Shortly after question time, the Treasurer scurried out from the chamber. I can understand why, because, while he feels shame, Australians desperately need hope. They need hope for the future. They need ambition for our country. And they need economic leadership that is, sadly, missing right now. You just need to look at the Treasurer and what his legacy has been. Do you remember when George Bush went onto the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared 'mission accomplished'? That's what the Treasurer did in saying that Australia had turned the inflation corner. That would certainly be news to millions of Australians who are living with the consequences of him continuing to pour debt petrol on the inflation fire. If you listen to the government during question time, what you will hear is that Australians have never had it so good—'Australians are doing great; Australia is doing great.' Well, to be fair, some people are doing well. Organised crime is doing well. We have them using illegal tobacco as a pathway to profiteer, to undermine tax revenue and to finance terrorism. Organised crime is doing really well. Organised crime, through cartel kickbacks and public money given through the CFMEU Labor cartel, are doing really well. Mr Tehan 210911 Never done better. Mr TIM WILSON IMW No, they've never done better. Organised crime has never done better than under this government. So, yes, some people are doing well, but they are all the wrong people. Australians, the mums and dads of this nation, are going to their local supermarket and they're putting items in their red basket or their trolley and increasingly they're not just checking the price, as they might always be if they're prudent and balancing a budget, but turning up to the checkout and getting through the price scanner and having to take things out of the basket or out of the trolley and put them back. That's because what this government is doing is not just inflating out the value of money. It doesn't just mean you get less when you go to the supermarket checkout. What this government is doing is inflating out Australians' dignity. This is the most despicable and disgraceful act that a government can do. Then they come into this chamber and pretend like everything's rosy and that Australians are not doing it tough. Their only answer is: 'What we should do is issue more bonds. Let's get more debt and let's pour it on to the inflation fire. Let's let it rip.' They seem to have no understanding of what's driving inflation. The member for Kennedy whispered sweet nothings of inflation in my ear about what is happening during question time. The Treasurer has a form of delusion about the fact that private demand is being stoked by public demand. This has been explained by the Reserve Bank governor, but, according to this government, what would they know? They're continuing to spend and stoke expenditure every step of the way from the taxpayers' purse so that they can stoke private demand to hide an economic reality. Australians' wages are going backwards, they're being outstripped by inflation and costs— Mr Tehan 210911 Costs are going through the roof. Mr TIM WILSON IMW are going through the roof. There you go! Costs are going through the roof—you're 100 per cent right, Member for Wannon. There's higher rents, higher insurance costs and higher costs at the supermarket. It doesn't matter where you go. And, of course, there's higher petrol costs as well. At every step we have a problem, and the government is in a form of denial. But what we've seen this week is an active attempt to deliberately distract from what the Treasurer's legacy has been to date. He now talks about international factors, like inflation begins in Tehran, not in Canberra, like everything was rosy until Sunday. There's just one little problem. We're actually talking about the December quarter accounts, and I can assure you that wasn't a problem back in December. Australians are doing it tough, and this government is contributing at every step of the way. The legacy is extremely clear. On a per capita basis, the Australian economy remains poorer than in March 2022. According to the latest figures from the OECD, Australia—let's just take a dramatic pause—has experienced the worst fall in living standards in the OECD. This is a disgrace. Australia has made no progress in living standards against the OECD average by 10 percentage points. They're down 10 percentage points. We have real wages falling—two per cent lower today than when Labor took office and falling right now. Remember when Labor members came into this chamber and talked about real wages moving? Remember that? I think they even did dances to that. I can assure you the Australian people aren't dancing to that tune anymore, because they know that inflation is outstripping their wages and they are going backwards. They feel it when they get their pay cheque. They feel it when they get to the supermarket checkout. They know just what they're getting less of. They know they're getting less for the value of their dollar. The RBA expects real wages to continue to fall all year, to December 2026. I'm sure there'll be a reason that will be this side of the chamber's fault! I'm sure they'll have an excuse about why, four years out from government, somehow we are in a situation where we're responsible for that. When is the Prime Minister actually going to appoint a Treasurer who's going to take responsibility? I know he likes to ritually humiliate the Treasurer, whether it's rolling over unrealised capital gains or when he's got him out there floating new taxes and he'll force him to roll that over. When is the Prime Minister going to appoint a Treasurer who's going to take responsibility? Right now the Treasurer is out there socialising to increase taxes on the Australian people while they'll do nothing about the $15 billion that has gone to organised crime through the CFMEU Labor cartel. The idea that this Treasurer and this Prime Minister and this government are somehow going to tax Australians more because they couldn't be bothered following up public money going to organised crime through the CFMEU Labor cartel is the most bizarre expression and sentence I have ever had to give. But this is the lived reality of Australians under the Albanese government. We had the national accounts. It was the December quarter, so it was after the election. They won that election, we will acknowledge that. In fact, they got a record majority, so you'd think they'd take a little bit of ownership in the process. But what did it show? It showed the second quarter in a row in which public sector demand growth outpaced private sector demand—0.9 per cent versus 0.4 per cent. That's why we have a small-business cost crisis. Think about all those Australians right now who have backed themselves in where they're self-employed in small businesses or family businesses, and their profitability margins are thinning and thinning and thinning. We know what has happened under this government: as they've thinned, eventually they've gotten to the point where they can't go on. When that happens, it isn't just the small business that goes, it's the livelihoods that go with it. That is what Australians in small business are living right now. That is why we have 41,000 small businesses that have collapsed under this government. I can tell you, the Albanese government's been betting on Australia failing—that's certainly true. They haven't just been betting on it, they've been delivering on it. The Albanese government has overseen record small business insolvencies, and it was not just a record last financial year. I'm going to give you a hot tip, Deputy Speaker—they're on track to deliver another record this year. The idea that any Labor member could stand in this chamber and get up and defend their record when you have 41,000 livelihoods thrown to the trash heap, where you have record small-business insolvencies—at least 14,000 last financial year and 14,000 this year—real wages going backwards while costs soar into the horizon! Australians know what this government is doing. Australians have woken up. They know that this government has no concern for their future. They are not taking the action needed to build a better Australia. But I want to finish where I started. Australians need hope, and there is a pathway to hope. We can have a coalition government that is focused on mobilising the economy, the ingenuity and the capital of this nation to build a better country for every Australian. We can build the homes Australians need. We can get wages up again. We can keep costs down. We can make energy cheaper. We can build a better future where the next generation of Australians clock their eyes to the horizon and think that this country is still an optimistic and proud nation. I can assure you, Deputy Speaker, for the next two and a bit years, we are going to fight for that, hell for leather, every single day. 15:43 Dr MULINO 132880 Fraser I must say, the shadow Treasurer in his time in that role has made a real art form of the dramatic pause. But what follows doesn't justify that pause. It's a real anti-climax. When we look at what those opposite left us, it was a decade of shocking productivity growth—the worst decade of productivity growth that we had seen in this country for half a century. What we also saw was shocking real wages growth that was low by design. Senior members of those opposite's cabinet in that last period of government had conceded that that was what they were intending to deliver. So it is a bit rich for those opposite to come in here today and lecture anybody on the cost of living or economic management. We know that there are many Australians who are doing it tough. We know that there are many families who are working hard and whose budgets are tight, and that global uncertainty does weigh on the Australian economy. That's why we have implemented so many supports for families and individuals throughout our time in government—supports that, over the last term and this term, those opposite have opposed every step of the way. Indeed, I might say—and I'll build on this during the contribution—that those opposite campaigned against so many of those supports at the last election. Those opposite campaigned to lift taxes on every Australian taxpayer. Those opposite campaigned for higher taxes, for higher deficits and for bigger debt. When we look at the last national accounts—and I think that it's critical that we do so—what we see is that the economy is exhibiting strong, broad based growth. That includes ongoing recovery in the private sector. That includes 2.6 per cent growth annualised, which is the strongest in almost three years. These are very encouraging numbers that are a robust foundation from which we can confront intense global economic volatility, made worse by conflict that we are seeing overseas. I repeat: we know that there are many households who are doing it tough, and that's why we have all of the supports that we have put into place, but these numbers are welcome. What I would also stress that we look at in the last national accounts is the fact that real per-capita disposable income rose by 0.6 per cent in the last quarter—2.0 per cent over the last year. This is a key measure of living standards for households. Again, the contrast with what those opposite left us couldn't be more stark. That measure went backwards 1.5 per cent in the quarter before this government came into office. Those opposite left us with real per-capita disposable household income going backwards. Now, it has grown at two per cent over the past year. If we look at where Australia stands in the world on that really critical measure, it's double the rate of growth of the G7. According to the last national accounts, the overall measure of growth is up by the highest rate in almost three years, and real per-capita disposable income is up at a rate that is very favourable globally compared to the average across the G7. Again, when you look at the last election, those opposite went to the last election with an economic plan for higher taxes, for banning people from working from home, for greater deficits and for higher debt. In the shadow Treasurer's speech there were dramatic pauses followed by quite melodramatic rhetoric on a range of fronts. But let's look at what his contribution has been since taking office—or taking his role, rather. He's not taken office, fortunately! He has focused on attacking the dual mandate of the RBA. What would the result of that be? He specifically said that we should explore taking from the RBA its dual mandate of reducing inflation while seeking full employment and have it just focusing on the former. That would see more people thrown on the unemployment heap. This is something that the Australian people would be very interested to hear explained by those opposite. Is it really their policy now that the RBA should target inflation more aggressively and, in so doing, put more people on the unemployment heap? He said that we need to look at tax rates but focus on the top rate. So, the contributions from the shadow Treasurer to date, if they are an indication of where the opposition is going, are a matter of great concern to the average Australian household. Let's look at their approach over the last four years compared to our approach. They talk a big game about the cost of living, but, whenever they have the chance to act, they vote against cost-of-living supports. On this side of the House, we want Australians to keep more of what they earn. We have already delivered tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. We will be delivering more tax cuts in the upcoming budget, as per our election commitment, and in the budget after that. Those opposite opposed that. Those opposite campaigned at the last election to reverse those tax cuts. We know how important universal health care is for quality of life. We know how important supports are in that area for people's cost-of-living relief. We have expanded bulk-billing support so that more people can see a GP for free. We have substantially increased funding for urgent care clinics. In my own electorate I've seen two urgent care clinics open, supplying healthcare services for those who need them most, with extended hours and with bulk-billing supplied support. This is something which is being rolled out right around the country. Those opposite opposed it. We've supported cheaper medicines. Again, that's something that was opposed by those opposite. Those opposite have attacked those supports at every chance. They are incredibly important supports for people who are doing it tough. We know that getting people into a home that they own is absolutely critical. That's why we have provided support to more Australians through expanded access to the five per cent deposit scheme for first home buyers. What was their approach? As with every other cost-of-living support that I've mentioned, they opposed it. That's not all the government's doing. We cut 20 per cent off student debt, helping graduates and students right across this country. We're making sure that more students get paid while they do their prac. It's a really critical cost-of-living support for many. If you're studying to be a nurse, a teacher, a social worker or a midwife, you can now get paid while you do your placement. We've expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks, with super now paid on that, improving both immediate family finances and long-term retirement outcomes. We've improved supports in superannuation on a range of fronts, including legislation passed in this chamber today, through LISTO supports, which would see hundreds of thousands of Australians get increased support to their super accounts. Those opposite voted against that earlier today. It's appalling. Under Labor's new three-day guarantee, every child who needs it is eligible for three days of subsidised early learning each week, no matter what their parents do. This means that 100,000 more families are eligible for three days of subsidised early learning. Again, an absolutely key element of standards of living, of our supports for those who need it most, is the fact that 1.2 million jobs have been created in this economy since we've come to office. Unemployment remains low by historical standards and workforce participation remains at near record highs. This is an economy that has, in the last national accounts, performed well on some key metrics of standards of living. Real per capita disposable income is up two per cent over the last year. I remind the House that it was down 1.5 per cent on the last reading when the Liberals were in office. That was after a decade of shocking productivity growth, a decade of low, sclerotic wage growth by design. No-one on this side of the House is suggesting that everyone's doing it easy. No-one's putting the Mission Accomplished banner up. What we're saying is that there are some welcome overall numbers. There is some welcome growth. For those who are doing it tough, we will continue to provide supports. We will continue to support Medicare to roll out urgent care clinics. We're going to continue to deliver the tax cuts that we promised at the last election and that we delivered in the previous term, against opposition from those opposite. We won't take lectures from people who delivered such shocking outcomes when they were in government and who oppose every single support that we bring into this place. 15:53 Dr WEBSTER 281688 Mallee Once again we have seen, during question time today, the Albanese Labor government failing to take responsibility for the pain people all around Australia are feeling due to the ever increasing cost-of-living pressures. Such is Labor's disconnect from real people in the real world. This government is forever playing with the numbers, switching them around for their own political gain, and that is a theme I will come back to. It is disgraceful and not lost on everyday mums and dads, who cannot escape their grocery bills, mortgage, rent payments, energy bills and now fuel bills, and the list goes on. People know that it is this incompetent government at work. Under the watchful eye of the Treasurer, Australia has undergone the biggest fall in living standards anywhere in the developed world. Inflation is higher than any major advanced economy. It's higher than the USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, France and Japan. On this side of the House, we are committed to restoring Australians standard of living and protecting their way of life. Under Labor, electricity prices are up 32 per cent in the past year alone. Think about that—a third of your bill gone up again in one year. Energy is the economy. We are saying it over and over again because, if we don't understand it, then businesses can't thrive and homes can't keep their lights on, keep their gas heaters on and keep their air conditioners going. Energy powers industry. It drives transport and makes small businesses not die—forty-one thousand under this government. When energy is affordable and reliable, living standards rise and societies prosper. Data consistently shows elevated energy costs create cascading effects, from immediate household strains to long-term growth impediments. After nearly four years in government, insurance is up 39 per cent, and that's before the hikes we are now hearing about due to the latest conflict in the Middle East. Some farmers are doing it so tough in my electorate from fires and floods that they are under-insuring their farms, which creates a 'higher risk business' environment. Rents are up, health care is up, food costs are up—basically, whatever we talk about has gone up. Households have burnt through all the fat they might have had in their budgets, and they're cutting back on anything extra for their kids: music lessons, sport and any other extracurricular activities and going out for a meal, and that's if they can continue to service their mortgage or rental property at all. I did hear our previous Labor speaker speaking about child care. It's just tough if you happen to live in childcare deserts, which a lot of Mallee is. Under Labor, out-of-pocket childcare costs are up 11 per cent in the last year alone. But it gets worse. Labor have added insult to injury in Mallee. We have childcare deserts. It's no more pronounced than in Boort, in the Loddon shire, and in Inglewood, which needs child care too, and I could name several other towns in my electorate. Some families are even travelling 200 kilometres a day to access child care. Victorian Labor promised to build a new child care in Wedderburn, in Loddon shire, in 2023. Please remember that year. But, then, the day before the May 2025 federal election, Labor's candidate for Mallee promised new $5 million funding for new child care in Loddon. We learned this week, and Loddon Shire Council and residents are furious about this, that the $5 million wasn't for a new child care. It was for Wedderburn, which is as good as built already because it was promised in 2023 under the Victorian government. So it's just kind of like, 'Let us shovel it away, and let us pretend that didn't happen.' The residents of Loddon shire absolutely know it happened. This was a deliberate, dishonest repackaging of an existing promise designed to deceive regional families during an election campaign. 15:58 Ms KARA COOK 316537 Bonner Can I start by saying how great it is to see more women than men on the opposition benches. It is a wonderful sight; I hope it long lives on. But, unfortunately for them, those on the other side are still at it again, talking Australia down. Let us talk about the facts of what has been brought to the chamber today. When this government came to office, we inherited an economy under real pressure. There were massive deficits, there was almost a trillion of Liberal debt, there was higher inflation, and real wages were going backwards. Living standards were already under strain because of the economic mess left behind. Our task was clear: repair the economy, restore wage growth and provide cost-of-living relief in a responsible way that doesn't fuel inflation. The latest national accounts show that that approach is working. Australia's economy grew 2.6 per cent through the year, the strongest pace in almost three years and faster than every major advanced economy. The growth is being driven by the private sector, not unsustainable public spending. That matters because it means we can deliver cost-of-living relief responsibly while keeping inflation under control. In a world facing serious global uncertainty, Australia is approaching the future from a position of genuine economic strength. But the statistics alone do not tell the whole story. We know that Australians are doing it tough, and that is why, each and every day since we have been in government, we have been working to ensure Australians are seeing improvements, and they are. Real disposable income per person has grown 2 per cent over the past year. Wages are rising again. Minimum and award wages have increased by more than $9,000 under Labor. Since we formed government, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created. Unemployment rates remain low and workforce participation is near record highs. This is a recovery built on people working, earning and participating. We have delivered tax cuts for every taxpayer, with another round of relief on its way and further cuts already locked in for next year. These tax cuts increase take-home pay and help Australians manage cost-of-living pressures. We are also cutting the cost of essentials like health care so more Australians can see a GP for free. We've opened over 130 Medicare urgent care clinics, including two in my community of Bonner in recent months—the Carina-Carindale urgent care clinic and the Capalaba urgent care clinic, both servicing my community. Thousands of patients have already been through the doors. From 1 January, we delivered the next stage of our biggest cut to the cost of PBS medicines—$25 or less—making medicines the cheapest they have been in more than 20 years. We've cut student debt by 20 per cent. We've also raised the income threshold at which student debt repayments start to $67,000, giving graduates more breathing room. We've introduced paid prac for nursing, teaching, social work and midwifery students so people can train for essential professions without going backwards financially. For families, we've expanded paid parental leave to 24 weeks and, through Labor's three-day guarantee, every child who needs it will be eligible for three days of subsidised early learning each week, meaning a hundred thousand more families can access affordable child care. And we're helping more Australians into their own homes with five per cent deposits for first home buyers. We're supporting housing apprentices with $10,000 bonuses. I'm running out of breath, because we've done so much. Cheaper home batteries are expected to support more than two million installations by 2030. Already in Bonner, over 1,800 batteries have been installed. These measures were not accidents; they were policies we took to the election and promised to deliver for all Australians, and we are delivering. What would those opposite have done? We know that they made a commitment to cut 41,000 frontline workers. They would have cut student debt relief. They would have cut free TAFE. They would have cut Commonwealth prac payments. They would have cut cheaper home batteries. All of the measures I've talked about that we have delivered—they were intent on cutting them. I can just say that our approach is clear—strong economic management and practical cost-of-living relief. We are delivering for all Australians. 16:03 Ms BELL 282981 Moncrieff Has anyone noticed the two things the government doesn't talk about? They don't talk about productivity, and they don't talk about inflation. They are the two topics that this government has absolutely avoided. The member across there, the member for Bonner, just mentioned a number. That number was 41,000. What do you think Australians might equate that number to? Well, I'm telling you now that it's 41,000 small and family businesses—incomes and livelihoods—that have gone broke since this government came to power. It's a disgraceful number, and the member for Bonner should think about that number that she just spruiked. That's 41,000 families who now do not have a small and family business. They've probably got mortgages that are attached to those businesses that have gone broke and they may have lost their homes as well. Who knows? Under this government's watch, productivity and inflation are pushing living standards backwards for Australians by 10 per cent. After four years of this Albanese government, Australians have lived through a cost-of-living crisis, a cost-of-doing-business crisis and a household recession. Prices are up. Real wages are down. Australians are working harder for less. While government is getting bigger—much, much bigger—Australians' lives are simply not getting better. On a per capita basis, our economy is poorer than it was in March 2022. We've gone backwards. According to the latest figures from the OECD, Australians experienced the largest collapse in living standards in the developed world. We have made no progress against the OECD average. We're still down 10 percentage points. That's not just bad luck; it's bad management. We have gone backwards under this government, and Australians know that. They feel it. They know it when they come out of a supermarket and they've only got half the amount in their bag that they had the last time they went shopping as inflation keeps pushing up prices. Real wages today are more than two per cent lower than when Labor took office. No wonder Australians are feeling poorer—because they simply are. The Reserve Bank expects real wages to continue falling through this year. Productivity, as I said, is down 4.7 per cent since Labor came to office. That's in four short years. This is our economic potential in freefall. But what has grown? What is it that has grown? The government has grown. The latest national accounts show public sector demand growing twice as fast as the private sector—0.9 per cent versus 0.4 per cent in the December quarter. It's the second quarter in a row that government spending has outpaced the private economy. It's that spending into the economy that the government keep doing because they're addicted to spending your money that's pushing inflation up and making it hard for every Australian. Public demand is now at a record 29 per cent of GDP. The Treasurer says inflation has been driven by private demand. That claim is in tatters. Independent economists have made it clear that, when the government take up more room in the economy, which is what they're doing—remember those jobs numbers are bigger in the government—it leaves less space for families and small businesses, it pushes up inflation, it keeps interest rates higher for longer and it makes it harder for Australians to get ahead. Inflation has risen again, to 3.8 per cent. But Labor says inflation has turned the corner. Labor says Australians are better off and life's never been better. Labor say they are not coming after more of your money. Australians know that, when Labor run out of money, they come after more of their money. Taxes are 37.3 per cent higher than when Labor came to office. Real household disposable income per capita is down 3.4 per cent. Nearly 1.9 million people have been added to the population in just four years, without the homes or the infrastructure or services to match. But Labor will blame increasing inflation on whatever it can. The conflict involving Iran is going to add further instability to global markets, for sure. But, even before that conflict began, inflation was rising, interest rates were rising and living standards were failing. Labor will make all kinds of excuses. They'll make any excuse under the sun. They'll blame anybody but themselves for their bad economic management. Over here on this side we stand for lower, simpler, fairer taxes and tax reform that rewards work and hard effort. We stand for restoring control of our migration program, protecting our way of life and restoring our standard of living. (Time expired) 16:08 Mr BURNELL 300129 Spence I know that many families across the north in my electorate of Spence are still feeling the pressure of rising prices and higher bills. The cost of groceries, rent, power and everyday essentials has climbed in recent years, and households are working hard just to keep up. That is why easing the cost-of-living pressure on Australian families remains our government's No. 1 priority. When costs rise, it is everyday households that feel it first, with families balancing budgets, working overtime and doing everything they can to get ahead. Since coming to government in 2022, Labor has delivered practical cost-of-living relief for millions of Australians. A key part of that relief has been tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. Across communities in the north, those tax cuts have meant an average of $1,217 back into household budgets. That is money that can help cover groceries, pay power bills or help families manage rising costs of mortgages or rent. In my electorate, around 74,000 taxpayers have benefited directly from these changes. In fact, 91 per cent of taxpayers in my community are better off under Labor's tax plan. This relief will continue, with another tax cut coming in July this year. But tax relief is only one aspect of the support we are delivering. Rent assistance has been increased by 10 per cent, providing additional support for renters who need it most. We are also strengthening support for families welcoming a new child. Paid parental leave has been expanded to 24 weeks, giving parents more time at home during those critical early months of a child's life. And, for the first time, superannuation will now be paid with paid parental leave, improving both the immediate financial security of families and the long-term retirement outcomes of parents, particularly women, which has been sorely needed for far too long. Child care has been made cheaper for more than one million Australian families, easing one of the biggest costs faced by working parents. Through Labor's new three-day childcare guarantee, families will have access to at least three days of subsidised early childhood education and care. This reform is already making a difference. I recently met a mother in the northern suburbs named Michelle, who told me the three-day childcare guarantee had been life-changing for her and her family. It allowed her to return to full-time work, support her household and provide opportunities for her children through early learning. Energy costs are another major pressure point for households. That is why the Albanese Labor government has introduced the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, slashing the upfront cost of installing a home battery by around 30 per cent, helping families store the energy they generate, reduce reliance on the grid and bring down their electricity bills. In my electorate alone, more than 2,300 home batteries have already been installed. Families with rooftop solar and battery storage are expected to save around $1,100 on their power bills each year—that is real relief delivered directly to household budgets. At the same time, we're tackling the underlying drivers of rising costs by investing in renewable energy to lower long-term power prices and supporting fair wage growth for low-income workers. We have also made medicines cheaper for millions of Australians. The cost of PBS prescriptions has been frozen at $7.70 for concession card holders, and capped at $25 for most other Australians, representing the largest cut to the price Australians pay for medicines in the history of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme—something I'm extremely proud of, and I know every member on this side is too. Education and training is another area where we are easing pressure on household budgets while creating long-term opportunity. Free TAFE has been made permanent, opening the door to skills and training for thousands of Australians who want to retrain, upskill and change careers, and we have cut student debt by 20 per cent, delivering immediate relief for people carrying a HECS or HELP debt balance. In communities across my electorate of Spence, that reform has helped more than 19,000 people see their student debt reduced, taking a significant financial weight off their shoulders and helping them move forward with confidence. Together these measures are delivering real support for real Australian households today, helping families to manage rising costs, to support their children and to plan for the future. Easing the cost of living is not about one policy or one announcement; it's about sustained action, practical relief and building an economy that works for everyday Australians. At the end of the day, the best measure to ease the burden on one's living standards might be to consider limiting Billy Joel covers in the chamber. 16:13 Ms ALDRED 11788 Monash The fact is that living standards have not just gone backwards under this Labor government; they have collapsed. In four years of Labor, Australians are working harder for less, they are saving harder and keeping less, and they are paying more and getting less. I see this every day in my electorate of Monash. There's the mum outside Druin Coles who told me she had to choose between paying her electricity bill on time or buying groceries for her family that week. There's the young tradie in Wonthaggi who told me he was taking every overtime shift available and he still couldn't save enough for a home deposit. There's the small-business owner on Phillip Island who said she could barely break even because every input cost, from electricity to insurance, had skyrocketed over the last few years. There's the farmer outside Leongatha who shared with me his anxiety that Labor's superannuation changes would destroy his family succession plan because the land was worth more than what their business generated in value. Australia has experienced the largest collapse in living standards among all developed countries, across the OECD, and people in my electorate of Monash are living with the consequences of this every day. The volunteers who roll up their sleeves to help those people who are really struggling are finding it more and more difficult as well, and I give the following examples. In Warragul, Frankies Community Kitchen cannot meet current demand at its local food relief centre. It's a sad reflection of the level of struggle felt in our community—the choices forced on families and on vulnerable and low-income residents when money is tight and meals are sacrificed. They started out cooking 600 meals per week, and that figure has tripled to more than 2,000 per week. But it's not enough, with a gap of around 3,000 meals every week across the region. Baw Baw Food Relief has seen a nine per cent increase in demand in the last 12 months, feeding 4,560 adults and 2,825 children. Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre has been forced to limit access to its food pantry three days a week because of the sheer number of families seeking to put food on the table. The wonderful volunteers at Corinella & District Community Centre say that it needs to be open an additional day just to keep up with growing demand, and it has to meet rising costs with a tight budget. Despite the installation of solar panels and a battery, Corinella centre has been forced to pay significantly higher electricity bills. These centres don't want to turn people away, but they can't escape the growing costs and pressure. The standard of living has dropped under this Prime Minister, but so too has every standard under the government that he's running. A good recent example, this week, was when the Prime Minister attended the wedding of his good mate Kyle Sandilands. It's worth mentioning in the context of standards that this is a guy who got a 14-year-old girl on his radio show and quizzed her about her sexual experiences, and it turned out she had been raped. This is a guy who called a female journalist 'a fat slag', said Christians were dumb as dog excrement and said on air to a female journalist: Watch your mouth, girl, or I will hunt you down. He said of comedian Magda Szubanski, who is of Polish descent, that she would lose more weight if she were in a concentration camp. Journalist Jacqueline Maley has put a number of examples together in the Sydney Morning Herald this week, and I think they are worth mentioning in the context of standards under this Prime Minister, because the standard that we walk past is the standard that we choose to accept. This is a prime minister who chose to associate his office with Kyle Sandilands by attending his wedding. What a guy. So, when we're talking about standards in Australia that have fallen off a cliff under this Prime Minister, it is not just economics that have fallen off a cliff; it is everything from economics to values. I think the Prime Minister's choice to associate himself and his office with Kyle Sandilands is worth mentioning and worth highlighting. It is a disgrace for the government and the Prime Minister, bearing in mind the message that this sends to young women and girls across this country. 16:18 Mr FRENCH 316550 Moore I rise to address the motion concerning the decline in Australia's living standards due to what the opposition repeatedly describes as a cost-of-living crisis. Let us begin with a simple proposition. Every government is ultimately judged not by the slogan it repeats but by how it manages the moments when circumstances become difficult—not mugs for mugs, anyway. Economic shocks, global instability and sudden price pressures test a nation's institutions. They test governments most of all. The question before this House is therefore not whether Australians have faced cost-of-living pressures; they clearly have. The question is: which side of politics has demonstrated the competence, discipline and seriousness required to manage those pressures responsibly? The cost-of-living pressures that Australians have experienced did not arise in isolation. They followed the most significant economic disruption in generations, a pandemic, supply chain breakdowns, energy price shocks and a surge in global inflation. Every advanced economy confronted the same pressures. Inflation has surged across Europe, North America and Asia. Energy prices have spiked. Housing markets have tightened, supply chains have fractured. In short, the entire global economy has been under strain. Responsible governments recognised this reality and acted carefully to stabilise their economies while protecting households. The Albanese government approached this challenge with a simple principle: economic stability first, targeted relief second. That approach required discipline. It meant repairing the budget rather than reckless promises. It meant providing cost-of-living relief that did not fuel inflation further. It meant strengthening structural foundations of the economy. As a result, Australia's inflation is lower than when we came to office. Wages have been growing and employment remains historically strong. That outcome was not accidental. It was the result of careful economic management. The government has also provided direct relief where it has mattered most. Apprentices have been supported with $10,000 bonuses to help build the homes we need. That includes electricians, plumbers and bricklayers. Cheaper medicines have reduced the cost of essential prescriptions, student debt has been reduced through reforms to indexation, we've introduced paid prac to nursing and teaching students, and tax cuts have been delivered to every taxpayer. Each of these measures was targeted. Each was designed to ease pressure without destabilising the broader economy. The opposition invites the House to believe they would have somehow managed these challenges better, yet their own record demonstrates the opposite. When faced with economic pressure, the Liberal Party has consistently prioritised short-term politics over long-term stability. During their time in government, wages stagnated. Real wages went backwards for years. They never put in any claims to increase the wages of Australia's lowest paid on the awards, and productivity slowed. Budget discipline deteriorated despite repeated promises for stronger fiscal management. And when crisis emerged, the response was often chaotic or delayed. Crisis management in government is not about rhetoric; it is about making difficult decisions with long-term consequences in mind. It requires steady leadership, it requires responsible fiscal policy, and it requires an understanding that wellbeing of households ultimately depends on stability of the broader economy. The Albanese government has demonstrated that discipline. It has stabilised inflation while maintaining strong employment. It has delivered relief while repairing the budget, and it has done so without compromising the long-term health of the economy. Ultimately, living standards are determined more than short-term price pressures. They depend on wages growth. They depend on secure employment. They depend on investment in skills, infrastructure and productivity. This government is investing in apprenticeships, training, and industry capability to strengthen Australia's economic foundations, because sustainable living standards come from a stronger economy, not from political slogans. Economic crises revealed the difference between careful governance and a reckless opposition. That is why, when it comes to managing crises and protecting the living standards of Australians, Labor's record speaks for itself. 16:23 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina This matter of public importance is the decline of Australia's living standards during the government's cost-of-living crisis, moved by the member for Goldstein, the shadow Treasurer. It is a matter of public importance and not, essentially, a matter of political importance. There's a big difference, because the public are hurting. They are suffering. Whether they're in the gallery or whether they're the parents of the schoolchildren above, they are really doing it tough at the moment. We all know that. I'm sure we all go into our own electorates and we talk—more importantly, perhaps some of us even listen—to the small-business owners and operators and family owned businesses. I'm sure we talk to everyday mums and dads who are struggling with balancing household budgets. I'm sure some of us from regional areas even go as far as talking to farmers and listening to farmers, because they too are struggling. It is really important that we restore our standard of living. It is really important that we protect our way of life. Unfortunately, as parliamentarians—and certainly as the government—it's not happening at the moment. What is the Labor Party's solution to this? Well, they want to put in more politicians—not better politicians. There is a move that Special Minister of State Senator Don Farrell is considering at the moment to increase the House of Representatives by as many as 24, possibly 28, seats, and the Senate from 12 additional seats to as many as 14 additional seats. That is, in one option, 42 more parliamentarians. We don't need more politicians. We need better politicians, we need better policies, and we simply are not getting that at the moment. Whilst I appreciate that Labor, as a political endeavour, will talk about yesterday's national accounts figures, they also show—the facts are there—that productivity is in freefall. It's dropped 4.7 per cent on Labor's watch. But what has gone up is the numbers of small businesses which have gone to the wall—more than 40,000 of them. That's not just them closing their doors—that level is about a thousand per day. That is actually them going bankrupt. That is so, so sad. That is terrible, because we know, or we should know, that small business is the backbone of the economy. Population—we've got 1.9 million more people since Labor came to office. What we really need to do is have a good look at migration. We also need to have a really good look at where we're going to put all of these people who are flooding into our country, because we do have a housing crisis. I know Labor's talking about building 1.2 million more homes—again, good luck with that endeavour. Yes, they are needed, but when we've got the construction industry in freefall at the moment, it's going to be a tough ask. Speaking of sectors which are in freefall, the trucking industry is doing it very, very tough at the moment. I spoke earlier today to Craig Forsyth, originally from Casino. He's got the Truckin' Life magazine. He will tell you the story about sham contracting, and that is something that I think this government really needs to address. We need a bipartisan summit. Get the unions involved. Get the industry involved. The industry has the solutions. Get the truckies involved. An honourable member interjecting— Mr McCORMACK 219646 Don't interrupt. I didn't interrupt you. We need to get people involved who understand the industry. When you've got companies in Wagga Wagga such as Ron Crouch Transport, and when you've got Don Watson Transport—which is a company that has moved refrigerated stock around our country for 70 years—going to the wall, there is something really wrong. There is something palpably wrong with what's happening, and it's happening on Labor's watch. We need to look at the construction industry. We need to look at the trucking sector. We need to really protect and help small businesses, and it's not happening at the moment. Our standards have dropped. And what's Labor's answer? 'I just want to put more people on the green seats and more people on the red seats.' No, we don't need more parliamentarians. What we need is better policy. What we need is better parliamentarians. What we need is a government which is listening. What we need is a government which is caring. What we need is a government which is acting on the falling living standards of Australians right across this wide, brown land. It's not happening at the moment. 16:28 Ms WITTY 316660 Melbourne Australians do know that the cost of living has been tough. Families feel it when they pay the bills, when they buy groceries or when they line up at the pharmacy counter. But Australians also understand something else. They understand that living standards are not shaped by slogans in this chamber; they are shaped by the economic choices governments make. The reality is this: many of the pressures Australians face today were years in the making. For a decade, those opposite were in government. For a decade, real wages went backwards. For a decade, housing supply stagnated. For a decade, bulk-billing declined. For a decade, they watched pressure building across household budgets, while racking up almost $1 trillion of debt and leaving Australians with falling real wages and living standards. Australians remember that decade, and they remember who was in charge. The Albanese Labor government is taking a very different approach. We recognise the pressure Australians are under, and we are acting to relieve it. We are delivering cost-of-living relief, we are strengthening the economy at the same time and the results are clear. Strong economic management means we can provide cost-of-living relief without adding to inflation. Nothing hits the household budget faster than the cost of staying healthy. No Australian should stand at a pharmacy counter wondering whether they can afford to pay for the medicine they need. That is why— The DEPUTY SPEAKER 248181 That's time. I apologise. ADJOURNMENT 45 ADJOURNMENT Cost of Living 45 16:30 Ms SHARKIE 265980 Mayo The government is failing families trying to balance their weekly budget. Cost-of-living pressures are hitting hard, and now, with the war in the Middle East, it's only going to get worse. The latest Bureau of Statistics inflation figures show the consumer price index rose by 3.8 per cent in the 12 months to January. Housing costs are up 6.8 per cent; clothing and footwear, 5.6 per cent; health, 3.2 per cent; and food and non-alcoholic beverages, 3.1 per cent. Overall inflation is sitting at 3.8 per cent, yet wage growth last year was 3.4 per cent, so it's not keeping pace with the cost of essentials. Effectively, people have less purchasing power now than they did a year ago. All of this pressure on household budgets, while interest rates are also going up, makes it incredibly difficult for first-time home buyers. Recently, I was chatting with a group of Meals on Wheels volunteers in the Adelaide Hills. This wonderful group of women told me they've never felt such cost-of-living pressures before and they're having to make tough decisions on where to spend their money. For example, the cost of electricity is an issue that hits particularly hard in South Australia, where residents generally are paying the highest power bills in the country—where we know, as a nation, we're paying some of the highest power bills in the world. We experienced an extraordinary heatwave in January, and that saw increased energy demand, with bills skyrocketing for so many households. The ABS inflation figures show electricity costs rose 32.2 per cent in the 12 months to January, up from 21.5 per cent in December, with the lift linked to the end of the energy bill rebate. During winter I have elderly constituents, pensioners, who can't heat more than one room, who tell me that they go to bed by 7 o'clock so they don't have to keep the heater on at night. Power is an essential, a nonnegotiable, and when power prices go up it's harder for householders and businesses. Businesses pass on the increase to consumers, making everything more expensive and creating more financial hardship on families and households. We're also looking now at a sharp rise in petrol prices, and some economists say we could be paying a dollar more a litre for fuel in coming weeks. Who pays that? Well, all of us pay that—mums and dads taking their children to school and sport. Regional and rural families are hit the hardest because we don't have the buses and we don't have the train lines, so we can't find alternative transport. If there were a time to cut the fuel excise, it is now. The current rate on petrol and diesel is 51.6c per litre. A temporary reduction would offer significant relief for families. If the government is worried about a loss to the budget bottom line, it could cut its fuel tax credits to the mining industry. It's one of the biggest expenses in the budget. Let's look at health costs. Those latest inflation figures show that medical and hospital services went up by 4.2 per cent. The main contributor was higher medical fees and private health insurance premiums, and that's about to get worse. The government has just approved a further increase in private health insurance premiums, by 4.41 per cent, and, certainly, my health insurer wasted no time in letting me know about their increase. That's going to hit the hip pocket of more than 15 million Australians who have some form of private health insurance. The affordability and availability of health care is one of the biggest issues for people who live in my community. The bottom line is people are hurting, and the government needs to do more to reduce the cost-of-living pressures. This means a conversation about the big household costs—like electricity, like the kind of power we generate, like taxes and rebates on fuel. That means talking about rising inflation and interest rates and the economic management or mismanagement that's making it harder and harder every day for Australians to pay their bills. It can't be that in this nation I have pensioners in my community who go to bed before the sun goes down because they just can't afford to heat their homes. We just can't have that in this nation. We can't have electricity so expensive that we don't have manufacturing bases anymore. My state was the powerhouse for manufacturing. We have the highest electricity. We have lost our manufacturing. We have very little time to turn this around, and we must all bring our attention to this to make it happen. McEwen Electorate: Roads 45 16:35 Mr ROB MITCHELL M3E McEwen The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future, and there's no better place to see that than in the myriad of road projects that are underway in our communities in McEwen. From the moment Labor came to government in 2022, we were focused on addressing the backlog of road projects and the failures that were left to us when we inherited government. After a decade of absolute neglect from the coalition that delivered more press releases than projects, we are giving our community the fair go that they deserve. Firstly, let's have a look at Watson Street. Only Labor went to the 2019 and 2022 elections committing to the on-ramps to the Hume Freeway to deliver the southerly exit for both sides of Watson Street. It was only our government that put that forward, and we now have those projects underway in our community. We're seeing the upgrades take shape. It is another example of promise made and a promise kept. I note the patience that many locals have as we do these massive road infrastructure projects as footpaths and lanes are temporarily closed for works, but it isn't an easy task to connect a major highway, and disruptions to the footpaths, townships and railway stations are inevitably part of the process. Every day I drive through the works, and I know that as we deal with the disruption each day we are a step closer to getting this much needed project to completion. It's been great to see the residents rally around our vision for a future which provides better connectivity for our communities. Victoria's Big Build has provided regular shuttle bus services for everyone, including school students, and we're keen to be keeping lane closures to be mostly after hours. A little bit further to the east of the electorate, I'm proud to report that Yan Yean Road stage 2 upgrade is underway, part of our $437 million commitment to road funding. It's another commitment from the 2022 election. It started in 2024, and it's another example that this Labor government turns plans on a page to a shovel in the ground to an asset to the community. Stage 2 of Yan Yean Road will be transformative for locals, providing easier access and extra lanes to keep traffic flowing. What's more is that we're enhancing the road by protecting also the 500-year-old river red gums that the community was so passionate about keeping. The works around red gums use specialist techniques such as hydroexcavation to ensure the root systems are not damaged. The contractor for the southern section of this project, McConnell Dowell, was appointed in November with works expected to commence in mid-2026. This is again because our government committed to doing this after a decade where there were no major road projects delivered to the seat of McEwen. The Albanese Labor government committed $280 million in funding to this part of the road. Improved safety and reduced travel time are only some of the benefits that will come with its completion. Only Labor has a track record of investing in McEwen. With over a billion dollars in federal road funding committed across the electorate, we are setting up the region for the decades to come. The investments include $900 million for the Camerons Lane Interchange and northern intermodal precinct, which will be a critical link in Melbourne's northern growth corridor. We are supporting the movement of double stacked container services and trains up and down the east coast and opening the fast-growing suburb of Beveridge. Here Labor has fixed up the mess that was left to us with the Inland Rail, and we're helping our communities flourish by alleviating traffic delays and getting locals to home and work quicker and safer while boosting our local economy. There is also $855,000 for safety improvements to Windham Street and Queen Street intersection, which has become a dangerous intersection for locals in the community. The safety improvements will include the installation of a roundabout with a semi-mountable island, a raised priority crossing to the south and two raised safety platforms to the east and the north. There's also $125 million upgrade to the Donnybrook Road and Mitchell Street intersection. The funding will deliver a new bridge over the Kalkallo Creek, new safety barriers around the intersection and new lanes through the intersection to deliver better access to the Hume freeway for the communities of Kalkallo and Donnybrook. There is $45 million to fully seal Old Sydney Road to Beveridge, which will provide residents a second exit out of Beveridge besides going onto the already busy Hume freeway. The future is strong in McEwen because our region—the Mitchell Shire, the City of Whittlesea and the City of Hume—benefits from having a Labor government that is actually there to work for our communities—for parents raising their kids, for travellers passing through and for all the people who live in, work in and love the area. I'm proud to be part of a government that is delivering on its promises. When communities are strong, Australia grows stronger. Labor will continue to deliver for all Australians. Economy, Cost of Living 46 16:40 Mr HOGAN 218019 Page Another term for inflation is 'cost of living'. The cost-of-living crisis in Australia is much worse than it is in many other countries because our inflation rate is much higher than it is in many other countries. With the inflation rate that came out recently, Australia's annual inflation rate is now 3.8 per cent. In the United States, it's in the lower half of the twos; it's around 2.4 per cent. The European bloc's actually has a one in front of it; it's 1.9 per cent in the European bloc. What does that mean for the average Australian family? That means cost-of-living pressures in Australia are worse. There's more pressure on families in Australia than there is in many other countries. The government refuses to accept any responsibility for the cost-of-living crisis in Australia being worse than it is in any other country. When you talk to them about the cost-of-living crisis, they like to talk about a government from five or six years ago, or they like to talk about international things, like the Ukraine et cetera. Certainly, I'm happy to acknowledge that there are things like the Ukraine that will affect the global inflation rate, but that doesn't explain why Australia's is higher than comparable countries. This government have never acknowledged it and said, 'Look, inflation is higher in Australia, and these are the reasons, we think.' They will not accept or acknowledge it. I'll mention it just in passing, but we can't not mention the fact that they went to the 2022 election promising a $275 reduction in people's power bills. They then made excuses about that. The Prime Minister, from memory, promised it something like 97 times. When he first made that promise, there was a big announcement for it. It was a huge announcement that had the media there and a whole lot of things happening. In answering questions about it, when Labor made that announcement as an election promise, the Prime Minister actually made the claim that it was the best, most extensive modelled campaign election promise since Federation. I think that was the quote—that this wasn't just a random, made-up figure but that a lot of modelling and research had gone into it. Post the election, we never heard about it again. Again, they blame things like the Ukraine war. The Ukraine war was actually happening when they made the promise, but we'll let that one slide as well. There have been Labor politicians, dare I say it—you know one of them, Speaker—like Peter Beattie. If Peter Beattie got things wrong or made a mistake, do you know what he'd do? He'd admit it. He'd go, 'I've made a mistake,' or, 'We should have done better here.' The state of Queensland I think admired him for doing that. We haven't heard one minister on the other side of this chamber over the last four years ever admit that anything they've ever done was anything but perfect, and we know that that's far from the truth. I encourage the government to admit that they're not perfect, to admit that some of their policy failings are real, to acknowledge those and to apologise for them. They should apologise for the fact that they haven't delivered the $275 energy cost decrease which they said they were going to deliver. In fact, most people's average energy bills have gone up by a thousand dollars over this period, not down by $275. They should apologise for it and acknowledge the fact that they have had some input into these inflationary pressures, which a lot of people and a lot of economists are saying stem from spending. I also want to say that this government is very dangerous in running a roulette game on our energy policy with their net-zero-by-2050 policy. I personally believe we should do our fair share of carbon emission reductions. Our better, cheaper, fairer policy is about matching OECD averages in reductions in emissions. We think we should do that. But this government is racing ahead and is going to lower emissions more than nearly any other country in the world with the reductions that they have for 2035. I also want to highlight that it's important to acknowledge the three biggest emitters in the world—the US, China and India—because they more than anyone will have the most impact on this. Not one of those three countries is signed up to net zero 2050. Nine trillion dollars has been modelled for the cost of that program, and that's a whole-of-economy cost, because obviously there are going to be costs in a whole lot of different sectors. Some of it will be private costs and some of it will be government costs, but that has been modelled across the whole sector. Again, I can tell you right now that that plan is not going to make the cost of living for Australians any better either. Social Cohesion 47 16:45 Ms MILLER-FROST 296272 Boothby A bishop, a rabbi and an imam walked into a room. I confess that this line was actually stolen from Imam Kamran Tahir, who started his iftar speech by noting that this is in fact usually the opening line to a joke. But in this instance it was in regard to a really interesting and important multi-faith event that I was honoured to attend and speak at. Mahmood Mosque, part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, hosted an iftar a couple of weeks ago. The evening feast celebrated the breaking of the Ramadan fast after sunset. They invited well-known Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle Moogy as an honoured guest, who gave an interesting and informative welcome to country. Uncle Moogy is very respected in the broader Adelaide community and is always informative, educational and entertaining. Another honoured guest was Bishop Sophie Relf-Christopher from the Adelaide diocese of the Anglican Church, whom I've known for a number of years since she was Rev. Sophie at the St Jude's Anglican Church in Brighton, in my electorate of Boothby. Finally, the third honoured guest was Rabbi Frankie Salzman from the Beit Shalom Jewish synagogue. Rabbi Frankie is relatively new to Adelaide. I have been pleased to get to know them, with an introduction from the former rabbi and my good friend Shoshana Kaminsky. Also present at the iftar event were members of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities of Adelaide and a wide range of federal, state and local politicians from all sides of politics. The imam, bishop and rabbi all spoke about the tradition of fasting in their own faith traditions, and the similarities in the use of fasting, its purpose and its meaning were remarkable across the three faiths. Many of the other politicians and I then had an opportunity to speak to the combined congregation. I spoke about the importance of such events as this to increase understanding in our broader community. Extending the hand of friendship across what others would tell us are boundaries is a really important way to make our community stronger and safer. There are forces out there that seek to divide us. They use fear and stoke division for their own personal gain. But, when we reach out the hands of friendship to each other, we show them that we are stronger than they are. Mahmood Mosque is known for reaching out into the community. Its motto is 'love for all, hatred for none'. What a fine principle to live your life by. I was last at the mosque for their celebration of NAIDOC week. They reached out to the First Nations community to celebrate and respect their 65,000 years of custodianship. All three of these faith traditions are excellent examples of Australian values in action. When I talk about Australian values, the Australian values statement, which is part of the Australian visa and citizenship forms, says: respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual; freedom of religion— including freedom from religion, plus freedom of speech and freedom of association— commitment to the rule of law … parliamentary democracy … equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin— and importantly— a 'fair go' for all that embraces: mutual respect; tolerance; compassion for those in need; equality of opportunity for all … Like 25 per cent of all Australians, I am a migrant. I am constantly grateful that my parents took that enormous step to leave behind family, friends and everything they knew on the other side of the world and restart their lives and careers here in Australia. This is a wonderful country, and we need to protect it and protect Australian values. I attended events such as the iftar at the Mahmood Mosque; another iftar run by Pinnacle College, which was also multifaith and included many representatives from a wide range of civil society groups; and the multifaith day of mourning event service held by St Peter's Anglican Cathedral in conjunction with the Jewish community. There's also an upcoming Ramadan festival organised by the Islamic Society of South Australia at the Park Holme mosque, which has reached out to the local community with notices of road closures and invitations to come along, have a chat, enjoy the food and enjoy the celebration. These are all really important ways for community groups to strengthen our community. These organisations are demonstrating Australian values in action, and I congratulate them all and the very many secular organisations that do the same. Together, they make our society better, richer, safer and stronger. Bowman Electorate: Disaster and Emergency Management 48 16:50 Mr PIKE 300120 Bowman It is a pleasure to have my first opportunity to speak from the dispatch box. I am pleased that I have the opportunity to be up front here because the topics I want to cover tonight are matters of incredible importance. You wouldn't believe it, but it's actually been 12 months since Tropical Cyclone Alfred made its way to South-East Queensland. It's interesting that we've got three members representing South-East Queensland electorates in the House right now, which is good representation to hear this message. It's quite unbelievable to think that it has been 12 months, given how much has happened inside and outside this building over that period of time. In some ways, it feels about 10 years ago. I want to reflect on the journey that my community has been through since that cyclone and make a few comments about the preparedness that we will have for the next likely event and on some of the lessons that have been learnt and some that haven't. In the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, I was pleased to see disaster recovery and hardship support made available. These payments mattered. They helped families keep food on the table. They paid for urgent repairs and for people to steady themselves in the most uncertain of days. The Redlands was very much overrepresented in the number of locals who were accessing those payments. My electorate was one of the hardest hit, particularly the communities on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Stradbroke Island. I acknowledge the work of the minister opposite, who, as the former aged-care minister, contacted me at different stages throughout, particularly when we had evacuations of areas within my electorate. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'd like to also thank Senator McAllister in the other place for her work as the former emergency services minister. We worked closely in getting the Australian Army out to the Redlands to assist in the clean-up. It was greatly appreciated. But there have been things that haven't happened, which should have happened, since those 12 months. One of my major concerns is island resilience. After Alfred, my state colleagues and I called for serious long-term investment in resilience for our island communities, which were some of the hardest hit. They're growing communities. They're families, retirees, small-business owners and Australians that deserve the same level of infrastructure protection as anyone on the mainland. They need stronger infrastructure, yet 12 months on there has been no meaningful progress in trying to get some of the funding or some of the federal commitments that they need to try to improve their resilience and their capacity to deal with the next cyclone when it inevitably comes. One of the major concerns that I have on the islands is the amount of makeshift housing that exists, particularly on North Stradbroke Island. We're talking about people living in uninsured structures that were never designed to withstand severe weather events on land known to flood, without proper safeguards and without any serious plan to address the risk. I'm very concerned about the risk, particularly to our Indigenous community on North Stradbroke Island, of the proliferation of these dwellings. There are more of them every month, and we've got to have a coordinated effort to ensure that proper construction is happening on the islands. The other concern I have is the failure of the national messaging system. I understand the government's now saying that this will come into place later in the year. I also understand that the original estimate of $10 million has blown out to $130 million. But that would have made a significant difference to the capacity of all of South-East Queensland to be prepared for that disaster and to ensure that they had the messages that they needed. We were told it was supposed to be ready by 2024—now we're in 2026 and we may go out to 2027. I'm very concerned that that hasn't been progressed as quickly as it should have been. The major concern that my community had was in relation to telecommunications; we basically lost all telecommunications and all power. I've written to the minister about the need to change the rules around the Mobile Network Hardening Program. Thankfully, the minister has committed to have the department investigate what options are available to expand that so we can use that for infrastructure that's further upstream. It's great to use it for the island infrastructure, but we need the mainland networks to work when we get into these sort of disasters, so they can actually feed the signal from the islands. I've written again to the minister. I trust it will be dealt with. I trust that we'll have some commonsense changes that will allow my community to be prepared the next time a tropical cyclone makes its way as far down as South-East Queensland. It seems like a rare event, but it has happened, and it's going to continue to happen. Lingiari Electorate: Employment 49 16:55 Ms SCRYMGOUR F2S Lingiari I rise to speak about a great development and work being done in my home community on the Tiwi Islands. Last year, a community workforce plan was delivered by the Tiwi Islands Training & Employment Board. I want to thank the board, in particular the CEO, Maria Harvey, for this important work, which sets out a framework for Tiwi jobs over the next two years. The Tiwi Islands, in my electorate, face a unique set of challenges when it comes to employment and the cost of living. High prices at supermarkets, lower levels of education and poorer services mean that good, steady employment can be a real challenge. This has meant significantly lower average incomes on the Tiwi Islands compared to the rest of the country. It was for those reasons that it was so important to boost employment on Tiwi. Jobs provide a level of security, confidence and experience that has the power to change lives. My home, the Tiwi Islands, is a great place with a lot of great opportunities, but it will take real action on the ground to fulfil those opportunities. What does that look like? We know that public and private investment is needed to help bring jobs to the islands. We also know that education and school attendance are big issues standing in the way of employment for so many people. Work in these areas will be very important for jobs in the short and long term. The plan outlines another truth that applies to so many situations in my electorate. The best outcomes come from programs which are community based, culturally safe and have maximum local involvement. When people in this place talk about jobs, it's often more than simple slogans. But our government, the Labor government, is delivering real jobs through our rural jobs employment development program. On Tiwi, 12 local employers across both islands have become successful applicants. In a region of only 2,400 people, this is a real success. These jobs span all different kinds of industries, from manufacturing to administration, agriculture and the arts. Remote employment can and should be meaningful, interesting and diverse work, with good pay and conditions. I'm glad that we've funded jobs which allow people to access the security and the freedom that steady employment brings. As the plan notes, some of these jobs will be done by Tiwi people for the first time, helping to boost literacy, language, numeracy and digital skills that are so critical for future employment. Once again, I thank the Tiwi Islands Training & Employment Board, CEO Maria Harvey and all of the staff that work across both islands in the Tiwi Islands for all the important work that they do on the islands and for their workforce plan, which for the first time sets out very clearly the future education and employment of our youth. I want to acknowledge all the researchers, community members and stakeholders who helped bring the plan together. I look forward not only to going home and sitting down with all of my mob on the Tiwi Islands but to seeing employment go from strength to strength over the next few years. STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE 50 STATEMENTS ON INDULGENCE O'Dea, Mrs Judi 50 16:59 Ms WELLS 264121 Lilley I draw the attention of the House to the passing of Judi O'Dea, an iconic woman of Brisbane's northside who passed away very suddenly on Saturday night. She is mourned very deeply by the Brisbane northside community and particularly by her husband, Patrick, and by her daughter, Harriet, and her son, Eugene, and their families, including Dean, Felix and Tess. Judi was a very special lady. She did a lot for women like me. I remember that she believed in my ability to stand here in this place before I ever did. She had the kinds of powers that always left you standing straighter and believing more in yourself because she praised your innate essence to high heaven, and she went on her way. We've suffered a great loss across the weekend. Vale, Judi O'Dea. House adjourned at 17:00 NOTICES 50 NOTICES Presentation 50